May you Have a Blessed Holy Week and Easter!

Amazingly we find ourselves already in Holy Week.  I know Easter is early this year, but it feels like it was just Christmas.

Holy Week is a special time.  It gives us a chance to be focused, through liturgy, to share in the last week of Jesus’ life. 

We experience the expectant joy of Palm Sunday, the last Supper, the betrayal, the misery of the crucifixion on Good Friday, the vigil where we wait and then experience the joy of the Resurrection.  Together all the services lead us to Easter when we can shout “Alleluia, Christ is Risen!”

The promise of Christianity that through Jesus we are given eternal life can only really be felt if we go through his death and resurrection!   I invite you to come and join us for at least some of our Holy Week services.  Through them you will experience the last week of Jesus in liturgy that incorporates art, music, symbolism, silence.  Come and be moved.

Holy Week Services:

Sunday March 24 – 10 am – Palm Sunday – We celebrate the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem when people laid palm branches on the road and shouted Hosanna!

Monday, March 25 – 7 pm – Choral Evensong – A service of Evening Prayer from the Book of Common Prayer (1962) with the Parish’s wonderful Evensong Choir.

Tuesday, March 26 – 7 pm – Stations of the Cross - A chance to move from station to station in the church and pray as we spiritually re-trace the path Jesus walked from Pilate’s house to Calvary and to death on the Cross through art and oration.

Wednesday, March 27th – 10 am – Said Eucharist

Wednesday, March 27th – 7 pm – A Service of Tenebrae - Tenebrae is a service of symbols and experience.  The word Tenebrae is Latin for “darkness”.  In this service we will gradually extinguish candles until only one remains.  Even that last light is hidden to symbolize the triumph of evil.  Christ has died.  Evil rules. The last symbol of the service is to remind us of the earthquake at the time of resurrection followed be the re-appearance of the light that was hidden.  Behold, evil has not won!

Thursday, March 28th – 7 pm – Maundy Thursday - We remember the institution of the Eucharist by our Lord Jesus on his last earthly Passover Meal and his subsequent betrayal by Judas.

Friday, March 28th – 10 am – Good Friday - A somber service remembering the sentencing and death of Jesus at Calvary.

Saturday, March 30th – 8 pm – Easter Vigil - We start in darkness.  A fire is lit to remind us of how Christ has been present from the beginning of all creation.  From that fire the paschal candle and then our own tapers are lit.  We hear the stories of our redemption and celebrate Christ’s Resurrection.  A glorious wave of sound from bells to other instruments during the singing of the Gloria reminds of the joy of the resurrection.  We end the evening with Eucharist.

Sunday, March 31st – 10am – Easter Sunday – Alleluia, Christ is Risen!!!!!   Come, let us all rejoice in the resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

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Blessings,

Rev. Julia