Holy Week is the last week of Lent where, through special worship services, we walk with Jesus through His entrance into Jerusalem, the last supper, death and resurrection. Yes, the walk is difficult. Surely it is more of an emotional challenge than Christmas. But staying the course and acknowledging the struggles of our Savior it makes His victory (and then ours) over death even more of a celebration on Easter Day. If you’ve never been to one of these “extra” Holy Week services consider it this year. Fill in the gaps between Palm Sunday and Easter Day with the whole Easter story.
Palm Sunday
Our 2015 services will be at 8:00am and 10:30am, Sunday, March 29.
Palm Sunday commemorates the entrance of the Messiah into Jerusalem. The service begins in the Community Room with the Blessing of the Palms and the reading of the Gospel’s account of how Jesus humbly rode on a donkey and His people honored him by laying the palms under His feet. Then the congregation processes together into the church for mass to begin. The mass itself includes the Passion story of Jesus’ capture, suffering and death. Our 2013 services will be at 8:00am and 10:30am on March 24th
Maundy Thursday
Our 2015 service will be at 7:00pm on April 2.
Maundy Thursday begins the detailed story of Holy Week where we walk with Jesus on “the night he was betrayed.” In this special service we share the gift of Holy Communion and remember Jesus humbly washing the feet of his disciples. These deeply moving actions give us a real experience of how powerful servant ministry can be. The service concludes with the stripping of the altar and all the decorative furnishings of the church as a symbolic representation of that final night.
Good Friday
Our 2015 service will be at noon on April 3.
On Good Friday, the church mourns for Christ’s death and marvels at His life for His obedience until death. The altar remains completely bare and it’s customary to empty the holy water from the font in preparation of the blessing of the water at the Easter Vigil. It is a solemn reminder of exactly why Easter is such a joyful occasion.
Holy Saturday
Our 2013 service will be at noon on April 4.
Mass isn’t celebrated on what is liturgically Holy Saturday, but there is a provision for a simple service of the work with readings commemorating the burial of Christ.
The Great Vigil of Easter
Our 2013 service will be at 8:00pm on April 4.
The Great Vigil of Easter is the link between the grief of Good Friday and the joy of Easter Day. The service begins in darkness at sundown and slowly moves into the light of the resurrection. Through this powerful liturgy, we recover the ancient practice of keeping the Easter feast. The Vigil is where all our Lenten preparation leads us. The congregation gathers in darkness, with the new fire, which represents the light of salvation, lights the Paschal candle. The Paschal candle is used throughout the Easter season and at baptisms and funerals through the year. We then process into the church to be among the first to sing our “Alleluias” with organ and brass sounding salvation during this glorious feast and to welcome our newly baptized! New this year, this service will use incense! If you find heave fragrances a distraction to your worship, consider attending the Easter Day services which will not use incense.
Easter Day
Our 2013 services will be at 8:00am and10:30am on April 5.
Easter Day, which immediately follows Holy Week, is the great feast day where the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is celebrated! Come and sing “Christ, Our Lord is Risen Today” with organ and brass, renew your baptismal vows and celebrate our salvation with Christ!