In this video, Fr. Tony gives an overview of how we spend Holy Week.

Holy Week 2024

 

Palm Sunday

Procession of the Palms & Holy Communion

Palm Sunday is the beginning of Holy Week. The Liturgy begins at 10am with the Liturgy of the Palms, where we process around the church carrying palm branches, singing joyful songs about our King. Yet, the same city that cried “Hosanna, blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord,” cried, “Crucify Him!” only days later. So it is with the Church on Palm Sunday. The Gospel is read “dramatically” with many people reading the different parts. The congregation plays the part of the people, saying with holy irony, “His blood be on us, and on our children!” So begins Holy Week, with a clear proclamation of Christ as the Promised King and our participation in His Death and Sacrifice. Palm Crosses are made from the fronds and taken home to be placed on a mantle or prayer desk. The rest of the palms are saved and burned to make the ashes for next year’s Ash Wednesday. See the full liturgy HERE.

Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday before Easter

Ante-Communion at 7pm

Christians worship every day in Holy Week. The entire week aims to saturate the Church in the mystery of the Atonement, that they might learn the “way of the Cross”. On the Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday before Easter, we say “Ante-Communion”, which is the first part of the Liturgy for Holy Communion sometimes called the Liturgy of the Word. For the Gospel reading, we hear the passion narrative read three times, once per day. Wednesday is called “Spy Wednesday” because it was the day that Jesus was betrayed by Judas Iscariot. Ante-Communion will be said at 7pm in the nave of the church.

Maundy Thursday

Holy Communion with Special Music and Foot-washing, followed by the Stripping of the Cross

For many, Maundy Thursday is the favorite liturgy of the year. The word “Maundy” comes from the Latin mandatum, meaning “commandment”. The Liturgy is focused on the command of Christ to love one another, which He gave His disciples at the Last Supper. Just as it was in the Upper Room, Holy Communion is celebrated with great beauty and intimacy, preceded by the washing of feet. The clergy wash the feet of all the people.

But the intimacy and sweetness of the Upper Room was quickly put to flight as Jesus faced the grim reality of the Cross in the Garden of Gethsemane. So, too, the Liturgy shifts to the Stripping of the Altar, where all the beauty of the Cross is removed. The congregation sits in darkness and silence, remembering that they, too, would have fled and denied Him who just washed their feet. All leave in silence, and are encouraged to keep a “Great Silence” for the rest of the night. This liturgy will have special music provided by our Ensemble. The liturgy begins at 6:30pm and lasts till about 8:00pm. See the full liturgy HERE.

Good Friday

Meditation on the Last Seven Words & Stations of the Cross

Good Friday is a day full of devotion. Christians fast on this day, most observing a total fast until the evening. The Church gathers from 12-3pm in the sanctuary, the hours that Jesus spent on the Cross, to meditate on the last seven words of the Jesus on the Cross (e.g. “I thirst.”) Following Ante-Communion, each exclamation of Jesus will be read, followed by a brief meditation or homily, with a time of silence followed by hymns and prayer. The sequence being repeated seven times, the liturgy ends with the “reproaches”, a reading from Lamentations followed with the chiming of the bell. The congregation leaves in silence. See the full liturgy HERE.

All are invited to regather at 6pm, especially those with children. Just as Joseph of Arimethea and the Marys came back to bury Christ, so will we, burying a “sepulcher” in the church garden. The liturgy begins with another Good Friday devotion called “Stations of the Cross”. Then, we will dig a hole and place a small sepulcher within. After the liturgy ends, all are invited to enjoy “hot cross buns”, warm orange-spiced pastries with icing in the shape of a cross. This treat reminds us that this day of sorrow is truly “good” because by it we enjoy the salvation wrought through the body of Christ, which was laid spiced in the tomb. This liturgy lasts about 45 minutes. See the full liturgy HERE.

Holy Saturday

The Great Vigil of Easter

Holy Saturday is when Christ’s body was in the grave, but His spirit went to the place of the dead. The church gathers at 9pm for an ancient liturgy, originally composed by St. Ambrose of Milan (c. 339 – c. 397). The liturgy features “the Exultet” (a chant recounting the great works of Christ in the Atonement), the New Fire, and several readings relating the Exodus to the Resurrection. The Liturgy ends with the loud ringing of bells, shouts of “Alleluia!”, and then proceeds to the biggest party of the year. This year, we will roast a whole lamb to break our Lenten Fast. Those attending the Vigil are invited to bring a side, drink, or dessert to go along with the lamb. The party typically lasts till midnight. The last few rows of the nave will be reserved for sleeping children, and parents can bring pillows and blankets. See the full liturgy HERE.

*At 10am on Holy Saturday, Ante-Communion will be said at the church.

Easter Sunday

Holy Communion, Unearthing of the Sepulcher, and Easter Egg Hunt

Christ is risen! Alleluia! Easter Sunday is the happy end to a full week. While the Easter Vigil is the climax of Holy Week, Easter Sunday continues the celebration. The Liturgy begins at 10am with Holy Communion. Given that the Vigil is difficult for children, we make the time after the Easter Sunday liturgy to be especially engaging for children. At 9:30am, the children go out to the church garden to dig up the sepulcher buried on Good Friday. The children discover that the sepulcher is empty and bring the linens into the church. During the procession, all children are invited to “flower the Cross.” Following the Liturgy, we commence the Easter Egg Hunt with 4,000 eggs! See the full liturgy HERE.