A little more about Holy Week

If you've ever wanted to know a little more about Holy Week, check out our Holy Week schedule and a brief description of each service.

Come and walk the way of the cross.

Wednesday, 4/16 - 6 pm - Tenebrae - Tenebrae means darkness. This is a simple service where we recite several Psalms and pray together. As we move through the service, we extinguish the candles until the central Christ candle is hidden, signifying his death. At the end of the service, the Christ candle is returned to the table, and the service ends in silence. The service prepares us to remember the death and resurrection of Christ.

Thursday, 4/17 - 6 pm - Maundy Thursday - Maundy refers to the footwashing service. Maundy Thursday remembers the institution of the Lord's Supper, specifically looking back at the Lord's Last Supper with his disciples. We move from the Holy Communion to the stripping of the church furnishings. We remove the frontal from the Lord's table and all the furnishings. This prepares us for the simplicity and solemnity of Good Friday. The service ends with the Maundy or foot washing. Anyone comfortable is invited to come forward and have me wash their feet. In this, we remember Christ's act of washing his disciples and our call to do likewise. The end of the service always feels clunky and confusing. This confusion can help us remember how the disciples were confused and disoriented as Christ was arrested and led away to his death.

Friday, 4/18 - 12 noon - Good Friday - On Good Friday, we have pre-sanctified Holy Communion. This is a simple and solemn service. We only light two candles and do not turn on the church lights. The service ends with the cup being tipped over, remembering how Christ's blood was poured out for us.

Friday, 4/18 - 6 pm - Stations of the Cross - We used what is commonly called the Biblical Stations of the Cross. This service draws from the Gospel accounts of Christ's final hours on earth. It is an opportunity to join in a quieter service and follow Christ's final footsteps before his crucifixion.

Saturday, 4/19 - 7:05 pm - The Great Vigil - The Great Vigil recalls the mystery and hopefulness of Easter Eve. During this service, we light the paschal candle. This candle reminds us of Christ's presence with us and the hope that he brings into the world. The priest or deacon sings the Exultant, which recalls the various ways God has been faithful in the world from the beginning of time. Following the lighting of the candle, we read the vigil lessons drawn from various Old Testament promises of Christ's coming into the world. All of this points us towards the hope that we have in Christ, even in the darkest of mysteries.

Sunday, 4/20 - 10 am - Resurrection Sunday - We finally arrive at Easter Sunday when we celebrate the resurrection of Christ. We greet one another with the bold acclimation of "Christ is risen!" responding with joy, "He is risen indeed!"