HOLY WEEK An opportunity to renew our faith.

A Focus on Spiritual Renewal

Holy Week is that period of each year in which Christians celebrate the last week of Christ’s redeeming work in this world. Holy Week begins Palm Sunday, and culminates on Easter Eve, April 3. This week has also been known at various times throughout Christian history as Paschal Week and Great Week.

Palm Sunday: 8 and 10 a.m.

Palm Sunday, the Sixth Sunday in Lent, is also called Passion Sunday—from the Latin passio—because it is devoted to the contemplation of Christ’s suffering. Historically, Palm Sunday commemorates Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem, at which time his path was strewn with cloaks and palm branches with the crowd crying out "Hosanna" and "Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord." (Matthew 21:1–11.)

Consequently, the eucharistic service begins outside the church and the congregation, in commemoration of the Lord’s entry into Jerusalem, carries palms to the church entrance, which represents the gates of Jerusalem. As the congregation processes around the property, we sing the familiar "All Glory, Laud and Honor." During the service, the Passion narrative from one of the Gospels (this year from Matthew) is read, with the congregation assigned various parts. The liturgical color for Holy Week is red, symbolizing martyrdom and victory over death.

Monday–Wednesday

Holy Eucharist will be celebrated on Monday and Tuesday at 6:30 p.m., and on Wednesday at 6:30 a.m. The sacrament of the Reconciliation of a Penitent (Book of Common Prayer, page 466 ff.) is available by appointment throughout Holy Week.

Wednesday in Holy Week

Note: The Tenebrae service which was mentioned in the dead-tree edition of The Net has been canceled.

Maundy Thursday: 6:30 p.m.

"Maundy" comes from the Latin mandatum, by way of the Old French word mande. Mandatum means "command," as used by Christ in his Last Supper discourse: "A new command I give you: Love one another." (John 13:34.) One of the central liturgical acts of the Episcopal Maundy Thursday service is the footwashing, a reënactment of Christ’s washing of the disciples’ feet.

After the simple Agapé Meal, which follows the Eucharist, in readiness for the starkness of Good Freiday, we will return to the Worship Space to strip the altar and move the reserved sacrament to the Altar of Repose in the chapel.

Christ’s suffering has begun.

An all-night vigil begins immediately. Members of the congregation commit to spending a part of the night in prayer and meditation before the Altar of Repose. This recreates the episode in the garden when Christ, while awaiting arrest, asked his disciples to stay awake with him. A sign-up sheet is in the Narthex for one-hour shifts from 9 p.m. to 12 noon on Friday.

Good Friday: 12 noon and 7:30 p.m.

Comes now Good Friday, the day on which Christ’s arrest, trial, condemnation, cruci˜xion, death, and burial are remembered. In our tradition, the day is called "good" because, although that day was horrible for Christ, it was good for humankind, as Christ’s death opens to us the gates of everlasting life.

The Good Friday services emphasize the Lord’s suffering and death, and are appropriately somber and solemn. The noon service consists of gathering at Saint Andrew’s and carrying our large wooden cross around our block, stopping along the way for "stations," Bible readings, and brief meditations and prayers for the suffering and afflicted.

The 7:30 service features hymns and the Veneration of the Cross.

Holy Saturday: 7 p.m.: The Great Vigil of Easter (bring bells!)

The Great Vigil of Easter is considered the ˜rst service of Easter Day and is held on Saturday after sunset, beginning with the church darkened—the only light coming from the large Paschal (Easter) candle. The burning candle is carried into the church, like the pillar of ˜re that guided the Israelites through the wilderness. The church is dark and the members of the congregation are provided with candles which are later lit from the Paschal candle. Once inside the church, the Paschal candle is lifted up three times to the chant "The light of Christ," and the response, "Thanks be to God."

The Great Vigil continues with Old Testament readings of God’s saving deeds in history, interspersed with psalms and prayers. When the Old Testament readings are completed, the church is suddenly lit, bells are run (please bring yours from home!), the organ is played, the altar is redecorated, and the sanctuary is festooned with Easter lilies, all to resounding praise and thanksgivings for the Good News of salvation through Christ. Baptisms are conducted this night, as this was the traditional time for converts to accept Christ after a year or more of preparation.

The Eucharist is then celebrated and a reception follows the service. For many centuries, the Great Vigil of Easter was the Easter celebration—and anyone who experiences it, with its dramatic transition of silence and darkness to triumphal thanksgiving and light, from "death" to "life" can easily appreciate why that was so.

Easter Day: 8 and 10 a.m.

The church remains decorated as it was at the Easter Vigil; the choir will be augmented by brass players, as the Worship Space will be displayed in its ˜nest fashion for this celebration of Christ’s resurrection. A Gospel account of the empty tomb is read and the realization that Christ is risen is proclaimed with great joy.

Many Christians participate in the Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday services, neglecting the other services of Holy Week. This is unfortunate, for these services provide unparalleled opportunities for spiritual excitement, renewal, contemplation, and worship.