Dear family in Christ:

 

Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord (John 12:13)

 

I invite you to consider the holiness of our Lord in the upcoming week. Christ Church is providing a robust schedule of liturgical observances that mark  Jesus’ journey to the cross.

 

Palm Sunday is the gateway into Holy Week.  This will be followed by an Agape meal on Holy Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday services.

 

We are offering a Wednesday Agape Meal in the evening (6 pm).  We will gather in person for a light supper and prayers in the dim evening light. We'll celebrate and give thanks for food, life, and communion in the love of Christ with a liturgy of lessons, prayers, and meditations. 

 

With Maundy Thursday the Triduum begins. The Triduum (Latin for “Three Days”) is the traditional term given to the three days that begin with evening mass on Maundy Thursday.  Maundy Thursday has its own elaborate liturgy including Pedilavium (Latin for “foot washing”), Solemn Mass, and Stripping of the Altar. Foot washing is a powerful ritual that signifies our participation in Christ's mission of love and service to one another and to those in need in our world today,

 

On Good Friday we commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus.  We will pray the Stations of the Cross at noon before the Good Friday Liturgy.  The eucharist is not celebrated in the Episcopal Church on Good Friday, but Holy Communion will be administered from the reserved sacrament at the Good Friday service.

 

Many of you have experienced these Holy Week celebrations here or in other churches.  I pray you consider attending as best you can the offerings of Holy Week.  It may seem a rigorous and demanding schedule that we need to get through in order to arrive at Easter (Jesus’ resurrection).  Your prayerful presence alongside Jesus during Holy Week is an important Christian journey, a spiritual discipleship which I pray brings a deepening faith as your participate.

 

Blessings and gratitude on our journey together,

Betsy+