“The rites of Holy Week are ancient and by nature different from the liturgical celebrations of the rest of the Church Year. They are meant to be different in order to focus the attention of the people on the mysteries being celebrated in this sacred time.” - A Priest’s Handbook by Dennis G Michno
Holy Week begins this Sunday with Palm Sunday. We will gather outside for prayer, hear the Gospel, and bless palms before processing into the church. Together, we recall Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem. As the liturgy continues, the tone shifts, inviting us to remember the suffering that follows—for Christ and for those who walked with him. Holding these moments together draws us more deeply into the story, calling us to reflect on Christ’s sacrifice and to enter, with compassion, into the experience of that first Holy Week.
On Monday evening, we will gather for a service of lament and public witness, as described last week. Registration remains available here.
On Maundy Thursday (April 2), we will gather at 6 p.m. in Roetter Hall to remember the Last Supper. In this liturgy, we encounter two central acts of Christ’s love: the institution of the Eucharist and the washing of the disciples’ feet. In both, Jesus offers himself in humility and service, giving us a pattern for our own lives. Participating in this service invites us to receive that gift anew.
On Good Friday, we will offer two services. At noon, we will observe the liturgy from the Book of Common Prayer—simple, solemn, and deeply moving. At 7 p.m., we will gather with the Newman Center community for a longer service that includes the veneration of the cross and Holy Communion from the reserved sacrament.
There is also a long-standing Episcopal tradition of offering support to the Church in Jerusalem on Good Friday. You can learn more about this practice, and what these gifts sustain, through a message from Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe. Our noon offering will be dedicated to this purpose, and you may also contribute online.
On Saturday, we gather for the Easter Vigil, one of the most powerful liturgies of the year. Beginning outside with the kindling of new fire, we process into the darkened church, listening to the story of salvation through scripture and song. Gradually, the light grows until the first proclamation of Easter is made. Moving from darkness into light, this service beautifully proclaims the resurrection of Christ and is a favorite for many.
Finally, on Easter Sunday, we will celebrate at our usual times, 8:00 and 10:00 a.m. These services often welcome many guests and visitors. Each of us has a role in extending hospitality—offering a greeting, helping answer questions, and inviting others to stay for fellowship.
Holy Week is full, both in its schedule and in its meaning. It is a time that draws us together and invites us more deeply into the life of Christ. I hope you will join us, as you are able, in this sacred journey.
Blessings,
Paul
