Holy Week is the week leading up to Easter, and this year it falls on the week of March 16 (also Spring Break). During Holy Week, Christians remember Jesus's entry into Jerusalem, his Last Supper with his disciples, his betrayal by Judas, and his crucifixion, death, and resurrection.
Trinity Episcopal Church invites you to walk alongside Jesus and experience all that Holy Week has to offer. Trinity will hold services every night during Holy Week. (Click here for a map to Trinity, located at the intersection of Country Club Rd. & the Bypass.)
Palm Sunday, March 16
8:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.
We begin Holy Week with cheers of Hosanna, recreating the scene with the crowd welcoming Jesus into Jerusalem as their promised Messiah. Our palm branches wave in the winds of change, though, as the tone suddenly darkens, and the events of Good Friday are foreshadowed. We hear the various voices of the drama as the Passion Gospel reading unfolds.
Monday, March 17: Evening Prayer
7:00 p.m.
We mark the beginning of our week-long vigil with the simple service of Evening Prayer ... a time to be quiet, to be present in God’s holy silence, and to listen. The many lessons we will hear this week will weave back and forth in showing the depths and the heights to which God is willing to go for us.
Tuesday, March 18: Stations of the Cross
7:00 p.m.
Step by step, we follow Jesus’ journey from judgment in Pilate’s court, through the streets of Jerusalem, to the cross and finally the cold, dark tomb. This service is an adaptation of the ancient custom of pilgrimage. Pictures of artistic masterpieces representing each of the stations will accompany the service.
Wednesday, March 19: Tenebrae
7:00 p.m.
"Tenebrae" (pronounced TEN-uh-bray) comes from the Latin for “darkness” or “shadow,” and it is indicative of the character and message of this service. During the liturgy, candles are gradually extinguished until only a single candle remains, representing the Light of Christ in the midst of our darkness. This candle is then hidden, symbolizing the apparent victory of the forces of evil of this world. However, at the very end, a loud noise is made, signifying the earthquake at the time of the resurrection (Matthew 28:2), the hidden candle is restored to its place, and by its light all depart in silence.
Maundy Thursday, March 20: Agape Meal & Service
6:15 p.m.
"Maundy" is from the Latin mandatum, meaning "commandment. " It refers to Jesus’ command to “do this in remembrance of me,” which is the institution of the Holy Eucharist. On this very special night, we begin at 6:15 p.m. with a shared meal, much like Jesus’ disciples would have experienced. Then we move into the church for a service honoring Jesus’ commandment and in the imitation of Christ by washing one another’s feet. All are invited to participate in both having their feet washed and in washing someone else’s. Wear shoes and socks or sandals that are easily removed. It is powerful to wash someone else’s feet; it is perhaps even more powerful to allow someone else to wash ours.
Following the service, as the congregation chants a psalm, we remove all of the accoutrements that decorate the sanctuary. It symbolizes the stripping of Jesus’ robes from his body as well as the emptiness of the tomb to which he is soon headed. A vigil, like Jesus’ in the Garden at Gethsemane, will be kept through the night in the presence of the reserved sacrament of bread and wine.
Good Friday, March 21
12:00 noon & 7:00 p.m.
On this day which is both horrible because of what happens in the crucifixion of Jesus, and unimaginably good because of what it means about God going to any length to redeem us, we remember Jesus’ total offering of himself. We do not celebrate the Eucharist, but we distribute communion in silence from the reserved sacrament from Thursday evening. A large wooden cross is displayed as a focus for our meditation. The plate offering this day goes, as it does every year, to the Diocese of Jerusalem, which has provided a Christian witness in the Holy Land for more than 150 years. It is a diocese seeking to provide healing and peace in the midst of a perennially war-torn region. You can learn more about their tireless efforts at http://www.j-diocese.com.
The Great Vigil of Easter, March 22
7:00 p.m.
Reckoning by Hebrew standards, as darkness falls on Holy Saturday, that long, lonely day is finally over and it is the eve of the new day, the eve of what we will discover is the Resurrection. We gather in darkness to light the new fire. This fire will illumine our Paschal Candle, whose light leads us into the darkened church, reminiscent of the darkened tomb. Here, we gather to remind ourselves of why we should have hope, despite all that has happened. And then we discover the unbelievably good news that Christ is indeed risen. The darkness and sadness, the tears and the sting of death are forever banished as we celebrate the first Eucharist of the Resurrection.
Easter Sunday, March 23
Services at 8:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.
Potluck Breakfast at 9:30 a.m.
It’s true – the tomb really is empty! We celebrate with joyous music and sharing the Great News! Bring fresh flowers to decorate the cross at each service. Also bring whatever favorite breakfast/brunch food you’d like to share. After the second service, we’ll have the Great Easter Egg Hunt for our younger members!
Once again, the students and chaplain of ECM are participating in the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. We need your help to reach our fundraising goal of $1,000!
