What makes Holy Week holy? As the week begins, Palm Sunday is a mind-bending juxtaposition of Jesus’ raucous last entry into Jerusalem with the sober reading of the Passion. Monday and Tuesday provide a quiet opportunity to reflect on a few less familiar events of the week. On Wednesday betrayal and forgiveness come to the fore. Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil and Easter Day always stretch our visceral e motional/spiritual response way beyond what we ordinarily experience.
However, neither the actions of Jesus nor our responses are by themselves, what makes Holy Week holy. The simple definition of holiness is to be set aside. What makes the week holy is that we set aside the time to fully enter into these last events of Jesus’ life. We do this not as an escape from the world but rather as a decision to be open to the Holy Spirit and the Word in a conscious way. It is a decision to engage the world, to engage our daily lives through the lens of this last week of Jesus’ life. It is in this intersection that holiness emerges. As a way of facilitating that intersection we offer the following schedule of services. Please participate, as you are able. Palm Sunday—Jesus’ final entry into Jerusalem 10:30 AM Holy Communion and the reading of the Passion Monday and Tuesday—The week begins 3:30 PM Holy Communion in the Parish Hall (Mackie Room) Wednesday—Betrayal 7 PM Holy Communion and healing service Maundy Thursday—Jesus’ last supper with his friends 7 PM Holy Communion, foot washing and stripping the altar Good Friday—Jesus is nailed to the cross, dies and is placed in the tomb 7 PM Retracing Jesus’ last day no communion Saturday—Jesus is raised from the dead 7 PM Holy Communion, the first service of Easter Easter Sunday—Alleluia! He is Risen! 9 AM Easter Breakfast - 10:30 AM Holy Communion Comments are closed.
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