The Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday

April 2, 2023, 9:00 am 

Holy Eucharist with the Liturgy of the Palms

Parishioners can bring palm branches from earlier years to be included in the Easter Fire. 

Palm Sunday is the first day of Holy Week. It is a remembrance of Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Weather premitting we will begin the service outside, with the LIturgy of the Palms, special prayers and readings, before we process into the church.

Once we enter the church, the mood wil change from the joyful procession with waving palms to a more solemn reading of the Passion. This year's Passion is from the Gospel of Matthew. 

Holy Tuesday

April 4, 2023, 7:00 pm

Taize Service with Holy Eucharist

Taize is a unique style of worship that combines the use of repetitive chants, silence and prayer in a meditative manner. This style of worship is accredited to the Taize community which began in southern France. Currrently it is used by a variety of dominations and the Taize community is multi-dominational. The service on Holy Tuesday will include communion. 

Maundy Thursday

April 6, 2023, 7:00 pm

Holy Eucharist with the Washing of the Feet and Stripping of the Altar

Maundy Thursday is the first part of the Triduum or three holy days before Easter. The service is a commemoration of institutions that took place during the Last Supper.

The washing of the feet  recalls "And during supper Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, 'Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered, 'You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.'" John 17:3-7. The washing of the feet  reminds us to be humble servants fo God and follow the actions of Jesus and the Great Commandment, "'I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.’" John 13:34

After the Holy Eucharist on Maundy Thursday is the stripping of the altar. All remaining Bread and Wine is removed from the Altar including the reserve sacrament. All of the Linens and items, as possible,  are removed from the church. This is symbolic of Jesus' departure from his life on earth

Good Friday

April 7, 2023

The Church will be open all day for meditation.

7:00 pm Veneration of the Cross and Service 

Good Friday commemorates Jesus' cruxification. The service includes the reading of the Passion from the Gosepl of John. 

Holy Saturday

April 8, 2023, 7:00 pm 

The Great Vigil of Easter

The service begins in darkness, and contains four parts: The service of Lighting, The service of the Lessons, Christian Initiation and the Eucharist. During the Maundy Thursday service all the light is removed from the church,.the start of the Easter Vigil celebrates the return of the light of Christ into the world.

Our service will begin outdoors, weather permitting. We will process into the church bringing the new lit light of Christ. 

Easter

April 9, 2023, 9:00 am 

The Celebration of the Resurrection

"Faith in Jesus' resurrection on the Sunday or third day following his crucifixion is at the heart of Christian belief. Easter sets the experience of springtime next to the ancient stories of deliverance and the proclamation of the risen Christ. In the west, Easter occurs on the first Sunday after the full moon on or after the vernal equinox." epsicopalchurch.org

Easter is a festive Eucharist or thanksgiving. Our service will include the renewal of the Baptism vows.