Lent, Holy Week, and Easter

season of lent

LENT SUNDAY SCHOOL
Sundays in march
10:15 AM in the parish hall
LENTEN SOUP SUPPERS
March 15, 22, & 29
6:00–8:00 PM
PARISH HALL

CHILDREN's PROGRAMMING
& NURSERY AVAILABLE

The season of Lent is made up of forty days of fasting and penitence (fun fact: Sundays are always feast days to celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord… even in Lent! So the forty days of Lent only include weekdays and Saturdays). The word “Lent” derives from the Old English word for “spring” as the days begin to lengthen. So, while Lent is a season of fasting and penitence, it is also a season of expectation and anticipation of the day Jesus Christ defeated death through his victorious resurrection. 

We have a number of ways to engage during the Lenten season, including a special Sunday School series and Wednesday night Soup Suppers. 

There are also some changes to Sunday worship during Lent as we use the liturgy known as Rite I (“And with thy spirit”). Click to learn more.

PALM SUNDAY

SUNDAY, April 2
7:30 AM SPOKEN HOLY EUCHARIST
9:00 AM CHORAL HOLY EUCHARIST*
11:15 AM CHORAL HOLY EUCHARIST*

IN THE CHURCH

VIA Livestream at 9:00 AM

*Nursery available
Palm Sunday is the first day of Holy Week. Our Holy Week services walk with Jesus, day by day, through the events of the last week of his earthly life. 
 
On Palm Sunday, we recall what happened when Jesus entered Jerusalem a week before his death: “…the great crowd…took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting ‘Hosanna!’ Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’” (John 12:12-13). 
 
The Celebration of Palm Sunday goes at least as far back as the fourth century in Jerusalem, where people processed from the Mount of Olives into Jerusalem, waving palm branches as they walked. We continue this tradition with our service beginning outdoors, and waving palms and singing as we enter into the church.
 
Starting Location for Palm Sunday Services
7:30 AM: In the church
9:00 & 11:15 AM: Meet in the Parish Hall. After the Liturgy of the Palms, we will go in procession to the church. 
 
Those with limited mobility are invited to go straight to the church and wait for the procession to arrive.  

HOLY WEEK PRAYER

MORNING PRAYER
Monday–Friday, April 3–7
7:30 AM
EVENING PRAYER
Monday–WEDNESDAY, April 3–5
5:00 PM

in the church & livestream

Holy Week is a special time of devotion as we pass through what is known as the Triduum (three days) or holy days of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. In this week, we journey with Jesus from the triumphal entry into Jerusalem celebrated on Palm Sunday through Jesus’ arrest, crucifixion, death, and burial. 

We offer Morning Prayer throughout Holy Week, as well as Evening Prayer in the weekdays leading up to the heart of Holy Week in the Triduum.

MAUNDY THURSDAY

Thursday, April 6
7:00 PM

IN THE CHURCH & LIVESTREAM

Nursery available

Maundy Thursday begins the Triduum, marking three days before Easter, and recalls Jesus’ last night on earth. Its name comes from the Latin mandatum novum, “new commandment,” from John 13:34: “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another.” This solemn day also marks the Last Supper of Jesus with his disciples, where, before he was betrayed, Jesus instituted the practice of Holy Communion (also known as the Lord’s Supper or the Holy Eucharist) for all Christians.  

At this service, after Holy Communion the altar is stripped and all decorative items are removed. Here, we enter into the events leading to the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. We will not celebrate Holy Communion again until Easter Vigil.

MAUNDY THURSDAY ALL NIGHT PRAYER VIGIL

Thursday, April 6
Begins at 9:00 PM

in the church

The Maundy Thursday all night prayer vigil, sometimes referred to as the Vigil of Final Hours, begins at the end of Maundy Thursday with parishioners praying in the church into the wee hours of Friday morning. In one hour increments, we keep vigil with Jesus as he is arrested, beaten, and prepared for crucifixion. 

Parishioners are invited to sign up for an hour to pray in the church or at home: bit.ly/vigil23.

GOOD FRIDAY

FRiday, April 7
Noon & 6:00 PM

in the CHURCH & LIVESTREAM AVAILABLE

nursery available

Good Friday might be a strange name for the day we recall Jesus’ death on the cross. This day is good because in it we celebrate that “Our heavenly Father sent his Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved; that all who believe in him might be delivered from the power of sin and death, and become heirs with him of everlasting life” (BCP, 277).

These services feature music and scripture that helps us contemplate the death of Christ. We pray the Solemn Collects, prayers traditionally used on Good Friday. There is no Holy Communion.

holy saturday

SAturday, April 8
10:00 AM
in the church

Holy Saturday marks the day the Jesus Christ was laid in the tomb and, according to the Apostle’s Creed, descended to the dead in order to liberate humanity from the shackles of death. We mark this day with a short liturgy.

EASTER EGG HUNT

SAturday, April 8
10:30 AM

We offer a foretaste of the joy of resurrection with a Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday. Bring a basket for egg collection!

 

meet in welcome center

EASTER VIGIL

SAturday, April 8
8:00 PM

nursery available

The Easter Vigil serves as the climax of Holy Week. The service itself mirrors the darkness of Holy Saturday to the sunrise of resurrection Sunday by moving in the service from darkness to light and sacramentally participates in dying and rising into new life through baptisms and the renewal of our baptismal covenants. One of the most ancient practices of the Church, the Easter Vigil ties closely together the resurrection of Jesus with the baptism waters.

This services begins outside with the lighting of the Easter fire and then processes by candlelight into the church.

The Easter Vigil features several readings, unique music, and typically lasts around two hours.

Easter Sunday

SUNDAY, April 9
7:00 AMSUNRISE SPOKEN EUCHARIST
RITE 1, Traditional language
Under the porte cochÈre

8:30 AM* – HOLY EUCHARIST with hymns and organ
Rite 2, contemporary language
in the church

10:00 AM* & 11:30 AM* choral EUCHARIST
Rite 2, contemporary language
In the church
via livestream at 10:00 AM

*NURSERY AVAILABLE

PLEASE Note: no 5:30 PM servicE

Easter Sunday, also known as Resurrection Sunday, celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who overcame death and made a way for us to live forever in God’s presence by liberating us from sin and death. 

These morning services follow the familiar rhythm of our Sunday liturgies, but with added trumpets, alleluias, and joyous celebration.

Families of young children are invited to bring along flowers to flower the cross as they enter into the church.