holy week & easter
Let us also go : that we may die with HIM
Service times at the Red Roof
Palm Sunday, March 29
9:45 AM
Palm Sunday Matins
10:30 AM
Procession with palms & High Mass
Maundy Thursday, April 2
5:45 PM
High Mass,
with footwashing and stripping of the Altar
From 8:00 PM
Vigil at the Altar of Repose
Good Friday, April 3
12:00 PM
Good Friday Matins, with reflection
1:00 PM
Stations of the Cross
1:45 PM
Mass of the Presanctified
7:00 PM
Tenebrae
Holy Saturday, April 4
8:00 PM
The Great Vigil of Easter, with lighting of new fire, prophecies, blessing of the font, and first Mass of Easter
Easter Day, April 5
9:45 AM
Easter Matins
10:30 AM
Procession & High Mass
What is Holy Week?
During this most sacred week of the year, Christians observe the events of Jesus Christ’s betrayal, passion (suffering), death, and resurrection from the dead. At St. John’s, we give thanks to God for these events with special services. Many elements of these services are ancient, practiced by the earliest Christians more than a thousand years ago. Every Holy Week is a journey that, though passing through grief, culminates in joy.
We invite you to any and all of our Holy Week services, whether you would like to celebrate with us or simply watch and listen. All are warmly welcome.
Palm Sunday (March 29)
We remember…
Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, where He will be crucified, riding on a donkey
Jesus’ rejection by the crowds who call for His crucifixion
We celebrate by…
Distributing palm leaves to the congregation
Walking in procession around the church
Listening to the story of the Passion (suffering) of Jesus, with the role of the crowds in focus
And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.
Mt 21:8-9
Maundy Thursday (April 2)
We remember…
Jesus eating with His disciples at the Last Supper (the first Holy Communion)
Jesus washing His disciples’ feet as an example of love
Jesus’ betrayal and abandonment by His disciples
Jesus’ nighttime agony in the Garden of Gethsemane in the face of His impending death
We celebrate by…
Receiving Holy Communion with special prayers
Washing the feet of 12 volunteers from the congregation
Stripping the Altar and sanctuary of all their beautiful decorations
Praying at the Altar of Repose throughout the night
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
Jn 13:34-35
Good Friday (April 3)
We remember…
Jesus’ Passion (suffering), crucifixion, death, and burial, which he suffered out of love for the whole world
The sorrow, darkness, silence, and emptiness that covered the world when God the Son was put to death
We celebrate by…
Receiving Holy Communion from bread and wine set apart the night before
Venerating a cross and praying special prayers for the whole world
Listening to the story of the Passion of Jesus, with Jesus’ last words and actions in focus
After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
Jn 19:28-30
Holy Saturday (April 4)
We remember…
Jesus’ descent to hell, where He rescued the captive dead
The long anticipation of Jesus’ resurrection
The moment when the joyful news of Jesus’ resurrection was first discovered
We celebrate by…
Lighting a new fire in a smoking pit inside the darkened church
Hearing stories by candlelight of God acting to rescue people in the past
Blessing the baptismal font, where people pass from death to life
Joyfully and dramatically proclaiming Jesus’ resurrection with loud music, bright lights, incense, and sprinkling of baptismal water
For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison.
1 Pet 3:18-19
Easter Day (April 5)
We remember…
The women’s discovery of Jesus’ empty tomb
The joyous news of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead
We celebrate by…
Processing around the church with incense, candles, banners, and the finest designs possible
Playing joyful loud music in the church restored to beautiful and extravagant decorations
Sprinkling of baptismal water
Including the word “alleluia”, not said since before Lent, in many special prayers
In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said.
Mt 28:1-6
Easter is Christianity’s most important, and most joyful, holiday.
All are warmly welcome.
Now is CHRIST risen from the dead and become the firstfruits of them that slept