Holy Week and Easter services
Posted on Friday 7th March, 2008
HOLY WEEK AND EASTER SERVICES 2008
PALM SUNDAY – 16 March
10.30 Eucharist with the Blessing of Palms
19.00 Århus eucharist
MONDAY- 17 March
18.30 Holy Week Eucharist
TUESDAY- 18 March
18.30 Holy Week Eucharist
WEDNESDAY-19 March
10.30 Holy Communion (1662)
18.30 Holy Week Eucharist
MAUNDY THURSDAY – 20 March
18.30 Eucharist of the Last Supper with Footwashing and Prayer Vigil in church until 21.00
GOOD FRIDAY- 21 March
10.30 Good Friday Liturgy with veneration of the cross and communion
14.00 Church open for one hour of silent prayer
EASTER VIGIL -22 March
18.30 Easter Vigil with lighting of the Easter fire and baptism
EASTER SUNDAY -23 March
10.30 Eucharist of the Resurrection
What happens at these services during Holy Week?
For many Christians, celebrating Easter is restricted to going to a service on Good Friday and on Easter Sunday. Anything more sounds a bit too religious or over the top. There are many Christian people who do not know about the Holy Week liturgies and who have never experienced the full richness of the shadow and light of Easter as celebrated in these very ancient and beautiful services. Now, I know that I have to be there because I´m the vicar! But what about you thinking about joining me and some others this year and commiting yourself to the full Easter celebration and discovering for yourself what can be gained by journeying through Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, the Easter Vigil and into Easter Sunday morning? We gain insight not only into the truths of God but also, through the footfalls and glimpses of understanding, into truths about our own selves and lives. Below is a very short guide to what you can expect if you come.
Palm Sunday
We begin by the priest calling the assembly to a deep recognition of the Holy Week that begins on this day. Remembering the triumphal entry of Jesus into the city of Jerusalem, marked by the crowds waiving palm branches, the priest blesses small palm crosses which have been given to every member of the congregation. Some churches process through streets today, often with a donkey. The hymns are joyful but tinged with dark glimpses of what is to come when the crowds will turn. The Gospel story of Jesus´s passion is read dramatically to launch us all into the coming days.The colour in church is red, recalling blood that will be spilt. Churchgoers take the palm crosses home and place them in a prominent place there until Ash Wednesday next year when they are burned and the ash is used on the heads of those attending the ashing ceremony.
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
Simple, quiet eucharists will be celebrated at which the gospels take us through the days of Jesus´s betrayal. A short reflection is offered by the priest.
Maundy Thursday
So called because of the Latin word mandatum (commandment) that sums up Jesus´s new commandment that his followers love each other. The evening service on this day takes us on a journey. First, we are imaginatively in the upper room with Jesus and his disciples. We recall Jesus´s washing of his disciple´s feet by the celebrant washing twelve people´s feet with water and a towel. We remember that night in which Jesus was betrayed by first celebrating the gifts of bread and wine and sharing them in remembrance of him, as he asked us to on this very night. The bread of the eucharist left over is then carried solemnly to the side altar of the church which is decorated like the garden of Gethsamane. The lights go out in church and only candles light up the night. The church is stripped of all its silver and finery and the choir and clergy depart without any ceremony – recalling the disciples who ran away and deserted Christ. At the end, all that is left is the body of Jesus in the dark garden and we are invited to stay in the church as long as we like until 2100. Jesus´s question stands: ”can you not watch with me an hour?” At 2100 thirty silver coins are thrown on the floor, the body of Christ is locked in the church safe, the candles are extinguised and the deserted church is closed.
Good Friday
The most solemn day in the Church year. We enter the church and notice it lacks colour and decoration. Only a simple cross is visible far way on the altar. The service is stark and falls into three parts: the listening to scripture and prayer, the veneration of the cross, and the receiving of communion in one kind only. Christians have venerated the cross since the fourth century. The cross is held by the celebrant and people line up before it. When they reach it they can either bow, bend the knee, touch or kiss the foot of the cross. This is an act of affection and love that is able to see an instrument of torture turned into a window onto a love within our God that is so deep and embracing for us and all people. It is the tradition of the Church that the eucharist is not celebrated on Good Friday and so the bread that was was kept from last night´s celebration is brought from the safe and distributed to the faithful. We leave in silence. Later in the day, an hour´s devotion will be set aside – in silence – at 1400, leading us up to 1500, the hour at which Jesus gave up his spirit.
Easter Vigil: Saturday
Tonight we gather in the dark by the door of the church. We begin by hearing some readings from scripture that tell of how God always works to free his people from various slaveries and a surface living to a life that is fresh, eternal and free. Then a fire is lit and blessed by the bishop. A brand new Paschal Candle is lit from it and five nails are placed in to it to remind us always of the wounds of love. The candle is lifted up and carried into the dark church. ”The light of Christ” the deacon shouts three times. ”Thanks be to God” people reply. The beautiful and ancient ”This is the night…” is said or sung, telling gathered Christians to remember what happened on this holy night. The Gloria is sung and the congregation should have brought bells, gongs and noisy instruments to play during the first part of it! The lights of the church go on and Easter is brought into the place. It is also then traditional on this night to baptise and confirm people in Christian faith. At the end we will have a glass of bubbly (particularly welcome to those who have given it up for Lent)! May God Easter in us!
Easter Day
Easter is celebrated throughout the day with great joy and gladness. The church is arrayed in white and gold, Easter lilies burst everywhere, and the garden of Gethsemane in the side altar is now seen as being the Easter garden where Jesus appears to those he loves.
I look forward to journeying with you over these incredible days.
Mark
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