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| A Holy Week rainbow over St. Timothy's in 2013 |
If you are relatively new to the Episcopal Church and the
Anglican tradition, Holy Week can seem like a formidable and even forbidding
challenge: services every day or night, culminating in an intense period of
fasting and one enormous middle-of-the-night liturgy followed by a glorious feast going into the morning hours. It is all so different from the usual
“holiday spirit” of many churches, so unlike the neat-and-tidy Easter
celebrations we usually see: and that is the point. Liturgy means “work of the
people.” This week we experience in a special way the “work” of liturgy—and
thus gain a blessing only faithful workers know.
Holy Week and Easter is the fountain of our faith. It is the
essential point from which everything else we are and do flows. The events
during this time form what we call the Paschal Mystery, and each Eucharist
throughout the year is directly connected to that mystery, as is our entire
Christian journey and discipleship.
To the degree you are physically able, it is important
that all participate in these liturgies…not as an exterior ritual but as
immersion into the Eternal Truth of Christ so that we may be what we receive
and show forth what we experience. Please
clear your calendar as much as possible during Holy Week and plan to attend
Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil or Easter Day.
The events these liturgies recount and actualize cannot be
made to conform to “normal” life. They point to something so radically
upsetting to the usual, so counter-cultural and overturning that the only way
to enter into them is by jumping in at the deep end so to speak, not standing
coolly by as spectators or wading in with only our toes. And it is this
immersive experience that characterizes the worship during Holy Week.
In that spirit, here are is a sort of liturgical “field
guide” and FAQ about what to expect and what is most important along the way from Palm
Sunday to Easter Day.
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| Palm Sunday service begins in the Parish Hall, recalling Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem. |
Palm Sunday: Holy
Week begins (of primary importance)
This service is both raucous and solemn. Christ enters
Jerusalem in a joyously ironic parade. We form up for the 10 AM service in the
Parish Hall and make our way to the church bearing palms, immersing ourselves
in the truth that Christ can be hailed King and yet turned against and
abandoned out of the same mouth. After arrival in “Jerusalem” (the church’s
nave), we hear the Passion Gospel read by various members of the congregation
and participate directly in the story. The service culminates in the Holy
Communion, being strengthened for the journey ahead with mystical food. This will
be the last Eucharist until Maundy Thursday.
Monday and Tuesday in Holy Week (of secondary importance)
On these two days Christ engages in symbolic actions and spiritual teaching.
Simple services of Evening Prayer are offered on Monday and Tuesday in the
chapel (Morning Prayer in place of the usual Holy Eucharist service on
Tuesday). We hear passages of Scripture and writings from the Early Church that
give us insight about the offering Christ will make as well as what it means to
follow him as disciples. These days are very much optional services, but help
keep a continuity from Sunday to the Great Three Days of
Thursday-Friday-Saturday/Sunday.
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| The extinguishing of candles features prominently in the Tenebrae service. |
Wednesday: The day of
shadows (of secondary importance)
Wednesday in Holy Week has long been associated with Judas’
agreement to turn over Christ to the authorities. To mark this, St. Timothy’s
offers the service of Tenebrae
(“shadows” or “darkness” in Latin) at 7 in the evening. Formed of Psalms, laments, and
readings about betrayal and forgiveness, this service makes us companions with Christ as he
is gradually abandoned by those around him—symbolized by the gradual
extinguishing of candles. The service concludes with an affirmation of
Resurrection. The message is hope-through-trial, and it perfectly prepares us
for the decisive events ahead. This is not an essential service, but is unique
and valuable as a prelude. It is one of the most meditative services offered
each year.
The Triduum – the Great Three Days of Maundy Thursday-Good Friday-Easter Eve/Day (Essential to attend)
These three days really form one great mystery (the Paschal
Mystery of our salvation), and one service—there is no dismissal from the start of the Maundy Thursday
liturgy through the end of the Great Vigil of Easter; we simply take breaks. Many
people fast all or part of this time (especially for Good Friday). Each day
expresses a part of the mystery and all should be experienced as a unity just
as the seamless garment Christ wore shows us that his teaching and life are one
integral, whole offering of Love and Truth. Participation in the Triduum is a crucial part of our
commitment to follow Christ where he leads us as individuals and as a body; this
offering of time and effort is amply rewarded. If you did not grow up
observing Holy Week and Easter this way, you are invited to immerse yourself to
the highest degree possible so as to experience the Paschal Mystery.
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| The parish's icon of Christ the Teacher, open to the Gospel according to John and speaking of Christ as the Bread of Life. |
1. Maundy Thursday
7 PM: Maundy Thursday
Liturgy
This service is an powerful mix of joy and sorrow, light and darkness. After starting much as the Lenten services do, it moves to focus on the two great commandments (or mandates, from which the word
“Maundy” comes) Christ gave on this night: for members of his Body the Church
to love each other as he loves us, and for Christians to share in his presence
through the sacred mysteries of his Body and Blood. So, on this night the rite
of foot-washing is offered—by which we see that humble service is essential in
the Christian life—and the Eucharist is celebrated on the anniversary of its inauguration
at the Last Supper. After this, Sacrament reserved for Good Friday communion is taken to
the Altar of Repose in the chapel. The
altar is stripped and the Sacrament Lamp is pulled down and blown out while one
of the Psalms of the Passion is sung, recalling Christ’s betrayal, arrest, and
humiliation. The lights are lowered and we leave in silence.
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| After the altar is stripped at the Maundy service, the tabernacle is left open and empty: the only time this happens during the year. It is a sign of mourning and waiting in faith. |
Prayer Watch (of secondary importance; an
annual opportunity everyone should take when possible)
Immediately after the Maundy service, an all-night Prayer Watch begins in the chapel until noon
Friday, with parishioners taking one hour shifts to pray with Christ in the
Holy Sacrament, recalling his words to his disciples: “could you not watch with
me for one hour?” It goes all night and is a very powerful experience of silence, presence, and commitment. This is a particularly holy and blessed opportunity to
stretch ourselves spiritually and physically for the sake of our God (a sign-up
for the Prayer Watch is available in the narthex as we approach Holy
Week; you may sign up at any time, even on Maundy Thursday itself). There may be more than one person in the chapel at a time during the Watch.
2. Good Friday (a
solemn day to be marked by a complete fast if health permits)
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| The "old rugged cross" used at the Good Friday liturgy |
Noon: Stations of the
Cross (of secondary importance)
The Triduum
continues on Good Friday with the noon Stations of the Cross in the nave,
concluding the Prayer Watch. We will make the circuit of the church, recalling
Christ’s passion and death, giving praise to Christ for his extreme humility
and love.
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| From our parish's Stations of the Cross set. |
7 PM: Good Friday
Liturgy (the main Good Friday service)
The liturgy resumes in silence as we kneel in humility
before God who has loved us so much as to allow his Son to take on our ancient
enemies—Sin and Death—in personal combat, and to overcome them in Love Divine.
The Passion Gospel according to St. John is then read, and a sermon preached.
Following this, the assembly begins the Solemn Collects, taking our part as a
priestly people before God, interceding on behalf of the world with our God who
has redeemed the world and showing forth the true power and significance of
what Christ has done on the Cross and continues to do through His Body, the Church. Then a rugged Cross is brought before the people and venerated by
all those desiring to do so while hymns are sung. This can take a while and is
often deeply personal— yet also profoundly communal. Finally, the Reserved
Sacrament is brought from the chapel and Holy Communion shared as a sign of
Christ’s working and presence—even in death—for us, and as an affirmation that
this is indeed “Good” Friday, where life has the final word. We leave again in
silence.
3. Holy Saturday/Easter
Sunday (traditionally marked by a fast or light meal before the Vigil)
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| The Holy Saturday service at 10 AM takes place at the main altar, now bare of all but the Gospel Book. We are placed at the Tomb of Christ and recall his descent to the dead in order to raise them to New Life. |
This simple service continues in silence, then moves to an
account of Christ’s burial. A sermon on Christ’s decent into Hades from the
Early Church period is read (it is an amazing text), and prayers from the
Burial Liturgy are read. An extraordinary peace and quiet pervade this liturgy.
The Holy Temple is then readied for the Easter Vigil.
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| The font is full and ready for baptisms; the brazier is prepared for the New Fire, and the screen before the altar is in place so that our attention at the beginning of the Great Vigil will be on the darkened nave and our focus on waiting for the proclamation of the Resurrection as we hear the great lessons from the Old Testament preparing the way for this most holy night! |
9 PM: The Great Vigil
of Easter (our main Easter service)
The Great Vigil of Easter is the most joyful and blessed
moment of the Church Year; it opens the Royal Doors to the central fact of the
Christian Faith, that Christ is risen from the dead, and that through baptism
we now share his life and may rise with him. The ancient practice of making the Great Vigil the
principal Easter service has long been the case at St. Timothy’s, so do not
expect Easter Day to be the larger service. Children—even young ones—are very
much welcome and expected at the Great Vigil. You may want to dress them in
clothes they would find comfortable for sleeping. The nursery will be open, but
little ones sleeping in the pews is entirely normal and encouraged. Guests are also
very much encouraged…please invite as many people as you know and feel will be
open to this rich and moving experience of New Life in Christ.
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| The Paschal Candle -- sign of Christ's rising from the dead. It is lit from the New Fire on Easter Eve and burns at all liturgies throughout the Great 50 Days of Easter, as well as at all baptisms and funerals through the year. |
The Vigil is long; it
is meant to be. We are waiting on God, putting ourselves at the end, not
the head, of the line. We wait in darkness; the church is like a tomb, with the
altar area screened off by a high white curtain. Suddenly, the Paschal Fire is struck
(reminding us of the Holy Fire in Jerusalem each Easter). From it, the Paschal
Candle—harbinger of the Resurrection—is lit, processed, and blessed in a very
ancient praise-prayer: the Exultet.
Then come the readings from the ancient Hebrew Scriptures, telling the story of
God’s loving and saving work from the beginning through the Prophets. A short
sermon is then preached and then our hand-candles are lit and we are bidden to
stand.
It is now that Lent is declared over and Holy Baptism is celebrated.
The candidates (or their sponsors, if infants) make their baptismal promises in
front of the congregation: we face west to renounce evil and east to affirm
Christ. Then a procession is made to the font as the Litany of
the Saints is sung. We pray God’s strengthening grace and invoke the names of
many saints as we prepare to add to their number. The baptismal waters are blessed in a great chanted prayer
accompanied by many ancient actions indicating God's living presence in this moment, the font is censed, and all gather
as close as possible (some people even stand on pews to get a better view!).
Candles burn brightly and the room is hushed; it is a unique moment of
intentionality as we await sacred birth.
The new Christians are made by joining their Lord through
immersion in the font, dying and rising again with Christ and then receiving the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. After the
newly-baptized are anointed, receive their baptismal candles, and are
introduced to their new family of faith, the whole congregation is sprinkled
liberally with baptismal water, physically sharing in what we have just
witnessed and being recalled to the centrality of our own baptism.
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| The candle used by the priest when proclaiming Christ's Resurrection to the congregation, just before the First Eucharist of Easter. |
More darkness and waiting follow as we kneel in silence,
catching our collective breath and being gathered together in expectation. Then,
as the choir with rising force sings a glorious hymn of Christ’s triumph over death, the glow of the Resurrection is seen behind the screen between us and
the holy altar; the curtain is parted, and we rise to hear the most beautiful
words in any language: “Alleluia! Christ is risen! The Lord is risen indeed!
Alleluia!” Priest and people exchange this greeting three times. Easter has come in its fullness! The hymn Jesus Christ is risen today follows as
the curtain is pulled completely back and light floods the church. Then comes a
joyous, almost raucous moment as everyone produces the hand bells (or keys on
rings!) they have brought to ring out as we sing the Gloria in excelsis while the altar is censed. At this moment the
air shimmers with light, scent, and sound.
After a reading from St. Paul's Letter to the Romans and a hymns, the Gospel of the Resurrection is proclaimed. There follows the second (!) sermon of the service: The Easter Homily of St. John Chrysostom
(often called the perfect sermon). But, what a sermon it is! The congregation stands and takes its part as directed during this remarkable, short, astounding homily. The First Eucharist of Easter is then celebrated, the
newly-baptized receiving their first Communion. At the end of Communion we begin
to sing the ancient and powerful hymn of Christ’s victory: “Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon
those in tombs bestowing life!” We sing it many times, building delight,
savoring this moment of Resurrection joy together.
Now the liturgy begun on Thursday is brought to a glorious
conclusion with a final blessing and a sung dismissal complete with many Alleluias.
As we sing a closing hymn and the organ sounds in a mighty postlude, the
congregation leaves what earlier seemed a dark tomb clothed in absence, but is
now revealed to be a bright temple of God’s presence. On the way out, the
priest hands each person a blessed Easter egg and gives the Paschal Greeting,
“Christ is risen!” to which we respond “The Lord is risen indeed!”
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| Easter at St. Timothy's includes the Agape Feast, with food and (most years) dancing for all. It lasts until the pre-dawn hours. It celebrates the Resurrection with much joy and laughter. The above photo shows what the Agape looks like after the tables and chairs are cleared and the dancing is about to begin. |
Agapé Feast
(following the Great Vigil)
After the Vigil liturgy, St. Timothy’s hosts a great feast
of radiant joy in the Parish Hall, celebrating the Resurrection and the Agapé
love we all share through it. It is one of the most vivid aspects in our community life, and something visitors always remember. Anyone may come, and guests are most surely welcome!
If you want to help provide food or other assistance, sign-up sheets will be
available in the narthex in the weeks prior to Holy Week. Please bring your own beverages and glassware. Young persons are
encouraged to participate and help out where possible. This meal begins with blessings over bread, wine, lamb, and then the whole glorious array of choice foods. This feast takes the
experience of the Vigil and begins to live it out in a very vivid foretaste of
the Heavenly Banquet where all sorts and conditions may gather together in holy
joy.
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| Alleliua! Christ is risen from the Dead! The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia! |
11 AM: Easter Day
Eucharist (much simpler and quieter than the Vigil...but still Easter!)
The Easter Day Eucharist tells the story of St. Mary
Magdalene meeting the Risen Christ in the garden. It is a moving account of
spiritual awakening and devoted love. The familiar Easter hymns and beautiful
flowers all combine to bring our Easter Day celebrations to a radiant and
peaceful conclusion. Easter Day has come—but Eastertide has just begun! The Great 50 Days of Easter (lasting until Pentecost) are to be savored, enjoyed, and LIVED not only for this season...but forever in the hearts of all believers.
