St. Paul’s Holy Week 2024
Holy Week at St. Paul’s - This is the most involved, dramatic time of not just the Church’s liturgical year but of the Christian faith itself. Yes, it culminates in the celebration of the resurrection, which cemented our understanding of Jesus as the Christ. But – if we don’t make time to remember His suffering and death, how can we fully appreciate His resurrection? If you haven’t attended these services before, we urge you to join us this year. Your Easter will be changed.
So, what are all those Episcopal services and what can I expect when I attend?
Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday – On this Sunday morning, we remember and re-enact (sans donkey!) Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem before what can feel like a head-spinning shift straight into his trial and crucifixion. Our children will be leading us off in the Parish Hall with their praise-filled voices, so come hear them and be part of the procession!
If you feel the need to recollect your thoughts after the highs and lows of the morning service, then Evening Prayer in the Old Stone Church later at 5:30 may be calling you.
Monday-Wednesday of Holy Week – Each evening at 5:30 in the nave (the main church), St. Paul’s lay persons will lead Evening Prayer, with lessons from Gospel highlighting events from the last week of Jesus’ mortal life.
Maundy Thursday – Come to remember and celebrate Jesus’ institution of the New Covenant in the sacrament of His Body and Blood. Jesus’ washing his disciples’ feet is also remembered at this service and yes, can feel almost as uncomfortable for us today as it did for his disciples then; you may participate as you feel called, or remain in prayerful contemplation in the pew. The evening begins at 5:30 in the Parish Hall with an “Agape Meal,” a very simple, meatless meal where we will hear the Good News of God’s love as so eloquently expressed in the 17th chapter of the Gospel according to John. The evening ends with the stripping of the altar, a stark reminder of what was facing Jesus and his disciples.
Gethsemane Overnight Prayer Vigil – A tradition in Episcopal and other churches throughout the world, this is your opportunity to stay awake for an hour to pray, as Jesus asked of his disciples on that last night. You may pray at the church or at your home – please sign up for a specific hour on the sign-up sheet at the back of the church, or you may call the church office to let us know which hour; we will provide suggested materials if you don’t know where to start on this night of Christ’s agony. (For security reasons, we need the name(s) and contact information for each person who plans to be at the church.)
Good Friday – At noon, you will have the opportunity to walk in “The Way of the Cross” (also known as “Stations of the Cross”), when lay leaders will recount the events of Jesus’ last day as a mortal, stopping at each station (those striking black and white portraits along the walls of our nave) for a brief reading and prayer.
The Good Friday Liturgy will be offered at 5:30, with solemn remembrance of Christ’s crucifixion and including communion from the reserved sacrament. This is the time we remember and intentionally reflect on the agony of the cross and Jesus’ extraordinary sacrifice for us.
Holy Saturday – At 9:30 in the morning, we’ll have a simple service of lessons and prayer in the midst of that holy time between His crucifixion and resurrection.
The Great Vigil of Easter, 7:30pm - If you like a good story, this is THE story. If you like a good mystery, this is THE mystery. Do you like flashes of fire, and music? Can you hardly wait to joyfully shout “alleluia”?? This, the Christian Passover, is THE service, celebrating our passage from sin into grace, from darkness into light. Come witness the lighting of the Paschal fire, hear the story of Exodus, renew your baptismal vows, and take part in the first Eucharist of Easter. As the author of the work on the conduct of Episcopal services wrote, “[o]f all the celebrations of the Church Year, the Great Vigil of Easter is pre-eminent, for it alone vividly and dramatically portrays all that was, that is, and that ever shall be in the drama of our redemption: Christ yesterday and today, the Beginning and the End, the Alpha and the Omega. His are the times and ages and to him be glory and dominion through all ages of eternity. Amen.”*
The story of Palm Sunday to Easter is the story of God’s infinite love. It the story of us, His children. Come. Listen. Learn and remember who we are and who God want us to be.
*Dennis Michno from 'A Priest's Handbook: The Ceremonies of the Church,' 3rd Ed., 1998
“I invite you . . .to the observance of a holy Lent”
Lenten Weekly Study, Supper & Fellowship
On Sundays starting February 18, we invite you to join St. Paul’s observance of a holy Lent by also coming for weekly study, supper, and fellowship at 6:15 in the parish hall (after Evening Prayer in the Old Stone Church). We’ll enjoy savory soups and bread as we discuss Richard Wilke’s “He Set His Face to Jerusalem,” a seven-week study using the Gospel of Luke to explore Jesus’s commitment to go to Jerusalem.
A retired Methodist bishop, Rev. Wilke encourages us in this study also to examine the directions in which we set our own faces, in our relationships with God and our neighbors. Whether you call it Christian Formation, Sunday School, Bible Study or an easy meal, we hope you’ll answer the call to it – to grow in understanding and wisdom, in truth and love, and in fellowship with your companions in faith.
You can sign up here or on the physical sign-up sheet in the back of the church, where there soon will be a limited number of books available for purchase or loan.
What else can you expect in worship this Lent?
On all Sunday mornings in Lent, we change from singing “Glory to God” (the Gloria) to “have mercy on us” (the Kyrie). We will also incorporate two beautiful pre- and post-communion prayers from our Rite I liturgy.
On the First Sunday in Lent (Feb. 18), our morning service will be joyfully unusual as we rejoice with the angels to have two baptisms!
On the Second Sunday in Lent, our Lenten liturgy will begin in earnest as we open the service of Holy Eucharist with Lenten-traditional The Great Litany (Book of Common Prayer, pp. 148-153), an ordered collection of prayers for deliverance from things that could harm us and for the good we desire for ourselves and our neighbors.
On the remaining Sunday mornings in Lent we will open with A Penitential Order: Rite II (BCP pp. 351-353), with its reminder of the greatest commandments.
Evening Prayer (5:30 on Sundays) will use the more formal language of Rite I for you long-time Episcopalians who miss this, and those of you relative newbies interested in a change of pace.
Your Newly-Authorized Worship Committee
So, you may ask, who chose these various means for our observance of a holy Lent? Answer - your newly-authorized Worship Committee. A sub-committee of the Vestry, this group represents a wide range of liturgical interests and experiences, with all members committed to planning worship services that conform to our Episcopal tradition in ways that lovingly serve this community, especially in this time of transition. Once we have a rector (or interim rector) in place, the committee will continue to serve as one of advice, counsel and information on the needs of the parish, to support the rector.
When you see them, please thank Ken Cannon, Jim DeFrancia, Duane Erwin, JoAnne Grace, Nicole Hickory, Vincent Johns-Lee, and Sandy Schwindy for their loving service on this committee, along with Tracie Detwiler from the Leadership Team. You may also share with them and with me any questions or concerns you have about worship at St. Paul’s.
So come, whoever you are and wherever you find yourself on your journey to God, as together we set our faces to Jerusalem in remembrance of the One who died for our salvation.
In faith in Christ –
Susan Cahoon
Vestry member and Worship Committee Chair
[1] Marion J. Hatchett, Commentary on the American Prayer Book