Sunday, March 29, we begin Holy Week as we remember our Lord’s entrance to Jerusalem with our Palm Sunday service at 10:30 am.

On Thursday, April 2, at 7:00 pm, with our Maundy/Holy Thursday service, we remember the institution of the Lord’s Supper as Jesus celebrated the Passover meal with the disciples. We also remember how those same disciples deserted our Lord on that night when He was betrayed. In this service we celebrate the Supper; we remember the abandonment with the stripping of the altar in twelve steps and the voices gradually leaving our final hymn and a lone violin being heard to conclude the hymn.

Our Good Friday Tenebrae Service on April 3 at 7:00 pm, we recount the Passion Narrative as we see the sanctuary grow darker and darker until no light remains. The increasing darkness reminds us of the weight of our sin that Jesus took upon Himself as He dies on the cross and gives new life to us and the world.

The Easter Vigil Service, on Saturday, April 4, at 8:30 pm, has us begin in the darkness let forth by the Light of Christ into the sanctuary where we hear readings from salvation history, celebrate baptism and affirmation of our baptisms, and go to the Lord in prayer. Then as we wait in prayer, the announcement goes forth of the resurrection and the light illuminates the sanctuary as we celebrate the news of Easter. The altar is prepared and the “decorations” of the sanctuary return as we rejoice in the restoration the Resurrection brings. We celebrate the Service of the Word and the Service of the Sacrament rejoicing in the foretaste of the feast to come.

The celebration concludes with our festival service on Easter Sunday, the Day of Resurrection, April 5, at 10:30 am.

We hope you will celebrate the Christ’s victory over sin and death with us as we remember and rejoice this Holy Week and Easter season!