Holy Week at St. Michael's
Holy Week is the most important week of the Christian year. The days of Holy Week are filled with worship, prayer, silence, and contemplation on the great act of love of Christ. Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday, April 10th, and culminates with The Great Vigil of Easter on Saturday, April 16th. The next day we all gather to celebrate The Sunday of the Resurrection, commonly known as Easter Sunday. Learn more about the services and join us, either in person or online, as we enter a holy week of prayer and thanksgiving for the love Jesus has for us and all creation.
Palm Sunday
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Holy Week begins on Sunday, April 10th with The Sunday of the Passion, also known as Palm Sunday. We begin our service in the Parish Hall, offering prayers that we may be open to reflect on the acts of love Jesus will do for us in the coming days. We hear the story of Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem. We, like the people of that day, wave palms to celebrate Jesus. The choir leads us into the Church, where we continue our worship.
The day begins in celebration and shouts of, "Hosanna!" but it does not end there. We hear the Gospel account of Jesus' crucifixion, called the Passion Gospel. We are reminded of just how quickly we humans can make enemies from our friends. The service ends is silence as we are invited to reflect on all that Jesus offered to us in love, and all that we have too often rejected. The service bulletin is here, and the readings for this day are here. |
Holy WednesdayHoly Wednesday is a day traditionally dedicated to prayer for healing for ourselves and others. We will gather at our usual Wednesday Eucharist and during Holy Week, offer prayers for healing in body, mind, and spirit and, for those who desire, anointing with Holy Oil.
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Maundy Thursday
The Vigil at the Altar follows the Maundy Thursday service for all who would like to stay and pray through the evening.
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Maundy Thursday is the first evening of the Sacred Triduum. Tonight, we gather to hear and respond to Jesus’ teaching about the Great Commandment to love. Jesus says to his disciples (and that includes us), “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
Love for Jesus and for his followers is more than a word; it is also an act. Jesus washes the feet of his disciples, a deeply profound act of service, and institutes the Holy Eucharist on this night. We gather with Jesus and his followers as we hear the words of Our Lord, as we wash each other’s feet in an extravagant (and uncomfortable) act of servant ministry, and as we join with him in the Last Supper. As the Maundy Thursday liturgy pauses, we are invited to pray and wait at the Altar of Repose, a time to sit with the presence of Christ as we wait for Good Friday. Once we begin this journey with Christ, we and all of creation will be forever changed. The service bulletin with the readings for this service is here. |
Good Friday
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On Good Friday, we hear the Passion Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ and pray for the needs of ourselves, others, and the world. At 12:30 pm we have Communion from the Reserved Sacrament, and at 6:30 pm we offer Veneration of the Cross.
The Church is open beginning at 7:00 am on Good Friday for prayer and meditation on the great sacrifice of love Christ made for us. The service bulletin for this service is available here. The Rite of Reconciliation (also known as Confession) is also available on this day (and any time). Please contact the Church Office for more information. |
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Holy Saturday and the Great Vigil of Easter
Alleluia! Christ is Risen!
The glory of Holy Week is that we witness profound grief, and we are also witnesses to the grace of profound love. We gather at 6:30 pm on Saturday to being the Great Vigil of Easter in the Parish Hall. There we hear ancient hymns and readings of God's great love for us. We reaffirm our Baptismal vows, then celebrate the first Eucharist of Easter. A reception will follow, so if you are able, please bring an appetizer or finger foods to share.
We continue our Easter celebration on Easter Sunday, April 17th at 8:30 am and 10:30 am with the Holy Eucharist and a reception following both services. Join us as we proclaim the great gift of God's love to each other and to the world!
The glory of Holy Week is that we witness profound grief, and we are also witnesses to the grace of profound love. We gather at 6:30 pm on Saturday to being the Great Vigil of Easter in the Parish Hall. There we hear ancient hymns and readings of God's great love for us. We reaffirm our Baptismal vows, then celebrate the first Eucharist of Easter. A reception will follow, so if you are able, please bring an appetizer or finger foods to share.
We continue our Easter celebration on Easter Sunday, April 17th at 8:30 am and 10:30 am with the Holy Eucharist and a reception following both services. Join us as we proclaim the great gift of God's love to each other and to the world!
