The Message: How to Get From Hosanna to Alleluia
On Sunday, I invited us into the discomfort of Holy Week, a week that starts with Hosanna for the King and ends with an Alleluia and an empty tomb. Despite the book ends of celebration and join, the “meat” of Holy Week is filled with betrayal, misunderstandings, scapegoating, a trial and a crucifixion. While it is tempting to go Sunday to Sunday, joy to joy, there is great prayer to be done in the in between times with Christ. The human component to Jesus during Holy Week, especially the roles of those closest to him, grant insight into the why of the Crucifixion and Resurrection. We are called to pray openly and honestly about our wonderings, questionings, fears and realizations.

We hope that you can join us for our Holy Week offerings:

April 2nd, Maundy Thursday There is a dinner and quiet service, starting at 6:30. There will be teenagers with some kid activities, too (Pre-k and older aged kids). The service is really lovely and meaningful. Dinner is done potluck style. You can email Charlotte at charlotterogers091@gmail.com to sign up to bring something.

April 3rd, Good Friday hosts 3 services, a quiet noon day service, an interactive stations of the cross for families at 6 and a quiet stations and Tenebrae service at 7:30. The service at 6 is 7 stations long and involves an activity at each station. The readings at the 6 are shorter and there is not the expectation of silence but rather an adventure in kid reverence. (shorthand for we take on a serious topic with kids and we invite them to reflect and wonder aloud while doing our activities.) The service at 7:30pm combines two traditional services into one: the Stations of the Cross and Tenebrae (“darkening”). We begin with 14 lit candles at the altar, along with the Christ Candle. As we visit each station, another candle is extinguished, until only the Christ Candle is left. A very moving service.

The Easter Vigil is Saturday, the 4th at 4. (That’s easy to remember right?) The Easter Vigil is unabashedly my absolute favorite Episcopal Service. We recount stories from the Old Testament, we renew our baptismal vows, we proclaim the Resurrection of Christ. This one is fully interactive, with fire, water guns, bells, streamers – you name it! It is fun and lively. The music is a mix of traditional, well-known and beloved hymns and kid-friendly camp songs. Your kids can participate and make noise. It is a lot of fun. Admittedly, it is a longer service, but that is why it has so many interactive elements and we are starting it earlier so that when it ends you can do the dinner, bath, bed routine that your family has come to know and love. (Also leaves ample time for the Easter bunny to do his/her thing.)

Sunday, April 5th Easter morning hosts 2 services, one at 8 and one at 10. 8 will be quieter with less music. 10 will be a typical festivities, followed by an Easter Egg hunt. After the 10am service, we have an enhanced fellowship. If you are interested in bring a light snack to share, please drop it at the kitchen window before the church service.

If you are unable to join us for services, here are just a few ideas for your own prayerful meditation and reflection.

-Read the Passion narratives in the four Gospels. (Matthew 26:30–27:66, Mark 14:26–15:47, Luke22:39–23:56, and John 18:1–19:42)

-Prayerfully bake. Hot crossed buns and pretzels are traditional Lent and Holy Week baked goods. As you bake, silently or aloud say the names of those for whom you offer prayers this week.

-Hammer. Hammer nails into a board and reflect on your sins and on the communal sins  in which we each are complicit.

-Check out these awesome children’s passion sets that you can make from Catholic Icing.

-Journal a 1st person narrative, putting yourself as a by-stander or disciple during these fateful events. Consider honestly what role, you would have played.

-Have a conversation with someone about these events. Why did they happen? Why did they have to happen? Did they have to happen? What does the Resurrection mean? Why does it matter? What are the roles involved in the people surrounding Jesus during the Passion narratives? Where do you see those roles play out still?

Wishing you a reflective and blessed Holy Week, and hoping to see you at some of the Holy Week services!

 

Yours in Christ,

Mother Shivaun

Missioner for Parish Engagement