This Sunday

Thursday, April 18  Maundy Thursday

12:00 p.m. – Holy Eucharist with Washing of Feet (Nave)
7:00 p.m. – Holy Eucharist with Washing of Feet (Nave)

Exodus 12:1-4 [5-10] 11-14 The Passover of the LORD
1 Corinthians 11:232-26 Proclaim the LORD’s death
John 13:1-17. 31b-35 The service of Christ: footwashing and meal
Psalmody: Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19 I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD. (Ps.116:13)
Hymn of the Day: Hymn 708, Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us with Your Love, CHEREPONI

This Thursday is called “Maundy,” which means “command,” from the verse in John’s gospel in which Jesus commands us to love another as he loved us. We hear about the Passover lamb, Jesus’ last meal with his disciples before his death, and Jesus washing his disciples’ feet. You are invited to have your feet washed and then to wash the feet of another worshiper. You hold the heel, you pour the water, you wipe it dry. Finally we strip the chancel bare, to ready ourselves for Good Friday.

Friday, April 19  Good Friday

12:00 p.m. – Holy Eucharist (Nave)
7:00 p.m. – Holy Eucharist (Nave)

Isaiah 52:13—53:12 The suffering servant
Hebrews 10:16-25 The way to God is opened
John 18:1–19:42 The Passion and death of Jesus
Psalmody: Psalm 22 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (Ps. 22:1)
Hymn of the Day:  Hymn 345, Jesus, I Will Ponder Now, JESU KREUZ, LEIDEN UND PEIN

Why do we call this day Good? In John’s telling of Jesus’ passion, Jesus is “I am,” the God who reigns from the cross, the king who discusses theology with Pilate. Listen for the differences between John’s passion and Luke’s passion that we heard on Sunday. At this service we pray for everyone we can think of, and we confess that it is our sin that crucified Christ. If it is helpful for you, you can come forward to reverence the cross as part of your prayer.

Saturday, April 20  Resurrection of Our Lord, Vigil of Easter

7:00 p.m. – Holy Eucharist (Nave)

 Genesis 1:1—2:4a Creation
Genesis 7:1-5, 11-18; 8:6-18; 9:8-13 Flood
Exodus 14:10-31; 15:20-21 Deliverance of the Red Sea
Isaiah 55:1-11 Salvation freely offered to all
Ezekiel 36:24-28 A new heart and a new spirit
Ezekiel 37:1-14 Valley of the dry bones
Jonah 1:1—2:1 The deliverance of Jonah
John 20:1-18 Seeing the Risen Christ
Hymn of the Day: Hymn 362, At the Lamb’s High Feast We Sing, SONNE DER GERECHTIGKEIT

Forgotten by most Christians for about 1400 years, the Easter Vigil is being restored to its place as a central worship service of the year. Weather permitting, we gather outside to light a great fire, praising the risen Christ as our light. We then sing songs and hear beloved stories, inspiring poems, delightful tales, and the Easter gospel from John, all of which proclaim that God is always giving new life. We then thank God for baptism. Finally we conclude this three-day service with the first holy communion of Easter, and we get to sing Alleluia again.

Sunday, April 21  Resurrection of Our Lord, Easter Day

10:00 a.m.—Holy Eucharist (Nave)

Isaiah 65:17-25 New heavens and a new earth
Acts 10:34-43 God raised Jesus on the third day
Luke 24:1-12 Women proclaim the resurrection
Psalmody: Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. (Ps. 118:2-4)
Hymn of the Day: Hymn 364, Christ Has Arisen, Alleluia, MFURAHINI, HALELUYA

What does it mean to be Christian? Christians are those who are enlivened by their faith that the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ can transform themselves and the world. Each Sunday we gather to praise the resurrection, but Easter is our annual blow-out celebration. This year we hear the gospel from Luke, we share the meal of the Lord, and we sing Alleluia over and over again.