What is Holy Week?
We hear a lot about Holy Week when we start getting closer to Easter. As we shared earlier, Lent is the 40 days leading up to Easter. Except, these days do not include Sundays because Sundays are mini-Easters and sabbaths from our Lenten fasts.
The last week of Lent is Holy Week. It is the conclusion of Lent that reminds us of the last week of Christ’s life, leading up to his crucifixion and resurrection. To get the story, begin reading in Matthew 21:1, Mark 11:1, Luke 19:29, and John 12:12. The climax of Lent is the last three days known as the Paschal Triduum. While there are special readings and prayers for each day in Holy Week, the three days of the Paschal Triduum are the most celebrated.
This is how we will celebrate Holy Week at First Church this year.
Beginning on Palm Sunday, also known as Passion Sunday, this final Sunday in Lent includes a Procession of the Palms during worship. The children and any adults who wish to participate will receive palm branches to wave during the opening of each service. This act reminds us of Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem while people cheered for him by waving palms and shouting -Hosanna!
On Holy Monday, at 6:30 PM, we will celebrate with a Service of Prayer and Healing. During this service, our faith will be encouraged through scripture, song, and stories of healing. Then, based on James 5:14, anyone who wishes may receive an anointing of oil on their forehead and pastoral prayer for healing. You may seek physical, emotional, relational, spiritual, or any healing your heart desires for yourself or someone else.
On Holy Thursday, also known as Maundy Thursday, at 6:30 p.m., we will celebrate with a Living Last Supper performance in the chapel directed by Rachel Bland. Here is what she has to say:
Theatre has a unique power to breathe life into stories that might otherwise remain distant on the page, transforming two-dimensional biblical figures into living, feeling people we can recognize in ourselves. In this Maundy Thursday play, that transformation becomes tangible; words once read quietly are spoken aloud with urgency, silence carries weight, and familiar moments unfold with new depth. It crosses the barrier of the page, inviting the audience not just to observe the story, but to experience it, to see their own doubts, anger, loyalties, frailty, and hopes reflected in these ancient lives.
Opening this special performance, we will celebrate Holy Communion to commemorate when Jesus established this sacrament and gave us a new command, “to love each other as you have been loved.”
On Holy Friday, also known as Good Friday or Passion of the Lord, at 6:30 p.m., we will celebrate with a worship service that includes special selections from the choir called “The Seven Last Words” and a message inviting us to ponder on why Jesus was crucified. This is the day we remember when Jesus the Christ died as our crucified Lord.
On Holy Saturday, also known as Jesus’ Sabbath, Black Saturday, Bright Saturday, Harrowing of Hell, and Easter Vigil . . . that’s a lot of names for this particular day! On Saturday from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m., we will celebrate with a “Wonderfully Made Easter Egg Hunt” at Randal Tyson Park (Miracle League Fields). Bring your kids, grandkids, all the kids you can find, as we host multiple egg hunts for kids of all abilities. We’ve got 10,000 eggs!
This is an opportunity for us to have fun and serve our community in a way that demonstrates hospitality and mercy to many who do not have a church home and wonder if God loves them. Come out and show God’s love by loving your neighbor as we support our Children’s Ministry.
Holy Saturday has deep meaning behind its multiple names. One of the ancient traditions is an Easter Vigil, often held at midnight or as a sunrise service. We are celebrating with a sunrise service on Sunday morning at 7:00 AM outside in the prayer garden, located on the corner near the chapel. This special service will be led by Rev. Joshua Bland.=
Finally, we will celebrate all Easter Sunday services in the sanctuary at our regular worship times, 8:30, 9:45, and 11:00 a.m. It’s going to be a great week, and I hope you will bring everyone you can with you.
