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Holy Week - Maunday Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday
By Pat Lee | March 20, 2008
The Three Days of Easter: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday
The Season of Lent ends as we begin our celebration of the Maundy Thursday Holy Eucharist at 7:30 p.m.
During the days of Lent we have tried to observe a Holy Lent–by self-examination, penitence, prayer, fasting, alms-giving and by reading and meditating on the word of God. (BAS page 282).
And now the liturgical life of our church and our individual observations are focussed on the events of Maundy Thursday through Easter Sunday. This sacred time is often called The Three Days of Easter.
It is the time that the historical event of the life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth through whom we have been redeemed is most fully celebrated in the Church.
These days are the culmination of the entire Church year. The worship flows together into one worship experience–a time to spend with God– a time like no other. Through what we do in worship beginning on Thursday evening we express our identity as Christians who worship in the Anglican spiritual tradition.
Maundy Thursday 7:30 p.m. Holy Eucharist concluding with the removal of the ornaments and cloths–The Institution of the Lord’s Supper–Jesus’ new commandment “that you love one another as I have loved you”–Jesus goes to Gethsame.
Good Friday—10:00 a.m. The Crucifixion of Jesus
At the end of the service, the wooden cross will be taken to St. Francis’ for use in the Good Friday Walk (12:00 noon) that concludes back at St. John’s.
From the conclusion of the Good Friday service until the Holy Communion at 5:00 on Saturday, we observe Holy Saturday.
Holy Saturday: It seems good that there is a gap between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. There is usually a time lag in our own lives between the source of suffering and our gradual return to new life. In the Apostle’s Creed, we profess our belief that Jesus “descended to the dead” to proclaim the good news to those who had gone before (1Peter 3:19) No-one was, or is, or ever will be out of the reach of the saving power of the cross. Jesus was, and is, and always will be the Saviour of the world, whose healing reconciling love is accessible to all, across time and space. There is an icon that depicts Christ breaking the doors of hell, grasping the wrists of Adam and Eve and lifting them victoriously toward heaven. Adam and Eve do nothing to help. Their salvation, like ours, is a gift from God in the person of Jesus. All we need do is accept the gift and let it touch our hearts and shape the way we live our lives.
Saturday 5:00 p.m.–Holy Communion
Easter Sunday–8:00 a.m. & 10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist
Topics: Lent |