Holy Week 2015

Holy Week — the week between Palm Sunday and Easter — is the heart of the Christian year. This is the time when we remember Jesus’ final days, his passion and death, and ultimately his glorious resurrection. We’re deliberate about walking through this story step by step, inviting God to draw us more deeply into the great truth that Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead so that we might have life in him.

It is THE week when those of us who are in the church have a profoundly different experience from those who are not.  Most of you will work during the day.  Many of you have plans for spring break while the kids are off from school.  Let me encourage you to not miss this week, to not treat it like the other 51.  We have an opportunity to take a journey together.

Here are all the details you need for each corporate worship gathering.  Please look for notes on the liturgy, childcare, parking, and what you need to bring.  I look forward to walking alongside you.

Palm Sunday:  March 29 at 9am, 11am, 5pm

• We’ll begin our worship outside on the front terrace, waving palms and shouting, “Hosanna!”  We’ll end our worship with the story of Jesus’ trial and execution, shouting, “Crucify him!”  It’s a powerful, ironic journey in just 90 minutes — and a bit of a preview of the week to come.
• Preschool-5th grade Kids’ Small Groups check in will be outside.  Nursery check in will be inside.
• Please allow 15 minutes for parking and getting to your seat.  We use the lot at the corner of Quincy and 15th Street and provide shuttle service to the church.

Morning Prayer:  Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 7am

• Each morning we will gather for 30 minutes to focus our attention on the passion of our Lord and to listen to the voice of our Father in heaven.
• Kids are welcome, but there is no childcare provided.
• Please park in the lot that is adjacent to our building.

Maundy Thursday:  April 2 at 7:30 pm

• The liturgy includes a service of footwashing and ends with the Holy Eucharist.  We remember the story of Jesus’ last supper with his disciples, when he taught them to serve each other and to remember him in the breaking of bread.
• Kids are welcome in the service.  There is a nursery available for those who are 2 and under.
• Please allow 15 minutes for parking and getting to your seat.  We use the lot at the corner of Quincy and 15th Street and provide shuttle service to the church.

Good Friday:  April 3, 9am-5pm

• The sanctuary will be open for silent prayer and meditation from 9am until 5pm.  There will be an opportunity for you to nail a piece of paper with your sins written down to a cross as part of your confession.
• At 12pm, 1pm, and 2 pm, there will be guided reflections on the stations of the cross for adults and children.  Our RestoArts team has worked hard to create images that will be used to remember these key points in Jesus’ passion.
• Kids are welcome to participate in the stations and to nail their confessions to the cross.   There is no childcare provided and please be aware of others who are gathered for silent prayer.
• Please park in the lot that is adjacent to our building.

Good Friday:  April 3 at 7:30pm

• In the evening we will have a corporate worship gathering that focuses on the Seven Last Words of Christ.  The liturgy is done in the darkness and is a beautifully poignant series of reflections, prayers, and music.
• Kids are welcome in the service, although the adult reflections are sometimes more mature in content.  Nursery is available for children 2 and under.
• Please allow 15 minutes for parking and getting to your seat.  We use the lot at the corner of Quincy and 15th Street and provide shuttle service to the church.

The Great Vigil of Easter:  April 4 at 8:30pm

• This corporate gathering of worship is the culmination of Holy Week and the beginning of the celebration of the Lord’s Resurrection. The liturgy is in four parts and through Scripture, song, and sacrament, unfolds the story of redemption.
• The liturgy begins outside on the front terrace with the kindling of the new fire and the burning of the papers from Good Friday.  Then we tell the whole story of creation, fall, and redemption, finally shouting out the first joyful “Alleluias!” of Easter and celebrating the Eucharist.  Bring a bell to ring!  Cow bells, sleigh bells, dumb bells.  Bring em!
• A “resurrection party” follows in the fellowship hall — we’ll break our Lenten fasts together.  Bring food and a fun beverage to share.  You can put them on tables in the fellowship hall before the liturgy begins.
• Kids are welcome in the service, although the length is close to 2 hours.  Nursery is not provided.
• Please allow 15 minutes for parking and getting to your seat.  We use the lot at the corner of Quincy and 15th Street and provide shuttle service to the church.

Easter Sunday:  April 5 at 9am, 11am, and 5pm

• Invite a friend or neighbor to join you as we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection!
• Kids are welcome in the service.  We will not have our normal Kids’ Small Groups, but will provide a worship guide for children during the service.  Nursery is available for kids 2 and under.
• Please allow 15 minutes for parking and getting to your seat.  We use the lot at the corner of Quincy and 15th Street and provide shuttle service to the church.