Maundy Thursday, April 1
10 past noon, Mid-day Eucharist
7:00pm, Service with absolution, footwashing, Eucharist of the Last Supper, stripping of the altar.

Good Friday, April 2
10 past noon, Stations of the Cross Procession on campus begins in front of the church.
7:00pm, Tennebrae Service with reading of the Passion, prayers for the life of the world, adoration of the cross. 

Saturday, April 3, Great Vigil of Easter
10:00pm, Great Vigil of Easter, First Mass of the Resurrection, followed by reception.

Holy Week and The Triduum

We are entering into the most holy days of our church year. On Passion Sunday, with a procession beginning at International House, we remember Christ's triumphant entry into Jerusalem. We raise and carry palms along the way, continuing the festive mood as we enter the church.

The mood changes in the middle of the service as we read the Gospel Passion story, We realize what is happening, that Jesus is being rejected by the world.

Next we enter into Holy Week and the Triduum, the three days--three sacred days, the Christian high holy days, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Vigil of Easter, held in Saturday night darkness. We invite all seekers to participate in the liturgy to the degree to which they feel comfortable.

On Maundy Thursday we remember the great memorial Christ left us in the holy supper with unfailing love for the human family, as well as his commandment, Mandati -- love one another as I have loved you. The service is broken into four parts: Word: including Confession and the absolution; Service: where we remember Christ’s servanthood in the washing of feet; third, the memorial of the Last Supper, as we experience God's unfailing love in the Holy Eucharist; and finally, we strip the altar of its paraments, representing Christ's scourging and final rejection. 

The service continues--for the three great days are one continuous liturgy--on Good Friday, when the church gathers to hear again the Passion story of Jesus' suffering and death. We pray for the life of the world, and we recite again the familiar Psalms of the suffering servant.

We meditate on the life-giving cross, and offer thanksgiving for the wood of tree on which our Salvation suffered and died. It is a very personal service, one of quiet meditation in a darkened church. By UniLu tradition, the organ is silent from Thursday night until the Easter Vigil, so all chants and songs are sung without accompaniment.

The Vigil of Easter on Saturday night is the very foundation of our Christian faith, the crowning moment of the church's year. The liturgy's Easter proclamation announces in words written more than 1500 years ago, "This is the night in which all who believe in Christ are rescued from evil and the gloom of sin, are renewed in grace, and are restored to holiness."

The service begins beside a small fire outside the church, where we hear the familiar, historic stories of creation and, moving to the baptismal font, of Noah and the flood. By the light of the Paschal candle, we move into the dark sanctuary to hear the other stories of God's love and salvation.

Returning to the font, we renew our baptismal promises, receive new members into the church, and baptize candidates who have been preparing to become Christians throughout the Lenten season.

Then, as the pastor knocks on the door of the tomb/sanctuary, proclaiming "Christ is Risen," we celebrate the first Mass of the Resurrection. Singing a hymn of praise, once again we enter God's temple, hear the story of the Resurrection, and celebrate the Eucharist. We rejoice and celebrate once more, for the fast is over; Christ is risen from the dead.

The celebration continues with the Festival of the Resurrection the next morning, with special music, choirs and instruments of praise, lilies and hyacinths, and much rejoicing.

Join us for our Holy Week and Easter Services. All are welcome, regardless of denominational tradition!