Everyone is invited to join us for our Holy Week activities:
- Palm Sunday, April 10 | 8 am & 10:30 am
- Wednesday of Holy Week, April 13 | Noon – Eucharist
- Maundy Thursday, April 14 | 7 pm – Holy Eucharist Rite II with Foot Washing
- Good Friday, April 15 | 7 pm – Liturgy for Good Friday
- Holy Saturday, April 16 | 10 am – Holy Saturday Taize Service
- Great Vigil of Easter, Saturday, April 16 | 7:30 pm – Vigil & First Eucharist of Easter
- Easter Sunday, April 17 | 8 am & 10:30 am – Festival Holy Eucharist
A more in-depth look at Holy Week at St. Thomas the Apostle
Holy Week provides us with the opportunity to walk together into the deepest mysteries of our faith. It is not an easy week to enter, for we are confronted with darkness and death. Remember, the way of the world and the Way of the Cross are vastly different. The way of the world leaves us stuck in the middle of all that is painful. The Way of the Cross offers us the intimacy of walking with Jesus and one another. We move toward light and new life. Jesus was willing to give his life to show us how to live, the ultimate reminder that Love wins. Entering into this week is an opportunity to experience this Love more deeply. May we open our hearts to this gift given freely by our God.
Wednesday, Holy Eucharist, Noon
The authorities are looking for a way to arrest and kill Jesus. The disciples do not understand what is happening. One of them is making a deal to betray him. Jesus is very alone on the journey. Come and reflect on this holy day with your brothers and sisters as we celebrate Eucharist together.
Thursday, 7:00 pm Holy Eucharist with Foot Washing and Stripping of the Altar (Incense will be used)
On this evening and during this service we recall two very significant events that remind us why we, in our denomination, worship as we do and why we are called as Christians to serve others: The Lord’s Supper and the Footwashing. We are called not only to recall in our minds the words of institution, (This is my Body, this is my Blood) but to be remembered to this experience, to sit at the table as a disciple. After the meal Jesus humbly knelt down and washed the feet of the disciples giving us the example “as I have done this for you, go and do for others.” At the end of the service the altar is stripped to help us recall the emptiness as Jesus was then betrayed, interrogated, beaten and ultimately crucified.
Good Friday, 7:00 pm
This is a very solemn day when we recall Jesus’ death on the cross. This service will include Veneration of the cross, the Solemn Collects, and Communion from the reserved sacrament from the Maundy Thursday Service. There is no celebration of the Holy Eucharist on Good Friday.
Holy Saturday, 10:00 am This is a quiet day of reflection when we recall that Jesus was in the tomb and the disciples were in deep despair fearing that their dream of a new kingdom had died along with Jesus. There is a brief service in the Book of Common Prayer (p. 283) with scripture readings that individuals are encouraged to pray on their own.
The Great Vigil of Easter – 7:30 pm Saturday night (Incense will be used)
This is considered the first service of Easter Day. We begin in darkness and then joyfully move into the light of Easter. The service consists of 4 parts:
- The service of light
- The service of Lessons
- Christian Initiation or the Renewal of Baptismal Vows
- The Holy Eucharist with the Administration of Communion
Easter Day – 8:00 am and 10:30 am (no 8am Eucharist)
This is a most joyful celebration as we recall what Christ has done for us, how he has trampled down death so that we might live in fullness of life with him. Come and celebrate the Holy Eucharist and proclaim Alleluia once again.
