Holy week is the most important time of the Christian
year when we commemorate and re-experience the events that led to our
salvation.
The week begins with Palm Sunday when we remember
Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The people thought (rightly) that Jesus
had come to save them but they were mistaken about the means: They expected the
definitive overthrow of the Roman oppression. But that was not to happen. He
rode into Jerusalem on a donkey fulfilling prophecies of his humility and the
people through down palm branches to cover his way. We will commemorate this by
meeting in the gymnasium and blessing palms while we listen to the story of
Jesus entry into Jerusalem. After this we will process into the church singing
hymns of praise. Then the mood of the liturgy shifts suddenly and becomes
somber. This is the only Sunday of the year that we read the story of Jesus
death in church. During the rest of the Mass we remain focused on Jesus death
on the cross for us.
On Tuesday the Bishop celebrates the Chrism Mass. We
now do this by sharing with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
This mass commemorates the “ordination” of the apostles and consequently all of
the orders of ministry in the Church (bishops, priests and deacons). At the
Mass, the clergy renew their ordination vows. Also at this Mass the Bishop
blesses the sweet scented holy oil (Chrism) that is used in the sacrament of
baptism. Each parish takes a share of the oil to use during that year. Traditionally,
this event was celebrated on the morning of Maundy Thursday, but that is not
practical because of the geographical size of the diocese.
On Wednesday evening we will
celebrate a ritual known as Tenebrae; the word literally means darkness in Latin.
There will be a series of readings and after each reading one of the candles in
the chapel will be snuffed out until we end seated in darkness. Then there is a
loud noise like a clap of thunder or an earthquake that commemorates the
earthquake that occurred at the time of Jesus’ death on the Cross.
The next three days form what is
called the Triduum or the Great Three Days of Easter. This includes Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. The three services are really on long
service with breaks between the parts. One can tell this because there is no
dismissal at the end of these services.
Thursday is called “Maundy”
Thursday because at the Last Supper Christ gave a new commandment (mandatum in
Latin): “Love one another as I have loved you.” We will begin with a potluck
dinner at 6:00 PM. After that we will celebrate the Mass of the Last Supper.
There the Gospel tells the story of how Jesus washed his disciples’ feet. In
Jewish hospitality of Jesus’ time a host provided water and towels for his
guests to wash their feet. Even a Jewish slave could not be compelled to do
this utterly humble service. But this is what Jesus did for his disciples and
then he said, “as I have done for you, you must do for each other. At Mass
Father James and Deacon Richard will wash each other’s feet. Any one else may
participate in the washing of feet if they wish but it is not a requirement. It
is enough to watch the reenactment of Jesus’ humility. After this Holy
Communion continues but at the end the Blessed Sacrament is removed from the
Church and taken to the Hikari Chapel where people spend some time remembering
the Agony in the Garden. After this the altar is stripped and washed and every
thing is removed from the sanctuary while Psalm 22 is said or sung. Then all
depart in silence. The presence light in the church is extinguished.
On Good Friday, the day of
Jesus’ death, we will celebrate two services: At noon we will celebrate the
Office for Good Friday from the Book of Common Prayer. This includes scripture
readings; the Gospel is the story of the passion of Christ from the Gospel of
John. Then solemn intercessions, the veneration of the cross and Holy
Communion. After communion all depart in silence. At 7:00 PM we will celebrate
the Stations of the Cross in the sanctuary; this will be a family friendly
conversational remembrance of Jesus journey to crucifixion.
The major service of the day on
Holy Saturday is the Easter Vigil traditionally celebrated after dark and before
dawn on Easter Sunday because it was sometime during the watches of the night
that Jesus rose from the dead. This liturgy is a long service that begins with
the blessing of new fire and then the blessing of a Paschal Candle. This is
followed by nine readings that recall the whole story of salvation history from
the Creation through the Flood through the covenant with Abraham, the
deliverance at the Red Sea and the prophecies of redemption. The first part of
the service is celebrated in darkness. The blessing of water follows with
Baptisms. Then the resurrection is proclaimed, the church lights come on, the
Alleluia is sung for the first time since Ash Wednesday. Holy Communion follows
and the Mass ends with a dismissal by the deacon with a double Alleluia. We do not celebrate the Easter Vigil at St.
Peter’s. Other options would include St. Mark’s Cathedral (1245 Tenth Avenue
East) at 8:30 PM, St. Clement’s (1501 32nd Avenue South) at 9 PM or Phinney
Ridge Lutheran Church (7500 Greenwood Ave N) at 6:30 PM
Easter Sunday services here at St.
Peters begins at 10:00 AM as usual and will include the renewal of baptismal
vows.
