Holy Week at St. Mark’s

Holy Week for Christians is the time of renewal and refreshment. Through the Church’s liturgical re-enactment beginning with our Lord’s entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday through his resurrection before sunrise on Easter morning, we share in a week-long “passion play.” By entering into the contemplation of those mighty acts whereby God has given us life and immortality, the power of the Resurrection is re-quickened in each of us for another year. Plan now to set aside time during Holy Week to attend each of these unique liturgies.

Palm Sunday, March 16, Blessing of Palms at 10 a.m. Eucharist

Since the 4th century in Jerusalem, when Christian faithful first gathered at the Mount of Olives on Palm Sunday and with singing and waving of branches have escorted their bishop, riding on an ass, into the city of Jerusalem, Christians have commemorated the triumphal entry of our Lord into Jerusalem. Today, with palms – symbols of victory – we begin our observance of the week of Jesus’ passion and so recall the strange and wondrous victory which is ours in Christ. We gather on the patio (or in the Nave in case of rain) and move in procession as we sing “All Glory. Laud and Honor.” Scripture readings for Liturgy of the Palms available by clicking here.

We then proceed to the Palm Sunday Liturgy, hear Passion Gospel and are plunged into the journey of Holy Week. Scripture readings for Palm Sunday are available by clicking here.

Tenebrae, Wednesday, March 19, 7:30 p.m. in Church Nave

The name Tenebrae (the Latin for “darkness” or “shadows”) has for centuries been applied to the ancient monastic night and early morning services (Matins and Lauds) of the last three days of Holy Week, which in medieval times came to be celebrated on the preceding evenings.

Apart from the chant of the Lamentations (in which each verse is introduced by a letter of the Hebrew alphabet), the most conspicuous feature of the service is the gradual extinguishing of candles and other lights in the church until only a single candle, considered a symbol of our Lord, remains. Toward the end of the service this candle is hidden, typifying the apparent victory of the forces of evil.

At the very end, a loud noise is made, symbolizing the earthquake at the time of the resurrection (Matthew 28:2). The hidden candle is restored to its place, and by its light all depart in silence. Scripture readings available by clicking here.

Maundy Thursday, March 20
6:30 p.m. Dinner, Liturgy and Vigil
Choral Music: Ubi Caritas, Maurice Duruflé

This day takes its name from the ceremony of the “washing of feet” – the Mandatum - which gave the popular name “Maundy” to it. In the old Latin service books, the day was always called Coena Domini, “The Lord’s Supper,” in commemoration of the institution of the Eucharist “on the night in which he was betrayed.” Both themes of our Lord’s waiting on tables and washing feet point us to our own servant ministries in mutual love and fellowship within the church and beyond in the world. This year, our liturgy is set in the context of a simple meal and will take place in the Parish Hall, which is accessible from the garage and patio by stairs or elevator. An offering will be received to defray the cost of the meal and make a donation to our feeding programs. If you choose to participate in the foot washing, remember to wear easily removable shoes and socks. At the end of the communion, we will process to the nave, where the sanctuary will be stripped and readied for Good Friday. Following this, you are invited to remain in the chapel/garden of repose for an hour’s vigil, recalling our Lord’s prayer in Gethsemane and his question, “Could you not watch with me for one hour?” Scripture readings available by clicking here.

Good Friday, March 21
“Three Hours” Observed from Noon to 3 p.m.
Liturgy with Music of the Passion at 7:30 p.m.

The popular name given to this day in medieval England has supplanted all other designations, and happily so, for the term ‘Good Friday’ (from Godde’s Friday) serves to dispel the gloom that might well settle upon the observances of this day by reminding us of the blessings that have come to us from the Cross of Christ. Early Christians celebrated this day as one of the victory of Christ over sin and death.

The Eucharist is not celebrated on this day. Rather, we gather together to hear the Word of God, especially the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St. John. Then, we offer our prayers to God with the five solemn petitions for the church, the world, the suffering, the unbelieving, and ourselves. Finally, we see the wooden cross carried into the church and are invited to make our personal devotions before it.

From Noon to 3 p.m. we observe the tradition of the “Three Hours” that Jesus hung upon the cross in periods of silence, poetry, and music, ending in the Stations of the Cross.

At the evening service, the choir offers music of the Passion. The choral music will include:

O Vos omnes by Victoria and Pablo Casals
Lamb of God by F. Melius Christiansen
Crucifixus by Antonio Lotti
Reproaches by Victoria
Fragrant the Prayer by Curt Oliver

Scripture readings for Good Friday are available by clicking here.

Easter at St. Mark’s

Great Vigil of Easter, March 22 at 8:30 p.m.

The Easter Vigil, one of the most wondrous and mysterious liturgies of the season will be enriched this year by the work of Rev. Jim Friedrich. For the past twenty years, Jim has worked with communities to create liturgies that enrich worship by using stories, visual arts, theater and music to deepen understanding and appreciation of the liturgy, to hear the Word anew and to experience the transformation of the liturgies with all of our senses. He has worked with eight different Episcopal churches in California and Washington on imaginative Vigil collaborations.

With St. Marks, Jim is working especially with stories from Hebrew Scripture which form such an important part of the four fold liturgy – the new fire, the stories, the baptisms and the Easter Eucharist.

Fire and Stories

We will begin in the courtyard with a bonfire and process into the Parish hall for stories dramatically read and acted by members of St. Marks accompanied by an ensemble of shape-note singers and acoustic musicians.

A number of children and teens in our community will participate in the stories read and enacted by St. Mark’s lectors and other parishioners.

At the conclusion of the stories, the congregation will begin its journey towards Easter, slowly descending the stairs and crossing the courtyard to enter the sanctuary.

Baptism and Easter Eucharist
Choral Music: Sicut Cervus by Palestrina

After entering the sanctuary, the congregation will gather in the rear of the church, around the font, for the baptism of two infants and one adult.

Accompanied by the choir and the newly baptized, we will then move to the front pews, and with a great outburst of joy, the first Eucharist of Easter will begin. George Emblom and the choir are preparing traditional and contemporary music for the service in the church. Following the Eucharist, all are invited to break the Lenten fast with a festive reception in Hodgkin Hall. Please bring a ‘goodie’ to share at the reception, if you are able.

The Easter Vigil will have all of the hallmarks of “St. Mark’s Easter Vigil”: it will be beautiful, the music and incense will be rich, and it will have the solemnity and mystery of this supremely sacred moment in our calendar. But it may also offer us a new experience – a dramatic, physical experience of the biblical history which culminates in the resurrection.

The Vigil is the place where Holy Week becomes Easter, and the cumulative effect of this richly layered night service provides a transformative overture to the festive rites of Easter Day. Scripture readings are available by clicking here.

Easter Sunday, March 23
Holy Eucharist 8 a.m. in Chapel

Choral Eucharist at 10 a.m. in Nave
Choral Music Includes:
Christus Vincit by Noyen
Sing ye to the Lord by Bairstow
A Repeating Alleluia by Calvin Hampton

Easter Egg Hunt Follows 10 a.m. Liturgy

The Feast of the Resurrection is the greatest and oldest feast in the Christian Church. The derivation of the name “Easter” is uncertain. The Venerable Bede though it came from the name of the Anglo-Saxon Spring goddess “Eostre.” As with Christmas, it is clear that it superseded an old pagan festival.

The popular custom of exchanging Easter Eggs is very ancient in origin. Christians, however, do not celebrate the rebirth of nature in its annual cycle, but the gift of eternal life given us by God in the power of the resurrection of his Son Jesus Christ from the grave. Our main (10 AM) liturgy this day will feature a brass choir and our own superb Choir Association and will be followed by a festive reception and a children’s Easter egg hunt. There will also be seasonal activities for young children on the patio during the service. All are warmly encouraged to attend this great celebration. Scripture readings for Easter Day are available by clicking here.

Holy Week and Easter 2008