About Holy Week

There is tremendous variation in how Christian communities celebrate the

week that begins with the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem and ends with

Easter Sunday. Here is how we observe Holy Week at The Park Church:

• Sunday, March 29 th at 10:00 a.m. – Palm Sunday. We tell the story of the

  joyous entry into Jerusalem and wave palms in the air as we sing a

  traditional hymn.

• Thursday, April 2 nd at 6:00 p.m. – Maundy* Thursday / Agape* Meal. We

  gather in Beecher Hall at table with our friends, telling the story of the Last

  Supper, the time of prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, and the arrest of

  Jesus. You are invited to bring wine. We munch on charcuterie, cheese,

  fruit, and crackers, and celebrate communion by breaking the bread and

  blessing the cup together. Please sign up in advance so we can insure

  enough seating and food.

• Friday, April 3 rd at 6:00 p.m. – Good Friday. We tell the story of the trial,

  torture, and execution of Jesus using a tenebrae* format, where candles

  are extinguished one by one. We leave in silence.

• Sunday, April 5 th at 10:00 a.m. - Easter Sunday. We begin by proclaiming

  the resurrection. Our music is especially celebratory. Since Easter falls on

  the first Sunday of the month this year, we come to the Lord’s Table for

  communion.

  
  

  * Maundy comes from the Latin “mandatum,” which means

  commandment, and refers to the instructions Jesus gave to his disciples

  during the meal. Agape in Biblical Greek for the form of love seen in

  selfless service to others, as opposed to romantic love, which is eros.

  Tenebrae is Latin for darkness. We borrow the practice of extinguishing

  candles from services often used from Wednesday to Friday of Holy Week

  in various high church traditions, though we conform it to the Good Friday

  readings. Tenebrae services often end with a strepitus, a loud noise. We

  end with with the beloved hymn “Were You There?,” sung by a soloist.