HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE OF SERVICES
We are so grateful to be able to worship together this year for Holy Week! In light of not being able to gather last year, we encourage the faithful to make it a high priority to attend as many services as possible especially Holy Wednesday – Pascha.
The schedule of services is given below. The text for most of the services from Palm Sunday Evening through Pascha can be found in the “Services of Holy Week and Pascha” book that many of us already possess. We encourage you to avail yourself of the Holy Week Booklet that has been prepared especially for you to more deeply understand each service of Holy Week.
May God continue to bless you as together we follow Christ to His glorious Resurrection!
Saturday, April 24:
LAZARUS SATURDAY
Orthros 9 AM
Divine Liturgy 10 AM
Great Vespers 6 PM
Sunday, April 25:
PALM SUNDAY
Orthros 8:50 AM (No Church School)
Divine Liturgy 10 AM (followed by a festal procession & luncheon)
Bridegroom Matins 6 PM
April 26
HOLY MONDAY
(Last day to have Confessions heard before Pascha)
Presanctified Liturgy 9 AM (@St. George)
Bridegroom Matins 6 PM (@St. George)
April 27:
HOLY TUESDAY
Presanctified Liturgy 9 AM
Bridegroom Matins 6 PM (sung by the Youth choir)
April 28:
HOLY WEDNESDAY
Presanctified Liturgy 9 AM (@St. George)
Holy Unction 6 PM
April 29:
HOLY THURSDAY
Vesperal-Divine Liturgy of the Institution of Holy Communion 9 AM
Orthros with the 12 Passion Gospels 7 PM
Enjoy this beautiful song to prepare you for the Holy Thursday service.
April 30:
HOLY FRIDAY
1st Royal Hour 12 PM
3rd Royal Hour 1 PM
6th Royal Hour 2 PM
9th Royal Hour 3 PM
Great Vespers of the Unnailing of Christ 4 PM
Vigil at the Tomb
Orthros of Holy Saturday with the Lamentations 7 PM
All-Night Vigil at the Tomb
May 1:
HOLY SATURDAY
Vigil at the Tomb
Vesperal Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great 10 AM
Rush, Festal Orthros, Paschal Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom 10 PM
May 2:
PASCHA Sunday
Agape Vespers 1:00 PM (followed by an Easter Egg Hunt)
HOLY WEEK / PASCHA NOTES
PALM SUNDAY
A special collection will be taken for our Patriarchate.
Blessed Palms and Pussy Willows will be distributed as you enter the Divine Liturgy. Teen SOYO will be selling decorated candles for the festal procession.
Everyone is invited to stay for the Palm Sunday luncheon following the Liturgy.
CANDLES
Candles will be used for the Holy Thursday, Holy Friday, and Pascha Services. Please keep candles upright and the protective disc or cup close to the top of the candle to collect the dripping wax. Our desire is to keep the wax off the pews and floor.
Remember to use caution when holding a lit candle! Also, keep a watchful eye on your children while they are holding a lit candle.
Feel free to take your candle home following each service.
EXCUSE FORM
We desire everyone to worship with the Holy Thursday and Holy Friday services, so for those whose school or employer requires documentation when requesting absence for religious observances, signed letters are available [here] or from the table in the Narthex.
HOLY THURSDAY
One of the most beautiful but neglected services of Holy Week is the Liturgy of the Institution of Holy Communion on Holy Thursday morning. This is the invitation to take OUR place at the Last Supper, to be present as Christ offers us His saving Body and Blood for the first time.
Just as the Disciples had their feet washed by Our Lord during the Last Supper, so too Father Michael needs 12 people willing to have their feet washed during the Liturgy. This is a very moving experience. (A sign-up form is available in the Narthex or call Church Office if you desire to participate.)
HOLY FRIDAY
Fasting: On this, the most solemn day of the Church Year, we abstain from all food and drink, especially from Noon through the Vespers Service of the Unnailing of Christ. As always, we never fast to the detriment of our physical health, so all should modify as needed.
The Royal Hours Services: The time between these services is a time to reflect upon the passion of Christ and to pray.
All-night Vigil: Having laid the body of Christ into the Tomb on Holy Friday, we stand vigil at His Tomb all night by taking turns reading from the Holy Scriptures. The experience of being in the near-empty, candlelit Church in the middle of the night and hearing and reading the words of our Lord is not soon forgotten.
A Reader’s Sign-up Schedule is available in the Narthex for those desiring to read. This is a great opportunity for families to read together. Even if you do not desire to read, come at any time to be a part of this experience. Our Lord asked His disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane, “Can you not watch with me one hour?” Let us answer “Yes” and take our place in the Holy Friday Vigil.
HOLY SATURDAY
Pascha Service: It is perfectly acceptable to dress your children in their pajamas and bring them to the Pascha Service. If you look around, you’ll see many sleeping children under the pews!
Pascha Baskets: Fr. Michael will bless Pascha baskets during the Paschal Liturgy. Place them on the left side of the Solea when you come for the Paschal Liturgy and then take it with you at the dismissal. For a helpful link on the types of items to place in your Pascha Basket, visit: http://orthodoxeducation.blogspot.com/2014/04/pascha-basket.html
Celebration Meal: The Parish Council is preparing the meal for this year’s celebration. Please note that sharing food brought from home is not permitted this year.
Celebration Clean-up: The Young Adults and Teen SOYO are facilitating the post-Pascha party clean-up, and they need everyone’s help. Before leaving the celebration, pick-up any trash left on or around your table and push in your chairs. Please be certain to take home any dishes that you brought. Let’s all do our part to make this a joyous feast!
PASCHA (EASTER) SUNDAY
Agape Vespers: Do you speak a language other than English? If so, you are needed to read a portion of the Gospel during the Agape Vespers Service on Sunday, April 28. Contact Archdn. Dave if you can assist.
Easter Egg Hunt: Following Agape Vespers will be an Easter Egg Hunt for the Church School children.
