Holy Week & the Paschal Triduum at Saint Gabriel the Archangel [i]
[i] Some of the following language and descriptions are adapted from sources found on the web.
Palm Sunday
Palm Procession and the Enactment of Christ’s Passion
Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday where within the space of one service we turn from shouts of “Hosanna” to cries of “Crucify him!”
In between Palm Sunday and Good Friday, we hold services that mark the movements of Jesus, from his entrance into Jerusalem, his last Supper with his friends, his betrayal in the Garden of Gethsemane, his trial, crucifixion, and burial.
Maundy Thursday, 7 pm
On Thursday, we recollect the words of Jesus at the first Lord’s Supper – “Do this in remembrance of me. This is my body, this is my blood of the New Covenant.”
Here we gather, as Jesus did with his disciples on the night of the last supper, to carry out the commandment Jesus gave his disciples then: “love one another as I have loved you.” We do this by washing one another’s feet as servants to one another and by sharing a simple meal of bread and wine as friends.
Good Friday, 7 am, 7 pm
On Good Friday we commemorate and participate in Christ’s suffering and death because we believe they have a purpose: the salvation of the world. We believe that Christ’s death has conquered death, in all forms, once and for all: that is why we call the Friday on which he died “good.”
When we find ourselves at the foot of the cross, Christ, who suffers with us, has sustained us. We meet Christ on the cross, and we know there is nothing that can separate us from the love of God. (Romans 8)
Good Friday Stations of the Cross, 12 noon
At noon we walk the way of the cross together. The tradition of praying the Stations of the Cross never grows old. During the Stations the movement of Jesus from his unjust trial to his unjust death is powerfully displayed in the words of scripture and timeless prayers.
Holy Saturday Quiet Morning, 8:30 – 11 am
Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend a quiet morning set of reflections and time to meditate and pray on Holy Saturday. This event is sponsored by the Saint Gabriel Chapter of the Daughters of the King with reflections offered by Lindsay Leaman and Father Chris.
Come “stay with me, remain here with me, watch and pray, watch and pray.”
Great Vigil of Easter , 7:30 pm
First Celebration of the Resurrection
We gather in the darkness on Saturday evening. This ancient service is the most potent of the year. The service begins with the kindling of a new fire – the light of Christ breaking into the darkness of our world. And then we hear the story – our story – of salvation. We gather around the fire and then, in the darkened nave, we share the biblical story of how God has worked for our salvation since the beginning of time and how we still participate in God’s ongoing story of salvation. We may baptize new Christians and we will renew our baptismal vows and commit ourselves anew to be people of Christ’s resurrection. We will celebrate that resurrection in the first Eucharist of Easter. Come prepared in heart and mind to worship and share in the light of Christ, a light for the whole world! Easter light shines out from the darkness!
Easter Morning, 8:00 & 10:15 am
The Day of Resurrection
With new joy and hope, we welcome the happy morning of Christ Jesus raised from among the dead. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Easter Sunday is both the final hours of the Triduum and the first of the great fifty days, which will end at the celebration of the Feast of Pentecost. These days are marked with baptism, with joy, with Easter acclamations. We are reminded of our own baptism – a reminder that we, too, were once dead and will be raised to eternal glory. The Easter candle is processed into our assembly to remind us of Christ’s triumphant presence among us. We highlight the importance of the resurrection over death to sin, and to our new life in Christ through the sacrament of baptism.
This is the heart of what Easter Day and season is all about. Take time to enjoy these beautiful and memorable days of the Paschal Triduum!