LENT, HOLY WEEK AND EASTER ACTIVITIES AND SERVICES
The meaning of Easter is deepened when we take the time to enter into the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ by participating in the services of Holy Week. These services are based on a tradition that goes back at least as far as the fourth century, in Jerusalem, when the faithful would go to the different sites where Jesus shared his last supper with his disciples, prayed in the Garden of Gethsemene, was tried, crucified, buried and resurrected. While we may not be able to go physically to these sites, we can walk the way of Christ through these services.
Although most of the services speak more to adults than children, children are encouraged to help distribute the palms on Palm Sunday, wash feet on Maundy Thursday, and carry the cross at the Good Friday Proper Liturgy. Our Easter services include a homily for children. Child care will be available at the Sunday 10:15 a.m. service, as well as Maundy Thursday and the Good Friday evening service.
Palm Sunday, March 16, 8:00 and 10:15 a.m.
Our Palm Sunday service begins with the blessing of the palms and carrying them in procession, singing, as we walk from West Park into the church. (At 8:00 we move from the narthex into the church.) The mood of the service moves from praise to passion as we hear the story of Jesus' betrayal, trial, and crucifixion in the gospel done as a dramatic reading, followed by silent meditation. We then celebrate the Eucharist, remembering Christ's offering of himself for us.
Tenebrae - Tuesday of Holy Week, March 18, 7:30 p.m.
Tenebrae is an extended meditation on the suffering of Christ, through reading psalms, portions of the book of Lamentations, and writings of St. Augustine. The name comes from the word for "darkness" or "shadows" and is in embodied the gradual extinguishing of fourteen candles. A fifteenth candle is hidden and all the lights of the church are put out as we remember Jesus' crucifixion. A loud noise is made, representing the earthquake at the time of the resurrection, and the hidden candle is replaced, by whose light the congregation departs.
Holy Eucharist with Foot Washing and the Stripping of the Altar Maundy Thursday, March 20, 7:30 p.m.
Maundy Thursday begins the Triduum, the three holy days in which we enter into Christ's passion, death, and resurrection. Although we have separate services on these days, they are tied together by the fact that there is no dismissal until the end of the Easter Vigil.
The Maundy Thursday gospel is the story of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples, and we follow his example by washing one another's feet, in this act of service and humility. We then celebrate the Eucharist, the last supper of Jesus, where he offered his body and blood. The service concludes with the stripping and washing of the altar, remembering Jesus being stripped before he was crucified.
The Three Hours -
Good Friday, March 21
12-1 p.m. Christ Lutheran Church (13th & Hamilton);
1-2 p.m., St. Stephen's Lutheran Church (Franklin [between 14th and 15th] & Turner);
2-3 p.m., Episcopal Church of the Mediator.
This service remembers the three hours that Jesus hung on the cross, with meditations on the passion gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, prayers, hymns, and silence. We process with a large wooden cross from one church to another, as a public witness. People are invited to come for all three hours or one or two of the hours. This year's service includes the participation of Salem United Methodist Church, and Emmanuel United Church of Christ, as well as the host churches.
The Proper Liturgy - Good Friday, March 21, 7:30 p.m.
The Proper Liturgy includes the passion gospel from John, solemn prayers for the world for which Christ died, beautiful music, and the veneration of the cross. The crosses around the church are veiled in black, and children are invited to help carry a heavy wooden cross up to the altar to focus our meditation. People are invited to light candles to place at the foot of the cross, as we meditate on the meaning of Jesus Christ's sacrificial offering.
Easter Vigil - Easter Eve, March 22, 8:00 p.m.
The Easter Vigil begins in the dark with the lighting of the first fire of Easter, and the Paschal candle, which represents Christ's resurrection. In the candlelight we hear the story of God who seeks to save us time and again, respond with sung psalms and canticles, and renew our baptismal vows, remembering that we are buried with Christ in our baptism and share in his resurrected life. Then we move from darkness to light and ring bells for the holy noise as the Easter Alleluia breaks forth and we celebrate the first Eucharist of Easter. The Easter Vigil is followed by the Easter Revel, as we celebrate Christ's resurrection.
Holy Eucharist - Easter Day, March 23, 8:00 and 10:15 a.m.
Our Easter celebration continues with Holy Eucharist, with hymns and organ at 8:00, hearing the Easter gospel and sharing the body and blood of the resurrected Christ. At 10:15, we will reflect on the Easter gospel with a children's homily and a sermon, and our praise will be swelled with brass as well as choir, as we celebrate this festive Eucharist.
Following the 10:15 service, there will be an Easter egg hunt for the children as the adults share fellowship at coffee hour.
CONTINUING OUR WORSHIP IN LENT
Sunday Worship - During Lent we use the Rite I form of liturgy, which has traditional language and is more meditative and penitential in tone. On the First Sunday of Lent, we begin with the Great Litany, chanted in procession. This litany is based on one written in 1544 at a time when England was at war. As we are again in a time of war and uncertainty the litany, with its requests for deliverance from many kinds of harm or evil and petitions for good, can speak to our present condition as well. On the Second Sunday in Lent, we will have Morning Prayer Rite I, a service of prayers, readings, and canticles, with Communion from the Reserved Sacrament offered at the end of the service. On the Third Sunday of Lent, we will use the Penitential Order, which begins our service with a reminder of the Ten Commandments and the General Confession.
Silence for Meditation - During Lent we ask everyone to enter church before the service in silence, so that we can have a period of meditation before we begin our common worship. This will be a change for our congregation, which is used to having a more informal gathering period, so we encourage everyone's cooperation, including being aware of how voices carry from the hallway and the narthex (or entryway). Clint Miller will play quiet voluntaries before the service to facilitate reflection and meditation.
Stations of the Cross - We will have Stations of the Cross, Saturdays, at 10:00 a.m., in the church during Lent. Using the stations created by one of our members, Harvey Bonner, with scripture, prayer, and reflection, Stations of the Cross invites us to enter into the story of Jesus' passion. The service lasts about 30 minutes and can be a meaningful devotion walking with Jesus during his trial, death, and burial at least once during every Lent.
The Parables of Jesus Bible Study - Enrich your Lenten journey with an in-depth exploration of the parables of Jesus. Using the Kerygma Bible Study Series, we will look for the varied meanings in the parable stories of Jesus as found in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke. Our study will discover fresh perspectives in these timeless stories and help us discover their implications for our life of faith today.
We will meet on Thursday mornings from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. in the Library at the church beginning February 7, 2008. Please sign up and pick up the resource book for this study in the office or library at a cost of $16.00. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Patricia G. at pgaukler@ptd.net or call the church office.
Lenten Calendar - A Lenten calendar is available to learn about the Lehigh County Conference of Churches, and to reflect on the many gifts in our lives we take for granted every day.
LIVING BY THE WORD
Thursdays, 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
On Thursday evenings in Lent we gather for a light supper of soup, salad, and bread, in the Commons Room at 6:00. Following supper, we will break into small groups to do African Bible Study, using the gospel reading for the coming Sunday. This form of study invites each person to listen to the scripture being read and hear what God is saying to him or her through these words. Different Bible translations are used as the passage is read three times, with a question after each reading to deepen our hearing. Whether you've never done Bible study before, or have done lots of it, this method is an enjoyable and engaging way to have the Bible speak to you.
During the Bible study time, Susan B. and Ellen Switzer will lead a children's program, based on The Brave Knight, a chancel opera that the children and youth will perform the Second Sunday of Easter. Sign up for the Lenten Study, and to bring food, on the bulletin board by the elevator.