Easter and Holy Week Highlights

St. Mark’s was blessed to be able to hold seven services on Holy Week, which spans the time from Palm Sunday to Easter. March winds and chill kept us indoors for much of the time but there was no lack of warmth as we walked these solemn steps together.

Palm Sunday

Breaking tradition due to the weather, our service began in Carroll Hall as we modeled Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem singing many, many verses of “All Glory, Laud and Honor” The mood of the service darkens as we participated in the group reading of St. Mark’s Passion.

Maundy Thursday

Once again we were grateful to be able to gather for a potluck meal–a loose reminder of the Last Supper–before heading into the church where we continued a newer tradition… washing one another’s hands as a means of modeling Jesus’ action of washing his disciples’ feet and then directing them to do likewise for one another.

At the end of the service, the Altar Guild reverently removes all the trappings of worship from the altar, leaving it stark and bare. The consecrated bread and wine are brought to a special temporary altar in another room, where we spend time in contemplation with gentle, reflective music.

Good Friday

On Good Friday we have two services, one at noon and one in the evening. For the past few years, we have done Stations of the Cross outside, but again with the weather we ended up doing it in the church for the first time since before the pandemic.

Then in the evening we held a service called “The Seven Last Words” which is a series of readings, personal reflections, and music based on the final direct quotes of Jesus in scripture.

The Great Vigil of Easter

The Great Vigil, arguably the most important service in the church year, is like a bit like Palm Sunday in reverse. We begin outside, gathered around a fire, from which a candle is list.

As the Exsultet is sung, we proceed into the dark church, where we hear stories from our history from Creation, the Flood, the Exodus, the Valley of Dry Bones, etc. As a nod to the early days of the church, when adult converts were frequently initiated–we repeat our baptismal vows.

Then, in a cacophony of sight and sound, we proclaim that Christ is risen. The lights are turned up, the organ plays, and all are encouraged to add to the din with bells and other noisemakers.

Easter Sunday

And finally we celebrated on Easter day itself with another joyous Eucharist followed by an egg hunt. Many folks turned out in their finery and–thankfully–the weather was perfect.

Holy Week runs the gamut of emotion as we transition from Lent to Easter and from sorrow to joy. We hope you enjoy this short video from a quote by entertainer and fellow Episcopalian Garrison Keillor about his own Easter experience, with sights and sounds from ours.