Holy Week at Saint Michael’s

Palm Sunday   •   Children’s Holy Week Dinner & Experience   •   Maundy Thursday

Good Friday   •   Way of the Cross   •   Great Vigil of Easter

Intergenerational Holy Week Dinner & Experience

Wednesday, March 29, 6:00 PM

Our Lent and Holy Week services are powerful rites, layered with deep meaning. They can also be difficult for children to understand, sit through, or enter into. You’re invited to bring your young ones time to spend time with Katherine+ specially designed for children to hear the Holy Week story, ask questions, and understand more of this without the challenge of sitting quietly in the pews at 6 PM, followed by dinner at 6:25 PM. Evening Prayer follows as usual at 7 PM. RSVP via Eventbrite by March 26 at 11 PM if your family plans to attend so we can ensure ample food and service learning aids; you will be able to request a gluten- or dairy-free dinner option when you register.

The Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday

April 2 at 8:00 and 10:30 AM

Our Palm Sunday observance places primary emphasis on the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. We’ll begin in the narthex for the Liturgy of the Palms, singing ‘Hosanna in the highest,’ then move into the nave as cantor and choir chant Psalm 118:19-28 in procession. Once gathered, we’ll sing All glory, laud, and honor as our hymn of praise. Our festive mood fades at the offertory as the choir sings Jesus, so lowly by Harold Friedell. During communion, our mood shifts drastically. In place of the usual post-communion prayer, we’ll say the Collect for Passion Sunday together. In place of the usual closing hymn, the Passion according to Matthew will end our liturgy, with verses of the hymn Ah, holy Jesus, how hast thou offended interspersed throughout. We will depart in quiet.

The Three Holy Days: The Triduum

Three holy days enfold us now in washing feet and breaking bread in cross and font and life renewed in Christ, God’s firstborn from the dead.

Maundy Thursday

April 6 at 7:00 PM

This liturgy includes foot-washing and a remembering of the first Eucharist. We don’t use bulletins, but allow clergy and choir, together with word and song, to guide our liturgical journey. We’ll recall and fulfill Jesus’ mandate to wash each other’s feet, sing Where true charity and love dwell, hear the story of the first Passover, share bread and wine, and sing Jesus’ words to the disciples, Stay here and keep watch with me, as the altar is stripped.

Good Friday

April 7 at 12:00 Noon

In this Prayer Book liturgy, we’ll hear the Passion according to John, pray, recite the solemn reproaches, and sing Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

Way of the Cross

April 7 at 7:00 PM

You are invited to walk the Way of the Cross on Good Friday at 7:00 PM. This service is a careful blending of the Stations of the Cross and Tenebrae services, both found in the Book of Occasional Services. Readings from the Passion narrative are combined with deepening darkness while a chamber choir offers choral reflections periodically; hymns and Psalms are sung.

The Great Vigil of Easter

April 8 at 8:00 PM

Ancient stories told in new ways—song, word, drama—recalling God’s saving acts; we will renew our baptismal covenant.

For additional information about any of the above services, please phone us at 425-392-3215 or email us.