|
|
 |
|
Sunday, April 1st, Palm Sunday
|
|
|
10:00am — Holy Eucharist in the Main Sanctuary with Emmanuel Music and
Schütz’ Seven Last Words of Christ.
Palm Sunday underlines all the week’s contradictions in juxtaposing its stories of the palms and the
passion: of a “king who comes to you, triumphant and victorious” yet “humble and riding on
a donkey” (Zech 9:9); who is lifted up as heaven’s deliverer from the enslaving Romans (Lk 19:37),
only to be scoffed as a king on a tree who cannot save even himself (Lk 23:37); who is hailed with
“Hosanna” (Lk 19:38), then dismissed with “Away with this fellow!” (Lk 23:18); whose innocence is
recognized even by the Roman oppressors (Lk 23:15,47), but over whom his own choose a murderer (Lk 23:15).
|
| |
|
Wednesday, April 4th, Wednesday in Holy Week
|
|
|
6:00pm — Tenebrae Service in Lindsey Chapel.
“The righteous perish, and no one takes it to heart; the devout are taken away, while no one
understands” (Isa 57:1).
Tenebrae (“darkness” or “shadows”) is the traditional Latin name for the monastic night office of the
last three days of Holy Week. Since the 7th century, its distinctive feature has been the gradual
extinguishing of fourteen candles placed on a triangular candlestick in the front of the nave. One candle
is extinguished after each psalm is read.
|
| |
|
Thursday, April 5th, Maundy Thursday
|
|
|
6:00pm — Holy Eucharist in Lindsey Chapel, followed by devotions in the
chapel until 10pm.
Tonight’s liturgy celebrates the events of the Last Supper: the institution of the Eucharist and the
footwashing (“Maundy” in late medieval English, from the mandatum novum, “new commandment”
of love given by Jesus in Jn 13:34). The footwashing is not an acted parable, but an act of love in which all are
invited to participate, in whatever way each is comfortable. We put aside achievement and
self-sufficiency as defining of our lives, and let ourselves experience Christ’s love in the generosity
of another person. During the footwashing, we sing the hymn composed for it by 9th century monks,
Ubi Caritas et Amor (“Where charity and love are, there is God”).
|
| |
|
Friday, April 6th, Good Friday
|
|
|
12:00noon — Good Friday Service in Lindsey Chapel;
2:15pm — Stations of
the Cross, in the Main Sanctuary; 3:15pm — Stations of the City, gather at Trinity Church in
Copley Square.
The Good Friday liturgy lacks any entrance rite, and begins bluntly with the collect and readings,
including the Passion Gospel from John. After the readings and meditation, the solemn collects are prayed,
derived from a 5th century version of today’s Prayers of the People, and emphasizing the universality
of Jesus’ loving concern.
The Stations of the Cross service dates from the time of the Crusades, and imitates what was done in
Jerusalem — the offering of prayer by pilgrims at various sites along the path walked by Jesus carrying
the cross to Golgatha, which came to be called the via dolorosa, the “way of sorrows”. It is
traditionally conducted as a procession with stops (stations) to commemorate fourteen events along the way,
eight based on Gospel narratives, and the others on early Christian legends.
Our Emmanuel pilgrimmage extends beyond our four walls this afternoon as we go outdoors and gather on the steps
of Trinity Church in Copley Square to participate in the Stations of the City. The Stations of the City is a way
to participate in Jesus’ walk through Jerusalem. It is also a way to remember that his work was primarily
for those who had nothing — no homes, no money, no literacy, no honor or status in their own time.
We will end our journey back here at Emmanuel Church.
|
| |
|
Sunday, April 8th, Easter Sunday
|
|
|
10:00am — Holy Eucharist in the Main Sanctuary with Emmanuel Music and Bach
Cantata BWV 4.
“And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe;
and they were amazed. And he said to them, “Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth,
who was crucified. He has risen, he is not here; see the place where they laid him.” (Mk 16:5–6).
|
|
|
