The “three days” leading up to Easter Sunday are often called the Triduum. Through the services that take place during these days, we walk with Jesus from his “Last Supper,” down the “road of sorrows,” to the cross, and then into the tomb. I invite you to participate in these services in preparation for Easter. All of them will be streamed on Facebook LIVE and posted to our website via YouTube.
On Maundy Thursday we are brought into the “upper room” for our Lord’s “Last Supper” with his disciples. On this night, Jesus gave his disciples a final commandment (i.e. “maundatum”) after he washed their feet: “Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35). For this reason our Maundy Thursday worship includes an act of footwashing to remind us to obey the Lord’s command, following his example.
The service concludes with a stripping of the altar, to recall Jesus’ betrayal into the hands of the religious authorities. Our preacher this Maundy Thursday will be our new Pastoral Resident, Jordan Wesley.
On Good Friday we commemorate our Lord Jesus’s crucifixion and death at Calvary. The Gospels tell us that our Lord suffered and died a fully innocent man, subjecting himself to tremendous pain, shame, and scorn in order to fulfill his Father’s good purpose. Though Jesus had spoken of his death and ultimate resurrection, his followers were left in utter dismay as they watched their master suffer and die at the hands of the powers of the world. No hope remained at the end of that day.
Holy Saturday is a short, contemplative prayer service, lasting no more than thirty minutes. In the service, we reflect on this tragic moment where Christ lies dead in the tomb. In Holy Saturday worship, we sit in the darkness and silence of the time “in between,” as we wait for God to act.
Lenten & Holy Week Cross Triptych
Several years ago parishioner and artist Albert Pedulla created a powerful installation and performance art triptych for use in All Angels’ through Lent and Holy Week. Three crosses appear in the sanctuary throughout this season beginning with the simple Lenten cross. A larger Holy Week cross is hung on the North wall and is displayed with the fasteners that would hold the Lord’s body there as we remember the crucifixion. On Easter Sunday these harsh crosses are replaced with the radiantly gilded Easter cross, transformed from an instrument of death into a symbol of resurrection life and the defeat of Death itself.
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