Holy Week at Christ Church
Palm Sunday
March 28 services
On Palm Sunday, we experience the entire story of
the Passion of Jesus Christ. Jesus processes into
Jerusalem,
hailed as the King of the Jews. But then the mood changes and before
long, the same people who gave him “Glory, Laud, and Honor” are
shouting, “Crucify Him!” There are four different opportunities on Palm
Sunday to travel this road.
7:30
am
–
Liturgy of the Palms, reading
of the Passion, and Holy Eucharist (Church) *
This service moves the
8:00 am
service 30 minutes earlier to allow for a fuller
reading of the Passion.
9:00
am
–
Liturgy of the Palms with a procession from
Market Square,
reading
of the Passion, and Holy Eucharist (Market Square and Church) *
This service begins with
Liturgy of the Palms at
Market Square and a joint procession up
King Street with the congregations of
St. Paul’s
and Meade Memorial. We will meet in the church courtyard at
8:45 am
and walk down together or, if you prefer, you can meet us at
9:00 am
at
Market Square.
Children and parents! Be sure to look for the bell wristlets we’ll
provide the children so that our Hosannas will ring out during
the procession.
If you are not able to be a part of the procession,
wait in the church and we will return for the reading of the Passion
around
9:20 am.
11:15
am
–
Liturgy of the Palms with Palm Procession and Holy Eucharist
(Church) *
This service will include a procession in the
churchyard and then a reading of the Passion.
5:00 PM - Meditation on the
Passion (Church)
Sung by the Christ Church Choir, this service will include anthems,
hymns, and organ music that
will all be
accompanied by a slideshow of visual reflections on the Passion.
For further information, contact Director of Music Jason Abel.
Click here to send Jason an email.
Holy Week services
Monday, March 29, services
7:15 am – Holy Eucharist (Chapel)
12:05
pm
– Holy Eucharist
(Chapel)
Tuesday, March 30, services
7:15
am
– Holy Eucharist
(Chapel)
12:05
pm
– Holy Eucharist
(Chapel)
Wednesday, March 31, services
7:15
am
– Holy Eucharist
(Chapel)
12:05
pm
– Holy Eucharist
(Chapel)
7:00
pm
– Tenebrae (Chapel)
In Latin, Tenebrae means shadows; shadows foretelling Christ’s
impending suffering and death. We will read a series of harsh verses
from the Psalms and gradually extinguish candles until only a single
candle, a symbol of our Lord, remains. Though symbolic of the shadows
befalling Christ, it can be a time to fully examine and experience the
shadows in your own life. Even in the hollow depths of emptiness, God’s
ever-present light shines.
Maundy Thursday, April 1, services
7:15
am
– Holy Eucharist (Chapel)
12:05
pm
– Holy Eucharist (Chapel)
6:00
pm
– Mediterranean fellowship meal and foot washing (Auditorium)
*
Our meal on
Maundy Thursday will be a simple potluck supper—hosted by the Christian
Family Movement (CFM)—with a Middle Eastern theme. Suggested potluck
foods include a simple, meatless dish, salad or appetizer such as hummus
and pita, rice, salad, olives, grape leaves, couscous, nuts, apples and
walnuts, figs, bean salad or stuffed celery.
After the manner of Christ’s example, foot washing will also take place
for those who would like to participate. When the meal is finished we
will process to the church for the service and stripping of the altar.
7:00
pm
– Holy Eucharist and stripping of the altar (Church)
*
9:00 pm
Thursday to
6:00
am
Friday – All night prayer
vigil (Chapel)
The practice of keeping watch with our Lord can be traced to Jesus’
appeal to His disciples in the
garden
of
Gethsemane.
“Could you not watch one hour with me?” We encourage you to answer,
“Yes,” by coming for one or two hours. The Chapel will be open for
meditation and prayer in the presence of Christ in the reserved
sacrament. A security guard will be on the premises. Sign up on Palm
Sunday in the Portico or in the Parish House Lobby.
Good Friday, April 2, services
7:15 am
– Holy Eucharist
(Chapel)
12:00
noon
– Joint Service with St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 228 S. Pitt St.,
Alexandria 22314
12:00
noon
to 3:00
pm –
Walk the Labyrinth (McMurray Commons)
7:00 pm
–
A service of silence, lamentation, and music (Church)
*
When Jesus died on the cross and was taken down to be buried, his
followers thought that Jesus’ ministry – and their relationship with him
– had ended. Through this service, we affirm and enter into our own
sense of abandonment and despair, which many of us experience on
occasion but are not always encouraged, allowed, or enabled to voice.
Within our shared pain, we discover a Christ who does not merely fix it,
but who instead enters, shares, and redeems it.
Holy Saturday, April 3, services10:00
am
–
The Liturgy of the
day (Chapel)
Holy Saturday
dawns with a dreadful, powerful void and ends in the most joyous and
beautiful liturgy of the Church year. Join us
for this brief service commemorating Christ’s hours
in the tomb.
7:00
pm
–
The Great Vigil of
Easter
(Church) *
In the most joyous and beautiful liturgy of the
Church year, we will light the Paschal candle, read Scripture to reflect
on our Christian journey, and baptize new members into the body of
Christ. With the great Alleluia and first Eucharist of Easter, we will
cast away darkness and death for ever.
Easter Sunday, April 4, services
Join us for one of
our many Easter Day services including the new Family Easter Sunday
service in the Auditorium. This lively and welcoming family-focused
service will be at
9:00
am
in the
Auditorium and will feature special music, special prayers, a children’s
sermon, a soft space for young children, and opportunities for children
to move, gather around the altar, and experience Easter in a new way.
The Family Easter Sunday service will be immediately followed by our
annual Easter egg hunt in the churchyard.
7:30
am
–
Festival Eucharist (Church) *
9:00
am
– Festival Eucharist with Brass and Choir (Church)
*
9:00 am
– Family service (Auditorium)
*
11:15 am
– Festival Eucharist with Brass and Choir (Church)
*
5:00
pm
–
Festival Eucharist (Church)
* Childcare provided at services marked with an asterisk
Click here for directions to Christ Church
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