Holy Week Worship
The high point of the Christian church year is here! The Three Holy Days allow us to witness the work of our eternal salvation - and it has all been accomplished by our Savior, Jesus Christ! There are numerous worship services in the next few days - each of great importance, each with a different focus, all working together to bring us to the Feast of Victory of our God! Services times are listed below, followed by a summary of each service that is meant to prepare you for worship.
- Maundy Thursday, April 1 at 3:15 & 6:30pm (Services with Lord's Supper)
- Good Friday, April 2 at 3:00 & 7:00pm
- Easter Sunrise, April 4 at 6:00am (Service with Lord's Supper)
- Easter Festival, April 4 at 8:00 & 9:30am
Maundy Thursday Explained
"Maundy" is a Latin word meaning "Command", which means that this day could rightly be called "Command Thursday." In the Upper Room, we hear Jesus give a new command, "Love one another as I have loved you." It was a command that he would demonstrate as he, Lord and Teacher, took the role of servant as he washed his disciples' feet. Later, Jesus would take the bread and wine of the Old Passover Covenant (or Command) and give it to his church saying, "This is the body and blood of a new covenant." The beauty of these new commands - they do not come with the burden of law, they are ours to follow in the freedom of Grace! Join us on Maundy Thursday as we dine at the Lord's Table, then "Watch and Pray" with him in the Garden. Among the special elements of this service:
- The Lord's Supper takes the central place in the service
- The Stripping of the Altar - toward the end of the service, all furnishings and adornment on the altar are slowly taken away as we consider how Jesus was left alone, abandoned by his disciples.
- The service ends with the Lord's Prayer, remain as long as you wish to quietly contemplate the events of the evening. You are then asked to quietly dismiss yourselves before departing into the night.
Good Friday Explained
There are three distinct services connected to Good Friday - "The Service on the Cross of Christ"; "The Service of Seven Words"; "The Service of Darkness (Tenebrae)". Most Good Friday services that you've attended likely use elements of all three. This will be true of this year's Good Friday service at Martin Luther. Among the elements that you'll see:
- 7 candles extinguished throughout the service to mark the ebbing life of Christ
- A "strepitus", or loud strike, toward the end of the service to mark the closing of Christ's tomb
- A lighted "Christ candle" returning to have us look forward to the Resurrection, this is the only light that remains at the end of the service
The Good Friday service is quiet and contemplative, giving those who gather much opportunity to consider the Savior's work, we gather and dismiss in quietness.
Easter Sunrise Explained
The Easter Sunrise service concludes the services from Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. This sunrise service takes on the form of a vigil, in which God's people turn to his Word and prayer as we vigilantly and patiently wait for the completion of God's promises. On the first Easter, there was uncertainty and even despair as the women went to the tomb in darkness expecting to find death. This is why our sunrise service will begin in quiet darkness. As they found an empty tomb, as they heard the angelic proclamation, as Jesus began to appear, slowly the Resurrection and what it meant came into focus. The sunrise service will build in crescendo as we are called to consider all that Christ's resurrection means for us as we also remember how God connects us to it through his Word, Baptism, and the Lord's Supper. Join us on Easter morning as the Resurrection is revealed! Among the elements that you'll see in this service:
- The service begins in quiet darkness as we consider Jesus' time in the tomb. (Please gather in quietness)
- The Service of Light starts from the back of church as the lighted Christ Candle brings light into the church
- The Service of the Word takes us to the many promises and proclamations of the Bible that are dependent upon the Resurrection of Christ.
- After the Gospel is read, the service shifts greatly - light fills the church, bells ring, songs of praise and "Alleluia!" ring
- The service continues with The Service of Baptism as we recall how Baptism connects us to Christ
- The Service of Holy Communion concludes the service as we are given a foretaste of the Heavenly Banquet
- A "strepitus", or loud strike, toward the end of the service to mark the closing of Christ's tomb
- A lighted "Christ candle" returning to have us look forward to the Resurrection, this is the only light that remains at the end of the service
Easter Festival Explained
The Festival services are truly a culminating celebration of what has happened over the Three Holy Days - with trumpets blasting and voices raised, the Church joins with all the saints and angels to sing, "Worthy is the Lamb!" We rejoice that because Jesus has lived, died, and rose again, this will be our song for all of eternity and we use Easter Sunday to share that joyful news!
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