April 2023 Newsletter
We have an action-packed April planned. Holy Week begins with:
Palm Sunday, April 2nd, 10:30am
Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem and Jesus’ Passion on the cross. Palm branches will be distributed and waved during the procession. The liturgy of the palms will start outside the church then we’ll process into the church. For the Passion gospel, some folks in the congregation will have specific roles to read with the congregation taking the part of the crowd.
Tenebrae, Wednesday, April 5th, 6:00 pm
The service is centered around psalms, readings from Lamentations, and responsories. There are fifteen lighted candles. One candle is extinguished as each of the fourteen appointed psalms is completed. The fifteenth candle, symbolic of Christ, is left lighted at the end of the final psalm. But it is carried away to be hidden, which signifies the apparent victory of the forces of evil. A sudden loud noise is made at the end of the service, symbolizing the earthquake at Christ's death. The lighted candle is then restored to its place, suggesting Christ's eventual triumph.