Here's what we have scheduled at St. Paul's:
April 5 - Palm Sunday
Matins with Examination of Catechumens - 7:45
Reception for Catechumens - 9:00
Divine Service with Rite of Confirmation - 10:00
April 6 - Holy Monday
Divine Service (spoken) - 7:00 a.m.
April 7 - Holy Tuesday
Divine Service (spoken) - 7:00 a.m.
April 8 - Holy Wednesday
Divine Service (spoken) - 7:00 a.m.
April 9 - Holy (Maundy) Thursday
Divine Service with stripping of altar (sung) - 7:15 p.m.
April 10 - Good Friday
Chief Service - Noon
Tenebrae Vespers - 7:15 p.m.
April 11 - Holy Saturday
GREAT VIGIL OF EASTER (with Adult Confirmations) - 8 p.m.
April 12 - The Resurrection of Our Lord
Matins - 6:30 a.m.
Easter Breakfast - 7:30 a.m.
Easter Egg Hunt - 8:00 a.m.
Preservice Music - 8:30 a.m.
Divine Service for the Resurrection - 9:00 a.m.
I'll be on vacation after Easter Divine Service, but Pastor Gleason will be on call for anything that comes up during that week, and he will also preside for Easter 2 - Quasimodo Geniti Sunday.
8 comments:
A query, Pastor Weedon... I have noticed in many circles that Palm Sunday is becoming a popular day for Confirmations... I know of several Roman parishes, an Anglican one, and now your Lutheran parish that are planning confirmations this year.
I have heard varying reasoning, usually surrounding "we want them to be able to take Communion on Holy Thursday"... and most of the time it is adult confirmands (not children or teens) but I am curious if there is a reason beyond 'full participation in Holy Week' for this switch away from either during the Easter season or on Pentecost Sunday.
Of course, I confess that I am unsure about traditional Lutheran practice on this matter, and if there are 'traditional times' that Confirmation tended to be celebrated.
Rob+
Fr. Lyons,
It is the common practice of Lutherans throughout the Midwest, I believe. I am not sure of the origins of the practice, but in these parts it is assumed that it will be on Palm Sunday. At first, I hated that. Where I grew up, the common Confirmation day was Pentecost. But I've come to appreciate it. It fits well with the praise of the children in the temple, confessing and singing their hosannas to the Son of David. And it does allow for their full participation in the upcoming events of Holy Week.
Thank you, Pastor Weedon, for your reply.
I hadn't immediately thought of the 'praise of the children' angle, but that probably has a lot to do with my upbringing where the bishop visited every parish during the Paschal Season to administer confirmation.
Rob+
Pastor Weedon,
I'm unfamiliar with the structure of your Easter services and what it is you do. Can you clarify something for me?
April 11 - Holy Saturday
GREAT VIGIL OF EASTER (with Adult Confirmations) - 8 p.m.
April 12 - The Resurrection of Our Lord
Matins - 6:30 a.m.
Easter Breakfast - 7:30 a.m.
Easter Egg Hunt - 8:00 a.m.
Preservice Music - 8:30 a.m.
Divine Service for the Resurrection - 9:00 a.m.
1) Does the Great Vigil of Easter move immediately into the Easter liturgy--i.e., from the tomb with the body and soul of Christ, to the empty tomb of Christ, to the liturgy that celebrates the Resurrection?
2) If you don't celebrate Easter liturgy proper that night/morning immediately after Vigil, then I'm a bit confused. Do you have an Easter breakfast and Easter Egg hunt BEFORE a celebration of the Resurrection? If this is the case (and I'm sure it's not), then doesn't this strike you as a bit odd--the festal celebrations BEFORE the Resurrection.
I'm sure I'm just misreading this.
Thanks for any clarification.
Dear Atychi,
The Vigil Service embraces six parts:
Service of Light
Service of Readings
Service of Baptism and Confirmation
Service of Prayer
Service of the Word
Service of the Sacrament
Thus, at Vigil the culmination of the liturgy is Sacrament. We have a number of folks who fast from the Eucharist on Maundy Thursday through the Vigil Eucharist.
Technically the Vigil should replace Matins, but our parish has been observing a sunrise Matins for longer than it has the Vigil, so there is a bit of a repeat there.
The breakfast does indeed come before the Eucharist (which is odd, I know, but the practice I inherited and I've not tried to change it).
The Western Rite prescribes Mass for Easter Day as well as at the conclusion of Vigil; rather similar to the way it prescribes three Masses for Christmas.
Hope that clarifies some.
Oh, and if that was not clear:
YES, the Vigil culminates in the celebration of the Resurrection itself. After the Service of Prayer, the Altar is prepared, the bells are rung, the Easter proclamation is made (The Lord is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!). We also invariably read as the homily that evening St. John Chrysostom's Easter Homily. The preface is that of Easter and the final hymn always one of the resurrection.
I had to laugh a little when I read this schedule. I must have lived in the South too long now. I forgot how Midwesterners are such early risers. 8:00AM for an egg hunt? Who has their kids up and dressed for Easter and at the church by 8:00AM? Midwesterners, I guess...
Dixie,
No, the 6:30 Matins is EARLY. The easter egg hunt is nice and late! And let me tell you, when the Divine Service is over that day, we come home and crash BIG TIME.
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