Update: Holy Week
Greetings in the name of our Crucified and Risen Lord!
Christians across the world are about to enter into the most sacred week of the Church’s Year, as we celebrate once again the great mystery of God’s love in the work of salvation, the dying and rising again of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. The Church invites us, through prayer, worship and reflection, to share with Jesus in his entry into Jerusalem, in his last meal with his friends, and in standing with Mary and John at the foot of the Cross. Then we wait as he lies buried in the tomb, before experiencing with Mary Magdalene, Peter and John, and the disciples on the road to Emmaus, his life-transforming Resurrection.
In this time of pandemic, our observance of Holy Week at St. James’ will be very different. There will be no grand liturgies in the church, although Mass will be said privately, behind locked doors, on this Sunday of the Passion, Maundy Thursday and Easter Day.
We will continue to offer the opportunity to worship together via Zoom (download instruction here).
Connection details will be in The Thurible, which will be issued this Saturday, Maundy Thursday and Holy Saturday.
April 5 | Palm Sunday of the Passion | 10.30 am | Liturgy at Home
April 9 | Maundy Thursday | 6.30 pm | Reflection
April 10 | Good Friday | 6.30 pm | Cross Prayers
April 11 | Easter Eve | 9.00 pm | Easter Proclamation
April 12 | Easter Day | 10.30 am | Liturgy at Home
The Archbishop, on behalf of the whole diocese, will be presiding at the Liturgies of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday in Christ Church Cathedral, and we are invited to view these online.
Christ Church Cathedral Holy Week services on-line at https://thecathedral.ca
Tuesday in Holy Week – 12 pm
Address on Baptismal and Ordained Vocations by The Rt. Rev. Michael Ingham
Maundy Thursday Readings, Sermon and Prayers – 7:30 pm
Presider: The Most Rev. Melissa Skelton
Preacher: The Rev. Matthew Johnson
Good Friday Passion Gospel, Sermon and Veneration of the Cross – 3 pm
Presider: The Most Rev. Melissa Skelton
Preacher: The Rev. David Taylor
In addition, we hope to offer other resources for prayer and reflection. Gerald Harder will provide links, via The Thurible and the NEWS page of the website, to pieces of music appropriate for each of the Great Days of Holy Week, with a brief commentary.
There will also be links to two sets of meditations on the Stations of the Cross.
One link which many have been finding helpful is to Compline with the Brothers of the Society of St John the Evangelist in Cambridge, Mass. See the front page of: https://www.ssje.org
May the Lord bless, preserve and keep us all in these testing days,
Fr. Kevin
