Holy Week 2008 at St. Timothy

Sunday, March 16^th, is Palm Sunday (also called Passion Sunday). Palm Sunday is a mixture of celebration and solemnity. Worship for both morning services that day will begin outside with an air of festivity as we proceed with palm branches into the sanctuary. As the service progresses, the mood and focus of our worship will shift to the Passion of our Lord and what that means for the week ahead. It is this service that begins our worship for Holy Week. The service will not conclude, but will end in a way that invites you to its continuation on Thursday and Friday, and then to its culmination on Easter Sunday. We look forward to your participation in this meaningful and important part of our Easter preparation.

Thursday, March 20^th, will be our Maundy Thursday observance, a service in which we remember Jesus’ Passover meal before His crucifixion. This service, too, does not conclude, but instead dramatically ends with the stripping of the altar and chancel area. The service is at 7:00 pm.

Friday, March 21^st is Good Friday. Our worship that evening will focus on the crucifixion of our Lord and our part in that crucifixion. As in past years, this service will be a tenebrae service (a service of shadows). A part of this service that many have found quite meaningful is the opportunity provided to actually nail our sins to the cross. Worship that evening is at 7:00 pm. This service, too, will end in anticipation of a conclusion on Easter Sunday.

Finally, on Easter Sunday, March 23^rd, we hear the “Absolution” that is absent throughout Holy Week and we lift our voices singing the “Alleluia” and the Hymn of Praise” that are absent during our Lenten preparation. Easter Sunday worship will be held at 7:00am, 9:00am, and 11:00am (Please note that there is no 8:30 service!).  Breakfast, hosted by the Golden Girls, will be served between services.

Each service on Easter Sunday is different. No room for boredom on such a festive day! The Lenten fast ends. The somber tones of Lenten hymns resolve into bright and clear alleluias!

7:00 Daybreak! - A multi-sensory experience of Jesus’ victory over the tombs in which find ourselves in our everyday lives.  Because our worship space is darkened for this worship gathering, please plan to arrive early.  The intensity of this celebration might be frightening for young children, thus age-appropriate activities are provided for children under age 7 in the nursery area.

9:00 Majesty!  – An uplifting, vitalizing worship experience using traditional liturgy.  The Festival Choir will sing Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus, and music will include organ, flute, violin, oboe, and trumpet.

11:00 Joyful Noise! – An energetic and inspirational celebration with a contemporary liturgy.  Music for this worship gathering will feature keyboard, guitar, bass, and percussion.

Golden Girls Annual Easter Breakfast