Holy Week at  Christ Church
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Whoever you are, and wherever you find yourself on the journey of faith, you are welcome at Christ Church, as you are, to receive the blessings of God so freely given.
Greetings!

With the arrival of Holy Wednesday, the most powerful and moving services of our church year begin at Christ Church.  Tonight is the service of "Tenebrae" (meaning shadows).  We begin at 7 PM, while our church is still light, and conclude as the shadows lengthen and darkness consumes the light.  We pray that enough light is left in our too often dark world to kindle a new fire on Easter.  Parker Kitterman, Cecilia Wagner and Marianne Lipson offer the beautiful music of Couperin:  The Lamentations of Jeremiah.

On Maundy Thursday at 7 PM is the service commemorating the first Lord's Supper, the foot-washing and the stripping of the altar in preparation for Good Friday.  Music includes the Ubi Caritas, traditional hymns, and Taize chants.

On Good Friday, we being our three-hour service at 12 Noon.  If you cannot come for the entire service, I encourage you to be there for an hour.

Alternatively, if you've never heard Franz Joseph Haydn's string concerto, The Seven Last Words of Christ, you've missed one of the church's greatest musical meditations for Good Friday.  Renown Philadelphia violinist David Yang and his quartet offers this moving music on Good Friday evening, 7 PM.

I am happy to report that John Binsfeld has been released from Pennsylvania Hospital and is at home in Ocean City continuing his recuperation from chemotherapy.  Read of his good progress here.

I eagerly await sharing the blessings of the week ahead with you.

April 20--Wednesday in Holy Week

12 PM--The Holy Eucharist

7 PM--Tenebrae Tenebrae, meaning "Shadows" is a service of Psalms and other traditional readings preparing us for the great three days to follow.
Special Music:  Couperin's The Lamentations of Jeremiah

April 21--Maundy Thursday 

12 PM--The Holy Eucharist 

5:30 PM--Agape Parish Potluck*
7 PM--The Liturgy Commemorating the Institution of the Last Supper, the Foot-washing, and the Stripping of the Altar 

*  Offerings are traditionally meat, cheese and grains in the tradition of the Middle East and Mediterranean

April 22--Good Friday 

12 PM to 3 PM--The Liturgy for Good Friday, Meditations on the Meaning of the Cross, and a Service of Healing 
 
7 PM--Haydn's The Seven Last Words of Christ is offered by the String Quartet, with the prayers for Good Friday  

April 24--The First Sunday of Easter
5 AM--The Great Vigil of Easter at Sunrise and the First Eucharist of Easter

9 AM--Festive Eucharist with Choir, Hymns and Sermon

10:15 AM--The Easter Egg Hunt in the Churchyard

10:30 AM--The Choir offers portions of Handel's Messiah, including the "Hallelujah Chorus."

11 AM--Festival Eucharist for the Feast of the Resurrection with Brass, Percussion and Choir

The Holy Week and Easter Schedule is found online here. 

An Easter Offering

 

This week, please consider making an Easter offering to Christ Church in addition to your pledges in thanksgiving to God for the blessings of life, the joy of Easter, and the hope of resurrection.  We open our doors to more than a thousand visitors this week, stretching us financially.  Help us give Christ Church away to them, and the world beyond.  Please use the special Easter envelopes in our pews, or contribute through our website (registration required, for security.  Use the email address to which this email has been sent).
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Telephone: 215.922.1695