Palm Sunday - March 29, 2015

9:00 a.m. - The Rite Place - Kids Do Church! (Adults Do, Too!)

10:30 a.m. - Choral Eucharist

Wednesday in Holy Week - April 1, 2015

7:30 p.m. - Washed in Quiet Contemplation: A 35-minute contemplative prayer service

Maundy Thursday - April 2, 2015

6:00 p.m. - The Last Supper, Kid-Style (All are welcome!)

7:30 p.m. - Foot Washing & Holy Eucharist

Vigil at the Lady Chapel until 10PM

Good Friday - April 3, 2015

12:00 Noon - Stations of the Cross (click here for a booklet to use to pray the Stations at home)

6:00 p.m. - Good Friday Service (designed for children; all are welcome)

7:30 p.m. - Good Friday Service

including the Singing of St. John's Passion

The Great Vigil of Easter - April 4, 2015

7:30 p.m., followed by a festive reception in the Parish Hall

Easter Day - April 5, 2015

9:00 a.m. - The Rite Place - Kids Do Easter (followed by an Easter Egg hunt)

10:30 a.m. - Festival Choral Eucharist 

Next Sunday is the beginning of Holy Week, the heart of our Church Year. Here's a guide from the Worship Committee about what to expect at each of the Holy Week liturgies:

On Palm Sunday at 9:00 and 10:30, we gather on the lawn in front of the Church (or in the Parish Hall if the weather requires moving inside). After the blessing of palm fronds, we wave them high as we walk together into the sanctuary singing "Hosanna!" to commemorate the glorious entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. The jubilant mood continues with the great hymn "All Glory, Laud, and Honor."

In recent years, many churches have combined Palm Sunday with Passion Sunday on the same day, including a reading of the story of Jesus's Passion -- his betrayal, suffering, and death. At the 10:30 service, we will follow this tradition by presenting the Passion story after the Liturgy of the Table (communion), followed by a closing hymn. Parts of the Passion story will be told by individual readers, and parts by the congregation as a whole. (If you would prefer to hear the Passion story later in Holy Week, please feel free to leave quietly before the reading begins.)

On Wednesday evening at 7:30, we gather for our "Washed in Contemplation" prayer service. This short service (about 35 minutes) consists of a brief reading, a period of silence for meditation, and a closing prayer. It is a time of quiet for prayer, reflection, and rest.

On Maundy Thursday (the first in a three-part liturgy called the Triduum), we gather at 6:00 and 7:30 to commemorate Jesus's last supper with his disciples. The 6:00 service is specially designed to incorporate children, though both adults and children are welcome at both services. As we gather for the story of Jesus's last evening, we wash one another's feet as Jesus did. (The foot-washing ceremony is optional; many find it a deeply moving expression of our care for one another.) Then we share bread and wine for the last time until He comes again at Easter. Afterward, we strip and wash the altar, leaving it bare. Then, we follow a procession with torches as we move together to the Lady Chapel, decorated as the Garden of Gethsemane, to hear the story of Jesus's betrayal. We invite you to stay for a time afterward in prayerful silence, to keep watch in the Garden as Jesus asked his first disciples to do.

On Good Friday at 6:00 and 7:30, we observe Christ's death on the cross. The church is darker than it normally is, and the organ is silent; all the hymns are a cappella. This is the only major service of the year when we gather without receiving bread and wine as the body and blood of Jesus. At the 6:00 service, we hear the story of Christ's suffering and death presented in a manner appropriate for younger children, in the style of our 9:00 service on Sunday mornings (though again, all are welcome). At the 7:30 service, we hear the story of Christ's Passion according to St. John, sung by the Adult and Madrigal Choirs in a powerful choral setting written by our parish musician. Acknowledging our own role in Christ's suffering, the congregation will join the choirs in singing "Crucify him!" After hearing the news of his death, we sing hymns together, and those attending have the opportunity (if they wish) to approach and honor the cross with a bow or a kiss.

On Saturday at 7:30 is the Great Vigil of Easter. For many, this is the highlight of the Church Year. We gather in darkness and kindle a new fire, lighting the Paschal candle and passing its light from person to person. We hear the Exultet, the ancient chant that has marked this liturgy for centuries. Then, by candlelight, we hear the stories of our salvation, beginning with the Creation story from the book of Genesis and continuing through the sacrifice of Isaac, the parting of the Red Sea, and the Exodus out of Egypt. Some of the stories are simply read, some are performed or acted out, and some are proclaimed through music. After each story, a member of the congregation "breaks open the Word" by giving a short reflection. These individual reflections take the place of a longer sermon.

Then, bringing an end to the darkness, the priest proclaims, "Alleluia, Christ is risen!" and the people respond, "The Lord is risen indeed, Alleluia!" Then the great celebration begins, as the lights come on, the bells ring, the Easter lilies arrive, the streamers fly, and we sing the festive and traditional "This is the Feast of Victory for our God." We hear the Easter Gospel -- the story of Christ's resurrection, when the women discover the empty tomb. We then renew our baptismal vows, reflecting the ancient practice of baptism at the Vigil, and share bread and wine in the First Mass of Easter. After the service, we gather in the Parish Hall for a great feast and celebration.

On Sunday morning at 9:00 and 10:30, we gather to hear the story of Christ's resurrection and celebrate the Good News once again, with traditional hymns and communion. At the 10:30 service, the Schola Choir joins the Adult Choir for glorious music, including the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's Messiah. A festive coffee hour and reception follows both services (and between the two, an Easter Egg hunt!).

If you have questions about any of these services, please see any one of us.  

Have a blessed Holy Week!

Shawn Schreiner, Chair
Linda Coberly and Charles Wells, Vice-Chairs

We wish to say a big "Thank You" to our church family here on the very warm show of friendship and love on the celebration of our 50th wedding anniversary last Sunday. Thank loads.

-Joan and Lascelles

Easter Vigil Reception. Don't forget about our wonderful reception following the Great Vigil of Easter on Saturday night, April 4. We are seeking donations of finger foods. Please place your donations in the kitchen on your way into the Vigil. If you bring them in before April 4, kindly label them Easter Vigil Reception and put them in the refrigerator. Thank you, in advance!

The Second Annual SPRING CLEANING/PROJECT DAY

on Saturday April 25th from 10AM - 2PM

More details to follow.

-The Property Committee 

During the past year and a half, we have had continual problems with sewage back-up, due in part to paper towels being flushed down the toilets. All of our sewer lines are now fully rodded and flowing, but they are eccentric and full of twists and turns.

Installing air hand dryers will help keep our sewers flowing by eliminating one of the sources of the problem. This will also reduce the amount of trash we produce and make cleaning the bathrooms easier. Cosmetic repairs are coming in the near future.

Although these dryers have noise reduction nozzles, they are still loud, but they are fast. If you have a child who is afraid of the loud noise, know that the restrooms upstairs still have paper towels and the upstairs women's restroom also has a child size potty.

Their installation was made possible using church funds designated for both property and outreach.

Remember, cleanliness is next to godliness. 

A few reminders about using the kitchen at Grace: 

• If you get it dirty, please get it clean.
• If you take it out, please put it away.
• NO food is to be left out on counters.  Please put all food in the refrigerator or cupboards.  Any food stored in cupboards should be in a sealed container.
• If you use the coffee maker, please make sure it is drained and grounds are thrown in garbage when you're finished.
• If you dirty a dish, please wash it, and put it away.
• Should you spill on the floor, please mop it up (supplies are in the closet in the hallway next to the kitchen).
• Please do not fill a trash can to overflowing and leave it for someone else to take care of.  The trash dumpster is located in the northwest corner of our the parking lot. After you've emptied a garbage can, please put a new liner in the can.  Again, these are located in the closet in the hallway next to the kitchen.

Our new sexton, Zac, has made sure our kitchen has been cleaned from top to bottom.  Please remember that we all have a role in keeping it clean.  It is the responsibility of coffee hour hosts to clean up after coffee hour. Thank you for your cooperation.