Some thoughts on Holy Week

If you grew up as a Baptist (like I did), you may find it helpful to think of Holy Week in the Episcopal Church as a "Revival Meeting" in a Baptist Church. 

Growing up, the congregation of my childhood would annually host a revival. The event was to (as the name implies) revive one's faith.

Revivals often followed a pattern. Worship services were held every day for a week (or two sometimes). The themes would change from day to day. I could always count on a sermon on a particular topic on a specific night. And, we prepared. The preparation also meant anticipation. Several weeks before the revival, we would pray that we would be revived and that God would rekindle our faith.

Holy Week in the Episcopal Church is similar in that there are multiple worship services. And each night has a particular theme. And we prepare for Holy Week.

We begin our preparation with Ash Wednesday. Then, for 40 days (the season of Lent), we "get ready."

Holy Week in the Episcopal Church is a little like a week-long spiritual retreat. (Except you get to sleep in your bed.) It is a time for you to focus on God.

Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday. We will remember the triumphant procession of Jesus into Jerusalem, and we will retell the passion story (Palm Sunday is also known as Passion Sunday).

On Wednesday evening of Holy Week at St. John's, a special liturgy called Tenebrae is prayed. The liturgy is a meditation on the final three days of the life of Jesus. It is very different from anything else we do liturgically at St. John's, and we only pray this liturgy once a year.

Thursday of Holy Week is Maundy Thursday. We recall Jesus washing the disciples' feet, and we remember the institution of the Lord's Supper (Holy Eucharist). On Thursday, we remember the Last Supper.

Friday of Holy Week is Good Friday. On Friday, we remember the crucifixion and the death of Christ. We read the passion narrative from John's gospel each year.

We do all this in preparation for the Great Vigil of Easter on Saturday after sunset. The Great Vigil of Easter is the central act of worship in the Episcopal Church. At St John's, the vigil begins at 8:00 p.m. Every Sunday after that is a little Easter. The Great Vigil is the worship experience we have been preparing for, starting with Ash Wednesday. The Great Vigil is the climax of Holy Week, and experiencing the liturgy of the Great Vigil of Easter is to have a religious experience that revives your soul.

Do you feel the need for a revival of your spiritual life? Do you feel the need for a spiritual retreat? If so, I encourage you to observe Holy Week this year.

Preparation begins on Ash Wednesday.