The Way of the Cross,
The Light of Resurrection:
Holy Week at St. John in the Wilderness
Join us as we journey to Jerusalem this week to recall God's saving work in Jesus Christ.
March 29
Palm Sunday
Join us for services in the church at 8:45 and 11:00am. On this day, we recall Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem and his Passion on the cross.
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Gather outside the Carriage Entrance for the Liturgy of the Palms and then process inside the church for the Liturgy of the Word.
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Between the services, we'll gather in the Wilderness Room at 10:00am to share in a formation activity and coffee hour. All ages welcome!
“For you always have the poor with you, and you can show kindness to them whenever you wish; but you will not always have me.”
Mark 14:7
“And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
John 12:32
March 30 - April 1
Holy Monday, Tuesday, & Wednesday
Join us for Evening Prayer in the Atrium Chapel at 4:30pm.
April 2
Maundy Thursday
Part of the Triduum, or the three days before Easter, Maundy Thursday commemorates the institution of the eucharist by Jesus on the night he was betrayed. This year, we will hold two Maundy Thursday services:
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Families are invited to join us for a special program tailored for children and their grown-ups. On April 2, we'll gather for pizza at 5:00pm in the Wilderness Room, followed by a program from 5:30 to 6:00pm to engage in the radical servant ministry of Jesus.
Please sign up using the button below.
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Later in the evening, all are invited to our more traditional service of foot washing and stripping of the altar at 7:00pm in the church as we prepare to keep watch over night.
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Wear your sandals and share in the radical servant ministry of Jesus of Nazareth! This service ends in darkness, and we leave the church in complete silence as our vigil begins.
“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples.”
John 13:34-35a
“My soul is deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me.”
Matthew 26:38
April 2-3
Gethsemane Watch
Three times Jesus prayed. Three times Jesus said to his disciples, "Stay awake with me." Three times he found them asleep. The Gethsemane Watch is a vigil during which we, as disciples of Jesus, step into the story of his final hours and do something that the Twelve could not do: we stay awake for one hour, and we pray.
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Beginning at the end of the Maundy Thursday service and running until the clergy gather for Morning Prayer at sunrise on Good Friday, you are invited to sign up for an hour of prayer in the church.
April 3
Good Friday
On Good Friday, we will commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus beginning at 11:00am with the Stations of the Cross.
Meet in the Parish Hall parking lot to take turns carrying the cross up to the church as we complete the Stations.
This journey will lead us to the church, where we will have Good Friday services at 12:00 and 5:30pm. Designated checks and loose offerings from our Good Friday services will be collected to send to our siblings in Christ in the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem.
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All are invited to participate in the Veneration of the Cross between 1:00 and 4:00pm in the Church.
Spend time in prayer before the Cross, this instrument of shameful death that is for us the means of life.
“Put your sword back into its sheath. Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me?”
John 18:11
April 4
Holy Saturday
Join us in the Atrium Chapel at 4:00pm for the Blessing of the Easter Baskets and Foods for the Easter Feast, a new parish-wide Holy Week offering. This tradition was introduced to us last year by the Saltz-Bochynek family. While their roots are in Poland, the tradition of blessing Easter baskets and samplings of the food to be eaten on Easter Sunday has popped up all over the world across history. You are welcome to bring your own Easter baskets full of food to be blessed: traditionally, this includes things like salt, eggs, bread, meat, horseradish, and of course, candy. All are welcome!
April 20
Easter Sunday
The story of Jesus did not end on the Cross, because the love of God cannot stay locked in a tomb. On Easter, we celebrate Jesus' conquering of death to bring new and abundant life to us all. Join in the celebration at one of our Rite II Easter Eucharist services in the church at 8:45 and 11:00am.
Gather in the church and bring flowers to share in the flowering of the cross, or use the flowers provided in the church.
The celebration will move across the street at 10:00am for St. John's annual Easter Egg Hunt, hosted by the Young Family Ministry, and a Parish Breakfast, hosted by the Chefs of St. John.
Bring your own basket and meet in the Rector's Garden for the Egg Hunt. The Breakfast will take place in the Parish Hall as usual and be available from 9:30 to 11:30am.
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Fr. Josh Stephens and Dr. Rosanna Couture invite you to their home on Easter Sunday for a potluck feast from 4:00-8:00pm. The rain location is the Parish Hall.
Use the button below to learn more and register by Monday, March 30.
