Holy Week and Easter Plans 2020
Did you know that Christians for at least 1600 years have been celebrating the week leading up to Easter in a way that reflects the life of Jesus Christ, especially those last few days? We call this week Holy Week, and this year will be no different! We will celebrate Holy Week in Saint Stephen’s fashion even if it feels a little different. Holy Week allows us to more deeply know the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. No matter what we are experiencing in life, the story of God’s love changes everything. We come to learn that love is the most powerful force in all the world. Love wins. What a truth we need to know today!
There are several parts of Holy Week that will feel like years past and several that will be new. I encourage you to read this email carefully and participate in all that you can. All Holy Week services will remain archived on the website, but I encourage you to participate as you are able when the services are streamed live. All Holy Week services will be at www.ssechurch.org/live-worship and all streamed services can also be found at www.facebook.com/ststephensbham/live.
Palm Sunday, April 5 – We will have a Palm Sunday service at 10:15am. You can print a palm frond and color it here. This is great for people of all ages!
Stations of the Cross, Wednesday, April 8 – 6:30pm - The youth are working hard to once again create an interactive Stations of the Cross service. This one will be made from videos spliced together and will be premiered on Facebook Live at 6:30pm. The youth will be on the Facebook Livestream, and there will be opportunities to participate in the comment section.
Maundy Thursday, April 9 – 6:30pm – Maundy Thursday is the service that retells the Last Supper. In John’s Gospel, it is where Jesus washes the feet of his disciples and often liturgies include foot washing. Our service will include images of foot washing, Taizé music, preaching, and an intentional stripping of the Altar in preparation for Good Friday.
Good Friday, April 10 – 12:15pm - On Good Friday, we mark the crucifixion of Jesus and read the whole passion narrative. This service will include music and the reading of the passion story by several members of the congregation, recorded and placed into the live service.
Easter Sunday, April 12 – 10:15am – On Easter Sunday, we celebrate the Empty Tomb. Jesus has been raised from the dead, and victory is won. At 10:00am we will ring the large bell that hangs in the Narthex sharing the sound of victory with the neighborhood. The service will begin at 10:15am and will include music and a special video production of our congregation sharing their Alleluias.
Things to do to help us Celebrate Easter
Take a video (turn your phone horizontally) of you or your family saying, singing, or shouting Alleluia. Please email to john@ssechurch.org by Friday, April 10. Your video should be no longer than 5 seconds long. You have special permission to say the “A-Word” during Lent!
After Sundown on Saturday, April 11 or anytime the following day or week, leave flowers next to the Saint Stephen’s stone sign at the intersection of Crosshaven and Overton. This way we can share an image of hope and resurrection in our midst.
Consider signing up to share encouragement and hope with our campaign to spread love. You can learn more here.
Easter Flowers and Memorials
Since we are celebrating the Easter service online this year, we have not promoted the contributions for Easter Flowers and Music in honor or memory of someone. However, when our church can gather in person again, we are going to celebrate in good Easter fashion! While we don’t know that date, you can make a gift here at any time in anticipation of when we can gather again and select Easter flowers and music from the dropdown menu. If you have already made a contribution, we have saved it and will include it with acknowledgements when we have our celebration.
I give thanks daily for the gift of our community and look forward to celebrating Easter and Holy Week with each of you, even if it is in a new way. God unites us in Spirit until that moment when we can join again in person. My hope is that through the midst of all of this, our faith is deepened, and we all come to more powerfully know our Lord.