HOLY WEEK & EASTER AT TRINITY
Palm Sunday – April 13th
Palms are an ancient symbol of celebration and joy. When Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem for the last time, he was greeted by a crowd of children and adults, waving palm branches and shouting, “Hosanna in the highest!” On this day we gather with our palm branches to welcome Jesus as our king. But the mood changes quickly as we see that our king is not destined for power or fame, but one whose crown is made of thorns and whose throne is a cross. Palm Sunday begins our journey to Calvary and the empty tomb. All three services will include the Blessing of the Palms.
Maundy Thursday – April 17th | 7 pm in the Sanctuary
On this night on which Jesus was betrayed, we are drawn close to him in sacrificial, servant love. We begin reconciled to God and one another with confession and forgiveness. In obedience to Jesus’ command to love one another, we bare our hands and allow them to be washed by one of our sisters or brothers in faith. We celebrate the last supper—the meal he instituted on the night in which he was betrayed. Just as Jesus was stripped of his clothes as he was led to the cross, the night ends in total darkness with the solemn stripping of the altar, as all the beautiful adornments in the church are put away, preparing us for the starkness of Good Friday. This service will include choral leadership from the Trinity Choir.
Good Friday – April 18th | 7 pm in Centennial Hall
On the surface, it might seem crazy to refer to the day that Jesus died as “good.” But while it is a solemn day, our gathering for worship on Good Friday does not have the mood of a funeral. Christians see the cross as a sign of triumph—God’s victory over death. We hear the Passion according to John, in which our crucified king is portrayed as having command over everything that happens. We pray the Bidding Prayer, an ancient prayer that commends everyone and everything to the loving arms of Jesus. The night concludes with the Adoration of the Crucified, as a simple, wooden cross is brought into the worship space, and each worshiper is invited to symbolically lay down their burdens at its feet. This year, our Good Friday worship will take place in Centennial Hall with the musical gifts of Rejoice worship leaders, projected visual art, and seating in a round formation. The barren sanctuary, stripped of its adornments, will be open on Good Friday from noon-3 p.m. for individual meditation and prayer.
Easter Sunday, the Resurrection of Our Lord – April 20th in the Sanctuary
On this festival day we marvel in the wonder that Christ is risen from the dead! We hear the astonishing story of the empty tomb, gaze upon the beauty of the Easter flowers, sing some of our favorite hymns, sing our “alleluias” with gusto, and share in the “feast of victory for our God” in the first Holy Communion of Easter. We will have festival liturgies with brass, the Resound Bell Choir, and the Trinity Choir, at 8, 9:15 and 10:45 am. The 9:15 am service will also be livestreamed. Join us!
Let us continue to journey together at Trinity during Lent and Easter in 2025!