Holy Week
at
Holy Cross

Palm Sunday

• What is Palm Sunday?
  • Palm Sunday is a Christian holiday that falls on the Sunday before Easter Sunday. It commemorates Jesus Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem, as described in the Bible’s New Testament. According to the Gospels, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, and the people there greeted Him by waving palm branches and laying them on the ground before Him, as a sign of respect and honor.
  • Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, which is the most sacred week in the Christian calendar. During Holy Week, Christians remember the events leading up to Jesus Christ’s crucifixion and celebrate his resurrection.
• What happens during worship on Palm Sunday?
  • On the way into the sanctuary, you’ll receive a palm frond along with the bulletin. During the first hymn people wave their palm fronds to re-enact the people welcoming Jesus into Jerusalem.
  • The remainder of the service follows our regular Sunday worship order.

Maundy Thursday

• What is Maundy Thursday?
  • Maundy Thursday, also known as Holy Thursday, is a Christian holiday that commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with His disciples, as well as His washing of their feet. It is observed on the Thursday before Easter Sunday, during Holy Week.
  • The name “Maundy” comes from the Latin word “mandatum,” meaning commandment, and refers to Jesus’ commandment to His disciples to love one another as He had loved them. During the Last Supper, Jesus shared bread and wine with his disciples, which is now remembered as the institution of the Lord’s Supper or Holy Communion in Christian tradition.
• What happens during worship on Maundy Thursday?
  • The Maundy Thursday worship is in the evening. It sometimes includes a representation of Jesus washing the feet of His disciples.
  • The service itself not only recounts Jesus instituting the Lord’s Supper, it also includes communion. Our fifth graders take communion for the first time during this service.
  • At the end of the service the altar will be stripped. It is symbolic of the humiliation of Jesus at the hands of the soldiers who arrest Jesus on Thursday. Afterward the congregation will silently leave the sanctuary.

Good Friday

• What is Good Friday?
  • Good Friday is a solemn day because it commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. The term “good” is thought to have originated from the Middle English word “goode,” which means holy or pious. So, the name “Good Friday” may have originally been “God’s Friday,” meaning holy or sacred Friday.
  • The meaning of Good Friday goes beyond the historical event of Jesus’ death. It is a day of reflection on the significance of Jesus’ sacrifice and the love that He demonstrated for humanity. Jesus willingly accepted His death on the cross as a sacrifice for the sins of humanity, so that all people could have the opportunity to be reconciled with God.
  • Good Friday is also a day of mourning, as we remember the suffering and pain that Jesus endured on the cross. It is a reminder of the price that was paid for the forgiveness of sins, and the hope that is found in the resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday.
• What happens during worship on Good Friday?
  • The Good Friday service is actually a continuation of worship that began Maundy Thursday. It follows the passion of Jesus from his arrest through his trial, crucifixion, death, and burial.. As the candles are extinguished, the lights dim until the sanctuary is dark.
  • Finally,  at the end of worship, there will be a loud sound representing the rock being rolled into place, sealing the tomb of Jesus.
  • This noise can be startling and/or triggering for some. Any that prefer to avoid this experience are welcome to exit the sanctuary as the Lord’s Prayer is prayed.
    

Easter

• What is Easter?
  • Easter is the most important Christian holiday, and it commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. According to historical accounts, Jesus was crucified on Good Friday, died, and was buried in a tomb. On the third day, which is Easter Sunday, Jesus rose from the dead, and this event is considered to be the foundation of the Christian faith.
  • For Christians, the meaning of Easter is the triumph of life over death, light over darkness, and good over evil. The resurrection of Jesus is seen as a sign of hope and new life, and it is celebrated as a time of renewal and rebirth. The holiday is a time for reflection on the significance of Jesus’ sacrifice, and it is also a time for celebration of the new life He makes available to every person, both now and in eternity.
    
• What happens during the Easter service?
  • Easter is a joyous occasion filled with music and a refrain of “Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia”
  • We have three services Easter morning, and all three will offer communion. The 7:30am service follows the traditional Easter liturgy. The 9:00am and 10:30am services offer a contemporary service with the worship team leading the music.