Congregations ready for Holy Week observances

Despite its popularity, Christmas is not the most important holiday in the Christian tradition. Easter, which commemorates the day Jesus rose from the dead, marking him as the Messiah, takes that honor.

The Christian religion is based on the belief that Jesus was the son of God, that he was crucified and that he rose from the dead. Christians believe that the death and resurrection of Jesus absolved humanity of sin. Holy Week, the week leading up to Easter, commemorates the final week of Jesus’ life.

Right now, Christians are observing Lent, the 40-day period leading up to Easter. It is a time of fasting and reflection, recalling Jesus’ 40-day fast in the wilderness. Many recognize this period by giving up something for Lent (chocolate is a popular choice).

Easter this year is Sunday, April 12, which means Holy Week begins Sunday, April 5, with Palm Sunday. According to the Bible, on Palm Sunday Jesus rode triumphantly into Jerusalem. The crowd greeted him with shouts of  “Hosannah!â€� and “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!â€�

In many Christian traditions, palms are blessed and then used in a procession into worship on Palm Sunday. Some make crosses from the palms and save them for a year.

The next day of note is sometimes referred to as Spy Wednesday, the day Judas Iscariot went to the Roman authorities to plan his betrayal of Jesus. Most churches do not commemorate this day.

Maundy Thursday, named for the ceremonyof washing the feet of the poor, celebrates the Last Supper, when Jesus taught his diciples how to celebrate the Eucharist (communion). Jesus broke bread and drank wine with his followers for the last time. He also washed their feet. It is generally held that the meal was a celebration of the Jewish holiday of Passover (there is some disagreement among scholars on this point). Churches reenact this final meal regularly throughout the year.

Maundy Thursday is also the day churches hold Tenebrae services. Tenebrae is the Latin word for shadows. The service itself is a ritualized reading of the scripture that describes the period between the Last Supper and the Crucifixion. Candles are extinguished as the scripture is read, leaving the congregation in the dark as Jesus symbolically dies.

Good Friday marks the day of the Crucifixion. Some churches hold services at 3 p.m., which is thought to be when Jesus died. At Salisbury Congregational Church, a special performance of John Stainer’s “The Crucifixion� will be offered at 5 p.m. Soloists will be the Rev. Stephen Austin, tenor, and Jack Brown, bass. The public is invited.

Holy Saturday has few specific customs, but is treated as a day of fasting and waiting.

Easter Sunday is a joyous day in the church and is marked with a feast. Christ is risen and this is believed to be proof of God’s love for the world.

Area churches have many events planned for the week. Following is a schedule of some local churches. For others not listed here, call the church.

Cornwall

UCC in Cornwall, Congregational: Palm Sunday, April 5, worship with processional, 10 a.m., special church school program follows processional; Maundy Thursday, April 9, service of Tenebrae and communion, 7:30 p.m.; Easter, April 12, sunrise service at the corner of Cream Hill and Rexford roads, West Cornwall, followed by a continental breakfast at the parish house, 6 a.m., service at the church, 10 a.m.

St. Bridget Church: Easter, April 12, Mass, 8 a.m.

Falls Village

Falls Village Congregational Church: Palm Sunday, April 5, men’s communion breakfast, 7 a.m., worship, 10 a.m.; Maundy Thursday, April 9, communion service, 7 p.m.; Easter, April 12, vigil service, 5:30 a.m., sunrise service, 6:15 a.m., worship, 10 a.m.

Kent

First Congregational Church: Palm Sunday, April 5, worship and church school, 10 a.m.; Maundy Thursday, April 9, Tenebrae and communion, 7:30 p.m.; Good Friday, April 10, worship at St. Andrew’s Church, noon; Easter, sunrise service with breakfast following, 7 a.m., intergenerational worship with egg hunt following, 10 a.m.

St. Andrew’s Episcopal: Palm Sunday, April 5, Liturgy of the Palms and Holy Eucharist, 8:30 and 10:30 a.m., music in the nave, 4 p.m.; Monday, April 6, Holy Eucharist, 6 p.m.; Tuesday, April 7, contemplative prayer, 5:15 p.m., Holy Eucharist, 6 p.m.; Wednesday, April 8, Holy Eucharist, 7 p.m.; Maundy Thursday, April 9, Holy Eucharist, 9:30 a.m., potluck supper, 6 p.m., Liturgy of the Day with stripping of the altar, 7:30 p.m.; Good Friday, April 10, Liturgy of the Day with communion from the Reserved Sacrament, noon, Tenebrae, 7:30 p.m.; Holy Saturday, egg coloring and pizza lunch, 11 a.m.; Easter, Holy Eucharist, 8:30 and 10:30 a.m.

Sacred Heart Catholic Church: Maundy Thursday, April 9, Mass of the Lord’s Supper, 7 p.m.; Good Friday, April 10, celebration of the Lord’s Passion, 3 p.m.; Holy Saturday, April 11, Easter Vigil Mass, 7 p.m.; Easter, April 12, Mass, 8:30  and 10 a.m.

North Canaan

St. Joseph Church: Good Friday, April 10, Stations of the Cross, 6 p.m.; Easter, April 12, Mass, 8:30 a.m.

Salisbury/Lakeville

Church of St. Mary: Maundy Thursday, April 9, Mass of the Lord’s Supper, 7 p.m., adoration of the Bessed Sacrament will follow Mass until 9 p.m.; Good Friday, April 10, Liturgy of Good Friday and communion, 3 p.m.; Holy Saturday, April 11, Easter Vigil Mass, 8 p.m.; Easter, April 12, Mass, 8 a.m., High Mass, 10:15 a.m.

St. John’s Church: Palm Sunday, April 5, blessing and procession of palms on the Green, 9:50 a.m., Holy Eucharist with bilingual Passion drama, 10:10 a.m.; Maundy Thursday, April 9, Eucharist of the Presanctified, stripping of the altar and watch, 7 p.m.; Good Friday, April 10, quiet prayer time in church, noon to 3 p.m., Solemn Collects, Veneration of the Cross and communion, 7 p.m.; Easter, April 12, Festal Eucharist with choir, 8 a.m. and 10 a.m., Misa Solemne de la Resurrección, noon, egg hunt, 1:15 p.m.

Salisbury Congregational Church: Palm Sunday, April 5, procession of palms on the Green, 9:50 a.m., service 10 a.m.; Maundy Thursday, April 9, service of Tenebrae, 7:30 p.m.; Good Friday, April 10, performance of “The Crucifixion,� by John Stainer, 5 p.m.; Easter, April 12, sunrise service at the Grove, 6:15 a.m., service at the church, 10 a.m.

Trinity Episcopal Church, Lime Rock: Maundy Thursday Liturgy with Holy Eucharist, April 9, 7 p.m.; church open for prayers, April 10, noon to 3 p.m.; Good Friday Liturgy, April 10, 7 p.m.; the Great Vigil of Easter, April 11, 7 p.m.; Easter, April 12, 8 a.m. Holy Eucharist with music, 10:30 a.m., festival Eucharist, noon, coffee hour and egg hunt

Sharon

St. Bernard Church: Maundy Thursday, April 9, Mass of the Last Supper, 7 p.m.; Good Friday, April 10, Liturgy of the Cross, 3 p.m.; Holy Saturday, April 11, Easter Vigil Mass, 8 p.m.; Easter, Mass, 10:30 a.m.

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