Beloved people of God: 

As we come this week to the most profound part of our Lenten journey: Holy Week, I want to give you an overview of the week as it unfolds. 

This coming Sunday commemorates Christ’s entry into Jerusalem and the beginning of the Passover. The service this Sunday also includes a reading of the complete passion narrative which prepares us for Holy Week. To reflect this, the Book of Alternative Services gives this Sunday the title, “The Sunday of the Passion with the Liturgy of the Palms”. To accommodate both liturgies, the Liturgy of the Palms (in our case, cedar branches) will begin at the back of the church and conclude with a procession, with the congregation returning to their seats for the Liturgy of the Passion. 

Holy Week brings us to the centre point of our Christian faith: the three days of Easter, beginning with Maundy Thursday, leading into Good Friday, and culminating in the Easter Vigil. These three days, liturgically called the Triduum, are really one liturgy which flows through the three days. Maundy Thursday ritualises our call to humble service through the washing of feet and remembers the gift of Christ’s own self through the gift of the Eucharist. Good Friday commemorates the unjust suffering and death of Jesus which he freely accepted out of love for the whole world, and the Easter Vigil reminds us that God has been with their people throughout all of history, and we celebrate that we are a beloved and redeemed people, sent out into the world to bring that love and redemption to all. At the Easter Vigil, we light the new fire from which the Paschal candle is then lit and the Easter Anthem (the Exultet) is proclaimed. The Easter water is blessed and the congregation has the opportunity to renew their baptismal commitment. 

As we are a small congregation, we will not be holding all of the Holy Week services here at St. Matthias. We will celebrate Maundy Thursday at 10 am on Thursday morning in the chapel, followed by a simple Agape lunch. All are welcome to attend and to make a simple contribution to the lunch to be shared together afterwards. 

There will be no Good Friday or Saturday night Easter Vigil in our parish, but you are welcome and encouraged to participate in these services at other Anglican parishes. I will be providing you with daily prayers for Holy Week for home use if you so wish. 

Our Easter Sunday celebration will take place at our usual time, 10 am, and will include the blessing of the Easter water, the blessing of the new fire and the renewal of baptismal vows. I invite you to wear your most joyful colors on Easter Sunday as we celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord. 

If you have small bells at home, bring them to ring during the Gloria. It is truly a day to make a joyful noise.  The Lord has risen, Alleluia. 

With every blessing, 

Rev. Colleen+ 

As we begin the Holy Week journey, we invite you to join fully and warmly by wearing red if you have it ... if you like it!  You'll notice the altar frontals are red and Rev. Colleen will wear her red chasuble ... 

And, as Rev. Colleen has invited us to wear our brightest, most joyful colours on Easter Sunday, we also remember that we're invited to "make a joyful noise," so bring your handbells if you can.  (Rumour has it, we may have a few at church ...)