Non-Catholic Christians and Holy Week

[andrewstx]

If there are any Anglicans on here who would like to jump in and tell me that I’m wrong, then please do. I have a lot of time for Anglicans and don’t want to offend.

I do however feel that a great many Anglicans don’t ‘get’ Holy Week, in particular they don’t ‘get’ the Passion. Anglicans I know seem to wince and recoil a bit when it comes to the suffering of our Lord between the Garden of Gethsemane and the Resurrection. The road to Calvary is glossed over as if it’s something that although it ought to be recognised, it shouldn’t be dwelt upon too much. In my experience they tend to recoil in horror at the notion that the suffering of Christ between Gethsemane and the Resurrection should be taught to young children in anything but a very superficial, ‘sugar-coated’ manner.

I’d welcome comments from Anglicans on here to either confirm this, or to put me staright on the matter.

God Bless

Brendan

I am a former Episcopalian who still keeps in touch. Palm Sunday they bless and process with palms, read the passion account.

Maunday Thursday they wash feet, celebrate the Eucharist and when done the blessed sacrament is taken to an altar of repose where people keep watch, venerate it round the clock until Good Friday. The altar is stripped and all ornaments candle sticks, altar chimes that can be removed are. The things that cannot be removed cross and statues are veiled. The people leave silently and somberly.

On Good Friday first there are stations of the cross and then the Good Friday Liturgy where Holy Communion is given from the reserved sacrament, the tabernacle is emptied it’s door left open and the candle put out. They also reverence the Holy Cross.

On Holy Saturday there used to be the vigil with the new fire, lessons, baptism and Eucharist/Mass. But locally it was poorly attended and dropped .

The big celebration is Easter Morning with solemn high mass, they pull out all the stops for this.

A significant difference I have noticed on Easter Morning the children bring flowers they decorate a plain cross with that has been drilled with holes.

 

[JonNC]

Thanks Jon. That’s still helpful. I just want to get a cursory view from non-Catholics. Anyway, I think it has been answered quite well here by ex-Protestant Catholics who shared their experience on this when they were Protestants.

Well, it struck me as every Palm Sunday my wife would remind me to get some palm leaves. We don’t have them at our house and that remind me, maybe I should plant some. The church used to get people to collect palm leaves but not anymore for many years already. I am often on duty during the Palm Sunday mass and she is adamant I should have the palm like everybody else. Well, I got one; a friend brought a few branches and gave one to me.

Suffice to say, Palm Sunday is quite profound to me though I am not usually the ceremonial type. I feel the commemoration of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem is interesting, not the least as a reminder to us all. The people who welcomed him, shouting “Hosanna in the highest”, probably turned up against him later, “crucify him, crucify him”. And the verse “… if these were silent, the stones would shout out,” reminds me of my young days in the Charismatic Renewal.

My general thought was would Protestants object to use the palm leaves to commemorate this event; that’s the reason for my asking.

Thanks, my friend.
I know some people don’t like it, but I remember the song Hosanna from Jesus Christ Superstar:

Caiaphas
Tell the rabble to be quiet
We anticipate a riot
This common crowd
Is much too loud
Tell the mob who sing your song
That they are fools and they are wrong
They are a curse
They should disperse

Crowd
Hosanna Heysanna Sanna Sanna Ho
Sanna Hey Sanna Ho Sanna
Hey J C, J C you’re alright by me
Sanna Ho Sanna Hey Superstar

Jesus
Why waste your breath moaning at the crowd?
Nothing can be done to stop the shouting
If ev’ry tongue was still the noise would still continue
The rocks and stones themselves would start to sing:

Crowd, with Jesus
Hosanna Heysanna Sanna Sanna Ho
Sanna Hey Sanna Ho Sanna
Hey J C, J C won’t you fight for me?
Sanna Ho Sanna Hey Superstar

Jon

 

[Reuben_J]

Thanks, my friend.
I know some people don’t like it, but I remember the song Hosanna from Jesus Christ Superstar:

Caiaphas
Tell the rabble to be quiet
We anticipate a riot
This common crowd
Is much too loud
Tell the mob who sing your song
That they are fools and they are wrong
They are a curse
They should disperse

Crowd
Hosanna Heysanna Sanna Sanna Ho
Sanna Hey Sanna Ho Sanna
Hey J C, J C you’re alright by me
Sanna Ho Sanna Hey Superstar

Jesus
Why waste your breath moaning at the crowd?
Nothing can be done to stop the shouting
If ev’ry tongue was still the noise would still continue
The rocks and stones themselves would start to sing:

Crowd, with Jesus
Hosanna Heysanna Sanna Sanna Ho
Sanna Hey Sanna Ho Sanna
Hey J C, J C won’t you fight for me?
Sanna Ho Sanna Hey Superstar

Jon

That’s quite a long time already, eh? Talking about walking the memory lane. I remember the film Jesus Christ Superstar, though not on Broadway. The song however was nice but it had never really caught on with me.

 

[Symphorian]

If there are any Anglicans on here who would like to jump in and tell me that I’m wrong, then please do. I have a lot of time for Anglicans and don’t want to offend.

I do however feel that a great many Anglicans don’t ‘get’ Holy Week, in particular they don’t ‘get’ the Passion. Anglicans I know seem to wince and recoil a bit when it comes to the suffering of our Lord between the Garden of Gethsemane and the Resurrection. The road to Calvary is glossed over as if it’s something that although it ought to be recognised, it shouldn’t be dwelt upon too much. In my experience they tend to recoil in horror at the notion that the suffering of Christ between Gethsemane and the Resurrection should be taught to young children in anything but a very superficial, ‘sugar-coated’ manner.

I’d welcome comments from Anglicans on here to either confirm this, or to put me staright on the matter.

God Bless

Brendan

Brendan, this hasn’t been my experience.

On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in Holy Week our Cathedral church has Morning/Evening Prayer, 2 Eucharists and Stations of the Cross. On Maundy Thursday there’s Morning/Evening Prayer, a Chrism Eucharist and a Solemn evening Eucharist/Liturgy and prayer watch until midnight. Good Friday there’s Morning/Evening Prayer, The Good Friday Liturgy and a Three Hours Devotion service between mid-day and three. The Easter Liturgy starts at 5.30 in the morning and there’s Solemn Eucharist and Solemn Evensong during the day.

At parish level, we are a small rural community. On Palm Sunday we had the Liturgy of the Palms and the Passion with children’s involvement in the service. On Maundy Thursday we have an Evening Eucharist, foot washing, stripping of the Altars and prayer watch. Good Friday we are being hosted by the local Methodist Church for a devotional service followed by a Stations type devotion where we carry a large wooden cross around the village (it takes 2 people to carry it) stopping for ‘stations’ which include Bible readings, prayers and hymns. We have a simple Paschal Vigil and Sung Eucharist on Easter Day.

 

[aspirant]

A good friend of mine attends a “non-denom” Evangelical megachurch. They generally do a number of things for Holy Week, though few members appear to observe Lent.

I haven’t gotten to talk with my friend about what they did, but I saw photos from church of her kids with palm branches yesterday, so there was clearly some sort of Palm Sunday service. They also provided their members with a “Holy Week Scripture Reading and Devotions” booklet, for those so inclined: readings and reflections for each day of the week.

For reasons unknown to my friend, they will not be having any special events for Holy Thursday this year, but they have in the past.

On Good Friday, they will be focusing on the crucifixion of the Lord and having a communion service. The latter is a rare event in their church, much to my friend’s disappointment, but that does mean it will be a very special occasion and they expect many to attend.

They’re calling on everyone to bring as many family and friends as possible to the Easter services, beginning with an Easter Vigil at 6:30pm Saturday, which will do doubt include enthusiastic evangelical appeals. They’re also suggesting that families host brunches to which they can invite all their neighbors and discuss the meaning of Easter.

In the weeks leading up to Ascension, they appear to be planning a special course of study and devotion to help people deepen their understanding of the Easter season and their devotion.

 

[Brendan_64]

Many thanks to Symphorian and Andrewstx for your replies. It would seem that I have misjudged Anglicans in their treatment of the Passion.

God Bless,

Brendan

 

[Anna_Scott]

Many thanks to Symphorian and Andrewstx for your replies. It would seem that I have misjudged Anglicans in their treatment of the Passion.

God Bless,

Brendan

Brendan,

It may be that the Anglicans you have previously encountered are simply more “reformed.”

Anna

 

[Marie5890]

My non-Catholic family members have no real interest in it, but I have shared my appreciation for it in my own way.

I have family members facing very real and painful medical situations. So I got them Easter Mass cards where their intentions are mentioned and will be prayed for.

One of the things I did for Lent was to go to daily Mass as much as possible. I told them this and asked if they had any special intention that they wanted me to take with me to Mass. Several of them did.

It was all low key, so to speak, but very sincere. And it has born fruit.
And I am grateful.

 

[gnosisofthomas]

On Palm Sunday we have the blessing of the palms; Maundy Thursday we do a foot washing and the Holy Eucharist including a procession with the Most Holy Sacrament. On Good Friday we have our own unique form of the Veneration of the Cross reconstructed from an ancient Gnostic rite found in the Acts of St. John, called the Round Dance of the Cross. Then on Holy Saturday we have the blessing of the Easter fire, light the Paschal candle, and the Sacrament of Baptism. Then, of course, Mass on Easter Sunday.

 

[aspirant]

On Palm Sunday we have the blessing of the palms; Maundy Thursday we do a foot washing and the Holy Eucharist including a procession with the Most Holy Sacrament. On Good Friday we have our own unique form of the Veneration of the Cross reconstructed from an ancient Gnostic rite found in the Acts of St. John, called the Round Dance of the Cross. Then on Holy Saturday we have the blessing of the Easter fire, light the Paschal candle, and the Sacrament of Baptism. Then, of course, Mass on Easter Sunday.

What sort of gnostic community is yours? Is it a single congregation, part of a larger group of churches/communities?

 

[gnosisofthomas]

What sort of gnostic community is yours? Is it a single congregation, part of a larger group of churches/communities?

My community is a parish of the Ecclesia Gnostica. We have several parishes in the US, and one in Norway.

 

[Brendan_64]

Brendan,

It may be that the Anglicans you have previously encountered are simply more “reformed.”

Anna

Quite possibly.

However, my wife was at an ecumenical Taize service last night in the local Anglican Church and got talking to the new Anglican priest (a high Church Episcopalian from the USA). He is going to use an Orthodox ritual of wrapping the Blessed Eucharist in a shroud and symbolically laying it in the tomb.

It seems that high Church Anglo-Catholicism is alive and well in his church. Good for him

And this particular Anglican priest wears his Cassock every day, all day (on or off-duty).

 

[SyCarl]

From our Church’s Palm Sunday Bulletin

Worship Service – 10:00 a.m.

Palm Sunday, March 24, 2013

We Approach God’s Word

Prelude

Entry Of The Written Word

Processional Hymn 214 All glory, laud and honour

Call to Worship

Prayer of Invocation and the Lord’s Prayer (#831)

Welcome

We Hear God’s Word

Responsive Reading                     Psalm 118: 19-29 (Refrain I)

 Hymn 220                                          My song is love unknown

 Scripture Reading                                              Isaiah 50: 4-9b

                                                                     Luke 22:1-2, 14-23

                                      Scripture Reader – David Sturtevant

Choir Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs

Sermon “That Was The Week That Was”

                                                       The Rev. Janice Hamalainen

We Respond To God’s Word

Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession

 Offering

 Offertory

 Offertory Hymn – Praise God (#830 )

 Offertory Prayer

Opportunities for Ministry

Lent Reading Liam and Rob Johnston

Hymn 218 Hosanna, loud hosanna

 Procession of the Palms                                      Sunday School

 Children’s Time

Hymn 217 Ride on, ride on in majesty

Benediction

Departure of the Written Word

Postlude

       On Good Friday morning at 11 a.m. the Sanctuary Choir with orchestra, directed by Robert Houghton, will perform excerpts from Part 2 of Handel’s Messiah. Soloists are Cherry Fraser and Jamal Nickie.

As we enter Holy Week we are called to walk the Way of the Cross. At first the Way of the Cross seems too painful and difficult for with each step we die to ourselves – to our own comfort, security and positive self-image. But as we put down the burden of self we are empowered to take up the burden of servant-hood. And in the paradox which is the gospel, this burden is lightened by joy, contentment and the presence of Christ Jesus with us. That is the Way of the Cross, the Way of Christ. Please join us for evening service this week from Monday to Thursday at 7:00 p.m. in Covenant Chapel. Together we will follow our Saviour to the Cross.

On Easter Sunday morning at 10 a.m., as a part of the worship, the orchestra and choir will return to perform Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus and the closing choruses of the Messiah.

 

[Symphorian]

Quite possibly.

However, my wife was at an ecumenical Taize service last night in the local Anglican Church and got talking to the new Anglican priest (a high Church Episcopalian from the USA). He is going to use an Orthodox ritual of wrapping the Blessed Eucharist in a shroud and symbolically laying it in the tomb.

Sounds very much like the Easter Sepulchre in the Sarum Use. Some Easter Some Sepulchres still survive in English churches although many were made of wood. The Crucifix would be wrapped in fine fabrics, this and the Blessed Sacrament would be ‘buried’ in the Sepulchure. The Sepulchure would be covered with rich fabrics and candles would burn around it and a watch would be kept around the clock. The Blessed Sacrament was removed from the Sepulchure on Easter day with great ceremony symbolizing the Resurrection.

 

[Brendan_64]

Sounds very much like the Easter Sepulchre in the Sarum Use. Some Easter Some Sepulchres still survive in English churches although many were made of wood. The Crucifix would be wrapped in fine fabrics, this and the Blessed Sacrament would be ‘buried’ in the Sepulchure. The Sepulchure would be covered with rich fabrics and candles would burn around it and a watch would be kept around the clock. The Blessed Sacrament was removed from the Sepulchure on Easter day with great ceremony symbolizing the Resurrection.

That sounds wonderful.

 

[Anna_Scott]

Quite possibly.

However, my wife was at an ecumenical Taize service last night in the local Anglican Church and got talking to the new Anglican priest (a high Church Episcopalian from the USA). He is going to use an Orthodox ritual of wrapping the Blessed Eucharist in a shroud and symbolically laying it in the tomb.

It seems that high Church Anglo-Catholicism is alive and well in his church. Good for him

And this particular Anglican priest wears his Cassock every day, all day (on or off-duty).

Brendan,

Interesting. That is something I have not seen in my Anglo Catholic Parish.

Thank you for posting this.

Anna

 

[Lisa1967]

If there are any Anglicans on here who would like to jump in and tell me that I’m wrong, then please do. I have a lot of time for Anglicans and don’t want to offend.

I do however feel that a great many Anglicans don’t ‘get’ Holy Week, in particular they don’t ‘get’ the Passion. Anglicans I know seem to wince and recoil a bit when it comes to the suffering of our Lord between the Garden of Gethsemane and the Resurrection. The road to Calvary is glossed over as if it’s something that although it ought to be recognised, it shouldn’t be dwelt upon too much. In my experience they tend to recoil in horror at the notion that the suffering of Christ between Gethsemane and the Resurrection should be taught to young children in anything but a very superficial, ‘sugar-coated’ manner.

I’d welcome comments from Anglicans on here to either confirm this, or to put me staright on the matter.

God Bless

Brendan

I can’t speak for all Anglican or Episcopalian churches, but the Episcopal church I’ve been going to (which I think is middle of the road liturgically) does Holy Week quite well in my opinion. I was one of the readers of the Gospel on Palm Sunday which included the Passion. They are having Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services. It is a small church; I’ve only seen about 60 people there.

I am going to my sister’s ELCA Lutheran church tomorrow to see my niece and nephew receive First Communion.

 

[Brendan_64]

Sounds very much like the Easter Sepulchre in the Sarum Use. Some Easter Some Sepulchres still survive in English churches although many were made of wood. The Crucifix would be wrapped in fine fabrics, this and the Blessed Sacrament would be ‘buried’ in the Sepulchure. The Sepulchure would be covered with rich fabrics and candles would burn around it and a watch would be kept around the clock. The Blessed Sacrament was removed from the Sepulchure on Easter day with great ceremony symbolizing the Resurrection.

That sounds very like what he is going to do. He also said that it was a ritual that was very coon in the Middle Ages, so I guess it is the Easter Sepulchre ceremony from the Sarum Rite.

The things this new Anglican priest is planning in his Church over Holy Week seems to be above and beyond what is happening in our own Catholic Church across the road from him. For example, they are keeping watch over the Blessed Sacrament all night, we are only doing it until 11.00. They are doing a Way of the Cross walk through the streets right the way into their Church doors and then starting their Good Friday service as a seamless continuation of that walk (and not a separate event).