Non-Catholic Christians and Holy Week

[BrethrenBoy]

We always have the young children parade in waving palm branches, usually at the begining of the service, after whatever child has been chosen as acolyte for the day has lit the candles on the altar. O. Thursday we will hold the Love Feast, a remembrance of the Last Supper, and one of the only times a year we take communion. During this service, we wash one another’s feet, eat the agape meal, and finally eat the bread and drink the cup. It’s my favorite service of the year!

 

[Jeff77]

On Palm Sunday we have a Corpus Christi procession, and we all get palm fronds. We celebrate Mandy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil (baptisms done on this day usually), and a Easter sunrise service. At the end of the Easter Vigil, we have the return of the alleluias, which have been absent in observation of Lent. We also have a Corpus Christi procession on the day of the vigil.

 

[aidanbradypop]

When I was a Southern Baptist, which was aeons ago, it was bascially like any other week. We went to service on Wed night and then Easter Sunday we had a service as well. There was not much put into Holy Week.

 

[TexanKnight]

Yes, I know Catholics don’t consider Latter-day Saints Christians, but I’ll respond anyway.

LDS don’t have “Holy Week” services. Easter Sunday is celebrated with Resurrection themed hymns and sermons/talks.

one of the hardest things for me to grasp when I became LDS was the lack of reverence for Holy Week. Heck, the youth went to six flags on Good Friday because it was a day off.

The look less at the Crucifixion and more at the Garden of Gethsemene

 

[twopekinguys]

one of the hardest things for me to grasp when I became LDS was the lack of reverence for Holy Week. Heck, the youth went to six flags on Good Friday because it was a day off.

The look less at the Crucifixion and more at the Garden of Gethsemene

Wasn’t it last year, or the year before, that Easter and conference were the same weekend?

I remember watching bits and pieces of it, but didn’t see/hear any mention of the resurrection.

 

[JonNC]

Good question. I was about to start a thread on this after reflecting on the Palm Sunday, out of curiosity really.

@ Jon or Anna. My question was, do Protestants observe/celebrate Palm Sunday? I understand that mainline Protestants are closer to Catholics on this; it is from the other protestant denominations that I am more interested in. I wish they can give some (name removed by moderator)ut on the question, but it would be appreciated if you can share your thought on this.

Reuben,
I for one do not understand it myself. We had some friends over to visit yesterday who are non-denom. I asked the simple question, “Do you celebrate Palm Sunday?” The reply was, “no, we don’t.” I didn’t continue the question further. There are some that just don’t see a need to follow the historic western Church calendar.

Jon

 

[JonNC]

Lutherans celebrate the same Holy Week as Catholics.

Palm Sunday: Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem,
Maundy (Holy) Thursday: the institution of the Lord’s Supper and the agony in the garden,
Good Friday: the crucifixion,
Easter Sunday: Christ’s resurrection.

Today’s sermon was on how the Jews hoped Christ was a political/earthly messiah and king, but he was humble and came to redeem us and give us a heavenly kingdom. We always have palm branches on the alter on Palm Sunday.

We also strip the alter for Good Friday.

And some of us observe the Easter Vigil.

Jon

 

[Anna_Scott]

I didn’t mean anything by that.

This is hardly going to be a “popcorn” thread.

I know. I was just giving you a hard time.

 

[Anna_Scott]

Or those pesky Lutherans.

Jon

I know, Jon.

Whenever Catholics ask questions of non-Catholic Christians regarding particular beliefs; Lutherans and Anglican dive right in. More “reformed” non-Catholic Christians, not so much.

So, I feel for the OP.

Anna

 

[JonNC]

I know, Jon.

Whenever Catholics ask questions of non-Catholic Christians regarding particular beliefs; Lutherans and Anglican dive right in. More “reformed” non-Catholic Christians, not so much.

So, I feel for the OP.

Anna

Yes, even when they say, “Anglicans and Lutherans: we know, we know…”, we just speak up. What a bunch of but-inskis we are.

Sorry, Justa.

Jon

 

[Anna_Scott]

Yes, even when they say, “Anglicans and Lutherans: we know, we know…”, we just speak up. What a bunch of but-inskis we are.

Sorry, Justa.

Jon

Jon,

I know. We just can’t help ourselves. :doh2:

“Motley crew” is GKC’s trademark description of Anglicans. I look for it whenever he is on a thread.

Who knows. Maybe “**butt·in·skis” **will catch on. You could give GKC some competition.

Anna

 

[JonNC]

Jon,

I know. We just can’t help ourselves. :doh2:

“Motley crew” is GKC’s trademark description of Anglicans. I look for it whenever he is on a thread.

Who knows. Maybe “**butt·in·skis” **will catch on. You could give GKC some competition.

Anna

Anna,
Competing with GKC would be… fruitless. It is best just to read… and learn.

Jon

 

[Brendan_64]

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

 

[JonNC]

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 have a suspicion you’ll get some comments.

Jon

 

[JustaServant]

Yes, even when they say, “Anglicans and Lutherans: we know, we know…”, we just speak up. What a bunch of but-inskis we are.

Sorry, Justa.

Jon

I haven’t heard “buttinski” in years.
My mother’s side was Slovak, lotsa “skis” on that side of the family.
She knew Slovak words that I still can’t figure out.
And she was born here.

 

[Anna_Scott]

Anna,
Competing with GKC would be… fruitless. It is best just to read… and learn.

Jon

Jon,

In my case, read and learn does certainly apply when it comes to GKC. He’s got many years of study under his belt, and a sense of humor that makes us love him. Wonder if his ears are burning.

Anna

 

[RebeccaJ]

one of the hardest things for me to grasp when I became LDS was the lack of reverence for Holy Week. Heck, the youth went to six flags on Good Friday because it was a day off.

The look less at the Crucifixion and more at the Garden of Gethsemene

Growing up LDS, I saw “Palm Sunday”, “Good Friday” and “Ash Wednesday”, on calendars but had no clue what they were. They were like “Passover”, “Rosh Hashanah” or “Boxing Day”…holidays that other people celebrated. Easter was a special day, we wore new clothes to church and had an Easter basket waiting for us in the morning. My mom always made an Easter supper that featured ham and potato salad. (yum.) Way back in the day, before the three hour block of Sunday meetings, the ward had an Easter egg hunt.

Catholics here in the “land of we don’t know what Holy Week is”, are always floored by the activities that go on during Holy Week, and especially Good Friday. Not uncommon for work places to have an Easter potluck, the Friday before Easter! Essentially, a work-sponsored feast.

Mormons just have no idea.

 

[Anna_Scott]

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,

In my Anglo Catholic Episcopal Parish; we take Lent and Holy Week very seriously.

Feb 13th: Imposition of the Ashes/Begin 40 days of Lent
March 24th: Palm Sunday
March 27th: Evening Prayer/Evensong
March 28th: Maundy Thursday Service “Washing of feet” and stripping of the Alter.
March 29th: Good Friday Service followed by Stations of the Cross Service
March 30th: Easter Eve Service with Baptisms
March 31st : Easter

There is no “glossing over” of the Passion of Christ and His Sacrifice, at least not in my Anglican Parish.

Anna

** **

 

[Indifferently]

Plenty of observances for me.

Palm Sunday was the sung Passion Gospel. We also had a beautiful devotional at the more MOTR Anglican (1662 Prayer Book) parish I attend called the ‘Cross of Christ’ (which is a sort of Passion-themed version of the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols). The high parish down the road is offering daily Mass with sermon Mon, Tues, Weds, then the traditional footwashing Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Maundy Thursday and Solemn Liturgy on Good Friday. Later that evening I will go back to my MOTR parish to hear Stainer’s Crucifixion sung by our choir of men and boys. Then the Easter Vigil on Saturday evening and Sung Eucharist and later Evensong on Easter day!

 

[Reuben_J]

Reuben,
I for one do not understand it myself. We had some friends over to visit yesterday who are non-denom. I asked the simple question, “Do you celebrate Palm Sunday?” The reply was, “no, we don’t.” I didn’t continue the question further. There are some that just don’t see a need to follow the historic western Church calendar.

Jon

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.