Dear parishioners,
Now we come to it. We are arriving at the climax of Holy Week, known as the Triduum (pronounced TRID-yoo-um) or “Great Three Days”. The Triduum consists of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter. These services commemorate what happens to Jesus right before, during and after his death and lie at the heart of all Christian belief. Marking these moments as we do allows us to appreciate and enter into their meaning in a way that nothing else can match. The Great Three Days together are the most important occasions in the Christian calendar.
We begin with Maundy Thursday, also called Holy Thursday. It marks the Last Supper of Jesus with his disciples. The word “Maundy” comes from the Latin “mandatum” which refers to the commandment Jesus gives to his disciples that night. The Last Supper has always been honored by Christians not only as the final occasion that Jesus spends with his disciples, but also on account of the washing of the disciples’ feet and of course the meal which becomes the very first Eucharist. In most churches the Maundy Thursday service ends in silence as the altar area is stripped of its furnishings and decorations. The stark and bare church is now in readiness for the Passion. In many churches, there is a prayer vigil beginning at the end of the Maundy Thursday service and running all night until the start Good Friday.
Our online diocesan service for Maundy Thursday will be unique:
https://diocesecpa.org/holy-week-2020-maundy-thursday/
Bishop Audrey is inviting us virtually into her home as she prepares an Agapé meal. This has been recorded so you can begin any time on Thursday evening. There will be prayers and scripture and the evening will end with her praying of Psalm 22, the traditional conclusion of Maundy Thursday. Afterwards, people are invited to participate in a live vigil on Facebook which will run from 8:00 pm until 8:00 am the following morning. (This will be a “drop in, drop out” vigil; no one is expected to stay the entire time.)
The Bishop suggests that in order to participate most fully in the program, those of us at home prepare a light meal — such as bread, soup, cheese, olives, dried fruit, and wine or juice — to enjoy during the Agapé portion of the evening.
David +
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The diocesan online service of Tenebrae, for this evening, can be found here:
https://diocesecpa.org/holy-week-2020-wednesday-april-8/
It takes place live, at 7:00 pm, and comes from St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Harrisburg. On the linked page you can choose to view it on either Facebook or YouTube. All the words will be displayed on the screen so you can easily follow the service as you watch and listen.
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BIBLE STUDY UPDATE FOR TODAY
Some of the people who attend the Wednesday evening Bible Study would like to be free to attend the Tenebrae service this evening. Due to the conflict in timing, we are going to cancel this evening’s Bible Study so that everyone can attend the Tenebrae.
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LENTEN MEDITATION – WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2020
God our Father, you see your children growing up in an unsteady and confusing world: Show them that your ways give more life than the ways of the world, and that following you is better than chasing after selfish goals. Help them to take failure, not as a measure of their worth, but as a chance for a new start. Give them strength to hold their faith in you, and to keep alive their joy in your creation; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
- The Book of Common Prayer
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When my daughter Nia was fourteen, she got home three hours before anyone else. One evening, she revealed, “I don’t like being home by myself after school.” I was stunned! When I was her age, I loved being home by myself. Ultimately, I quit my full-time job, and we changed our lifestyle so that none of the girls spent long afternoons alone.
This prayer names the struggles we watch our young people walk through. In a world where the ground can be shaky, our youth need prayer and honest conversations about a life of faith. Pray this prayer for the young people known to you and those unknown. Do you notice a difference in them? Do you see a difference in yourself?
- Miriam Willard McKenney is the Development Director for Forward Movement. She finds extreme joy parenting her three girls with her husband, David.
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Holy Week Resources: Here is a link to some wonderful free resources provided by Church Publishing: https://sainteds.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Holy-Week-Activities-for-Families_FINAL.pdf
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We are seeking 3 more delegates.
The Rector and Senior Warden are looking for interested parishioners to serve as our delegates to convention. The Diocesan Convention is one day, October 17, 2020, and is a wonderful opportunity to represent us and to be involved in the very important work and decisions that shape our diocese. As per the by-laws, we are seeking confirmed or received Episcopalians who are over 18 years of age and who attend regularly, financially support the Church and who have been a member of St. Edward’s Church for at least 12 months. It would be wonderful if parishioners who have not served as delegates in prior years would seek this as an opportunity to serve our parish community. We need you! Please prayerfully consider submitting your name(s) by Monday, April 13th to the parish office.
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The following music video is submitted by parishioner, choir member, and cultural events ministry member, Libby Sternberg for Maundy Thursday. Enjoy!
HOLY THURSDAY
Ubi caritas by Maurice Durufle
Where love is, there is God.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-LQve92U1o&list=RDl1BTWCpEFRQ&index=2