Holy Week and Easter at St. Thomas

This is the most important week of our liturgical year.  Through these days we enter into the mystery of God’s saving work through the death and resurrection of Jesus.  You are warmly invited to join us in our pilgrimage to the cross, grave, and empty tomb.

Palm Sunday

March 29

The Holy Eucharist with blessing of the Palms is celebrated at 8am (no music) and 10am (with music).

On this day we remember Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem.  The liturgy includes the blessing and distribution of palms and the reading of the Passion Gospel.

The Triduum Sacrum, Three Holy Days

April 2-4

We gather these nights at 7pm for the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. Through these nights we hear the stories from Jesus’ final days of his earthly life and ministry.

Maundy Thursday

April 2

We gather this night as Jesus did on that last night with his disciples.  Following his commandment (mandatum from which we get the word Maundy) to love one another we wash one another’s feet just as Jesus washed the feet of his disciples.  We then commemorate the institution of the Eucharist, remember how Jesus instituted the Sacrament that night.  At the conclusion of the liturgy, the altar is stripped and all depart in silence.  After the liturgy all are invited to keep vigil with the Sacrament at the altar of repose - watching and praying as Jesus asked his disciples to do in the garden.

Good Friday

April 3

At 12noon we gather to pray the Stations of the Cross, a venerable tradition Christians have had since at least the 4th century.

At 1pm (no music) and 7pm (with music) we pray the liturgy of the day.  We gather to remember the greatest act of love that humanity has ever experienced as Jesus willingly goes to the cross.  The liturgy includes the reading of the Passion Gospel, Veneration of the Cross, and the Solemn Collects.  The 7pm liturgy also includes communion from the reserved sacrament, consecrated on Maundy Thursday.

Easter Day

April 5

We gather to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord.  The Holy Eucharist is celebrated at 8am (no music) and 10am (with music).