Holy Week

Well – Holy Week has ended – I found myself wondering what to do with myself last night, no church!

The week of church begins on Palm Sunday and culminates in the great Easter Vigil on Saturday night and then a celebratory Easter Sunday. So I was at the church a lot last week. It Started the Friday night before Palm Sunday when I joined the ladies of the Chancel guild in making plam crosses – 450 palm crosses to be exact (or rather approximate since I think final count came out to 453). Saturday morning found me again at the church festuning it with palms. They were everywhere. Behind the altar, around the Paschal candle, behind the hangings, in a huge container in front of the altar, around the wardens wands, on every available surface or hanging space, palm fronds were to be found – including the floor where they were scattered. It was great! Then came Sunday, the blessing of the palms outside on a glorious day in the cemetery – something rather appropriate about that!

The week progressed with services on Monday, Tuesday Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday… that’s a lot of Church.The week gets progressively darker and darker, from the readings to the actual lights in the church and culminates in the foot washing and stripping of the alter on Maundy Thursday, to the bleak mournful cries of a cello on Good Friday, to the jubilant entry of the Paschal Candle – symbol of Christ in our midst is carried in after being lit from the sacred fire at the back of the church at the Vigil on Saturday. Everyone with their candles being lit from the acolytes as they process up behind the cantor who sings “The light of Christ” and we all respond “Thanks be to God” There were about 150 people there – not quite the 450+ crowd that gathered to celebrate on Sunday, but a pretty good turn out!

But all this comes with an adventure.

We were joking at the pub on Saturday after the rehersal about having notified the fire department that we were going to light this bonfire outside the church – just in case. Well – the Vigil began beautifully in darkness with the sound of a single whistle being played in the back ground. Outside the closed doors, the fire was blazing, I was holding the book with the prayers to bless the fire, the priests were there, the cantor had the candle – we were set. After the symbolic knock on the door 3 times, and we opened them to reveal the dark church beyond and those in the church could see the fire. The flames were leaping high in the air and the priests began the prayers. By the third one, a strange noise erupted. High pitched and insistent. Somewhat repetitive, and very annoying… all of our beautiful fire – set off the smoke alarm. We had to shut the doors, put out the fire, light the paschal candle unceremoniously from a bic lighter and process in. What can I say – I guess it was a good thing that we let the fire department know – at least nobody showed up and broke down the door looking for fire during the readings! Despite this, I have to say, standing among people who have become such good friends, singing our hearts out and everyone ringing their bells to “Jesus Christ has Risen Today” makes up for the other bells of the fire alarm – they were just a bit too early to join in the festivities!

Holy week is a real journey, from start to finish and one that I hope everyone has the opportunity to experience.