EVENING (7 PM) SATURDAY NIGHT— EVE (8 PM) The Proper Good Friday Service The ContemplaƟve DO YOU KNOW — Keaveney & Lori Metevia — — Michele Mongeon — WHAT’S IN STORE? Jake’s thoughts: Easter Vigil on Saturday night, shall I go or The experience of being a part of the Good Friday service was inclu- not? I’ve enjoyed it the times I’ve gone, I’ve Dear friends, sive and I am glad to have taken part in it. Initially I had no clue of what been inspired even. Sometimes I’ve felt like I Throughout the season of , we are invited to prepare our- was going to happen, so I was taken by surprise when I was handed my found a really good secret and I’m one up on the people who show up on Easter morning. selves for Easter, when we will celebrate that , by his Resur- narrative that said ‘Jesus’ on top and honestly I was a little relieved too rection, has destroyed evil, sin, and death. After all, I’ve said the Alleluias already, it’s because I realized that it would be more interesting than what I ex- To experience the fullness of the Easter Celebration, we invite been done. You should have been here last pected. We all changed into our long, black robes that resembled those you to take part in the events we offer here at St. night, I think to myself. from Harry Potter. I became more and more nervous as people came Stephen’s. This guide will tell you more about them. Other times life just gets in the way. It’s into the church, talking about the events that would unfold minutes lat- We know almost everyone finds themselves very busy, especially Saturday evening and I’m already prepping for Easter dinner. So many things during the week. Still, we encourage you to try and make time for er. We processed our way down the aisle and sat in the front pew. Re- to do, and I’ve gone to and even Good Friday (sometimes gardless of the fact that we rehearsed just before putting on our robes, I some of these special services. (In particular, the Easter Vigil is twice), what more can God expect of me? the most important service of the Christian year!) Participating in had no clue what I was doing. I was com- But, I do know that when I make the effort, I’ve loved every minute (and Holy Week will help you to experience more fully the life and forted by the fact that the guy next to me there are many minutes). I was still un- death of Christ so that you can appreciate his Resurrection at a didn’t know what he was doing either. In sure about whether or not I was going to whole new level.

the end, the service lew by and I didn’t go to the Vigil right up through mid-week. We wish you a blessed Holy Week, make near as many mistakes as I had ex- Then I had a conversation with Fr. Jesse Father Jesse+ and Mother Hilary+ pected. Afterwards, I understood that the and he asked if I was planning on going. church simply didn’t care about a few mis- He was very excited about it. He had new takes. Overall, I felt like I was truly a part of plans, a different way of doing things, adult baptisms, lots of water, re, HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE the church. ire, stones, and noise makers, how could I (March 20) stay away? 8:00am—Palm Sunday service (with palms distributed) Lori’s thoughts: Outside, in the dark a spark ignites 10:00am—Palm with palm a lame, the lames dance, our new Pascal candle is lit and the light of Christ is We are family like most, busy, so Jacob brought inside. We saw and experienced two people reborn, born again in (March 21) took it in stride when I ofhandedly includ- Christ. They were blessed with water, lots 8:00am—Morning Prayer in the Chapel ed that he ‘had to be at church at 5:30 on and lots of water, and the Holy Spirit and (March 22) Friday’ as I briefed the family for the upcoming weekend. Truth be told, anointed with oil. We heard the stone roll 8:00am—Morning Prayer in the Chapel there’s a danger for a mother in giving a teen too much information after away from the tomb and we heard the loud 12p— & Clergy Renewal of Ordination Vows (Cathedral) she’s already committed him for an event. Teens can be skittish if ap- noise of the resurrection. proached directly, something about having their own minds, their own We brought our troubles, our sins, the Spy Wednesday (March 23) ideas about how a Friday night is most well spent. Best to slip in casual- things holding us back in the form of 8:00am—Holy Eucharist in the Chapel (English Missal) ly from the side. This one went easy. When Jacob asked, “What for?’’ I stones and placed them on God’s . We Maundy Thursday (March 24) could honestly tell him all I knew, which was that Fr. Jesse wanted the left them there while we shared in the irst 8:00am—Morning Prayer in the Chapel youth to help with the Good Friday service and there’d be pizza. Eucharist of Easter. We were happy. We 7:00pm—Special Liturgy with the Foot Washing and When we arrived at the service, the kids looked great in their black shared our joy in the risen Christ and when 8:00pm—Prayer Watch (ongoing hourly shifts until Good Friday evening) robes and Jacob looked even taller than usual to me. Since I had no idea we were done, we took one of those stones off the altar. Not the stone we brought but Good Friday (March 25) what he would be doing I was spared any vicarious anxiety. But as they a different stone, someone else’s burdens, someone else’s troubles to carry. I 8:00a—Morning Prayer in the Chapel took their places for the dramatic reading, my heart leaped. Jacob went will carry these troubles with me. I don’t know what that stone holds but I will 12:00p—Ecumenical Service (at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church) behind the altar! “Is he supposed to be there!?!” we whispered to each pray for the person who brought it to the altar and I hope that their burden is 7:00pm—Solemn Good Friday Liturgy other. When no stage hook materialized and the narrator began in her lighter because I carry it for them. strong, clear voice we eased back in our seats. Jacob had the part of Je- (March 26) Is Easter Vigil worth the time? Would 8:00a—Holy Saturday Ofice of Prayer (in the Chapel) sus. We were amused because we knew he would lord this over us my time have been better spent prepping 8:00p—Contemplative Easter Vigil somehow over the next couple of days. Arianna was Pontius Pilate. the vegetables for Sunday’s dinner? Life is What a treat for our families to share this evening, all of us brought more full of choices. I chose to go and saw re- Easter Sunday (March 27) fully into Christ’s story as our family participated in the drama. Voices of birth, heard the resurrection, shared in the 8:00a—Holy Eucharist the teens surprised us from various parts of the church. The story was irst Eucharist of Easter, and someone is 10:00a—Festival Eucharist with Choir brought to life. helping me carry my troubles. I’d say I 11:30a—Easter (for children yrs and under) made a good choice. PALM SUNDAY MORNING (8 & 10 AM) MAUNDY THURSDAY EVENING (7 PM) 8 PM MAUNDY THURSDAY—6 PM GOOD FRIDAY Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday The Maundy Thursday Eucharist The Watch — Fr. Jesse Abell— — David Small — — Sharyn Philcox —

Do you remember William Shakespeare’s classic play Romeo and Juli‐ Peter said to Him, “You will never wash my feet.” ‐ John 13:8 “Could you not watch with me one hour?” ‐ Matthew 26:40 et? It’s a plot everyone knows, and a lot happens in a short time. From the beginning we all know that things will probably not go well. At very start, Over the last few years when I have I go to the Garden of Gethsemane in the early morning hours of we learn that the two main families are longtime enemies, but, alas, the attended the Maundy Thursday service, two young lovers, Romeo and Juliet, meet by chance and fall in love— Good Friday to sit with my Lord hoping that I can bring him some my own thoughts had resounded through against all odds. comfort and solace on this very dificult night. His friends have fallen my head saying “I don’t want someone to A lot happens…it’s action packed. They meet, both are smitten, and asleep and left him alone—but I won’t. The chapel is quiet and I can wash my feet, nor is it necessary for me they begin a secret tryst, behind their families’ backs. They get married in hear our “bubbling brook” that Jesse has plugged in and it, and the secret. Romeo gets into a ight with one of Juliet’s family members and has to wash theirs’. palms which are have been placed in the chapel, bring me into that to run away into hiding. Juliet fakes her death to be with Romeo. And, as Something was different this year. sacred space of Gethsemane. we all know, both end up dying. It is a truly tragic tale. Whether or not it is a result of my close Did you know that the whole storyline takes place in less than a week’s I read scripture, especially the psalms, and through these words involvement with my EfM family, the time? In ive days, they meet, fall in love, get married, and die. Isn’t it can feel the pain of Christ this night—the worry, the fear, the dread winding road of my spiritual journey or amazing that so much could happen in such a short amount of time? On The tradiƟonal footwashing that he must feel knowing what is to come and knowing, too, that it is Sunday, they are innocent and naı̈ve and they meet and fall in love, and by the acceptance of the St Stephen’s parish unstoppable. But I am here to comfort him and let him know that he is Thursday they have both died. It all happens way too fast. In just a few family where I feel a special comfort. This year I planned to do it! I came not alone. I cannot stop days they’re fortunes completely change. to church with bare feet and sandals ready to go. When the time came, Though this is simply a story, there is truth here. In real life, things can what is to come but I can and a few parish members initially got up, I lingered in the pew. Was I hav- change so quickly. You may have experienced it yourself. We know that walk the journey with ing second thoughts? Perhaps, but I did get up and moved forward. The life really can change suddenly. him. irst step was the hardest! Once I was moving it seemed so natural. After my Palm Sunday starts out, I sit quietly, I read, I celebrating Jesus’ spectacular feet were washed, I knelt and washed Sylvia’s, while I was washing them, I relect, I study the entrance into the City. We be- thought of the many miles those feet had walked, the many hours they had come part of the crowd, waving around the chapel but supported her in serving God. branches in the air, singing and then ind myself inter- The of John explains this celebrating at his arrival. On this jecting “Lord Jesus, act of service better than I ever Sunday morning, the people wel- please help Susan.” “Lord come him with open arms. They could. All I know is that this action Jesus, I worry about Can- love him. They want to follow created in me a calmness that The dy, please protect her.” I him and be with him. He is their brought forth an emotion of joy chosen champion. remind myself that this hour is not about what I want; it is not about yet, at the same time, sorrow. Why But, their enthusiasm and support are short-lived, and by Thursday me, and so I return to my readings only to ind a few minutes lat- did I forego this for so many years? night, he is arrested and put through a sham trial by those whose power er that I’m still asking Jesus to look out for those I love, asking him to he has threatened with his popularity. By Friday morning, those same peo- Later that evening, I participated care for them, to love them. What am I doing? I came here to offer ple who had shouted “Hosanna” with joy are now shouting “Crucify Him.” in the Watch. For me, the event comfort to Jesus and have ended up bearing my soul and my heart to It only took them 6 days for their whims to shift. was more of one of inner re So we start Holy Week with Palm Sunday, with the palms and shouts The stripping of the Altar at the end him. rather than an act of service as was of Hosanna…but don’t forget how it will end. We’re lucky, we know where of the Maundy Thursday liturgy. But as I relect on this Night Watch, I think that this hour with the foot washing. The meditation the story is headed. Christ is about me and, even more importantly, about the relationship materials provided helped in focusing. It gave me the opportunity to re- So much is going to happen between now and then, on Easter Sunday, I have with him. From the garden in this darkest of nights, he reaches so many big, important events in Jesus’ life. Don’t miss out on that. lect on where I had been and where Jesus was calling me to go. After all, would Romeo and Juliet’s story be as good if it jumped out to me telling me that he loves me and wants what’s in my heart. straight from them meeting to them dying. Of course not! All those en- Perhaps my willingness to give it to him is the comfort he needs most counters in between are what endear them to us, they’re the things that this night. help us to get to know them. The hour is almost over. The knock on the door announces the So, relish the time we have with Jesus during this holy week, to be with next watcher. I gather up my things and return home, illed with won- him in this last week that he has in . Pray and sit with him during der and awe that the one who sought to offer comfort is the one who this week, when he needs his friends the most. Then come back on Easter Sunday, or better yet at the Easter Vigil, and received the comfort. celebrate with us that his story, unlike Romeo and Juliet’s, does not actual- ly end in tragedy.