From the Rector

Lent, Holy Week and Easter

Dear Parish Family:

This year, Lent and Holy Week will stretch from Ash Wednesday, mid February, to the first Sunday in April, Easter Day. This our March newsletter, The Messenger, will include HolyWeek and Easter for your convenience.

During the first five weeks of Lent our focus is on the spiritual disciplines of the season: (1) Corporate Worship, (2) Private Prayer, (3) Christian Formation, (4) Fasting, and (5) Stewardship. To that end we have added special opportunities with additional worship, education, and stewardship.

The final week of Lent draws our attention to the Passion (suffering), Crucifixion, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Historical documents tell us that as early as the fourth century the Church celebrated this "GreatWeek" with a feeling of profound sanctity. It begins with Palm Sunday, which marks Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem . The central feature of the service proper to this day, as it was in the earliest times, is the procession of palms. The palms are blessed and are then borne in procession to the church, where an entry is made with a certain amount of ceremony, after which the Eucharist is celebrated. The other notable and very ancient feature of the present Palm Sunday service is the reading of the Gospel of the Passion by readers and the congregation.

Especially important for Saint Matthew's are the final days of Holy Week. . On Maundy Thursday, we reenact the Lord's Last Supper, which He shared with His apostles on the night He was betrayed and arrested. This beautiful liturgy will include the "washing of feet" and the "stripping of the altar." The time of the Service is 7:00 pm.

On Good Friday, the day of the crucifixion and death of our Lord, we have the veneration of the Cross from the special liturgy for this day in the Book of Common Prayer. There is no consecration of the Eucharist on this day, and the Communion we receive will be from the night before, which has been reserved in a special location. Two Services will be held, Noon and 7:00 pm.

Holy Saturday is the Vigil, the watch for the rising of Our Savior. By paying the price for our sins on the Cross, He gained for us our eternal salvation. Also on this night, any persons who have prepared will receive Baptism and the whole congregation will renew our Baptismal vows. It is a most joyous occasion and the Service will start at 7:30 pm.

Easter Day: "Alleluia. Christ is risen" What more could be said? Nothing more needs to be said! We will celebrate Easter Day at 8:00 am and 10:15 am,.

Faithfully,
Gary Gilbertson +
Interim Rector