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In many churches, Catholic and liturgical Protestant specifically, this week is called "Holy Week." We start today with "Palm Sunday," the celebration of Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem, where people waved palm branches and spread their cloaks on the road before him, calling him a King.
On Thursday, we celebrate "Maundy Thursday," from the Latin "maundete," meaning "command," where we celebrate Jesus' last supper with his disciples. Jesus said, "do this in remembrance of me," and so we do, every week, but this annual celebration is special. It often includes a foot-washing ritual, and some churches will offer nod to passover, a remembrance that the meal they shared was the passover seder.
Friday is known as "Good Friday." A common service held on this day is called "tebebrae," or "darkening," remembering the passion, the death of Jesus on the cross. Sometimes we will include a reading of the stations of the cross, or veneration of the cross, remembering the suffering that Jesus made for us.
Some of us will celebrate an Easter Vigil on Saturday night, others might do a Sunrise service. All leading up to the Big Alleluia, the best news of all.
I know that some churches do not celebrate any of these festivals (for example, Jehovah's Witnesses). I would be curious to know what those of you who worship in non-liturgical churches do during this week. I know most evangelical churches do make Easter Sunday (or some call it "Resurrection Sunday," since the word "Easter" has pagan roots) a special day. Do you have other services during the week, remembering the passion that makes the Resurrection so amazing?
I'm always eager to learn what Christians who worship in different ways from me do. We all worship in Spirit and Truth, but I know we all worship in different styles.
On Thursday, we celebrate "Maundy Thursday," from the Latin "maundete," meaning "command," where we celebrate Jesus' last supper with his disciples. Jesus said, "do this in remembrance of me," and so we do, every week, but this annual celebration is special. It often includes a foot-washing ritual, and some churches will offer nod to passover, a remembrance that the meal they shared was the passover seder.
Friday is known as "Good Friday." A common service held on this day is called "tebebrae," or "darkening," remembering the passion, the death of Jesus on the cross. Sometimes we will include a reading of the stations of the cross, or veneration of the cross, remembering the suffering that Jesus made for us.
Some of us will celebrate an Easter Vigil on Saturday night, others might do a Sunrise service. All leading up to the Big Alleluia, the best news of all.
I know that some churches do not celebrate any of these festivals (for example, Jehovah's Witnesses). I would be curious to know what those of you who worship in non-liturgical churches do during this week. I know most evangelical churches do make Easter Sunday (or some call it "Resurrection Sunday," since the word "Easter" has pagan roots) a special day. Do you have other services during the week, remembering the passion that makes the Resurrection so amazing?
I'm always eager to learn what Christians who worship in different ways from me do. We all worship in Spirit and Truth, but I know we all worship in different styles.