Holy Week
We hope you will join us for Holy Week at St. Mary's!
PALM SUNDAY - Sunday, April 2, 2023
Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week. We will offer two services: 8am, Rite 1 in the All Saints' Chapel, and 10:30am, that will begin outdoors with the blessing and distribution of palms before we process into the main church. In the event of inclement weather, we will meet in Moseley Hall.
HOLY MONDAY AND TUESDAY - April 3, 2023 at 5:30pm and April 4, 2023 at 7:30pm
On Monday, our worship will be a Teaching Eucharist, followed by Tuesday's worship of The Liturgy of the Word.
TENEBRAE - Wednesday, April 5, at 7:30pm
Join us at 6:30pm in Moseley Hall for Parish Supper before you join our Wednesday liturgy of Tenebrae (Latin for “Darkness” or “Shadows”). Tenebrae includes music from Taize and spoken word from the Psalms and other passages that foretell Jesus’ Passion. This beautiful service, located in the Nave, offers a meditation upon, and a prelude to, the events of our Lord’s life between the Last Supper and His Resurrection.
THE PASCHAL TRIDUUM (Thursday - Sunday):
MAUNDY THURSDAY - Thursday, April 6, at 7:30pm
The Maundy Thursday liturgy recalls the institution of the Last Supper and Jesus' humble act of washing His disciples' feet. It ends with the stripping of the altar and the beginning of a vigil throughout the night. Join us for a special time of prayer and meditation, inspired by the question asked of all of us by Jesus, 'Could you not watch with me one hour?'
A prayer vigil is kept at the Altar of Repose with the reserved sacrament in the All Saints' Chapel until communion is shared during the Good Friday liturgy. To sign up for an hour of prayer, click here or see the schedule on the Chapel door.
GOOD FRIDAY - Friday, April 7, at Noon
This service includes a homily, Solemn Collects, Veneration of the Cross, and Communion from the Reserved Sacrament. The Way of the Cross (Stations) will be offered in the Nave at 5:45 pm, ending the Good Friday observance.
THE GREAT VIGIL OF EASTER - Saturday, April 8, at 7:30pm
The Lenten Journey to Easter officially ends on Saturday evening with this liturgy, one of the most ancient and exciting liturgies of the Christian Church. The Great Vigil of Easter is a celebration of the transition from the darkness of Holy Saturday into the light of Christ's Easter Victory. The liturgy begins at 7:30pm, and will last about an hour. It begins with the lighting of the New Fire outside the main doors of the church, includes hymns & spiritual songs, sharing of communion, and a Holy Baptism with the renewal of baptismal vows!
PRIVATE CONFESSION may be arranged anytime (throughout the whole year) by appointment with the clergy.
BISHOP VISITATION AND CELEBRATION OF EASTER DAY - Sunday, April 9
On Easter Sunday, April 9th, the Feast of the Resurrection of our Lord will begin with the Holy Eucharist in the Chapel at 8am. At the 10:30am service, we will celebrate the Festal Holy Eucharist with full choir, flowering of the cross, and all the glory of Easter Morning! St. Mary’s will welcome the Right Reverend Robert Skirving, Bishop of the Diocese of East Carolina, who will preach and celebrate the Eucharist at both services. We will welcome into the Episcopal Church candidates for confirmation during the 10:30am service as well.