Our worship on Palm Sunday begins with the Liturgy and Procession of the Palms as we remember how Jesus entered Jerusalem to the laying down of palms and shouts of “Hosanna,” cries of a people who believed their King was about to claim back their “Holy City,” not die on a cross. After Holy Eucharist, the tone of the liturgy changes with the reading of the Passion Gospel from Mark. 

Children are invited to join the altar team for the Procession of the Palms.

Palms for cross-making can be picked up in the narthex and instructions will be included in the Bulletin. We will not have regular Formation between the two services, but we will have coffee hour.

The Triduum of Holy Week begins on Maundy Thursday. 

Maundy is the Latin word for command (mandatum), and it refers to the command given by Jesus to his disciples to love one another on the night Christ washed the disciple’s feet and transformed the Passover meal. This part of the Triduum invites us to participate in this mandate by washing each other’s feet. The evening also celebrates the institution of the Holy Eucharist. Following communion, a time of watching, waiting, and contemplating begins as the altar and sanctuary are stripped bare, commemorating Christ, who was stripped of his clothes.

The church will remain open for an hour after the service for silent meditation.

Childcare offered for 4 yrs. and under with an RSVP by Sunday, March 24 to nursery@stbs.net. Children 5 yrs. and up are encouraged to participate in the liturgy, including the foot washing with their families.

Our Holy Week liturgies continue on Good Friday. 

Self-Guided Stations of the Cross | 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. 

Children, individuals, and small groups are invited to walk the stations with the help of an interactive packet and materials that include crafted activities and questions for children, teens, and adults. These self-led stations can be accessed anytime between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Good Friday. If it rains, this will be canceled.

Congregational Stations of the Cross | 5:15 p.m. 

This liturgy’s roots can be traced back to people who made the actual pilgrimage to Jerusalem in the earliest years of the Church. It is a way of praying through Christ's journey to the cross, from his arrest through his passion, without having to actually travel to the holy city. Weather permitting, we follow the stations around the walking path outside, sharing the burden of carrying a large wooden cross. This is a family-friendly service. Children are encouraged to participate!

The Triduum continues with the Good Friday liturgy. This liturgy dates back to the third century and marks the solemnity of this day. The Passion and death of our Lord are read from the Gospel of John, followed by a homily. The two distinct features of this service are the Veneration of the Cross and the Solemn Collects. These prayers of the people call us to remember our responsibility to continue the mission of Jesus in the wake of his death. 

Childcare offered for 4 yrs. and under for the 7 p.m. liturgy with an RSVP by Sunday, March 24, to nursery@stbs.net.

The Triduum concludes with the Easter Vigil.  We begin by sitting in the dark and watching the light fill the sanctuary. We hear the story of salvation, renew our baptismal vows, and celebrate the first Eucharist of Easter. 

The Easter Vigil contains some of the oldest prayers and rituals in the Christian tradition. The liturgy is made up of four parts, the first being the Service of Light: A fire is kindled in the back of the church, marking the resurrection of Christ sometime in the night. From this fire, the Paschal Candle is lit, and then the congregants' candles. The second part is the Service of the Word, where we hear the story of salvation told through the reading of Scripture. Thirdly, the liturgy unfolds with baptisms and our own recommitment to Christ, His church, and His mission in the world. Finally, the liturgy concludes with the first Eucharist of Easter. 

Childcare offered for 4 yrs. and under with an RSVP by Sunday, March 24 to nursery@stbs.net. 

Don't forget to bring a bell if you have one.