Holy Week at St. John's MCC

Written by St. John's MCC |

Holy Week is the last week of Lent before Easter, beginning on Palm Sunday and ending on Holy Saturday. Holy Week is the part of the Church Year where Jesus’ final moments are commemorated. This year, it begins on Sunday, April 17th.

Palm Sunday:

On the sixth Sunday of Lent we commemorate Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Worship services include blessing of the palms and a procession. Some traditions call this Sunday before Easter “Passion Sunday.” Others call it “Fig Sunday.” St. John’s MCC celebrates it with Jubilation Worship at 8:45 am and Celebration Worship at 11:00 am.

On Palm Sunday, St. John’s MCC will receive a special offering at both morning services to help provide humanitarian relief for the victims of Japan’s earthquake, tsunami, and reactor disasters.

Great and Holy Tuesday:

On Great and Holy Tuesday evening at 6:30, our congregation will gather together in our Sanctuary to watch The Passion of the Christ, a film directed and produced by Mel Gibson about the last hours of Jesus’s life. All of the dialogue is in the ancient languages Aramaic and Latin; the initial theatrical release didn't even have subtitles. Much of it is based on the Bible, detailing what happened during Jesus’ last hours.

A brief discussion will follow the showing of this film.

Spy Wednesday:

This is an old and uncommon name for the Wednesday of Holy Week, which commemorates Judas’ agreement to betray Jesus (see Matthew 26:3-5, 14-16).

Holy Thursday (Maundy Thursday):

The name “Maundy Thursday” comes from Jesus “mandate” to love one another as he loves us. This day celebrates Jesus’ institution of the sacraments of Holy Eucharist and is also known as “Shear Thursday” by some. At St. John’s MCC’s 7:00 pm observance of Maundy Thursday, we commemorate the last supper that Jesus ate with the disciples.

Good Friday:

St. John’s MCC remembers Jesus’ crucifixion and death on the cross at a service on Good Friday. Worship at 7:00 pm includes a dramatic retelling of the Passion story - reading excerpts of the story of the crucifixion and death of Jesus from John’s gospel, the Veneration of the Cross, and the singing of hymns of the Cross.

Holy Saturday:

This is the final day of Holy Week. There are few specific customs associated with Holy Saturday, except that it is the final night before the Feast of the Resurrection, which begins at the Great Easter Vigil.

The Sanctuary will be open for those who want to pray from 4:00 pm – 12:00 midnight. An Easter Vigil Prayer Service will begin at 7:00 pm.

Easter with St. John’s MCC

Easter Cross

We invite you to participate in the celebration of the Resurrection of Christ with St. John’s MCC on Sunday, April 24th.

Easter Sunrise Service at 6:00 am starting in the Sanctuary. Gather at 5:45 am.
Then join us for the Easter Sunrise Breakfast immediately following the Sunrise Service in the Friendship Hall.
Easter Jubilation Worship at 8:45 am. (Topics at Ten will not meet on Easter Sunday.)
Easter Celebration Worship starting at 11:00 am.

On Easter Sunday, St. John’s MCC will receive a special offering at all three morning services to help provide humanitarian relief for the victims of Japan’s earthquake, tsunami, and reactor disasters.

Because of the need for local assistance to repair damage from the storms & tornadoes on Saturday, April 16th, the St. John’s MCC Palm Sunday & Easter Offering will go to UNICEF’s Japan Relief Fund and the Triangle Area Chapter of the American Red Cross.