Idea Exchange
Incorporating the Events of Holy Week

“As I am sure you are aware, many persons attend Easter worship who have no clue of Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, or Good Friday,” writes Dale Marshall, pastor of Fairfield Glade Community Church. He shares the outline of a service that incorporates the events of Holy Week in the Easter Sunday celebration. (Note: Italicized text is an example of instructions to be printed in the bulletin.)

Before the prelude begins, position the choir in the rear of the church; the pastor or designated reader should be out of the sight of the congregation when reading Scriptures. After a time of welcome, sharing, and prayer requests, the instrumental prelude begins. A note of invitation may be printed in the bulletin: The organ prelude may be seen as a veil dropped between everyday life and our time of worship. All of us are encouraged to “be still and know . . . God is here,” and to lift up a prayer for ourselves, for our church leadership, and those who worship with us.

During the opening hymn, thirteen people representing Jesus’ disciples enter the chancel and sit at a large table that is covered with a white cloth. They visit quietly until after the first Scripture (Mark 14:12–25) is read. After this reading, the disciples will share communion among themselves, then serve communion to those in the pews who wish to participate.

The individual portraying Christ shares communion and remains at the table as the disciples move to serve the congregation. The Communion hymn is sung at this time. Mark 14:26–45 is read after Communion. Judas leaves the table the reader says he kisses Jesus. Ten others leave before the next hymn, taking cup and bread. Peter and Jesus remain. The choir and congregation sing a suitable hymn, such as the first two verses of “Tis Midnight, and on Olive’s Brow.” During the reading of Mark 14:53–72, two disciples return to cover the white tablecloth with a brown one, symbolizing a dirt hill. When the reader speaks verse 72 (“At that moment the cock crowed . . .”), Peter leaves, looking back at Jesus. As the choir and congregation sing a hymn (for example, the first verse of “Were You There?”), a wooden cross is placed in front of Jesus. Some lights are dimmed. As Mark 15:1–47 is read, Jesus leaves the table, pausing to look back as verse 37 (“ . . . and he breathed his last.”), is spoken. During singing of a hymn (such as “Beneath the Cross of Jesus”), more lights are dimmed. At this time, the choir may sing an appropriate anthem and an offering may be taken. Mark 16:1–8 is than read, followed by an appropriate hymn (for example “Low In the Grave He Lay”). All verses are sung before chorus, which will be sung following the Announcement of the Resurrection. At that time, please rise. During organ interlude before the chorus, a person portraying Mary Magdalene runs in shouting “He is alive. I have seen him. He is alive.” All lights are turned on. As an Easter hymn such as “Christ the Lord is Risen Today” is sung, the choir goes into chancel carrying Easter lilies and takes its place in the choir loft. Church bells ring throughout the hymn. The choir may then sing an appropriate anthem before the reading of Luke 24:13–35. Another anthem may be sung preceding the reading of Luke 24:36–49. The service concludes with the singing of the Doxology and a closing hymn (for example, “I Serve a Risen Savior”), which may serve as a recessional for the choir, and be followed by an instrumental postlude.

For more information, contact the Rev. Dale E. Marshall, Pastor, Fairfield Glade Community Church, at (931) 484-7412.

Elder Manley Olson writes that the congregation of North Como Presbyterian Church in Roseville, Minnesota, observes ordination and installation in the manner Sheldon Sorge wrote about in his article, “Ordination and Installation of Officers” (IDEAS! volume 2, issue 2), but with one addition: “We celebrated the Lord’s Supper, and the newly ordained and installed elders and deacons were the servers. Thus, their first act of service as officers was serving Communion to the congregation—just a week after ordination and installation.”

For more information, contact Manley Olson, at (651) 644-2848.