A Holy Week Letter from Your Pastors
Dear Westminster Family,
As we prepare to enter Holy Week, we invite you to join us for a rich array of worship opportunities at Westminster.
On Palm Sunday we will celebrate Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem with our palms and hosannas during Sunday morning worship. That evening at 6:00 we will gather in Fellowship Hall for Vespers featuring the Stations of the Cross. During that service we will have the opportunity to walk with Jesus on his memorable journey from his trial, through the city streets to Golgotha, and to the tomb, accompanied with Taize’ music, readings and prayers.
Our Holy Week worship continues on Maundy Thursday at 7:00 p.m. in the sanctuary as we remember Jesus’ meal with his disciples, his compassionate act of washing their feet, and his “new commandment” to love one another as he has loved us.
The 36 hour prayer vigil begins on Good Friday. You are invited to join the vigil and pray during one of those hours. You may sign up for to participate in the vigil in the narthex this Sunday or using this link. At 7:00 p.m. we gather in the sanctuary for a Tenebrae Service based on Jesus’ Seven Last Words from the Cross. Hymns, solos and choral music, a guest appearance by harpist, Shana Norton, and Faure’s In Paradisium will accompany the readings.
On Easter morning we begin our 8:30 service on the south steps of the sanctuary for the lighting of the new fire and a joyous procession into the sanctuary. A delicious brunch follows at 9:30 in Fellowship Hall with an Easter Egg hunt for children. An 11:00 worship service concludes our Easter celebration with hymns accompanied by the choir and Easter Brass (also at the 8:30 service) and the singing of the Hallelujah Chorus.
These services take us on a sacred journey with Jesus: from the streets of Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, to the loving touch and “last supper” of Maundy Thursday, to Golgotha and the desolation of the cross on Good Friday, and finally, to the empty tomb on Easter morning, to hear the surprising and joyful announcement that “Christ is Risen!” Our Holy Week worship provides an opportunity to experience the fullness of God’s sacrificial and triumphant love for us and the world through the story of Jesus.
We hope that you can join us for the full spectrum of worship. These services provide an opportunity to experience more of the height and depth and breadth of God’s love for us and for the world. It’s also good to be together during this holy season! We also encourage you to consider someone who might be enriched by this opportunity to worship with us—a friend, neighbor or family member—and invite them to come with you.
Looking forward to worshiping with you this season, we remain…
Faithfully yours in Christ,
Bill Ellen