During Holy Week, Christians around the world gather to remember, reflect on, and rejoice in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus the Christ. These three days — Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Resurrection Sunday — have been commonly called the Triduum (“three days” in Latin). This practice extends back to the 4th century and is based on an understanding that the crucifixion, death, and resurrection of Christ cannot be separated one from the other, so the three days are celebrated as one continual worship.
Our 2024 celebration of the Triduum will begin at 6 pm on Thursday, March 28 with our Maundy Thursday worship, where we remember Christ’s final commands to his disciples during their last communal supper before his arrest and crucifixion. The word “maundy” is taken from the Latin ‘maundatum” which means “command.” Our central focus of worship will be the mandate that we live out the promise of Christ’s presence embodied in this meal every time we gather and share. Formed into a new body in Christ through this holy meal, we are transformed by the mercy we have received and carry it into the world.
As Maundy Thursday is the first of the three days, the Triduum, we do not end worship with a traditional rite of sending, but rather depart in solemn silence after stripping the altar of all paraments and items, leaving it bare in preparation for the solemnity of Good Friday.
Since we begin worship on Thursday evening with confession and forgiveness, we do not do so on Good Friday, instead continuing where we left off Thursday evening with word and song. Good Friday has traditionally been celebrated with a Tenebrae at Cross, which is a retelling of the Christ’s crucifixion in song and reading. As worship progresses, the house lights are slowly dimmed, the Christ candle is removed from the Sanctuary, and worship ends with the “Strepitus” – a loud noise symbolizing the earthquake and agony of creation at the death of Christ.
On Easter Sunday, we will gather with joy and celebration to remember and celebrate the resurrection of Jesus with word and song, prayer and rejoicing, and by sharing the body and blood of the Risen Christ in Holy Communion.Pax,
On their own, each of these three worships are special and meaningful. When celebrated as Triduum, they invite us into deeper connection to God’s acts of faithfulness and salvation through Jesus. If you are able to join for all three, please do. It will be a blessing
Pax,
Pastor Scott