Divine Liturgy on Regular Sundays:  10am, with fellowship and education following (fellowship following, with Christian education following usually starting around 11:30am).   

Confessions:  Prior to 9:50am or by appointment during the week.   It is best to let the priest know you are coming ahead of time.  Those who let the priest know in advance they are coming for confession will be taken before the others if they show up in a timely manner.   

 

2019 Schedule for Holy Week & Pascha

 

It is time to get right with God again. That is what Great Lent is all about—a re-setting of our spiritual walk with God.   

 

*Please note, please be careful to make your confessions before Holy Week. Outside of the posted times you can make appt. with Fr. Harry at another time. Great Lent is the season for in-depth examination of conscience and confession. Holy Week is about Jesus. We do great Lent to prepare us to focus on the Lord rather than ourselves once Holy Week hits. No confessions will be taken after Holy Wednesday (until St. Thomas).  

**Note, if you are late to evening services coming from work or school, or were stuck in traffic, you may still take Communion if otherwise prepared.

***Note, all times are approximate, and while this schedule will remain intact, due to unforeseen events a few service times are subject to change. Please look for updates in bulletin, on website, or on facebook.

 

Wed April 17 Wednesday of Lazarus Week

6pm-6:50pm Basic Orthodoxy Class

7pm Lenten Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts remembering the death of Lazarus

 

Fri April 19   End of Great Lent, Liturgical beginning of Lazarus Saturday

    6-7pm Decorate for Palms weekend, polish lamps, etc.  

7pm-8pm Vespers for Lazarus Saturday/Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts remembering the resurrection of Lazarus

 

Great and Holy Week

 

Palm Sunday April 21—Fish, Wine and Oil Feast

Entrance Prayers, Vesting, Proskomedia

9:15am-9:45am Confessions

9:55am Blessing of Palms & Branches

10am:  Liturgy of the Triumphal Entry of the King of kings 

(traditional fish dinner following?)

 

Holy Monday April 22  

7pm-7:40pm  Bridegroom Matins 

 

Holy Tuesday April 23 

7pm-7:50pm  Bridegroom Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts (Communion service)

 

Holy Wednesday April 24 

   6-7pm  Polishing and Deep cleaning

   6-7pm—Last time to receive Confession until St. Thomas Sunday (Fr. will do confessions before 6pm by appointment).

7pm-7:30pm Holy Unction—the Sacrament of Holy Unction for physical and spiritual health. You must be an Orthodox Christian in good standing to receive, which also means that you should have participated in the sacrament of confession at least once in the previous year (you can take confession before this service if need be to fulfill this). This is a brief service when there is a single priest serving, which is the case here. No “strict fasting” (eating nothing for several hours) is required, although the general fasting of Holy Week is expected unless health needs require otherwise.  

*PLEASE NOTE—WEDNESDAY IS THE LAST DAY FOR CONFESSION UNTIL ST. THOMAS SUNDAY (see note above).

 

Great Thursday April 25  (Eve of Great Friday)

4pm-5:15pm Mystical Supper Liturgy w/ footwashing (See guidelines for Communion—if you cannot make whole service still come for some of it if you can)

8:30pm-9:30pm The Passion of Christ Service (Passion of Christ—12 Gospels, procession with cross, setting out of large cross in middle of church)

 

Great Friday April 26

       11:30am Royal Hours of the Crucifixion (~30 min.) followed by setup for Holy Friday evening service

*6:30pm-8pm Taking down from Cross and Burial service (Shroud, Plaschanitsa, Epitaphios) with Procession

Grave watching (all night following Shroud service)

 

Great Saturday & Resurrection Sunday—Great Pascha April 27-28

 

3pm-4:20pm (Saturday afternoon) First Resurrection Liturgy (of St. Basil), featuring the Old Testament prophesying the Resurrection of Christ and the “Arise O God.”  This Liturgy commemorates Christ’s conquering and rising in soul from Hell as its conqueror (the commemoration of the rising bodily takes place at later service). During this service, Holy Saturday is liturgically brought to a close and Resurrection Sunday Liturgically begins (based on the Biblical Day—the day begins at evening). During the service, all of the decorations are changed over from purple to white. To commune at this service, eat a small fasting collations but nothing after midday. According to the Typikon, this is one of only four times of the year that you may partake both at this and the midnight Liturgy if prepared, the one marking the beginning the feast and the other marking the culmination and apex of the Paschal services.    

 

Resurrection Midnight Services (Sat Night/early Sunday morning)

*10:30pm-1pm Paschal light and candlelight Procession to Resurrection shrine (preceded by blessing of Artos), Resurrection Matins, Hours, Paschal Liturgy, followed immediately by “run for the tomb” for youth out near shrine, followed by blessing of baskets in hall and Resurrection feast from the baskets (possible outdoor Paschal fire if someone wants to take responsibility for it).

*Eat small fasting mini-meals during the day and nothing from about 8:30pm onward to partake of Communion (unless health needs require otherwise, but still no meat).

*Bring sleeping bags and pillows for kids to lay down if they get tired during the service.

 

Pascha Sunday afternoon

1pm Resurrection Vespers of Love (Agape Vespers—about 30-35 minutes)

This special service has many special elements, including having readings in several language showing the universality of the resurrection, and a special (no other time of year) anointing from oil lamp from the Church of the Resurrection in Jerusalem which burned with the Holy Fire, as well as partaking of the special pascha bread blessed the previous night.  *Note, while this is not a communion service, Father Harry will have some communion reserved for after the dismissal of the Vespers service for those who were not able to be here for the Saturday afternoon or midnight Liturgies.

Followed by egg hunt (*tentative--need help with setup, but both adults and children may participate in the egg hunt—youth get a “head start”).

Followed by Resurrection Luncheon (potluck--it is ok if you don’t bring anything, as with all potlucks—still come and eat what is there. Some people who bring something bring it and put in fridge on Friday or Saturday)

 

RESURRECTION BRIGHT WEEK

Bright Monday Apr. 29:  7pm  Paschal Vespers (~30 min), continuing the week-long celebration of the Resurrection

Bright Wednesday May 1: 7pm Paschal Matins (~30 min), continuing the week-long celebration of the Resurrection

Bright Friday May 3:  10am Paschal Liturgy of Bright Friday (Life-giving Spring) ~50 min.

 

THE 40 DAY PERIOD OF PASCHALTIDE (EASTERTIDE, RESURRECTIONTIDE) LASTS FROM PASCHA UNTIL THE GREAT FEAST OF THE ASCENSION OF OUR LORD

 

Sun May 5: Sunday of Renewal—St. Thomas Sunday--The Second Sunday of Pascha

Entrance Prayers, Vesting, Proskomedia, Confessions

10am Divine Liturgy followed by the distribution of the Resurrection Artos