Holy Week

Jim Heinbach introduced the service saying it was the 25th anniversary of the service St. Peter’s had a prominent role this year – Helmut as the chairman of the Ruritans providing the opening prayer, Catherine and Helmut leading the group with the music at the beginning and end. Alex reading the Apostle’s Creed and Catherine’s sermon. Her sermon is

We had 61 at our 11am Easter service which is close to the average over the last few years. There were some notable contributions. Charles McGuire provided the wonderful flower arrangement up front with the lilies adorned with cherry blossoms and curly willow. Cally had a gold egg and a basked of easter eggs to share with the Godly play children. Bonnets galore – it was wonderful seeing Myrtle there. Other bonnets present included Cookie, Andrea, Cherry (back from Florida), Marilyn and Barbara.|Easter is a time of celebration and that included music with Josh Sylke on the trumpet echoing the hymns, Brad performing the intricate ” Prelude and Fugue in A-minor ” (Bach) and the Helmut adding “Alleluia” during communion.

We had 17 people on an overcast day but warm in the 70’s. There was a “Good Friday” type of mood in the air – somewhat introspective thinking about what happened. Somewhat forboding looking outside. A severe storm was predicted but did not occur. In the midst of the gloom, spring is developing – the dogwoods are out, daffodils, hyacinths. The magnolia tree may be in full bloom at Easter.|After the sermon was the veneration of the cross, the dramatic entrance of the cross. It is slow but dramatic as it is raised and placed on the altar. Then a chance for prayer and to put a taper in the sand in the front and a rose in the vase. By the end there were 14 candles and many prayers said.

Our Maundy Thursday service on April 2 was handled differently this year. The crowd was small at 15 so that we could hold the first part of the service outside on a beautiful spring evening. Footwashing, homily, Liturgy of the Word, Communion were outside. After this we went inside for hymns – “What wonderous love is this”, “As in that upper room”, ” Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love” and “In remembrance of me” and the stripping of the altar singing “Stay with Me” continuously. A full moon greeted us through the windows of St. Peter’s as we departed in silence.

We had 18 at Tenebrae which was a good turnout, though two less than last year. This is an unusual service with its own Liturgy. There is only music – the readings carry the service. And it is not from the traditional Gospel readings. The readings range from Lamentations in the Old Testament to commentary from St Augustine, and at last a reading from Hebrews, in which the theology of Gods saving grace through Jesus Christ our great high priest is presented for our consideration. The Psalms dominate the service.

The day started out early for some of us at the Long’s for the 7am Sunrise service. Unfortunately, while the son came up briefly it was soon hidden by the advancing cloud cover.|St. Peter’s was well represented in scripture and song. Nancy and Helmut performed twice on “Because He Lives” and “Victory in Jesus.” Catherine provided the opening prayer and Gospel reading. Both Memorial Baptist and Shiloh were represented. Rev Joe Dobbin of Shiloh presented the sermon on “First 7 Words After Resurrection.”|The Longs offered a wonderful reception with various egg, sausage casseroles, doughnut, hash browns.

Here are 50 images of the period from Palm Sunday to Easter, 2013. From Palm Sunday to Easter, we held 5 services with 166 in attendance. We also participated in the Port Royal Sunrise service on Sunday morning. On Sat. we held our 7th community dinner for 80-120 children feeding them lunch and holding an Easter egg hunt. Yes, we did walk with Jesus in his suffering and hardships and then sharing and proclaiming the resurrection.

At 11am, we had 54 for Easter on an increasingly cloudy and by service time some light rain. Most of all it was just cold and damp. Not Easter like! Some additions to the service this year – a set of wind chimes Catherine carried in procession. Also, with abundant children we had a children’s sermon before the main one. The metaphor of a flower bulb that rises is a wonderful metaphor for the risen Christ.As with last year we lit the paschal fire, symbolizing the new light from Christ this Easter.

Maundy Thursday is remembered for the “Last Supper” meeting with the disciples with the footwashing, the foreshadowing of Judas betrayal and the movement into Gethsemane. We had a traditional Seder supper at 5pm. The 7pm service featured the washing and anointing of hands. By the end of the service the altar is stripped in preparation for Good Friday.

The story was inside and out. Unlike the other Easter services, Tenebrae doesn’t relate to a specific Holy Week event as Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter. It sets a mood and brings you through the Holy Week story through a set of “shadows”. Each shadow generally has a reading from Luke, a Psalm and a hymn.|Outside, the weather was continued cool from the weekend. Two hours before the service there were threatening clouds. The unsettled weather moved toward full sunlight in a short amount of time captured in the gallery.