A guide to Holy Week and Easter at St Barnabas

Palm Sunday (The Sunday of the Passion) 

Palm Sunday, the first day of Holy Week, commemorates Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem, an event mentioned in each of the four Gospels (Matthew 21:1–11, Mark 11:1–11, Luke 19:28–44, John 12:1–19). Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, and the people waved palm branches and acclaimed him as Messiah and King. 

Palm crosses, made by parishioners, are distributed to the congregation. We celebrate by joining in the Palm Sunday Procession, following the clergy around the church, which represents Jerusalem. Please come with joy and expectation to acclaim Jesus as your King. 

Jesus entered the city to acclamation, but a Cross awaited him. The Reading of the Passion is the main focus of this day as we walk with Jesus and relive the story of God’s love in the outpouring of Jesus’ life on the Cross for us. 

Maundy Thursday 

Maundy Thursday is the beginning of the Paschal Triduum, the period of three days that begins with the liturgy on the evening of Maundy Thursday, reaches its high point in the Easter Vigil and the First Eucharist of Easter. (Eucharist means “Thanksgiving.”) The Triduum is not three liturgies, but one extended liturgy. 

On this night, the Liturgy of the Lord’s Supper commemorates the first Eucharist, when Jesus instituted the sacrament of Holy Communion. “And as they were eating, he took bread, and when he had blessed, he broke it, and gave to them, and said, “Take, eat, this is my body. And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave to them: and they all drank of it. And he said to them, 'This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.” (Mark 14:22–24). 

The washing of the feet, or Maundy, is performed as a reenactment of the Gospel (John 13:1-11). The word “Maundy” comes from the Latin word mandatum, or commandment, reflecting the words of Jesus after he had washed the feet of his apostles: "I give you a new commandment: Love one another” (John 13:34). 

The chancel and all altars except for the Altar of Repose are then stripped bare of ornament and decoration, commemorating Jesus’ betrayal and abandonment by his disciples, in preparation for the events of Good Friday. Here begins a period of prayer and meditation during which members of the parish keep watch at the Altar of Repose until the Passion of Good Friday the following noon, as we remember his night of agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. 

Holy Saturday (The Great Vigil of Easter) 

The Great Vigil of Easter on Easter Eve and the first Eucharist of Easter, are the first celebration of the resurrection of Jesus. This very moving and ancient celebration begins with the lighting and blessing of the “new fire” in the darkened church. From this fire, the Paschal (Easter) candle is lit. It is carried by a deacon through the nave and smaller candles held by those present are lit from the Paschal candle, gradually dispelling the darkness. The Exsultet or Easter Proclamation is chanted, after which the people sit for the Liturgy of the Word, where we read about story of Creation and Israel’s deliverance at the Red Sea. We too are delivered by Christ and brought through baptism from death to new life. The Paschal candle will be placed on its stand in the sanctuary for the next fifty days, and it will be lighted throughout the coming year at baptisms and funerals, reminding us that Christ is “light and life”. The church and the altar are once again beautifully decorated and dressed as a sign of joy in the Resurrection. 

The baptismal water is blessed at the font and we renew our baptismal promises and we are sprinkled with baptismal water as a sign of our rebirth. Traditionally, baptisms, especially adult baptisms, took place on this first day of Easter. 

This is also the first time since before Lent that the exclamation “Alleluia” (praise be to God) will be used, and members of the Church greet each other with “Christ is risen”, to which the response is: “He is risen indeed! Alleluia!”