Dear Friends in Christ,
What will Easter be like this year? There’s a small answer, and then a big answer.
The small answer is about the details. As we prepare for our first services in person in our nave
in three years, I want to be sure you are aware of what our worship will be like. It many ways, it
is of course unchanged, because it is the ancient liturgy of the church. But you’ll notice some
things that are a little different:
- Wine is coming back! While we cannot yet share the common cup, the celebrant will, if
you choose, intinct your wafer for you, dipping it in the wine before handing it to you.
We’ll begin this practice on Maundy Thursday, and we plan to have wine regularly
available going forward. - We’ll continue to receive communion at the crossing, although at certain, less-crowded
services (like Maundy Thursday), we’ll offer communion spread out at the altar rail. - The three last hours of Good Friday—noon until 3:00 p.m.—will feel a little different.
From 12-1, we’ll offer Stations of the Cross, with reflections written by parishioners, as
is our custom. From 1-3, we’ll observe the liturgy of the day, but with periods of
extended silence. You are welcome to come and go during the service as you choose. - On Holy Saturday, we celebrate the liturgy of the day, adding in special prayers for those
who mourn—who may be living in the darkness of the tomb right now rather than in the
brightness of Easter morning. - At the Easter Vigil, we will have much to celebrate—7 baptisms, as well as confirmation
of adults and youth. The service may be full, and we will remove the ribbons from the
normally distanced side aisles to spread the congregation evenly throughout the space. - On Easter morning, we’ll follow our usual schedule of 7:30, 8:45 in Spanish, and 10:30.
We are also adding in a 9:00 service for young children and their families, which will be
held (weather permitting) in the amphitheater.
The big answer? That answer is not about what we do, but about what God is doing. Whatever
feels familiar, and whatever feels changed, we believe that the resurrected Christ is in our
midst. The past three years have taught us that Christ may surprise and startle us, but he will
never, ever leave us.
Yours in Christ,
Anne+
P.S. When a service is “livestreamed,” that means in addition to—not instead of—worship in
the pews. All of our services are open for in-person worship.