Palm Sunday – we will figure out how to do in an 11 am online service. Palms will be available at the church for pick up the week before (April 3-9). Michael will organize a drive by pick up palms on Saturday, April 9 – that would be like our procession. As well as your Palms, Michael will have a blessing for each of you on Palm Sunday Eve. And the Elders added an extra: we could also give everyone who picks up a palm something we are trying to get rid of from the Fox Building!
But for the Palm Sunday service, we will have a contest. ‘People took branches from the side of the road and placed them in Jesus’ path as he rode on a Donkey into Jerusalem.’ Let’s see who can come up with the best “DIY branches” to welcome Jesus.
Maundy Thursday
We will have an outdoor, evening Last Supper around tables in the courtyard at 7 pm. It will be simple, maybe even standing, gathered around a table.
At 9 pm, there will be an online communion of the Last Supper for people who could not be physically present at church.
Good Friday
The Vigil, from 12 noon until 3 pm, will be online again. We will take turns reading the 4 Gospel accounts of Jesus’ passion. People are invited to read a passage, then say a prayer if they wish, and choose a piece of music for us (with the whole “catalogue” of Youtube music, we can fairly easily find anything you can think of).
At 7 pm, we will have Tenebrae online. We will remember Jesus’ passion as each of us at home extinguish the 15 candles with the readings. There will also be room for people to share reflections. The music for this service will just be instrumental. This is one of those evening services when people will be asked to dim the lights in the room where they are taking the zoom call.
Easter
Easter “Dawn” will be down at the river on Race Street Pier as is our custom.
The main Easter service at 11 will most likely be outside too (unless by some miracle the Sanctuary is finished enough to be usable). We will be able to do Easter flowers and cascarones together.
There will be a special 1 pm online Easter service for those who cannot join us in person.
Of course, all our plans are subject to change, particularly due to COVID conditions. But starting with Easter, it is presumed that we will gather outdoors again for worship until the Sanctuary is ready for us to again gather there. We have not yet figured out the details of worshiping inside the building yet.
