Holy Week Services

Holy Week is the pinnacle of the church year as it brings us into intentional and focused contact with and remembrance of the great saving work accomplished by Jesus Christ. Below are the services and times for Holy Week this year.

Additional Ecumenical Holy Week services are being offered by the Southeast Kentucky Ministerial Alliance. Click here for a schedule of Holy Week services being offered by SEKMA.

Palm Sunday – April 10 11:15 pm

The Palm Sunday service begins with Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. We will gather in the garden between the church and the rectory where we will bless palms and joyfully process into the nave where the Rt. Rev. Mark Van Koevering, bishpp of the Episcopal Diocese of Lexington will be celebrant and preacher.

Wednesday of Holy Week – April 13 – 6:00 pm

For the Wednesday evening service we will be praying the Stations of the Cross. This devotion traces itself back to pilgrims who would visit Jerusalem in the 11th century. They brought back stories of visiting the different locations of the Passion in Jerusalem. For those who were unable to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, stations were created in churches so that the faithful could still follow Christ on his way to the cross.

Maundy Thursday – April 14 – 6:00 pm

Call “Maundy” because of the “mandatum”, mandate or command, to “…do this in remembrance of me.” This service commemorates Jesus’ Last Supper with his disciples before his crucifixion. As Jesus humbled himself, taking the role of a servant, and washing the feet of his disciples, so we also wash each other’s feet as a sign of our humble service to each other.

Maundy Thursday Vigil – April 15 8:00 pm – April 16 7:00 am

After his Last Supper Jesus went with his disciples to the Mount of Olives. Here, in the Garden of Gethsemane, he spent the night in prayer to the Father. He asked his disciples to “watch and prayer,” but they were overcome with grief and slept. Parishioners can sign up to spend an hour of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament this night as we watch and prayer with Jesus. The Vigil concludes with Communion from the Reserved Sacrament as we consume the last of the bread and wine. No Eucharist will be consecrated or received until after the Great Vigil of Easter.

Good Friday – April 16 – 6:00 pm

This solemn, stark service commemorates the mystery of Jesus’ Passion on the Cross. It is a simple service that concludes with the Veneration of the Cross.

The Great Vigil of Easter – no service

The Great Vigil of Easter usually takes place Saturday after sunset and is the solemn celebration of Christ’s resurrection from the dead. Unfortunately, we are unable to offer the Great Vigil of Easter this year.

Easter Sunday – April 18 – 11:00 am

Every Sunday is a small Easter Sunday as each gathering is always a celebration of Christ’s resurrection and conquest over sin and death. However, the First Sunday of Easter is a particularly joyous celebration as we conclude the Holy Triduum (Maundy Thursday – Good Friday – Great Vigil of Easter).