Holy Week Services

This year March 24th to March 30th is Holy Week which is when the church commemorates the final week of Our Lord's ministry from His entry into Jerusalem, to His burial. At Good Shepherd Anglican Church we observe Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday in the traditional manner, and we invite you to join us for any, or all of our services during Holy Week.

PALM SUNDAY

11:00am Morning Prayer and Litany - Holy Week starts with the traditional morning office of the Anglican Church, which will conclude with the Litany, and a sermon.

5:00pm Liturgy of the Palms and Holy Communion - this is the service which is traditionally associated with Palm Sunday, and in a sense it is actually two services. The first part of the service consists of lessons, including St. Matthew 21: 1-9 which describes the entry into Jerusalem, and the distribution of the Palms, followed by a procession around the Church. This is followed by Holy Communion that centres on the Gospel which is the Passion of Our Lord according to St. Matthew.

MAUNDY THURSDAY

5:30pm Holy Communion - we follow the traditional order for Maundy Thursday which celebrates the institution of the Eucharist. The name 'Maundy' derives from the word Latin 'mandatum' which refers to the 'new commandment' referred to in the Gospel of the Day - St. John 13: 1-12. Customarily, the ornaments and hangings are removed from the church at the end of this service whilst Ps. 22 is read to prepare for Good Friday. By ancient custom, there is no blessing at the end of the service, not at the end of any other service until the first Easter service, as the Triduum (Three Days) services are considered to be one extended liturgy.

GOOD FRIDAY

5:30pm Good Friday Liturgy - a service of lessons and intercession reflecting on the death and passion of our Lord Jesus Christ. The service focusses on St John's Passion, which has been the main reading on this day since at least 700AD