Holy Week at St. Olaf offers several opportunities for meaningful worship and reflection. Over the years we’ve established a pattern that enables our community to raise the shouts of “Hosanna,” repeat the cries of “crucify him” and joyfully sing “Hallelujah!”

PALM SUNDAY/SUNDAY OF THE PASSION

Sunday, April 1 at 7:45, 9:15 and 10:45 a.m.

This liturgy celebrates Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem, his suffering and his death. St. Olaf will include the reading of the Passion Narrative on Palm Sunday. Sunday School children will sing at the 10:45 service. Youth who are attending the National Youth Gathering in July will serve brunch.

SERVICE OF HEALTH AND WHOLENESS

Monday, April 2 at 6:15 p.m.

Offers the community an opportunity to follow the early Christian traditions of meeting together for sharing scripture, prayers, Holy Communion, anointing with oil and a blessing for health. We are reminded that Christ is present with us and brings us healing. Not a miraculous cure, but healing as Christ walks beside us in the midst of pain. Christ walks with us through death to the ultimate healing of life eternal.

PRAYER AROUND THE CROSS

Wednesday, April 4 at 6:15 p.m.

The contemplative service was inspired by models of prayer practiced regularly at the Community of Taize in France and at the Iona Community in Scotland. My family and I were first exposed to Prayer Around the Cross at Holden Village. We gather in silence and darkness and are invited to offer our prayers around a simple cross on the floor of the chancel and at two accessible stations on the main floor.

An instrument plays quiet melodies of chants we will sing. There are singable refrains supported by a vocal quartet. You are invited to light a candle and offer yourselves physically, mentally, and spiritually on behalf of that for which you pray. And when you do not know how to pray, “the Spirit intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words.” Participants in our mentoring program have found this to be an important part of their Lenten journey.

MAUNDY THURSDAY

Thursday, April 5 at 4:15 & 6:15 p.m.

During worship we read in Exodus the instructions for the first Passover meal. Then, in the Gospel of John, we hear of Jesus’ actions before his last Passover meal—how Jesus loved his disciples to the end and showed them, by washing their feet, how they should love one another. “Maundy” is derived from the Latin mandatum, or command. We are given the new commandment to love one another.

GOOD FRIDAY

Friday, April 6 at 12:30 p.m.

As you walk into the sanctuary for our worship, the space is nearly empty with the exception of a simple wooden cross in the center of the chancel. Through pastors’ meditations, music by choir and orchestra, hymns, readings, and silence we move through Christ’s final hours as he prays in Gethsemane, is betrayed and arrested, is presented to the High Priest, is taken before Pilate, is sentenced to death and is crucified. Candles are extinguished until no flame of life is left. We depart in silence, waiting.

EASTER SUNDAY

Sunday, April 8 at 6:00, 7:45, 9:15 & 10:45 a.m.

We do know the end of the story. At sunrise, brass, choirs, and congregation all sing together “Jesus Christ is Risen Today” and share the Easter greeting: “Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Hallelujah!”

By Neal Erickson
St. Olaf Lutheran Church