The Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit invites the public to prepare for Easter with a full schedule of services during Holy Week, the most sacred of the Christian year.
Palm Sunday services will be held at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. on April 17. They will be followed by short meditations with the Stations of the Cross on Monday and Tuesday, April 18 and 19 at 7 p.m. On Wednesday April 20, we’ll have Morning Prayer and Holy Communion at 7 a.m., followed by breakfast. The evening will have the ancient monastic Service of Tenebrae (“shadows”), a reading of psalms and scripture from 7 to 7:30 p.m. in the chapel.
The church observes Maundy Thursday on April 21 with Holy Communion and the solemn Stripping of the Altar at 7 p.m. An all-night vigil with the Reserved Sacrament at the Altar of Repose will be observed by those who would keep watch by taking turns of one hour in the chapel.
On Good Friday, April 22, there will be services of Holy Communion from the Reserved Sacrament at 7 a.m. and 12 noon. Especially appropriate for young children of all ages is a walk through the Stations of the Cross for Children at 10 a.m., during which young children have an opportunity to touch the crown of thorns and nails, help carry the cross, and taste the vinegar. For older children and youth, there will be an age-appropriate Good Friday service at 7 p.m. The Great Vigil of Easter with the Lighting of the Easter Fire and Holy Baptism begins at 8 p.m. on Saturday, April 23 and concludes before 10 p.m.
Easter Sunday services at 8 and 10 a.m. on April 24 are followed by the annual Easter Egg Hunt which is open and free to all the children of the community.
The Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit is located at 36 Gould Street in Verona and draws members from many diverse communities. For more information, contact the church at 973-239-2850 or [email protected] .
