The Triduum concludes tonight as we wait with the world, in darkness, for the light of Easter’s dawn. In that darkness, we light new fire and sing of the wonder of God’s light spreading, we read stories promising God’s life for the world from the Hebrew Scriptures, we remember our baptism, and finally we proclaim the resurrection of Christ.

Attached is a pdf for worship in the home for this liturgy. All the links to sound and video are embedded in the pdf, so all you need to do is open it up, and as you pray, go to each link as you are ready.

Vigil of Easter liturgy pages – 04-11-20

If you’d rather print these liturgy sheets and use the links in the email, here are the individual links to each part:

The Exsultet – Susan Cherwien, soloist

Proclamation and Easter Hymn

J. S. Bach, Fugue in G Major, “Jig”

Looking ahead: Tomorrow’s Easter morning liturgy will be sent out at 6:00 a.m., so those who are up at dawn can begin when they’re ready.

The Triduum, the Great Three Days, continues from last night’s liturgy with the liturgy of the Adoration of the Cross. On this night we focus our hearts on John’s telling of the Passion of Christ, paired with Isaiah’s mighty Servant Song, singing of the One who suffers for the sake of the whole world. We pray for all people in the ancient Bidding Prayer, and sing the also ancient Solemn Reproaches, where God’s heart breaks in love for us even in our rebellion. The liturgy ends in a reminder that the death of God on the cross is a triumph, for God’s love cannot be held by death.

Readers for tonight: Art Halbardier, assisting minister; for the St. John Passion: Katie Krueger McCuen, Louise Lystig Fritchie, Pr. Crippen.

Attached is a pdf for worship in the home for this evening liturgy. All the links to sound and video are embedded in the pdf, so all you need to do is open it up, and as you pray, go to each link as you are ready.

Adoration of the Cross, Good Friday – 04-10-20

If you’d rather print these liturgy sheets and use the links in this post, here are the individual links to each part:

Prayer of the Day, First and Second Readings

The Passion according to St. John

ELW 351, 352, O Sacred Head, Now Wounded

The Solemn Reproaches

ELW 355, Sing, My Tongue, the Glorious Battle

Looking ahead: Tomorrow an email will be sent mid-afternoon with a liturgy you can use to keep vigil for the Resurrection, along with Christians around the world.

This liturgy is not technically part of the Triduum. The devotion of walking of the Stations of the Cross is an ancient practice, which Mount Olive has long made a part of our noon worship on this day. We walk with Jesus in this hour of his crucifixion and ponder the meaning of his Passion with short readings, the singing of the Trisagion, a musical meditation, silence, and the singing of hymns.

Meeting at noon, the time of day when Jesus was nailed to the cross, is also an ancient practice. This liturgy would be most meaningful if done at noon today, or in the hours after.

Soloists today: on the Pergolesi Stabat Mater: Tricia Van Ee and KrisAnne Weiss.

Attached is a pdf for worship in the home for this noon liturgy. The links comprise a complete recording of last year’s Way of the Cross liturgy, from start to finish. All the links to sound are embedded in the pdf, so all you need to do is open it up, and as you pray, go to each link as you are ready.

Good Friday Stations liturgy – 04-10-20

If you’d rather print these liturgy sheets and use the links in this post, here are the individual links to each part:

Opening Devotion
1. Jesus is condemned to death
2. Jesus takes up his Cross
3. Jesus meets his afflicted mother
4. The Cross is laid on Simon of Cyrene
5. Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem
6. Jesus is stripped of his garments
7. Jesus is nailed to the cross
8. Jesus dies on the Cross
9. Jesus is laid in the tomb
Concluding Prayers

Looking ahead, one more tonight: Later this afternoon, an email with the Good Friday liturgy of Adoration of the Cross, including the reading of the Passion according to St. John, will be sent for your evening worship.

Today the Triduum begins, the great Three Days of Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection. Each of these liturgies forms a a part of a whole liturgy, culminating at the Vigil of Easter.

We begin with Jesus in the Upper Room on Thursday evening, where he gives a new commandment to all of us, establishes a Meal that gives us life and forgiveness. The evening ends in a grove of olive trees on the Mount of Olives outside Jerusalem, where he is arrested.

Readers today: David Engen, Assisting Minister; Katie Krueger McCuen, Louise Lystig Fritchie, Pr. Crippen (St. John’s Passion)

Attached is a pdf for worship in the home on this night. There are some materials you might want to prepare before you worship that will enhance tonight’s worship in the home. (A list was sent last Friday, and is also included in this pdf.) All the links to sound and video are embedded in the pdf, so all you need to do is open it up, and as you pray, go to each link as you are ready.

Maundy Thursday – 04-09-20

If you’d rather print these liturgy sheets and use the links in this post, here are the individual links to each part:

Le banquet céleste

Prayer of the Day, Readings, Maundy Thursday

“Awake,” sermon by Pr. Crippen

ELW 347, Go to Dark Gethsemane

ELW 358, Great God, Your Love Has Called Us

Psalm 22

Looking ahead, two tomorrow: Tomorrow two emails will be sent, for two different worship times. Before noon, an email with Mount Olive’s Stations of the Cross liturgy will be sent, to be prayed at noon or early afternoon. Later, an email with the Good Friday liturgy of Adoration of the Cross, including the reading of the Passion according to St. John, will be sent for your evening worship.

Attached is a pdf for prayer in the home on these three days of this most solemn and holy week. The link to the audio of the hymn is embedded in the pdf, so all you need to do is open the pdf, and as you pray, click the link as you are ready.

Monday-Wednesday of Holy Week – 04-06-20

Here is a link to the hymn used for all three days, if you’d rather print the worship pages and link to this posting:

On My Heart Imprint Your Image, ELW 811