“You cannot fully experience the resurrection, until you have taken the time to remember the crucifixion.”
It’s this idea that drives our annual Holy Week Prayer Vigil. From March 28 at 7pm until March 29 at 3:30, we will be in the sanctuary worshipping, praying, and walking in real-time through Jesus’s arrest, trial, crucifixion, and death. We invite you to join us for part or all of this experience as we journey toward the Cross.
A few simple guidelines:
This Vigil is meant to be enjoyed in part, or in total. Please feel no obligation to stay the entire time. Come and go as you are able and led.
Please enter and exit the church building quietly during this time.
Please, no sleeping in the sanctuary. We encourage you to sleep at home and come back when you’re feeling rested.
If you picked up a nail during the Ash Wednesday Service, you will have the opportunity to drive it into a cross set up in the sanctuary from 12pm-3pm on March 29.
No childcare will be provided. We encourage you to participate in the communion service with your entire family. Children are welcome at the Prayer Vigil, we just ask that the quiet environment in the sanctuary be maintained.
A brief schedule:
7pm-9pm: Communion & Worship. During this time we will take groups of 12 at a time into our “Upper Room” to take communion as the disciples might have with Jesus on the night before His death. You do not have to arrive right at 7pm to participate; come whenever you’re able and stay as long as you like.
9-10pm: The Examen Prayer. Pastor James will lead us in a contemplative prayer time during this hour. The live stream on our Church Online platform will end at this time.
10-11pm: Foot Washing. During this time of prayer we will have foot washing stations set up in the “Upper Room” where families, spouses, friends, or anyone else can wash each others’ feet, just as Jesus did for His disciples as an act of love and servitude. If you would like to participate, we encourage you to have a conversation with the person whose feet you’d like to wash ahead of time so you both can be prepared. This is optional and prayer will continue in the sanctuary without interruption.
11pm-12am: The High Priestly Prayer. Jesus’s prayer from John 17 will be read during this time.
12am-3pm: Clips from The Passion of The Christ will be shown periodically at the approximate time they would have actually happened on Good Friday. After the clip is shown, the corresponding Scripture will be read and a prayer will be offered by Pastor Kevin or one of several volunteers, followed by time of silent prayer. The Scripture readings and prayer will be live streamed on our Facebook page; due to copyright laws we cannot show the movie clips on our Facebook page. For a full schedule to follow along with at home, click “View Full Schedule” above.
3-3:30pm: Conclusion. This time, marking the death of Jesus, will be spent in prayer and with a few moments of closing worship, followed by silent dismissal.
*A NOTE ABOUT STREAMING: we will be live-streaming the Prayer Vigil on our Church Online platform from 7pm until approximately 10:30pm. After that, Scripture readings and prayer led by Pastor Kevin and several volunteers will be streamed on our Facebook page only.