Holy Week

The Call of Lent is the Valley Sun?s Lenten series on the messages of Christ?s death and resurrection as interpreted by area religious leaders. ? This Sunday is Palm Sunday, and the beginning of Holy Week on the Christian calendar, the week before Easter. Special services throughout the week commemorate Jesus? last days on earth, and culminate in celebrating his resurrection. These services are rich in symbolism and meaning; they plumb the depths and soar the heights of the Christian faith.

Holy Week, the time between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday, is an important time of the year for Christians. Palm Sunday worship celebration begins at 10:30 am. At 12:30 p.m., the Senior Fellowship invites everyone to their monthly meeting and salad luncheon in the Social Hall. This month's program will be on "green" landscaping and the use of drought tolerant plants. On April 5 at 7:30 p.m. the Maundy Thursday Service remembers Jesus' last meal with his friends. It will center on Holy Communion, which is open to all. Good Friday Service of Prayer and Healing will be at 7:30 p.m. on April 6. Participants have the option of receiving prayers for personal concerns and to be anointed for healing of mind, body, spirit or relationships.

I have always been amazed at the breadth of the services that are available in our area?s churches in the days surrounding Holy Week and preceding Easter, with Easter itself a day chock-full of activities. Looking at last year?s Holy Week and Easter Sunday services list, we had choral passions and baptism by candlelight, presented by St. George?s Episcopal Church; a telling of the Passion story involving the people of the church, presented by La Cañada United Methodist; a self-guided spiritual journey and Easter Sunday services on a hill behind Descanso Gardens presented by La Cañada Presbyterian; and six Masses at St. Bede?

Dear Friends, A very ?Holy Week? to each of you! These are the most significant days in the lives of those of us who call ourselves ?Christians.? Specifically, the days of the Triduum are upon us. Lent comes to an end before the evening liturgy of Holy Thursday. Then the Mass of the Lord?s Supper, Good Friday and the celebration of the Lord?s Passion all lead up to Holy Saturday and the celebration of the Easter Vigil. It is the height of all liturgies throughout the entire church year!

Tradition The chilly Palm Sunday morning air does not keep the faithful at St. Bede the Venerable Parish from commemorating Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. As with most Palm Sunday services, they begin outside, symbolic of the people who gathered to meet and greet Jesus, who by this time had come to be known almost as a celebrity. Most have palm fronds in their hands, symbolic of the palms that adorned the streets of the ancient city as Jesus made his way past the people.

No matter what special plans they have to celebrate the Christian holiday of Easter, La Cañada Christian churches welcome newcomers and visitors this week. "The church is really crowded," Pat Saar said of St. Bede The Venerable Catholic Church's Easter services at 7:30, 9 and 11 a.m. April 11. "There's usually an overflow. They usually have two masses, one in the church and one in the parish hall." Saar, a La Crescenta resident and longtime member of St. Bede, said the decorated church welcomes many visitors during the Holy Week and Easter services.

I have always been amazed at the breadth of the services that are available in our area?s churches in the days surrounding Holy Week and preceding Easter, with Easter itself a day chock-full of activities. Looking at last year?s Holy Week and Easter Sunday services list, we had choral passions and baptism by candlelight, presented by St. George?s Episcopal Church; a telling of the Passion story involving the people of the church, presented by La Cañada United Methodist; a self-guided spiritual journey and Easter Sunday services on a hill behind Descanso Gardens presented by La Cañada Presbyterian; and six Masses at St. Bede?

Dear Friends, A very ?Holy Week? to each of you! These are the most significant days in the lives of those of us who call ourselves ?Christians.? Specifically, the days of the Triduum are upon us. Lent comes to an end before the evening liturgy of Holy Thursday. Then the Mass of the Lord?s Supper, Good Friday and the celebration of the Lord?s Passion all lead up to Holy Saturday and the celebration of the Easter Vigil. It is the height of all liturgies throughout the entire church year!

St. George’s Episcopal Church Maundy Thursday March 20 7:30 p.m. Communion, footwashing recalls the Last Supper of Jesus with his disciples. Good Friday March 21 Noon Choral liturgy for Good Friday, and communion from the Reserved Sacrament will be offered. 7:30 p.m. Devotions at the cross, with music of Taize presented. The service features the burial of the cross from Serbian Orthodox tradition. Great Vigil of Easter March 22 7:30 p.m. This service begins in the Memorial Garden and proceeds into the church.

Tradition The chilly Palm Sunday morning air does not keep the faithful at St. Bede the Venerable Parish from commemorating Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. As with most Palm Sunday services, they begin outside, symbolic of the people who gathered to meet and greet Jesus, who by this time had come to be known almost as a celebrity. Most have palm fronds in their hands, symbolic of the palms that adorned the streets of the ancient city as Jesus made his way past the people.

The Call of Lent is the Valley Sun?s Lenten series on the messages of Christ?s death and resurrection as interpreted by area religious leaders. ? This Sunday is Palm Sunday, and the beginning of Holy Week on the Christian calendar, the week before Easter. Special services throughout the week commemorate Jesus? last days on earth, and culminate in celebrating his resurrection. These services are rich in symbolism and meaning; they plumb the depths and soar the heights of the Christian faith.

Holy Week, the time between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday, is an important time of the year for Christians. On April 5 at 7:30 p.m., the Maundy Thursday Service remembers Jesus' last meal with his friends. It will center on Holy Communion, which is open to all. Good Friday Service of Prayer and Healing will be at 7:30 p.m. on April 6. Participants have the option of receiving prayers for personal concerns and to be anointed for healing of mind, body, spirit or relationships.

April 5: MAUNDY THURSDAY COMMUNION SERVICE 7 p.m. Maundy Thursday is always an extraordinary event at La Cañada Presbyterian Church. Traditionally, this is the commemoration of the day when Christ instituted the meal of the new covenant, communion, and his call to remember the meaning of his life. The La Cañada Presbyterian Church choir and soloists will assist Dr. Gary Dennis as he leads us through the events of Holy Week. The service concludes with the traditional walk to the cross and silent departure.