(In the Greek Orthodox church, they do something akin to a funeral service/procession on Good Friday in the late afternoon. They do something every night of Holy Week.) Same with the night before Easter-darken the Church and then at midnight they open the doors to the altar and light up the church. Yours sounds lovely, too.
That would be interesting. I've never been to any sort of Orthodox church. I do wonder, though, how it goes with the screen and generally not being able to see the altar.
Then the clergy and the choir (us) take off our vestments. Basically we're now without Jesus until Easter. Makes me feel for those apostles who didn't know the end of the story, and were frightened and grieving.
YES! Love the way you phrased this. I love the Maundy, too.
Someone mentioned in a church they used to go to their Friday service was three hours-from Jesus on the cross to when he died. Yeah, no thank you.
The (RC) church I grew up in called this "Three Hours' Agony" to a kid, it was surely not misnamed. The only good part was this woman would play the harp during Stations of the Cross. She transported it to and fro in an old UPS truck.
If you want to get really high church, Holy Week should be "crimson" (e.g. maroon) vs. the bright red, but most places do not want to spend a lot of extra dough on something used for a couple nights out of the year.
Our Maundy Thursday service this year was kind of a Seder walk-through that ended with communion. I liked it, if only because it put me in the mind of what the disciples were doing that night. One thing we do different from y'all is that we strip the altar on Good Friday instead of Maundy Thursday (and leave the sanctuary in silence).
I wish sometimes that we did an Easter Vigil. We have a big family thing at a park, with an egg hunt and it's amazing (We had over 400 people there today), but it never seems to convey the right... attitude... for the Saturday after Jesus was crucified, you know?
Re: the robes--ours are maroon, all the time, and we just flip our stoles from the mostly-maroon side to the all white side. Although, we're not wearing them lately, because we don't have AC in the sanctuary (supposed to finally be fixed by the 4th and it's hot in there, especially in the chancel area.
Interesting. Although I can see how stripping the altar on Friday would also be appropriate.
Wow, 400 people!?
Ours was partially working a few Sundays ago, and it was blooming hot-especially with the humidity up for the organ-so I hear you. Usually it's a bit cold in our church, so I am thankful for the robes.
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I've never been to any sort of Orthodox church. I do wonder, though, how it goes with the screen and generally not being able to see the altar.
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YES! Love the way you phrased this. I love the Maundy, too.
Someone mentioned in a church they used to go to their Friday service was three hours-from Jesus on the cross to when he died. Yeah, no thank you.
The (RC) church I grew up in called this "Three Hours' Agony" to a kid, it was surely not misnamed. The only good part was this woman would play the harp during Stations of the Cross. She transported it to and fro in an old UPS truck.
If you want to get really high church, Holy Week should be "crimson" (e.g. maroon) vs. the bright red, but most places do not want to spend a lot of extra dough on something used for a couple nights out of the year.
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I wish sometimes that we did an Easter Vigil. We have a big family thing at a park, with an egg hunt and it's amazing (We had over 400 people there today), but it never seems to convey the right... attitude... for the Saturday after Jesus was crucified, you know?
Re: the robes--ours are maroon, all the time, and we just flip our stoles from the mostly-maroon side to the all white side. Although, we're not wearing them lately, because we don't have AC in the sanctuary (supposed to finally be fixed by the 4th and it's hot in there, especially in the chancel area.
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Wow, 400 people!?
Ours was partially working a few Sundays ago, and it was blooming hot-especially with the humidity up for the organ-so I hear you. Usually it's a bit cold in our church, so I am thankful for the robes.
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Hopefully you don't need anything more for the SVT!
Have a happy Easter!!
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You too.
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