Between Good Friday and Easter

The last two years, a small gathering of St. Mark folks have gathered on the day after Good Friday to light candles, wander the sanctuary, and explore the meaning of Easter. You could say it’s a worship service, but it’s unlike anything else we do.

It can seem like a strange addition to an already full schedule of Holy Week services. You might think we would want to take a break and avoid having a four-day marathon of church activities. But then, egg hunts and similar events have always been a part of that quiet Saturday. With so many options around town for kids to load up on candy-filled eggs, we decided to try something different. We wanted to be unique to who we are, and to create something engaging and accessible for our whole community.

The result has been dynamic worship that moves us from the stark emptiness of Good Friday into the fullness of Easter. We start in darkness, with an empty communion table; and we end in the same bright lavish glow we witness on Easter morning, lilies and all. In the middle of the service, worshippers have been able to get up and move to different areas of the sanctuary to pray, share communion, or discover something new about the story of Easter. These stations engage all five senses, inviting folks to approach the hope of resurrection in new ways. The last two years, folks have had the chance to take as long as needed at these different worship stations. This year the flow may be different, but that sense of the unexpected will remain. 

This is a service for people of all ages. By that, I mean it’s not just for kids. The Sunday school years are full of creative activities designed to help young people approach faith with curiosity and joy. Shouldn’t we be able to deepen our faith with that same wonder our whole life long? As we plan for our third Holy Saturday service, our hope is that families with children who come might bond over the story of Easter. We have that same hope for individuals, couples, groups of friends, and guests.

                                   

And so, I would like to invite you to join us for our Holy Saturday service at 4pm on March 30th. Come engage with the story of Easter, grow closer to one another, and explore the good news of Christ’s resurrection in a more interactive way.

Peace,

Pastor Chad McKenna