HE HOLIEST WEEK OF THE YEAR Join us as we make our annual Holy Week pilgrimage:
PALM SUNDAY, March 24, 10:30 a.m., join us for the Palm Procession, followed by our regular Sunday liturgy. We will meet in front of the church, weather permitting. This final Sunday of Lent, we focus on the “Passion” of our Lord, the spiritual, emotional, and physical sufferings he endured the last week of his earthly life.
MAUNDY THURSDAY, March 28, 6 p.m. The name “Maundy” derives from mandatum novum, Latin for “new commandment.” On this night Jesus washed the feet of his disciples and instituted the sacrament of Holy Communion at the Last Supper. Our service will include foot washing and the Holy Eucharist, as well as the stripping of the altar.
GOOD FRIDAY, March 29
STATIONS OF THE CROSS Good Friday, March 29, noon. The Day of the Crucifixion. In observance of this most sacred day, we ask that all who enter and exit the church do so in silence. We will have Stations of the Cross in the sanctuary. We will sing “Were You There?” and consume the rest of the Reserved Sacrament before Easter.
CONFESSIONS Good Friday, 1-3 p.m., private confessions will be heard in the sanctuary. Why confess privately? What good will it do? Author Brendan Manning shares the following story:
“When I was a little boy, I had the naive idea that when I went to confession, God was growing on me because I had been bad. As soon as I confessed my sins, God would begin to smile again. Somehow my confession implied a change in God. How absurd! My confession only implies a change in me!”
“Now I understand things differently. More like this: You and I are standing in the middle of a spotlight on the platform of a church; the rest of the church is in darkness, but we are in bright light. To me this scene is a good image of ragamuffins living in a state of grace. Now, suppose that you or I commit grave, deliberate sin. What happens? We step aside into shadows, but the light remains shining. God’s love never changes—we have simply chosen to step away from it. When we repent, we come back into the light of God’s love, which has always been there.”
If you feel private confession will help you step back into the light of God’s love, please come to the church on Good Friday afternoon. You will be heard, not judged, prayed over and loved. If this day and time is not convenient for you, please talk to one of the clergy to set up a separate time.
HOLY SATURDAY ALTAR GUILD BREAKFAST & PREPARING THE CHURCH FOR EASTER March 30, 9 a.m.-noon. Help us make our sanctuary sparkle! We will polish brass and wood, change the altar linens to white, set up the flowers, etc. To kick off our morning, we will say grace and share breakfast. We will also have a quick review of altar setup and answer any questions. We are still in need of one more Altar Guild team. We need two people to take one Sunday a month. All the training will be provided. Talk with Pastor Corinne or Mother Penni. Come join us!
SUNDAY OF THE RESURRECTION: EASTER DAY, March 31, 10:30 a.m. Jesus Christ is risen today! Today is the day for bright colors, Easter lilies and all things that celebrate new life. Many thanks to Neel and Kay Storr for hosting the reception following worship.
MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE! Bring a handbell from home to our Easter Sunday service and “Make a joyful noise to the Lord” (Ps 98:6). Bells are a sign of joy for the end of Lent and the new life of the Resurrection. On Easter Sunday, we invite you to express your joy by ringing bells during the Gloria, when singing the Alleluia before and after the Gospel, and at the dismissal Alleluias.
UTO MITE BOXES Please bring your collected funds to church by April 7. Thank you!
BIBLICAL SCHOLARS is taking a short break and will resume April 10 with a unit on the Sermon on the Mount. The group meets Wednesdays from 7-8 p.m. Email holyfamilysantafe@gmail.com for Zoom information.
PRAYER SQUARES meets second and fourth Tuesdays in hybrid zoom/in-person. Email holyfamilysantafe@gmail.com.
RED SKY READERS’ next book will be "I Shall Not Hate" by I. Abuelaish, a doctor in Gaza. Mother Penni will lead the discussion beginning the Sunday after Easter. For the Zoom link email holyfamilysantafe@gmail.com.
PRAYERS for Patti, Tim, Pete, Jenny, Zenobia, Nolan, Amy, Brittney, Marinda, Lucy, Gordon, Kevin, Allie, Fred, Chloe, Ellie, Melanie, David, Elizabeth, Scott, Brian, Mike, Paul, Andrew, Carol, Peggy, Julian, Lesley, Gloria, Uriel, Patricio, JJ, Maggie, Joan, Kristi, Charmaine, Maria, Jerome, Kristina, Olivia, the Duran and Durham families. For the repose of the soul of Nex. To add/remove names, email holyfamilysantafe@gmail.com.
Many thanks to our readers Linda Cagle and Mike Hodges, altar server Tim O’Malley, greeter Nate Cagle, livestreamer Clare Hatfield and Altar Guild members Becky Darden and Katherine Rowe. If you are a reader for the Passion, thank you as well.