Good Friday is the most solemn day of the church year. It holds profound significance for Christians, commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary. We solemnly remember the sacrificial acts of Jesus, who bore the sins of humanity and “reconciled to himself all things, whether in heaven or on earth, making…
Hymn Guide: O Sacred Head
“O Sacred Head” is a deeply moving devotional hymn about the Passion of Christ. It explores and celebrates the paradox that Jesus’ suffering is both ugly, in its external form, and also beautiful, in its salvific love. The hymn is most fitting to be sung during Lent, Holy Week, the Stations of the Cross, alongside funerals,…
10 Ways to Preach on Maundy Thursday
What is Maundy Thursday? The liturgy for Maundy Thursday begins a three-day observance of the most holy events in the Christian Liturgical calendar. Known as the Triduum, the service of Maundy Thursday, followed by Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and the Easter Vigil, cover a four-day/three-night journey into the heart of the Christian Gospel. The name…
The Spring Training of Lent
Springtime brings about two of the greatest events that humanity gets to celebrate. The first, of course, is the Passion, Crucifixion, and Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. No other event, save perhaps his Incarnation, has such significance for all of humanity. This event we celebrate each Spring restores order as God has…
The Liturgical Home: Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, the holiest week of the liturgical year. During Holy Week, we walk with Jesus through his final days before his crucifixion. The tone of this week begins with joy as we remember his triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Like the people in the Bible, we wave palm branches…
10 Ways to Preach the Palm Sunday Sermon
In David Roseberry’s ongoing series of posts on 10 Ways to Preach, we come to Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week. Palm Sunday features a diverse mix of stories and traditions, encompassing the events from the Lord’s triumphal entry to his burial in a tomb. For that reason, it is challenging to determine what…
Good Friday: A Rookie Anglican Guide
Good Friday is the most somber day of the Christian year. On this day, we remember the death of Jesus on the cross. Good Friday? Why do we call the day “Good Friday?” The etymology of Good Friday goes back to Middle English, where “good” had the sense of “holy.” At the time, other days…
The History of the Holy Week Collects
In this post we outline the history of the Holy Week Collects, which are found on pages 607-609 of the Book of Common Prayer 2019. In researching this topic, we drew especially from commentaries by Massey Hamilton Shepherd, Jr., Marion J. Hatchett, and C. Frederick Barbee and Paul F. M. Zahl. What is a collect? A collect is…
When God Seems Silent: A Good Friday Reflection
In Shusaku Endo’s famous novel Silence, two Portuguese priests are sent as missionaries to Japan. The year is 1637, and the Japanese church is struggling under the weight of religious persecution. These priests want to encourage the fledgling flock, so they give their lives to a dangerous voyage and the possibility of martyrdom. When they…
How Holy Week Hooked Me
A few years ago, leading up to Holy Week, I was about 50/50 on becoming an Anglican. I saw some things I liked, I didn’t understand a handful of other aspects, and I wrestled with leaving a tradition that raised me. And then Holy Week got me. It was all over from there. Now, I…
