Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Your Guide to Holy Week and Easter

Lent is coming to a close. Holy Week is here and we will begin the final journey with Jesus to the Cross. We are thankful to all those who have dedicated there time and energy throughout the weeks of Lent to provide opportunity for us to study and reflect, work and worship and devote ourselves to growing deeper and stronger as a family of Christ.


You will find listed here all of the services of Holy Week and Easter. 
Purple italicized text indicates help is requested! 

The Sunday of the Passion
(Palm Sunday)
Sunday, March 29, 2015
8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m. Traditional and Harmony Services will begin together in the Curry Garden and each will be led to the Sanctuary and Parish Hall by crusifer and hand bell accompaniment.
6:00 p.m. Service will be held in the Chapel.

Monday in Holy Week
Monday, March 30, 2015
Holy Eucharist in the Chapel
7:00 p.m.

Tuesday in Holy Week
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Holy Eucharist in the Chapel
Acoustical accompaniment
7:00 p.m.

Wednesday in Holy Week
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Choral Tenebrae in the Sanctuary
7:00 p.m.
This ancient service of light, shadows and darkness will include chanted psalms, choral responsaries and scripture as God's light of the world, that came to us in the Incarnation, is slowly hidden from the world.  This Service will highlight the music of Canadian composer, Healey Willan.

Maundy Thursday
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Agape Meal and Holy Eucharist in the Parish Hall
6:00 p.m.
Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Vigil are three episodes in the Holy Triduum by which we die and rise to new life in Christ.  You are invited to share in the first part of this continuous service beginning with a meal, which builds on the experience of early Christians who met for fellowship, to share the Lord's Supper and to worship God.
There are six food items needed for the meal. We will also be looking for assistance with set up and clean up. Please see sign up sheets in the Portico and Parish Hall or you may call the church office and speak with Pam.

The Watch
Thursday, April 2, 2015 through Friday, April 3, 2015
Begins at 8:00 p.m. at the Altar of Repose in the Chapel and ends at 7:30 a.m., Good Friday morning. There are openings beginning with the 10:00 p.m. hour through 5:00 a.m. hour. Remember we try to have 2 people signed up for each hour.

Good Friday
Friday, April 3, 2015
Good Friday Liturgy in the Sanctuary
12 noon and 7:00 p.m.

Easter Vigil, Saturday
with Baptisms in the Sanctuary
Saturday, April 4, 2015
7:00 p.m.
Through the "Service of Light", the "Service of Lessons", "Renewal of Baptismal Vows" and the first Eucharist of Easter we follow God's mighty actions in the world culminating in Christ's Resurrection. Music will include many hymns, canticles and choral works of J.S. Bach, Felice Anerio and others.

Celebration of the Day of Resurrection: Easter Day
Sunday, April 5, 2015
Festival Choral Eucharist
8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m. Sanctuary
A Festival Brass Quintet will join the choir and organ to fill the church with Alleluias. Music will include early Baroque works of Giovanni Gabrieli and Jacob Gallus, an Alleluia from the Renaissance and new music composed especially for our worship here at St. Thomas.  Preludes will start early so come and join the celebration.

Harmony Service, Parish Hall
10:00 a.m.

Additional Activities in and around the Parish

Way of the Cross Reenactment /Downtown St. Pete
Begins at The Cathedral of St. Peter at 7:30 a.m. Good Friday morning:

 The Way of the Cross
Every year, on the morning of Good Friday, our youth re-enact the Stations of the Cross throughout downtown St. Petersburg. This service has been a Cathedral tradition since 1974.

As our youth observe this centuries-old rite throughout the Cathedral's surrounding neighborhood, a large and diverse crowd of solemn observers gather and follow along.

Wearing costumes, having memorized their lines and rehearsed their parts for months, the youth lead the procession from the steps of the Cathedral to the city courthouse, down a dank and dirty alleyway, then on through Williams Park, and finally back to the Cathedral's garden, before concluding inside the Cathedral sanctuary.

At each of the traditional 14 stations, the youth recite prayers and re-enact the scene. It is an intense and moving experience.

St. Thomas Parish - wide Egg Hunt in Curry Garden

Once again this year we will hold our annual parish wide egg hunt at 9:00 a.m. Easter Sunday morning.  250 eggs will be hidden in the Curry Garden with the assistance of our youth.  Coffee with light breakfast will be served while our children scurry around in excitement searching for treasure.  Toddler to 12 years of age participate. Children over 12 can assist the younger ones in their search.
BYOB - (bring your own basket) is helpful - we will have some bags available if needed.



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