Holy Week & Easter 2025
All of our in-person Holy Week services will also be live streamed here. All offerings made at the liturgies below, will go to supporting Ahli Hospital in Gaza (in partnership with the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem and the Palestine Red Crescent Society).
Palm Sunday - Sunday, April 13
8am, 10:30am, and 5pm Masses
Palm Sunday begins with the re-enactment of the triumphal entry into Jerusalem with people carrying palms in procession, something we at St. Paul’s do by processing from the parish hall to the church together at our 10:30am morning mass. This celebrative time quickly gives way to a reader’s theater enactment of the Passion Gospel and a Eucharist that ends with silence as people begin their Holy Week experience. Only the 10:30am liturgy will be live-streamed.
Holy Wednesday - Thursday, April 16
Stations of the Cross at 6:30pm
This year we have a new Holy Week service. On Wednesday, April 16th, we will have an adapted version of Stations of the Cross, using art. There will be twelve stations depicting the passion, each one featuring a reading about the injustice experienced by First Nations people around the world, a Gospel reading, and a prayer. We will sing the Taizé chant, “Stay with Me” (familiar to 5pm mass attendees) as we move from station to station, and as we leave. A purple pillar candle will be extinguished at each station, and we will carry the lit candle from the last station with us as we proceed to the exit for a blessing (adapted from Tenebrae), and depart in silence.
Maundy Thursday - Thursday, April 17
Agape Meal at 6:30pm & Mass at 7:30pm
We will begin the evening with a vegan meal shared together in the Parish Hall. Parishioners then gather in the Church for readings, a foot washing, and Communion followed by the stripping of the altar and Chancel area. The liturgy will be followed by an all-night live-streamed vigil.
Good Friday - Friday, April 18
Liturgies at 12:00pm (spoken) and 7:00pm (with music)
Good Friday includes readings and a sermon, the Veneration of a large wooden cross, and Communion from the Reserved Sacrament.
Holy Saturday - Saturday, April 19
Liturgy at 9:00am
With Easter Vigil and Second Mass of Easter rehearsals to follow.
Easter Day - Sunday, April 20
Easter Vigil at 5am & Second Mass of Easter at 10:30am
The Great Easter Vigil and the Second Mass of Easter are the crown of the Christian year, with Holy Baptisms at both liturgies.
The 5am liturgy begins in the dark with the lighting of the new fire, the procession of the new Paschal Candle and the chanting of the Exsultet, the hymn of victory of life over death. Upon hearing the first Alleluia of Easter, we ring bells, bring the lights up and sing the Gloria in excelsis in response. All are invited to bring bells to ring at either liturgy. The Vigil is followed by a breakfast in the parish hall.
At the Second Mass of Easter, Godly Play will be offered for children, with drop-off as early as 9:30am.