Tonight is one of the most special nights of the year at Holy Innocents!

That same sentence could be said of EACH of these three nights, and I genuinely hope that you can be at all three. MANY of us will be, and if that is what you are able to choose, I know you won’t regret it.

• Tonight – Maundy Thursday

Our Maundy Thursday meal together is a very intimate time for Holy Innocents parishioner and a night that lots of us identify as THE night when we felt we really became a member.

We start with a pot luck (and not to worry, as always at Holy Innocents, no need to bring anything – there’s always more than enough!) followed by a time of talking together for about an hour about the past year in our lives. Personal stories of what has happened, how God is moving, where people are headed … and we conclude our meal together by making Eucharist together … A Great Thanksgiving for all God has done in our lives and in our community. All children are welcome and welcome to participate. We especially invite our Rite 13 kids to be a part of this meal and of the sharing of the stories of their lives!

As I mentioned above, this is a great night for newcomers to come and be a part of this special evening.

We begin our meal at 6:30 and the sharing begins around 7:15.

• Friday night – Good Friday

Each year Bill Keck and Sr. Jean organize an evening of reflection and contemplation on the cross involving readings, music and various stations for meditation in the darkened nave. This year it seems it will be even more moving as our readings are personal stories of members of our own congregation about times of darkness and shadow in their lives.

As always each of these times of sharing will be framed by a musical selection by a member of the choir.

This service begins at 7:30 and concludes around 9:00

• Saturday night – The Great Vigil of Easter

In Christian tradition the Great Vigil is the “feast of feasts,” the major festival of the Christian year in which we celebrate the light of Christ illuminating the darkness of our hearts and of our world. It includes the celebration of Holy Baptism and the first Eucharist of Easter. Thank you for joining us in thanksgiving for the gift of new life in Christ.

This year, our celebration is particularly special, as it brings together four congregations from the South of Market Area: St. Aidan’s, Holy Innocents’, El Buen Samaritano, and St. John the Evangelist. This joint celebration recognizes our unity in life and work, and expresses the rich gifts of our diverse communities. Tonight is a sign that we can do so much more together than we could ever do alone.

A particularly exciting piece for Holy Innocents is that Constance Williams (Lois’ daughter) is being baptized at the Great Vigil.

This service will be at St. John’s at 15th and Julian and begins at 7:30 and concludes with a FEAST. People from Holy Innocents are asked to bring a salad or a side dish! If you want to carpool to the service to avoid any issues with parking, or to have someone park your car for you when you arrive, please email jdavey3@gmail.com. There is public attended parking on Hoff Street about a block from St. Johns.

Each of these services is very meaningful and adds in its own way to the joy of Easter. I hope you can join us and I am looking forward to seeing you at as many of these services as you are able to attend!

Blessed Holy Week!

Rosa Lee+