The Three Days and Early Eastertide @ Trinity
Maundy Thursday, April 2
7:30pm – Service of Holy Communion/Stripping of the Altar
Our Maundy Thursday Service includes a celebration of the Institution of the Eucharist, the reception of First Holy Communion, a beautiful motet, and the dramatic stripping of the altar.
On Maundy Thursday, our Lenten observance comes to an end, and we gather with Christians around the world to celebrate the Three Days of Jesus’ death and resurrection. We remember Christ’s last meal with his disciples, but the central focus is his commandment that we live out the promise embodied in this meal. As Jesus washed his disciples’ feet, so we are called to give and receive love in humble service to one another. Formed into a new body in Christ through this holy meal, we are transformed by the mercy we have received and carry it into the world. Departing worship in solemn silence, we anticipate the coming days.
Please follow this link for the livestream bulletin for the Maundy Thursday Service.
Good Friday, April 3
7:30pm – Good Friday Service
We return to the service of Tenebrae, as observed here for decades. This service includes mournful music by handbells and choir, poetry, and the church cast in increasing darkness.
Life and death stand side by side as we enter into Good Friday. In John’s Passion account, Jesus reveals the power and glory of God, even as he is put on trial and sentenced to death. Standing with the disciples at the foot of the cross, we pray for the whole world in the ancient bidding prayer, as Christ’s death offers life to all. We gather in solemn devotion, but always with the promise that the tree around which we assemble is indeed a tree of life. We depart silently, and we anticipate the culmination of the Three Days on Easter Sunday.
Follow this link for the livestream bulletin for the Good Friday Service.
Easter Sunday, April 5
6:30am – Early Easter Service/Blessing of the New Fire/Holy Communion
7:30 – 9am – Easter Breakfast – The Men of Trinity host our annual Easter Breakfast.
9:30am – Festival Easter Sunday Service -This joyful service will include special music by the Handbell and Festival Choirs, and will be livestreamed.
This is the day the Lord has made! Christ is risen, and through him all creation is made new! Indeed, “God shows no partiality” (Acts 10:34): Christ’s resurrection truly brings life to everyone. We sing hymns of praise, gather around sacred words, and proclaim God’s faithfulness, power, and love in the feast of holy communion. With the women at the tomb, we are astonished, elated, and grateful. We depart with joy to proclaim the good news of God’s endless love.
Follow this link for the livestream bulletin for the Easter Sunday 9:30am Festival Service.
*Please bring a bell to ring during key parts of the Easter Sunday liturgies.
Sunday, April 12 – The Second Sunday of Easter
In Sunday’s gospel the risen Christ appears to the disciples and offers them the gift of peace. Even amid doubts and questions, we experience the resurrection in our Sunday gathering around word and meal, and in our everyday lives. Throughout the coming Sundays of Easter the first two readings will be from the Acts of the Apostles and the first letter of Peter. Even as the early Christians proclaimed the resurrection, we rejoice in the new birth and living hope we receive in baptism.
8am – Service of Holy Communion
9am – Fellowship Time
9:15am – Sunday School for All Ages
10:30am – Service of Holy Communion
Follow this link for the livestream bulletin for Sunday, April 12.
Our Spring Penny Party will be held on April 17 at 7pm, with doors opening at 5. Donations of baked goods are needed and we will begin collecting nonperishable food items and raffle prizes starting this Sunday, March 22.
Young at Heart: On Tuesday, April 21, Detective Antonucci from the Colonial Regional Police Department will speak to us about how to protect ourselves from scams and fraud. We will meet at noon and order pizza from Pizza Joe’s. If you are interested in attending this presentation, please sign up on the bulletin board. A sign-up is available for our annual outing to the Iron Pigs, which will take place on Sunday, July 12. The gates open at 12pm, food starts at 1pm (and runs to 3:30), the game starts at 1:30. We’ll be on the Party Porch. The cost of the tickets will be $40 which includes the game, food, and drinks. Please sign up by June 7. Checks may be made available to Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church. Thank you!
Annual Rummage Sale Dates and Times
Friday, May 1: 12pm – 7pm
Saturday, May 2: 8am -1pm (A $5.00 bag sale begins at 8am)
Donations
We will collect items from April 18 through April 27. Please note that we cannot accept electronics, furniture, or knives of any kind. We are also looking for hangers and clothes racks to borrow. Additionally, baked goods are needed for the bake sale.
Volunteers Needed
April 27, 28, and 29: Unpacking, organizing, and pricing
May 1: Cashiers, packers, and table reorganization
May 2: Cleanup
Please see Kathy Sigley if you can help.
Thank You: Holy Week is off to a powerful start. Many thanks to all those working so hard to bring the story of our salvation to life! Thanks are also due to those who brought items for our Social Ministry Committee’s collection of non-perishable food items for the Second Harvest Food Bank. Roxanne Achenbach (a new member who has really hit the ground running), shared this photo of the items she dropped off at the food bank, totaling 156 lbs. of food! Many thanks to Roxanne and to all our donors!
All of the rest of this week’s announcements can be found in our Weekly Email. Please follow this link for the most recent message and an archive of past installments. The Weekly is published on Thursdays, by noon.
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