What is Holy Week

During the first centuries of Christianity, many people would journey to the Holy Land to visit the places where Jesus lived. Often they would visit during Easter. It was the ancient custom in Jerusalem to reenact the last week of Jesus’ life before his crucifixion. They re-lived his triumphant entry into the city on Palm Sunday. Later that week, they would reenact the story of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet and the institution of the Lord’s Supper on Thursday, his crucifixion on Friday, and of course his resurrection on Sunday.

Having returned to their homes from the Holy Land, the pilgrims brought back these experiences to their own towns. Soon, Christians throughout the world were doing the same as Christians in Jerusalem during Holy Week: they relived the last days of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.

The story of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection is central to Christian faith. It is the story through which Christians interpret all of reality. In Holy Week, we re-live and reenact that story so that we ourselves might become participants. We become the palm-waving people who welcome Jesus as our Messiah into Jerusalem. We become the crowd that screams “Crucify Him!” On Friday, we sit at the cross and marvel at its meaning. At the Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday services, we too become witnesses of the resurrection of Christ.

We invite you to join us as we relive the greatest story ever told.