Holy Week at St. Barnabas

Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday and continues throughout the week preceding Easter. Over the course of the week, we recount the final events of Jesus’ life, his passion, and his death, leading up to our celebration of his Resurrection and victory over death. Many services will be streamed on Facebook Live to include those who prefer to worship from home. Visit facebook.com/stbarnabasbv


Palm Sunday
March 24

10:00 am - The Holy Eucharist with the Liturgy of the Palms
In Person and on Facebook Live
The Palm Sunday liturgy begins in Parkside Hall with the blessing of palms. We remember the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, during which the crowd waved palms and sang Hosannas as Our Lord passed by. We join the celebration as we process into the church joyfully singing “All glory, laud, and honor.” Our acceptance of the palms on Palm Sunday commits us to walking with Christ on the journey to the cross, and ultimately to resurrection.

In place of our typical gospel reading, roles are assigned to a number of readers who present the passion narrative, recalling Jesus’ final hours and passion. This is why the Book of Common Prayer calls this day “The Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday.”


Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of Holy Week
March 25, 26, 27

7:00 pm - Evening Prayer (Monday, Tuesday, & Wednesday)
In Person and on Facebook Live
Evening Prayer is offered and during these quiet liturgies the faithful gather to hear gospel lessons from the final days of Jesus’ life. No music is offered at these services.

9:00 pm - Compline (Tuesday)
Facebook Live only
Our regularly scheduled service of Compline is livestreamed on Tuesday night. Click here for more information about Compline.

9:00 am - Morning Prayer (Wednesday)
In Person only
Our regularly scheduled Morning Prayer is offered on Wednesday. We sometimes call Wednesday in Holy Week “Spy Wednesday” because the assigned gospel lesson recounts Judas Iscariot sneaking off into the night to betray Jesus.


Maundy Thursday
March 28

7:00 pm - The Holy Eucharist with Foot Washing and Stripping of the Altar
In Person and on Facebook Live
Maundy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper. During the meal, Jesus washed the feet of his disciples and so a hallmark of our liturgy is washing one another’s feet. This is a holy and humbling act. The word Maundy comes from the Latin mandatum, meaning “mandate” or “commandment” because after washing their feet, Jesus said to his disciples, “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.”

At this liturgy, we also commemorate the institution of the Eucharist because it was at the Last Supper when Jesus took bread and wine, declared it to be his Body and Blood, and gave us another commandment: that we eat and drink it in remembrance of him.

Following the distribution of communion, the remaining Sacrament is moved to the Altar of Repose, where it is reserved and the congregation keeps vigil overnight.

Remembering Jesus’ betrayal, arrest, and the fact that he was stripped of his clothing, the altar and entire chancel of the church are stripped of all adornment and embellishment. The lights are gradually dimmed and the altar is ceremonially washed, remembering the preparation of Jesus’ body for burial. The congregation departs in darkness and silence.

There is no dismissal because Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday make up the Paschal Triduum and comprise one, ongoing liturgy spread over three days.

9:00 pm - Compline
In Person and on Facebook Live
Following the Maundy Thursday liturgy, the church will remain open for private prayer. Our regularly scheduled service of Compline will be livestreamed from the Altar of Repose at 9:00 pm. Any who remain at the church are welcome to join Compline in person.

Overnight Vigil at the Altar of Repose
In Person Only
The Altar of Repose is surrounded by plants and filled with candlelight to resemble a garden, remembering the agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. Parishioners sign up to keep vigil at the Altar of Repose throughout the night to pray in the Presence of the Blessed Sacrament. It was there, in the garden, that Jesus implored his disciples to stay awake and keep watch while he prayed through the night. And it was there, in the garden, that Jesus was betrayed by Judas Iscariot, arrested, and handed over to the authorities. Vigil is kept until Stations of the Cross on Good Friday.


Good Friday
March 29

Throughout Good Friday, the stripped altar and church remain stark and bare.

12:00 pm - Stations of the Cross
In Person Only
During the noon Stations of the Cross, the congregation moves around the church to the fourteen stations hung on the walls. Each station commemorates an event in the final hours of the life of Christ, beginning with “Jesus is condemned to die” and concluding with “Jesus is laid in the tomb.” A brief litany of prayers and petitions are offered at each station.

7:00 pm - Solemn Liturgy of Good Friday
In Person and on Facebook Live
This liturgy is marked by significant periods of prayerful silence. The Passion according to John is presented as we remember the crucifixion and death of Our Lord. The Solemn Collects follow, during which we offer petitions for the whole state of Christ’s Church and the world. Good Friday is the one day during the year on which bread and wine may not be consecrated. Therefore, the Sacrament consecrated on Maundy Thursday and reserved at the Altar of Repose is brought into the church and distributed to the gathered faithful. Whatever Sacrament that remains is consumed and this marks the only point throughout the entire year that the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist is not reserved in the church. Again, this service concludes without a dismissal as it is part of the Triduum and a continuation of the liturgy begun on Maundy Thursday.


Holy Saturday
March 30

10:00 am - Holy Saturday Liturgy
On Facebook Live Only
This brief service of prayer commemorates the time of waiting between the death of Christ on Good Friday and his resurrection on Easter Sunday when he descended to the dead. The service is streamed on Facebook Live and is offered from our Columbarium, surrounded by the earthly remains of our faithful departed who will be raised on the last day.

11:00 am - Holy Week: Kids Edition
In Person Only
This interactive experience gives children an introduction to Jesus' final days, from the entrance into Jerusalem through the resurrection, in about 30 minutes - no prior Sunday School knowledge is required to follow along. Children will wave palms as Jesus enters Jerusalem, have their feet washed as part of the Last Supper, explore the empty tomb, and more.

All ages of children (and their families) are welcome to join.

8:00 pm - The Great Vigil of Easter at Trinity Cathedral (2230 Euclid Ave, Cleveland)
In Person and on Facebook Live via Trinity Cathedral’s Facebook Page
The Great Vigil of Easter concludes the Triduum and is the principle liturgy of the entire liturgical year. The service begins as we kindle new fire. A new paschal candle is blessed and lit from the new fire. The paschal candle—representing the Light of Christ—is carried down the aisle in the darkened church. Vigil candles are lit from the new fire and fill the otherwise dark church with warm candlelight. A cantor chants the Exultet (from the Latin word for “rejoice”), a beautifully haunting hymn dating from the fourth century that gives thanks to God for this night on which we are led from darkness into light, from death into life. In the darkness, a series of readings recall the history of salvation: Creation, the Flood, Israel’s Deliverance at the Red Sea, and others.

The Great Vigil is an ideal time for baptisms and the congregation always renews their own baptismal vows. The Asperges (sprinkling) spreads the waters of baptism across the gathered faithful as each person remembers their own baptism. The climax of the liturgy is the first “Alleluia” of the Easter season, when the celebrant declares: “Alleluia! Christ is risen!” The darkened church is suddenly flooded with light, the organ roars, and a Gloria is sung to give thanks to God for the Resurrection of Our Lord. The service joyfully continues with readings recalling Christ’s victory over death. Finally, bread and wine are blessed and the congregation shares the first Holy Eucharist of the Easter season. The service ends with a dismissal as the Great Vigil concludes the Triduum.


Easter Day
March 31

10:00 am - The Holy Eucharist
In Person and on Facebook Live
St. Barnabas’ celebration of the Resurrection continues with a normal Sunday Eucharist on Easter Day. The congregation gathers to hear the sacred story, sing familiar hymns, baptize new Christians, and joyfully conclude the Lenten fast. Incense is used on Easter Day. It is an ancient practice symbolizing purification, the prayers of the faithful rising to heaven, and the special solemnity of the occasion.


Our celebration of Easter lasts 50 days – from the Great Vigil of Easter until the Feast of Pentecost.