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Dear friend,
Next week is Holy Week. What is Holy Week and what does each day signify?
Holy Week is the final week of Lent and the lead-up to Easter. It tells the story of Jesus’ last days, from his arrival in Jerusalem to his death and resurrection. For many Christians, it’s a time to reflect on what Jesus’ life and message meant—especially his love for the outcast, his challenge to injustice, and his willingness to walk with those who suffer. Here’s an overview of each of the days of holy week:
Palm Sunday kicks off Holy Week. We’ll celebrate Palm Sunday in Worship on April 13. It remembers the day Jesus entered Jerusalem and people greeted him like a hero, waving palm branches and shouting “Hosanna,” a word that means “save us.” It’s a moment of joy—but also irony. The same crowd celebrating him would later turn away. For us, Palm Sunday asks: what kind of leader are we really looking for? And what happens when love challenges power?
Monday–Wednesday are the quieter days of Holy Week. In the biblical story, Jesus spent time teaching and stirring up the religious authorities. What injustices still go unchallenged today? How can we live with more compassion and courage?
Maundy Thursday, “Maundy” comes from a Latin word meaning “command.” On this night, Jesus gave a new command: love one another as I have loved you. It’s also the night of the Last Supper, where Jesus shared bread and wine with his friends and washed their feet like a servant. This day reminds us that love is more than just a feeling—it’s something we do. It’s serving, sharing, and showing up. We’ll have a special evening service on April 17 at 6 PM for Maundy Thursday.
Good Friday is the day Jesus was executed by the state—killed on a cross as a political and religious threat. It’s a heavy day, but an honest one. We call it “good” not because of what happened, but because Jesus stayed true to love, even in death. It’s a day to sit with grief, to name suffering, and to hold space for a broken world. We will have a meditation on Zoom at noon on April 18. Join the Zoom call: www.allendaleumc.org/goodfriday.
Holy Saturday, Jesus lay in the tomb. It’s the space between death and resurrection—when nothing seems to be happening, but everything is shifting. Holy Saturday holds space for doubt, waiting, and not knowing. It’s for anyone who has ever sat in a liminal silence wondering if hope will come.
Easter Sunday is the day Christians believe Jesus rose from the dead. But Easter isn’t just about one person’s miracle—it’s a declaration that love is stronger than hate, that life can rise from death, and that injustice never gets the final word. Easter is for everyone who needs a fresh start or a reason to keep going. We celebrate Easter on April 20 with a sunrise service at Crescent Lake Park at 6:45 AM. We’ll then have an Easter service at 10:30 AM with our Easter Choir singing.
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