Holy Week Schedule – St John's Lutheran Church of Napa CA

Holy Week at St. John’s

Holy week commemorates the culminating week in the life of Jesus, and the events at the heart of the salvation which is ours through Jesus.

Palm Sunday (April 13). On this day, we commemorate Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, riding on a donkey to shouts of “Hosanna” from the crowd waving palm branches. This is a welcome for a king coming in peace, and points ahead to the mission He was bringing to fulfilment that week. We will begin our Palm Sunday service in the Faith Chapel (weather permitting) and process into the sanctuary with palm branches, praising Jesus. The service will include the Choraliers singing and the dramatic narrative reading of the passion account.
Maundy Thursday (April 17) is a commemoration of Jesus’ “Last Supper.” At this meal, He transformed the Passover meal into a sharing of Himself in bread and wine as His body and blood. At our Maundy Thursday worship (7:00 PM), we will also be celebrating the First Communion of those who have been preparing to be welcomed to the Lord’s Supper.
Good Friday (April 18) marks the day that Jesus was crucified. Our evening service (7:00 PM) is a Tenebrae Service. This is an ancient and beautiful service of gradually darkening the sanctuary as we read of account of the crucifixion and sing hymns and songs in response, ending with the sanctuary in darkness.
Easter Vigil (April 19) is the first celebration of the resurrection and serves as a counterpart to the Good Friday Tenebrae. We process into a darkened sanctuary with candles, and as we meditate on history of God’s saving activity as the sanctuary is gradually lightened. This service begins at 8:00 PM.

On Easter Sunday (April 20), we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus with two opportunities to worship. The 8:30 service in the sanctuary is led with traditional hymns and the choir. The 10:30 service in the Faith Chapel (weather permitting) is led by the worship band. Our Easter morning also includes an egg hunt and an Easter Breakfast in the gym (9:00 – 10:30).