Cool Liturgies

[learnteach]

This year I made it to both Maundy Thursday and Easter Vigil mass.  It was very interesting, as I also helped set up the church between the two liturgies.

Maundy Thursday is a very eerie ceremony, done simply.   It doesn't end so much as be extinguished.  At the end of the Mass, instead of going forth with a blessing, the final choir piece was followed by a clarinet piece, then one by one the candles were snuffed out as everything was taken off the alter.  The celebrants removed all of their liturgical clothing, placed it on the altar, and as the church went dark they walked out.   We waited a bit, then followed in silence.   No lights in the church, and an absolute hush.  The service started with a dinner, where many washed each others feet.   What with the poison oak, I abstained from that.

Contrasting this is of course the Easter vigil.  It started at 5:30, in darkness, outside the church.  The moon was just setting over the church when it started, and the stars were very clear.  I was a little cold after the ride.   Candles were passed around, and after being welcomed, the old stories presaging Jesus were told--but the old, classic stories.  Genesis (and it was good).  The Flood.  The escape from Egypt (harden the heart).  The valley of dry bones.  The fire was lit, and then the Paschal candle from that, and then our candles hand to hand from that, and except for the flashlights of the people reading their cue cards occasionally, the only light was the fire and the candles.   The stories are very elemental, water and air and rock.   We then processed into the church and there were two Easter baptisms, and a renewal of vows.    Followed by an Easter breakfast; first yeasted bread in 6 weeks.   Caffiene is harder to give up.

Very nice.  I'm going to join the choir, and start singing regularly again.

Comments

[kahnegabs.livejournal.com]

Good for you! I may follow your lead. Lately I've felt so pulled, or pushed maybe, away from the church that I really am trying to reach out and get involved again. Singing is a really good way to do that, I think.

Holy Thursday mass always effects me that way too. I went to a morning mass on Easter because the incense has bothered me at the midnight services in the last couple of years. They opened the doors on this lovely day and breathing was much better because it could go right on out.

[klwilliams.livejournal.com]

That sounds beautiful. This year I didn't attend any Holy Week services, including Palm Sunday, which is very unusual for me. I've been feeling very tired.

Maundy Thursday

[dame-cordelia.livejournal.com]

After the service ends, the altar is stripped of its linens. That is the one time during the year that the altar is bare. It is traditionally washed clean at that time.

Episcopal practices didn't fall far from the Roman.

[martianfencer.livejournal.com]

Yes, they sound very similar to the (Roman) Catholic ceremonies, except that Holy Thursday ends with a big procession of the Blessed Sacrament, and people staying after and praying quietly. And our Easter Vigil Mass isn't allowed to start till after sunset, so we started at 8 PM. We ring bells during the Gloria, and usually that's when the lights come on, which I find powerful and moving, although this year we are using the parish hall while the church is being renovated, and they had the lights on low during the readings before the Gloria, which rather spoiled the effect for me.

just a minor note

[learnteach.livejournal.com]

we did start after 8 PM. This was the 5:30 AM dawn vigil.

Re: just a minor note

[(Anonymous)]

5:30 AM, now *there's* an act of devotion!

[freewaydiva.livejournal.com]

I sang Good Friday mass this year, and it was incredible. One of my favorite pieces is the Tartini Stabat Mater, which we did, and we did a few others that were equally as poignant and beautiful. The church I usually sing at is a Dominican parish, so we chanted their setting of the Passion According to St. John, too, which is pretty keen.

I only ever go to Mass if I'm singing - it's the best part, anyway. ;) I wholly endorse your joining the choir.

[shalmestere.livejournal.com]

Sounds nice :-)

I had wanted to go to Maundy Thursday service, but my neighborhood church decided to combine the eucharist with a seder, which felt a little too crunchy-New Agey for my tastes :-/

[mamapduck.livejournal.com]

My home church ends Holy Thursday by draping the cross in black (also done in silence) and everyone drifting out quietly.

I did Holy week solitary this year as an experiment. I don't think I quite like it, although Crown did offer both a labrynth on Saturday and a reading of the appropriate scriptures (to which no one but me actually came but it was nice anyway) on Sunday morning.

I am trying to acquire PPF tickets for myself, Flieg and Her New Royal Eilisness. Can you help?

[misagillian.livejournal.com]

I would have come to your reading on Sunday - I thought it was a great idea, but I actually drove home on Saturday night because I was singing at church on Sunday. :) I had wondered whether the labyrinth was like one we have at church but had thought it must be something else.

[mamapduck.livejournal.com]

Nope, that's what it was- portable and on canvas, but rather nice. :)

We had a labrynth too...

[learnteach.livejournal.com]

I helped set it up, but didn't walk it this year. I want to make one at an event sometime...

Feast! Certainly. Please mail me at john r schmidt (at) yahoo (dot) com removing spaces and replacing (symbols). Flieg and Eilis will be seated at High table.