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

[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.