Today we enter into the three most solemn and sacred days of the Christian year, called the Triduum (“Three Days”). Jesus walks with us, showing us the way. Now, let’s stay especially close to him—watching attentively, learning deeply, being transformed together by true love.
All are welcome for our remaining Holy Week and Easter services! Tonight, April 18, is our bilingual Good Friday liturgy which includes Stations of the Cross and veneration of the Cross. Tomorrow night is our most important feast of the year, the Easter Vigil. There will be candlelight, hymns that we sing only at this service, and creatively presented traditional readings. Light incense will be used at this service.
Our weekly Lenten Forum series, facilitated by Seminarian Matt Haines, concludes on Sunday, April 6, at 10:15 am in the Nativity Hall. Matt is leading an exploration of Episcopal saints from twentieth-century America whose faith caused them to radically live out the Baptismal Covenant.
This week’s offertory anthems are Mary-centric, as Sunday’s gospel describes Mary anointing Jesus’ feet with perfume. At 9:00 am, the St. Michael’s Singers offer an arrangement of the spiritual “O Mary, Don’t You Weep” with soloists Palmer and Beth.
Through a generous grant from our Outreach & Justice Council, St. Michael’s is sponsoring Advocacy Day on April 7. This will be a day of building community, sharing our stories and advocating for values-based legislation in Salem through group meetings with our legislators.
Upcoming music for Holy Week includes a wide variety of choral repertoire from the English Renaissance to the 21st century. You’ll hear selections by English composers William Byrd (c. 1540-1623) and Henry Purcell (1659-1695) as well as anthems by Canadian composer Stephanie Martin (b. 1962) and American legend Alice Parker (1925-2023), and lots more in between!
The cherry blossoms have peaked right on time! This coming Sunday is traditionally known as “Laetare Sunday” in the season of Lent. That Latin word means something like “rejoice.” Rose or pink are the colors associated with Laetare Sunday. This fourth Sunday is meant to be something of a respite from the austerity and deprivation of the Lenten season; because even in the darkest of times, we need to fan the embers of joy and hope. It’s a way to keep going: reminding one another that light and life are possible. I look forward to sharing Laetare Sunday with you!
Sunday Services
7:30 – Rite I Traditional language with no music.
9:00 – Rite II Holy Eucharist with choir
11:00 – Inclusive language with choir
1:00 pm – Misa en Español
© 2023 St. Michael & All Angels
