Worship
Holy Week at St. Andrew’s-in-the-Valley:
Wednesday 6 pm Tenebrae (about an hour long) – the name of this service means darkness, and it leads us through scripture readings and psalms into the darkness of lament. After each set of readings, one candle is extinguished until only one is left. That candle is then hidden, and after a loud noise, symbolizing the moment of the death of Jesus, the candle is brought back in, thus ending us in a moment of hope.
Thursday, 6 pm Maundy Thursday – this service commemorates the final evening Jesus spent with his disciples, both in his ministry of washing their feet, the work of a servant, and in the Last Supper which is what our practice of Holy Communion is based on. Attendees are invited, if they wish, to come forward to have their feet and/or their hands washed as a way of sharing that action of Jesus. At the conclusion of the service, the sanctuary is “stripped” of all decorations, and left empty and barren. Worshipers are invited to stay and keep watch for as long as they would like.
Good Friday
Friday – 12 pm Stations of the Cross – this service involves readings and prayers at 14 stations, each commemorating events that happened from the time Jesus was arrested on Good Friday and ending with him being placed in the tomb. It lasts for about half an hour and offers the opportunity to meditate on each of the hand carved depictions.
6 pm Good Friday Liturgy – This service includes the reading from John’s gospel of the passion, the story of the crucifixion. There are also special prayers, and the opportunity for the veneration of a wooden cross. There is no communion at this service, a reminder that we and the disciples are feeling bereft of the presence of Jesus.
Easter
Saturday 8:30 pm The Great Vigil of Easter – this service begins in the darkness with the lighting of the new fire, and the Paschal (Easter) candle. It is carried into the church as the sole light, while an ancient anthem, the Exsultet is sung. The first portion of the service includes stories of faith from the Old Testament, and is done with candlelight. We then move to the declaration that Christ is risen, and continue on with baptism and communion. This service is a little longer than normal, closer to an hour and a half.
Easter Sunday 8 and 10am – The Sunday of the Resurrection – we celebrate with great joy that Jesus has been raised from the dead, we will rejoice in the baptism of some of our young people and we will share in Eucharist.
Worship at St. Andrew’s is joyful and filled with praise and gratitude for God’s presence in our midst.
Most Sundays we celebrate Holy Eucharist at 8am and 10am services, sharing bread and wine to sustain us on our journey. Music is important in our worship life and we have many gifted musicians and singers who share their talents generously. We are also blessed with lectors who read Scripture with care and understanding. Occasionally, we will read Morning Prayer on a Sunday.
Following the 10 a.m. service is a time of fellowship and refreshment, which offers an opportunity to connect with others and share conversation. (On the first Sunday of the month, coffee hour is at 9 am, between the two services, with an education time)
St. Andrew’s is a loving and caring community, active in the world and living out the faith that we proclaim in our worship. We hope that you will join us.
For those unable to come in person, our 10 a.m. services, (barring technological glitches) will be livestreamed on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@saintandrewsinthevalleyepi7162/streams You can also find links to previous services there.
The Rt. Rev. A. Robert Hirschfeld, Bishop of the Episcopal Church of New Hampshire