06. Holy Week

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VERSION: 2 April 2002

HOLY WEEK

CONTENTS

GENERAL

      This document

      What is Holy Week?

HOLY WEEK CELEBRATIONS

The origin and purpose of Holy Week

Holy Week observance in multi-point parishes

The character of Holy Week in the Revised Common Lectionary

The days of Holy Week

The 'Three days to Easter' services in Church Rites

Holy Saturday

Use of silence in the liturgy

LITURGY

Opening

Sentence

Kneeling

Introduction to the confession of sins

Holy Week penitential response

Lord, have mercy

Hymn of adoration

Verse

Using an acclamation with the Verse

Responses before and after the gospel

Holy Week responses

Offertory

Prayer of the church

Litany

Seasonal preface

Eucharistic prayer

Acclamation after the words of institution

Communion invitation

Prayer after communion

Seasonal blessing

HYMNS AND SONGS

Sources

LHS hymns and songs for Holy Week

'All Together' songs suitable for Holy Week

Together in Song hymns/songs suitable for Holy Week

Taize songs suitable for Holy Week

Iona songs suitable for Holy Week

Lord, have mercy

Litany

Offertory

Canticles

MUSIC

VISUAL ARTS

General

Colours

Vestments

Flowers

Decoration for Holy Week

Symbols for Holy Week

Concordia Commentary 'icons'

DRAMA

CHILDREN

General

Cross and objects of the Passion

OTHER MATERIAL

Stations of the cross

Tenebrae

HOLY WEEK

Here are some general suggestions for the season of Holy Week (covering the Sunday of the Passion (Palm Sunday) to the Saturday before Easter Sunday (not including the Easter vigil)). Material specific to each day of Holy Week is given in the documents for those days (in the folders 'Lent to Trinity' for each year).

GENERAL

THIS DOCUMENT

Please see the general worship guidelines and ideas given in the document 'General notes and resources' in this folder. This Holy Week document supplements that document, containing additional suggestions for Holy Week as a whole. Material specific to each day is given in the documents for those days.

WHAT IS HOLY WEEK?

The climax of Lent is Holy Week. This week is an intensive time of remembering and meditating on our Lord's suffering and death and what it means for us. The week begins on Passion Sunday, after the Palm procession, and ends before Easter, on Holy Saturday, prior to the Easter vigil.

HOLY WEEK CELEBRATIONS

THE ORIGIN AND PURPOSE OF HOLY WEEK

Until the late fourth century, the Christian church celebrated the death and resurrection of Christ over a single 24 hour period. The one continuous celebration began after sunset on the Saturday before Easter day with a vigil of readings, prayers and psalms. This led into the celebration of baptisms during the night, and the Easter eucharist at dawn on Easter day. This liturgy celebrated the deliverance of Israel from Egypt through the Red Sea as a symbol of the death and resurrection of Christ.

The development of a 'holy week' at the end of the fourth century (followed later by the emergence of the Christmas cycle at the end of the sixth century) marked an significant shift in the nature of Christian liturgy. For the first time the idea of 'liturgical realism' appeared, that is, a way of worshipping which sought to involve the worshipper in the events of the life of Christ.

At the end of the fourth century, the pilgrim Egeria was the first person to record descriptions of the celebrations which were held in and around Jerusalem during the week before Easter. Many Christians like her were taking the opportunity afforded by the end of persecution to travel to Jerusalem in order to worship at the sites where the events of the passion narratives took place. It was at these shrines that the ceremonies of Palm Sunday and Good Friday (among others) were developed. When the pilgrims returned home, they enthusiastically imported these dramatic ceremonies into the liturgies of their local churches. Before long, Holy Week had become a universal celebration in the Christian church.

During the late middle ages, the celebration of the Passion was lengthened to a two week period, beginning on the Fifth Sunday in Lent. At the same time, the ceremonies of Holy Week had deteriorated considerably, and their meaning had become unclear. The churches of the Reformation largely abandoned the celebration of Holy Week, although the Lutheran church retained many marks of the ancient liturgies, including the days of Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday, with their propers, and in some cases (eg use of palms on Palm Sunday) the ceremonies as well.

During the 20th century, the liturgical renewal movement encouraged an almost universal return, in both Protestant and Catholic churches, to the celebration of Holy Week according to the simple and clear practices of the fifth century church. The Passion season has returned to its original Holy Week focus, and the celebration of the 'Triduum', the three-day service of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil, has been revived.

Today, the celebration of Holy Week enables the Christian congregation to 'walk the way of the cross' with Jesus in a way that is both dramatic and devotional. In general, the celebration of Holy Week involves four main events:

These notes will cover the first three events, including notes on the other days of the week, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and the Saturday of Holy Week. Notes relating to Easter (including the vigil) and the celebration of the resurrection will be found in the document 'Easter season' in this folder.

HOLY WEEK OBSERVANCE IN MULTI-POINT PARISHES

The celebration of Holy Week has always posed difficulties for parishes that have more than one congregation. The major difficulty comes with the understanding that the services of Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter form one united celebration, each focusing on a particular event of Holy Week. It is clearly desirable that each congregation celebrates all four occasions, yet the pastor cannot be everywhere at once. There is a need therefore to adapt the rites to situations where a pastor cannot be present. These notes will offer suggestions as to how this may be done in connection with each service.

THE CHARACTER OF HOLY WEEK IN THE REVISED COMMON LECTIONARY

In Australia, partly due to the inherited piety of our Lutheran forebears, it has become customary to celebrate to some extent the Passion throughout the season of Lent. The old one-year lectionary encouraged this by inserting a 'pre-Lent' season of three weeks before the beginning of Lent (the '-gesima' Sundays) and a longer two-week 'Passion' season beginning on 'Passion Sunday' (the Fifth Sunday in Lent). With the introduction of the three-year lectionary, the 'pre-Lent' period was abolished and the 'Passion' season shortened, so that it began only on the last Sunday in Lent. The Revised Common Lectionary continues this revised pattern. Readings focusing on the passion of Jesus are reserved for Holy Week. This is especially highlighted by the new emphasis on Palm Sunday as the Sunday of the Passion (see below).

THE DAYS OF HOLY WEEK

Most congregations will not observe any special services on the Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday of Holy Week. The Revised Common Lectionary, however, gives a full listing of eucharistic readings for these days, if a congregation wishes to do so. There are therefore separate documents on each of these days given in the 'Lent to Trinity' folder for each year (the same for each year).

If, however, it is not thought desirable to celebrate each of these days with the eucharist, there are still the following options available:

THE 'THREE DAYS TO EASTER' SERVICES IN CHURCH RITES

Church Rites contains three Holy Week services based on the ancient 'Triduum' (a Latin word simply meaning 'three days'). Whether or not the third service in this set of services is used (the Easter Vigil), the first two orders (for Maundy Thursday and Good Friday) should be regarded as the orders for use or adaptation on these days in the congregations of the LCA.

HOLY SATURDAY

Holy Saturday is the 'Great Sabbath' of the church. Despite the fact that full readings have been provided by the Revised Common Lectionary for Holy Saturday, the church has not traditionally conducted services on this day, except perhaps morning and evening prayer. Weddings are inappropriate (and hardly to be welcomed in the busy schedule) not only on this day, but at any time of Holy Week. Traditionally the eucharist is never celebrated on this day, except in association with the Easter vigil, which is often held on Saturday night - but by then Holy Saturday, and indeed the period of Lent, is deemed to have ended (using the ancient Jewish way of reckoning the beginning of the new day at sunset). The vigil may rightly take place at any period between sunset on Holy Saturday and sunrise on Sunday morning, although it is traditional to time the vigil eucharist to coincide with the midnight hour.

USE OF SILENCE IN THE LITURGY

Our culture does not like silence. Silence strips us bare and exposes us. In conversation and at public events we like to fill in the gaps with words or noise. In films, radio and television there is rarely silence. During Holy Week, silence in the liturgy can be used to focus attention on an action, to allow time for prayer, and to leave room for reflection on God's gifts to us in Christ. Silence can be used very effectively in the liturgy in the following places:

LITURGY

OPENING

Note that some of the major services of Holy Week have particular suggestions for opening the service. For instance, the service on the Sunday of the Passion (Palm Sunday) may begin with a palm procession. It is appropriate to omit pre-service music or greetings before the Holy Week services. The Maundy Thursday service may begin with the sermon. The Good Friday service begins in silence.

SENTENCE

A Sentence may be said or sung entirely by the minister, or it may be said or sung as a responsive verse. See the document 'General notes and resources' (under 'Sentence') in this folder for suggested general Sentences and for some suggested places in the service for using a Sentence.

Here is a suggested Sentence for Holy Week. Other Sentences are suggested in the notes for each Sunday or festival.

He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth;

and the Lord laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isa 53:7,6)

The Sentence is sung without alleluias in Holy Week.

If longer responses are desired for opening sentences, see below under 'Holy Week responses'.

KNEELING

Kneeling is particularly appropriate to the seasons of Lent and Holy Week, and so it may be worth encouraging the congregation to practise kneeling at certain points of the liturgy during this time. For more details, see the document 'General notes and resources' (under 'Kneeling') in this folder.

INTRODUCTION TO THE CONFESSION OF SINS

Precede the regular invitation to confession with these words:

EITHER

Friends in Christ:

Christ himself carried our sins in his body to the cross,

so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness.

Then continue with the regular invitation and prayer of confession.

OR

Friends in Christ:

The blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin. If we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Then continue with the regular invitation and prayer of confession.

HOLY WEEK PENITENTIAL RESPONSE

The following penitential responses were suggested for Advent, but they are equally appropriate for Holy Week - perhaps even more so. These responses do not include an absolution, and may therefore be especially appropriate for a lay reading service. However, if an absolution is especially desired, the usual absolution in the service may be used after the final prayer of the responses.

We are all born weak and helpless.

All lead the same short, troubled life.

We grow and wither

as quickly as the flowers;

we disappear like shadows.

O Lord God most holy, O Lord most mighty,

O holy and most merciful God,

have mercy on us.

In the midst of life we are in death.

To whom can we go for help,

but to you, Lord God,

though you are rightly displeased

because of our sins?

O Lord God most holy, O Lord most mighty,

O holy and most merciful God,

have mercy on us.

You know the secrets of our hearts;

mercifully hear us,

most worthy judge eternal;

keep us, at our last hour,

in the consolation of your love.

O Lord God most holy, O Lord most mighty,

O holy and most merciful God,

have mercy on us.

O Lord God, your mercies are always new:

Give us the Spirit of your dear Son;

that in the day of judgment

we may stand in your presence

as your forgiven people, despite our sins,

as your faithful people, despite our failures,

and as those who have been claimed by your Son through faith,

although we have not deserved him.

On that day may the same Christ who has redeemed our lives,

also plead our cause before your throne of grace.

In his name we pray.

Amen.

LORD, HAVE MERCY

For guidelines and variations of the 'Lord, have mercy', see the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Liturgy', 'Lord, have mercy', in this folder.

Here is a Holy Week  introduction to the 'Lord, have mercy'.

Let us call on Jesus our suffering/crucified Lord*, and ask him to help us.

[silence]

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

(or one of the other regular forms of the 'Lord, have mercy' may be used after the silence.)

* or our Lord who suffered and died for us

The following variations of the 'Lord, have mercy' may be used during Holy Week. The responses may be said or sung in English or Greek. A single or threefold response may be used. Consider using tunes for the response from the 'All Together' books (nos 11, 238, 379 and 392), Taize (vol I pages 55 to 59, vol II page 36), or Together in Song (734, 735, 736, 756, 757, 758, 759, 760).

Lord Jesus Christ, Lamb of God, hear our prayer and save us.

Lord, have mercy. OR Kyrie, eleison.

Lord Jesus Christ, Lamb of God, hear our prayer and help us.

Christ, have mercy. OR Christe, eleison.

Lord Jesus Christ, Lamb of God, hear our prayer and give us peace.

Lord, have mercy. OR Kyrie, eleison.

OR

Lord Jesus Christ, Lamb of God, hear our prayer and save us.

Lord, have mercy. OR Kyrie, eleison.

Lord Jesus Christ, bearer of our sins, hear our prayer and help us.

Christ, have mercy. OR Christe, eleison.

Lord Jesus Christ, redeemer of the world, hear our prayer and give us peace.

Lord, have mercy. OR Kyrie, eleison.

OR

Lord Jesus Christ, who suffered in our place, hear our prayer and save us.

Lord, have mercy. OR Kyrie, eleison.

Lord Jesus Christ, who died to end our death, hear our prayer and help us.

Christ, have mercy. OR Christe, eleison.

Lord Jesus Christ, who rose to bring us life, hear our prayer and give us peace.

Lord, have mercy. OR Kyrie, eleison.

OR

Jesus Christ,

have mercy on us.

Jesus, you resisted evil,

have mercy on us.

Jesus, you teach us to recognise what is evil,

have mercy on us.

Jesus, you give us strength to resist evil,

have mercy on us.

Jesus, you protect us from evil,

have mercy on us.

Jesus, you will deliver us from evil,

have mercy on us.

HYMN OF ADORATION

The hymn of adoration (either 'Glory to God in the highest' or 'This is the Feast') is omitted in services during Holy Week, so that it is not said or sung at any service. In this way, the singing of the 'Glory to God in the highest' or the alternative canticle 'This is the feast' at the Easter Vigil or the first service of Easter Sunday acts as a proclamation of the risen Christ.

The only exception to this rule is that the 'Glory to God in the highest' may be used in the service commemorating the institution of the Lord's Supper on Maundy Thursday. Opinion is divided as to whether this is appropriate or not. This may be a suitable opportunity to use one of the canticles for Holy Week, such as 'Worthy is the Lamb'. See below under 'Canticles'; see also the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Canticles', in this folder.

'This is the feast' (in the Service - Alternative Form, Supplement to  Lutheran Hymnal, p 58) is especially inappropriate for Holy Week, and should be retained for use during Easter.

VERSE

The word of praise 'alleluia' (or its Hebrew form, 'hallelujah') is not used at all during Holy Week, even on Maundy Thursday. In its place, the Common Order suggested Phil 2:8: 'Christ humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross'. More recent orders, such as the Service - Alternative Form have suggested Joel 2:13 as an alternative: 'Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love'.

Liturgical settings for these verses are given in Lutheran Hymnal with Supplement. Here are some more suggestions for settings.

Philippians 2:8

'Christ humbled himself', ATA 139, by Robin Mann

Joel 2:13

Sing the Feast, setting one, by Tim Arnold-Moore

Song 'Turn to me with all your heart', ATO 331, by John Ylvisaker

As alternatives to these common verses, the notes for each day suggest a verse which fits with the readings for the day. If these alternative verses are used, they could be read in unison by the congregation, said responsively by minister/reader and congregation, or sung in unison (see settings in the Music Packages 2 and 5).

USING AN ACCLAMATION WITH THE VERSE

The Lutheran orders of Matins and Vespers both suggest that the sung 'Alleluia!' in the opening sentences is replaced by the acclamation 'Praise to you, O Lord, King of eternal glory' during Lent. In fact, the Roman Catholic liturgy has used this acclamation with the Verse as a congregational response. There are therefore many musical settings in worship books such as Gather Australia and Taize for the Verse to be sung responsively by cantor/minister and congregation in this way (see Gather Australia nos 92, 145, 146, 147, and 148; Taize vol I page 37 and vol II page 103). If desired, therefore, the Verse can be sung as follows (eg from Monday in Holy Week).

Other acclamations, based on the acclamations before and after the reading of the gospel, are as follows.

'Glory and praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.'

'Glory to you, Word of God, Lord Jesus Christ.'

Note that Bernadette Farrell's song 'Praise to you, O Christ, our Saviour' (see Together in Song 258) may be used as an acclamation. Use one verse each Sunday or use one verse before the gospel and one verse afterwards.

RESPONSES BEFORE AND AFTER THE GOSPEL

As a seasonal variation for Holy Week services, instead of simply saying 'Glory to you, O Lord' and 'Praise to you, O Christ', the words 'Lamb of God' may be added, to give:

Glory to you, O Lord, Lamb of God.

Praise to you, O Christ, Lamb of God.

If these are usually sung, as in the Service with Communion (Lutheran Hymnal with Supplement, page 6), it is a simple change to the tune to drop the tone on the 'of' rather than on the 'O'.

HOLY WEEK RESPONSES

These responses may be used as opening sentences or after one of the readings as a response (this is especially appropriate in Matins or Vespers) or as a gradual after the second reading (as in the Service with Communion). The third set of responses are from the Lutheran Hymnal with Supplement, page 77. If responses are used as opening sentences, the 'Glory to the Father' is replaced by 'In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.'

Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they will be filled.

Blessed are the pure in heart,

for they will see God.

[Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.]

(Matt 5:3 NRSV)

Christ himself suffered for us and left us an example,

so that we would follow in his steps.

He committed no sin,

and no-one ever heard a lie come from his lips.

When he was insulted, he did not answer back with an insult;

when he suffered, he did not threaten,

but placed his hopes in God, the righteous Judge.

Christ himself carried our sins in his body to the cross,

so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness.

It is by his wounds

that we have been healed.

We were like sheep that had lost their way,

but now we have been brought back

to follow the Shepherd and Keeper of our souls.

[Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.]

(1 Pet 2:21-25  NRSV)

He was led like a lamb to the slaughter,

he was oppressed and afflicted,

yet he did not open his mouth.

He was handed over to death,

that he might give life to his people.

He has his home in Jerusalem;

he lives on Mount Zion.

He was handed over to death,

that he might give life to his people.

[Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

He was handed over to death,

that he might give life to his people.]

OFFERTORY

The use of verses from Psalm 51 'Create in me' is most appropriate for a Holy Week offertory. There are various tunes for this offertory besides the common one in the Service with Communion. See the Service - Alternative Form in the Supplement to the Lutheran Hymnal page 67 (harmony edition page 99), Sing the Feast settings one and two, All Together Everybody no. 269. See below under 'Hymns and songs', 'Offertory', for further suggestions.

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

For general guidelines and ideas, see the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Liturgy', 'Prayer of the church', in this folder.

It is generally preferable to use a well-known response such as 'Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer' to the intercessions, so that congregations can respond readily without having to look at the printed order of service or bulletin, which can be disrupting. However, if a seasonal variation is preferred, the following may be used as a response throughout Holy Week:

Have mercy on your people, Lord,

and renew us in your love.

Note that the order for Good Friday includes the full text of intercessions, known as the bidding prayer.

Reference could be made in the prayer to symbolism of the weather or geography etc of the local region, eg oppressive heat or dry countryside during the days of Holy Week.

LITANY

Instead of the prayer of the church, a litany may be used during Holy Week.

A litany is a form of prayer in which fixed responses are made by the congregation to short biddings or petitions said or sung by a minister or cantor. Although litanies of thanksgiving or adoration do exist, most litanies are by nature intercessory. The litany style of prayer originated in the Eastern liturgies, of which we have an example in the extended 'Lord, have mercy' in the Service - Alternative Form (given in the document 'General notes and resources' in this folder, under 'Liturgy', 'Lord, have mercy', in its full form from the liturgy of St John Chrysostom).

In the West, the word litania was used for public penitential responsive prayers which were sung by the congregation while walking in procession. The traditional music for the litany had a strong rhythm to accompany the walking. The use of music and procession for the litany did not survive in the churches of the Reformation, although Luther gave music for the litany when he published the Latin Liturgy, corrected in 1529.

Originally, the congregation sang the response to each prayer of the litany. The Anglican tradition altered this practice, and instead grouped the prayers together with a congregational response only after each group of prayers. The balance of the litany as a responsive intercession was thus obscured.

The text of the litany may be found in modernised form in the Lutheran Hymnal with Supplement on page 80 and on the Approved Worship Services disk or print-out. Other litanies, especially suitable for Holy Week, may be found in the 'Mid-week Lenten devotional service' documents in the 'Rites and services' folder. When praying these litanies, give thought to the following possibilities:

SEASONAL PREFACE

The seasonal preface given in the documents for the days of Holy Week is a modernised text recommended for use by the Department of Liturgics with all forms of the liturgy (originally released with the Approved Worship Services disk - now also available in hard copy). However, at this stage, these modernised prefaces have not been set to music for singing by the presiding minister.

The modernised text for Holy Week is:

It is indeed right and good,

Lord God, holy Father,

that we should at all times and in all places

give thanks to you,

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

On the tree of the cross he gave salvation to all,

so that, where death began,

there life might be restored,

and that the enemy,

who by a tree once overcame,

might by a tree be overcome.

And so, with angels and archangels,

and with all the company of heaven,

we adore and praise your glorious name:

Until music is made available for these modernised texts, those who sing the prefaces may either attempt to adapt the relevant chant to the new words, or use the original texts on pages 20 to 23 of the music edition of Supplement to Lutheran Hymnal (for the Service with Communion) or pages 101 to 103 (for the Service - Alternative Form). For convenience, the appropriate texts for Holy Week are given below.

For the Service with Communion:

It is truly fitting and right,

and for our lasting good,

that we should at all times and in all places

give thanks to you,

O Lord, holy Father,

almighty and eternal God,

through Jesus Christ our Lord;

for he has taken upon himself our sin,

that we, being dead to sin,

should live to righteousness.

Therefore with angels and archangels,

and with all the company of heaven,

we adore and magnify your glorious name,

evermore praising you and saying:

OR, for the Service - Alternative Form

It is indeed right and salutary

that we should at all times and in all places,

offer thanks and praise to you, O Lord, holy Father

through Christ our Lord;

who, on the tree of the cross gave salvation to all,

that, where death began, there life might be restored,

and that he, who by a tree once overcame,

might by a tree be overcome.

And so, with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven,

we praise your name and join their unending hymn.

OR, if the Modern Liturgy (originally from Worship Today) is used:

Who died upon the cross

to save us all from sin,

and rose from death again

to bring eternal life.

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER

One of the following Holy Week variations could be used.

A. A modified form of the prayer in the Service - Alternative Form (also in the Sing the Feast settings).

All praise and thanks be to you, eternal God, holy Father,

together with your only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,

and the Holy Spirit, who unites your people in love.

We thank you for creating all things.

We thank you for calling and rescuing your chosen people.

Above all we thank and praise you

for keeping your promise to the people of old

and sending your Son Jesus Christ.

He became obedient to the point of death,

even death on a cross.

He offered himself as the sacrifice for sin

to deliver his people

and bring us victory over evil.

And so we remember

his life, death, and resurrection for our salvation

as he comes to us in this holy meal.

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

B. A modified form of the prayer in the Modern Liturgy (originally from Worship Today).

Gracious Father,

we therefore remember the sacrifice of our Lord in celebration,

as we receive his body and blood

with this bread and wine.

We rejoice to receive all that he has done for us

in his life and death,

his resurrection and ascension.

We thank you that he became obedient to the point of death,

even death on a cross,

and that he offered himself as the sacrifice for sin

to deliver his people

and bring us victory over evil.

Fill us with your Holy Spirit,

so that we who receive the body and blood of Christ

may live as true members of the body of your Son.

Amen.

ACCLAMATION AFTER THE WORDS OF INSTITUTION

If the Service- Alternative Form is used (either with the setting on page 58 of the Supplement, or one of the settings from Sing the Feast), the acclamation 'Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again' after the words of institution may be replaced with the following alternative (taken from the canticle 'O Saviour of the world' (Salvator Mundi, cf LHS 668)). It is appropriate to use words of invitation with the acclamation such as:

Let us proclaim the mystery of faith.

Lord, by your cross and resurrection,

you have set us free.

You are the Saviour of the world.

COMMUNION INVITATION

The following invitation may be used throughout Holy Week. The congregation may respond with the words 'Thanks be to God' after the verse, before the invitation, 'Come...'.

Every time we eat this bread and drink from this cup

we proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

(Thanks be to God.)

Come, everything is ready.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

The following variation of the post-communion prayer may be used during Holy Week.

Let us pray.

Heavenly Father, as you did not spare your own Son,

but gave him up to die on the cross for us all:

Grant that we who have received

his body and blood in the sacrament

may live in him and he in us,

so that, as your children,

we may walk in your ways

and serve you all the days of our life;

through Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

OR

Heavenly Father,

strengthen us through this holy meal,

so that we may walk the way of the cross,

following in the footsteps of your Son, Jesus Christ.

For he lives and reigns

with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

SEASONAL BLESSING

Here is a seasonal blessing for Lent and Holy Week. It may be used before the usual blessing.

(May) Christ our crucified Saviour draw you to himself,

so that you may find in him the assurance of sins forgiven

and the gift of eternal life; . . . (the blessing follows)

HYMNS AND SONGS

SOURCES

The following are the main sources for suggested hymns and songs:

Lutheran Hymnal with Supplement (LHS)

The 'All Together' songbooks (AT)

Together in Song: Australian Hymn Book II (TIS)

Revised texts: Modernised 'Lutheran Hymnal' hymns (see the 'Modernised Lutheran Hymnal hymns' folder). These modernised hymns are usually indicated with an asterisk (*) and the words 'Modernised version available'.

Some new hymns/songs.

Permission is given for the new songs/hymns and new versions to be reproduced by congregations for non-commercial worship purposes (with acknowledgment).

LHS HYMNS AND SONGS FOR HOLY WEEK

All of the hymns listed in the Lutheran Hymnal under 'Passion' are suitable for use in Holy Week. Note that many of these have been modernised and the texts are in the 'Modernised Lutheran Hymnal hymns' folder. In the Supplement all of the hymns listed under Lent are suitable for Holy Week, except perhaps 756.

'ALL TOGETHER' SONGS SUITABLE FOR HOLY WEEK

The following songs in the 'All Together' books are particularly suitable for Holy Week.

TOGETHER IN SONG HYMNS/SONGS SUITABLE FOR HOLY WEEK

Section VI in Together in Song (hymns 331-358) entitled 'Jesus Christ: Passion and Cross' are suitable for Holy Week.

TAIZE SONGS SUITABLE FOR HOLY WEEK

Taize chants may be used in a separate service, or they may be used in the service with holy communion as meditative responses to readings, replacements for the equivalent section of the liturgy (eg kyries may replace the 'Lord, have mercy'), as a simple chant to be sung during communion, or as sung responses to the intercessions.

Music from Taize, volume I

Crucem tuam (esp for the Adoration of Christ on the Cross on Good Friday)

Jesus remember me (esp on Good Friday)

Mandatum novum (esp on Maundy Thursday during footwashing)

Miserere mei (Psalm 25)

Miserere nobis

Ubi caritas (esp on Maundy Thursday during footwashing)

Adoramus te, Domine I (esp for the Adoration of Christ on the Cross on Good Fri)

Domine, miserere

Gloria tibi, Domine (suitable for use as an acclamation before the gospel)

Jesu Christe, miserere

Kyrie IX (used as a prayer response, or for the 'Lord have mercy')

Libera nos Domine (a setting of the litany)

Memento nostri, Domine

Hosanna filio David (esp for the palm procession on Passsion Sunday)

Mysterium fidei

Hosanna (esp for the palm procession on Passion Sunday)

Agnus Dei (suitable for 'Lamb of God')

Per crucem (esp for the Adoration of Christ on the Cross on Good Friday)

Salvator mundi

Music from Taize, volume II

Adoramus te, Christe (esp for the Adoration of Christ on the Cross on Good Fri)

All you who pass this way (esp on Good Friday)

Dominus Deus

Eat this bread (esp suitable for Maundy Thursday)

Laus tibi, Christe (suitable as an acclamation after the gospel)

My heart is breaking with grief (esp  for Maundy Thurs after the altar has been stripped)

My peace (esp suitable for Maundy Thurs after the altar has been stripped)

Son of God (a litany)

Stay here (esp suitable for Maundy Thursafter the altar has been stripped)

Stay with me (esp for Maundy Thursafter the altar has been stripped)

Stay with us (esp for Maundy Thurs after the altar has been stripped)

The Spirit is willing (esp for Maundy Thurs after the altar has been stripped)

IONA SONGS SUITABLE FOR HOLY WEEK

Here is a list of some of the available Iona volumes of music and recordings, and those songs in the collection that are suitable for Holy Week. Note that the Iona Community is willing to allow a church or worship assembly to reproduce the words only of a song from these publications on a service sheet or overhead transperency that is to be used once only on a non-commercial basis, provided that the title of the song and the name of the copyright holder is clearly shown.

John L Bell & Graham Maule, Wild Goose Songs vol. 1 Heaven Shall Not Wait

Available as songbook. Contains sixty-two songs and chants on the themes of God: creating and caring, God: coming among us, and Jesus: one of us.

page 32        How long, O Lord?

John L Bell & Graham Maule, Wild Goose Songs vol. 2 Enemy of Apathy

Available as songbook. Contains sixty-two songs and chants for Lent, Eastertide and Pentecost.

John L Bell & Graham Maule, Wild Goose Songs vol. 3 Love from Below

Available as songbook and cassette. Contains sixty-two songs of discipleship and the church's sacraments and seasons.

page 50        Though one with God (esp for Passion Sunday)

page 92        Jesus calls us (esp for Maundy Thursday)

page 102        Come, Lord, be our guest (esp for Maundy Thursday)

page 106        These I lay down (esp for Maundy Thursday)

LORD, HAVE MERCY

See the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Hymns and songs', 'Lord, have mercy', in this folder for metrical paraphrases of the 'Lord, have mercy'. Below are two versions suitable for Holy Week.

The following 'Lord, have mercy', by David Sch¸tz, may be sung to 'Sieh, hier bin ich', LH 150.

Jesus Christ, you suffered for us,

hear our prayer and rescue us.

Lamb of God and Lion of Judah,

Jesus, Lord, in you we trust.

Lord, have mercy,

Christ, have mercy,

Lord, have mercy on us now.

Jesus Christ, you perished for us,

hear our prayer, deliver us.

Ransom us from death's dark prison,

set us free from Eden's curse.

Lord, have mercy,

Christ, have mercy,

Lord, have mercy on us now.

Jesus Christ, you live forever,

hear our prayer and give us peace.

You alone are our Redeemer,

here we seek your gift of grace.

Lord, have mercy,

Christ, have mercy,

Lord, have mercy on us now.

Here is a metrical 'Lord, have mercy' by David Schubert. It is to the metre 8.6.8.6, so there are plenty of available tunes (eg the tune of LH 48 (TIS 515(ii)) or LH 620 could be considered). Note that there is also a 'Lamb of God' (in the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Hymns and songs', 'Lamb of God') to the same metre, so consider singing the 'Lord, have mercy' here to the same tune, to help give a unity to the liturgy if hymnic parts are used. The pastor/cantor/choir could sing lines 1 and 3, or they could be sung by only men or only women, alternating verse by verse, and then the whole congregation could sing lines 2 and 4 in each verse as a repeated response.

Redeemer, Lord, we pray to you,

in mercy hear us, Lord.

Look down in pity on our needs,

have mercy on us, Lord.

Redeemer, Lord, we pray to you,

in mercy hear us, Christ.

Defend and help and comfort us,

have mercy on us, Christ.

Redeemer, Lord, we pray to you,

in mercy hear us, Lord.

Be with your people, give us peace,

have mercy on us, Lord.

Alternatively, the three adapted and modernised verses of 'Jesus, in thy dying woes' (LH 82) in 'Modernised Lutheran Hymnal hymns' could be sung.

LITANY

Here is a sung version of the litany of the church, by David Sch¸tz. The tune is 'I want Jesus to walk with me' ATN 84. The verses are divided into sections which may be arranged in any way convenient for singing, eg selected verses may be used. For instance, parts I, II, IV and VI may be sung on one occasion, and parts I, III, V and VI on the next. The rhythm of this tune makes it suitable for singing in procession.

OFFERTORY

The following hymn and song versions of Psalm 51 'Create in me' are suitable for use as an offertory during Holy Week.

LHS 364, TIS 559 A new heart, Lord, create in me (*modernised)

LHS 358 Renew me, O eternal Light (vv 3,4) (*modernised)

ATE 269 Create in us

The following could also be considered as an offertory song.

LH 377 Take my life, Lord, let me be (*modernised)

(also as TIS 599, not modernised)

CANTICLES

For guidelines on using canticles as well as different versions of the texts, see the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Canticles', in this folder. Particularly suitable for Holy Week are:

* Worthy is the Lamb

* Saviour of the World (Salvator Mundi)

The following settings and words are available for this canticle:

By your precious blood you have saved us (paraphrase by Stephen Pietsch; tune: Picardy, harmony edition of Supplement to LH A9)

By your precious blood you have saved us,

Lamb most holy, Jesus Christ.

On the cross of death you redeemed us,

suffering for the sin of the world.

      Hear us now, we pray, O Jesus,

      help us in your mercy, Lord!

On the restless sea, your disciples

cried to you to still the waves.

Fearing death, they sought your protection.

In your love, you spared their lives:

Jesus, look on us with compassion.

Free us from our sin, we implore.

By your mighty power, now deliver

all who call upon your name:

Christ, we pray, now dwell with your people.

Guide us with your gentle hand.

Shield us by your powerful presence.

Guard your church from every foe:

Lord, when you return in your glory,

in the fullness of your power,

so transform our mortal bodies

to be like your own in light:

* The Song of Christ the Servant (1 Pet 2:21-25)

This New Testament canticle is given for use during Lent in the Service of the Word (see Approved Worship Services).

Christ himself suffered for us and left us an example,

so that we would follow in his steps.

He committed no sin,

and no-one ever heard a lie come from his lips.

When he was insulted, he did not answer back with an insult;

when he suffered, he did not threaten,

but placed his hopes in God, the righteous Judge.

Christ himself carried our sins in his body to the cross,

so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness.

It is by his wounds

that we have been healed.

We were like sheep that had lost their way,

but now we have been brought back

to follow the Shepherd and Keeper of our souls.

MUSIC

For various music resources and guidelines, see the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Music', in this folder. See also in this folder the document 'Indexes to Music Packages'.

VISUAL ARTS

GENERAL

For general guidelines and ideas, see the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Visual arts', in this folder.

COLOURS

Violet/purple OR rose/scarlet.

In the ancient world, the colour described as purple in the Scriptures (the colour of the robe placed on Jesus by the soldiers in mockery) was probably a dark bluish red, hence the variety of shades of colour used for Holy Week. In many places throughout the world, a dark red rose colour is now used for Holy Week. This red is a different colour to the festival red used for Pentecost; more blue and less orange, it is not so bright or colourful. Congregations who wish to do so may replace any black paraments and vestments with rose colours.

On Maundy Thursday, white is used only for the evening service which celebrates the institution of the Lord's supper.

On Good Friday, while black is still an acceptable colour in those congregations that have such paraments and vestments, modern usage favours that the altar be entirely stripped of all cloths and decoration. If communion is celebrated on Good Friday, a small white cloth (a 'corporal') may be placed on the altar on which to put the elements for consecration.

VESTMENTS

In modern usage, the colour of the stole (and chasuble) for Holy Week (including Good Friday) is rose/scarlet, although if no special Holy Week vestments are owned by the congregation or pastor, it is of course acceptable to wear no stole at all. If the congregation or pastor owns a black stole, this may be worn on Good Friday. White vestments are worn for the service on Maundy Thursday commemorating the institution of the Lord's supper.

Some pastors choose to wear only a black cassock or the old Geneva gown on Good Friday. This perhaps overdoes the blackness of the day. It is preferable to wear either cassock and surplice or alb on this day.

FLOWERS

During Holy Week, it is appropriate to omit the placing of flowers in the sanctuary. Greater contrast will be created if special effort is put into decorating the sanctuary at the Easter vigil or the first service on Easter Sunday with more flowers than usual.

Flowers may be used at the Maundy Thursday service to mark the special nature of this service as a celebration of the Lord's supper. If so, these arrangements are removed along with all other decoration at the stripping of the altar, so they will need to be small enough to be easily handled.

Some suggest that in Lent and Holy Week, instead of flowers, floral artists could work with greens or sticks and branches. Palm branches (for Passion/Palm Sunday), olive branches, reeds, and thorns (with a few red flowers) could be used. This time may offer an opportunity to explore other plant decorations besides flowers.

A few ideas for using flowers, together with other objects, are given in the documents for Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. These come from Jan Pietsch, who heads an active visual arts group at Pilgrim congregation, Magill SA. You are encouraged to use the ideas as starting points for your own creativity and according to what is available.

DECORATION FOR HOLY WEEK

The austerity of the Holy Week liturgy is heightened if the church is stripped of all its usual decoration. This enables a contrast to be created with respect to the Easter season, when banners, flowers and other decorations are used to their fullest extent.

In some places, it has been customary to shroud all representations of Christ or the saints, whether pictures, crucifixes or statues, during Holy Week. A remnant of this custom remains in some congregations where the crucifix is shrouded in a black cloth on Good Friday.

If the church has a large empty cross as a central feature, a very striking addition during Holy Week is to drape a long thin piece of black or rose-coloured material over the arms of the cross as a symbolic shroud. On Easter Sunday, it may be left bare or a white and/or gold cloth may drape the cross for the whole of the Easter season.

SYMBOLS FOR HOLY WEEK

The following symbols may be used during Holy Week.

The cross

There is an almost infinite variety of designs for the cross, among which the following are most popular:

INRI monogram

The familiar INRI stands for the Latin words Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum, that is, Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews. These words were written in Latin, Hebrew, and Greek on the cross above Jesus when he was crucified. Often the monogram is placed on a scroll.

Crown of thorns (and nails)

Sometimes the crown of thorns is shown alone, or with the INRI monogram. Sometimes either three or four nails are thrust into it. Whether three or four nails are used depends on whether or not the tradition is accepted which says that one nail pierced both of Jesus' feet.

Cross rising out from a chalice

The agony in Gethsemane is almost invariably pictured by the use of a jewelled chalice out of which is rising a small cross, with pointed ends. This is called the cross of suffering. The chalice is golden, and the cross is red. The reference is to our Saviour's prayer in Gethsemane concerning the cup of suffering (Luke 22:42).

The passion flower

Although of modern origin, the passion flower has lately been used as a Passion symbol. The flower is said to contain all the symbols of the Passion:

Heart pierced by a lance

A common symbol relating to the death of Christ when his heart was pierced.

The Lamb of God

This is a symbol for Christ, but care must be taken that the lamb which is depicted is not a victory lamb such as is portrayed in the visions of Revelation and which is more appropriate for Easter. The passion lamb is sometimes shown with its heart pierced and with its blood flowing into a chalice to symbolise the blood of Christ shed for the life of the world.

CONCORDIA COMMENTARY 'ICONS'

Some striking and simple visual designs, among which some are suitable for Holy Week, may be found in the Concordia Commentary Series published by Concordia Publishing House (eg in Greg Lockwood's commentary on 1 Corinthians, page xxi). These could be especially fruitful for ideas for banner designs or bulletin art.

Dr Christopher Mitchell is the editor of the Concordia Commentary series. Greg Lockwood says that he would be able to help regarding copyright matters; his e-mail address at CPH is

cmitchell@cph.org

and his home e-mail is

ccdnmitch@aol.com

DRAMA

For ideas involving drama and dramatisation, see the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Drama and movement', in this folder. See also 'Offering basket' and 'Imposition of ashes' below.

Note the suggestions under 'Cross and objects of the Passion' below.

CHILDREN

GENERAL

For guidelines and general ideas on involving children, see the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Involving children', in this folder. The stripping of the altar is an example of a dramatic rite which can speak to all people (see the liturgy for Maundy Thursday and the document 'Maundy Thursday' in each year's 'Lent to Trinity' folder).

CROSS AND OBJECTS OF THE PASSION

If this has not been done earlier during the season of Lent, the children, with the help of other members of the congregation, may erect a large wooden cross in a prominent place either inside or (as a witness to the local community) in front of the church. The children may then be involved in placing objects of the passion onto the cross, such as dice and robe, nails and hammer, spear, crown of thorns, notice of sentence, whip.

OTHER MATERIAL

STATIONS OF THE CROSS

Check out the document 'Stations of the Cross' in the 'Rites and services' folder. If extra services are required in Holy Week, this one is very appropriate. The document contains several suggestions as to how the service could be conducted. The main thing is to be imaginative.

TENEBRAE

Although few congregations would have need of this service, we have provided an outline of the rite and some suggestions in a separate document 'Tenebrae' in the 'Rites and services' folder. It is suitable for use at night. The document contains several suggestions as to how the service could be conducted. The main thing is to be imaginative, and not to be constrained in any way by the suggestions made. We have given the fullest and most traditional versions so that congregations might have a sound launching pad for their own imaginative adaptations.