Holy Week and Easter: our journey of faith

Sacred Music Series, Part 12

By James Kennerley, Music Minister

Holy Week, the most sacred time in the Christian calendar, invites the faithful to journey with Christ through His Passion, Death, and Resurrection. At Saint Mary’s we mark this journey with particularly rich liturgies and evocative music, deepening our spiritual reflection. Each day—from Palm Sunday to Easter Day—carries its own distinct liturgical character, scriptural foundations, and musical traditions.

Palm Sunday: The Triumphal Entry

Palm Sunday begins with a celebratory mood, recalling Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:1-11). The service often starts outside with the Liturgy of the Palms, where worshippers process into the church waving palm branches while singing hymns such as All Glory, Laud, and Honor (Hymn 154, The Hymnal 1982). The transition from triumph to Passion is marked by a dramatic reading of the Passion narrative (Matthew 26:14-27:66), often presented in parts.

Musically, Palm Sunday encompasses both joy and solemnity. The processional hymns are exuberant, but as the Passion narrative unfolds, the tone shifts to more somber pieces like O Sacred Head, Sore Wounded (Hymn 168). Choral anthems and meditative organ music accompany the congregation’s reflection on Christ’s suffering.

Maundy Thursday: The Institution of the Eucharist

Maundy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper, when Jesus instituted the Eucharist (Luke 22:14-20) and demonstrated servanthood by washing His disciples' feet (John 13:1-17). The liturgy features a rich use of chant and reflective hymns like Ubi Caritas (Hymn 606) to underscore themes of love and humility.

After the Holy Eucharist, the altar is stripped in silence, and the congregation often departs in quiet contemplation. A solemn setting of Stay with Me by the Taizé community or Now, My Tongue, the Mystery Telling (Hymn 329) may accompany this transition, leading into the Gethsemane watch—a time of prayerful vigil reflecting Christ’s agony in the garden.

Good Friday: The Passion and Crucifixion

Good Friday is marked by stark simplicity. The church is bare, and the liturgy centers on John’s Passion narrative (John 18:1-19:42). The Solemn Collects are chanted or spoken, and the congregation venerates the cross, often accompanied by Were You There When They Crucified My Lord? (Hymn 172).

Hymns and anthems such as Ah, Holy Jesus (Hymn 158) and O Sorrow Deep (Hymn 173) provide a musical backdrop for this solemn day. In some parishes, a choral rendition of Crucifixus (from Bach’s Mass in B Minor) or a cappella settings of God So Loved the World (John Stainer) are sung, reinforcing the gravity of Christ’s sacrifice.

The Easter Vigil: The Great Feast of Light

The Easter Vigil is the most dramatic and ancient liturgy of the Christian tradition, beginning in darkness and culminating in the proclamation of Christ’s Resurrection. The service starts with the lighting of the Paschal Candle and the singing of the Exsultet, an ancient chant of Easter praise.

A series of Old Testament readings recount salvation history, each followed by a psalm or canticle. As the service progresses, the Gloria returns in a triumphant explosion of light and sound, often accompanied by bells and the hymn Jesus Christ is Risen Today (Hymn 207). The renewal of baptismal vows and the first Eucharist of Easter complete the joyful celebration.

Easter Day: The Resurrection Proclaimed

Easter Sunday is the high point of the Church year, celebrating Christ’s victory over death (John 20:1-18). The music is triumphant and joyful, featuring hymns like Christ the Lord Is Risen Today (Hymn 182) and The Strife is O’er, the Battle Done (Hymn 208). Choirs may offer anthems such as Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus or settings of This Joyful Eastertide.

The Eucharistic celebration echoes the joy of the Resurrection, with festive organ postludes and choral exuberance. The Gospel proclamation—“The Lord is Risen Indeed!”—resounds through music and worship, ushering in the fifty days of Eastertide.

The liturgies and music of Holy Week in the Episcopal Church guide the faithful through Christ’s Passion and Resurrection with deep theological and emotional resonance. From the triumphant hosannas of Palm Sunday to the solemn reverence of Good Friday and the jubilant Alleluias of Easter, each service invites worshippers to fully immerse themselves in the Paschal mystery. Through scripture, sacred music, and ritual, the Church echoes the eternal story of salvation, drawing all into the transformative power of Christ’s love.

I look forward to sharing this remarkable journey with you all.