The heart of the Christian faith is the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The events we commemorate during Holy Week are the central pieces of our faith and the most significant week of the year for Christian worship. To fully participate in this life, we invite you to remember the events of Christ’s passion and death that is told in the week that precedes Easter. As a “Community Following Jesus” we walk with Christ and one another through bitter agony to triumphant joy. This is a week for careful attention, prayer-filled reverence, and profound wonder at the love of God shown in Christ Jesus. We walk not in great strides but in small steps, passing through each moment with conviction that we will reach the resurrection and that we will be forever transformed by the journey.

Maundy Thursday – March 29

Noon and 7pm, Mission Campus

Join us before worship for a light middle-eastern style buffet starting an hour before each service as we remember the Passover meal celebrated by Jesus and His disciples and by all of Judaism since the Exodus. Following the buffet, we gather for a solemn service commemorating the Last Supper. Communion is celebrated, the altar is stripped, and a hand washing ceremony takes place to remember the servant nature of our Savior.

6pm, Shawnee Campus

Join us for a special Seder meal, as we celebrate the Passover the way Jesus and His disciples would have celebrated it. We will also see how Jesus changed this traditional meal, bringing it to fulfillment as He instituted the meal we now call Holy Communion. The Maundy Thursday Seder Meal runs from 6-8pm, and is a fully integrated experience, a combined time of worship and a full meal eaten together as the extended family of Christ. This year, instead of a potluck, we will be catering the meal to enrich the worship experience. You do not need to bring a potluck item, but it would help us plan if you would RSVP at tlcms.org. If you would like to contribute to the meal, please sign up for one of the needs at the link at tlcms.org.

Good Friday – March 30

Noon and 7pm, Mission Campus

7pm, Shawnee Campus

This service commemorates the crucifixion of our Savior. As we journey with Jesus to the cross and remember His last words, we are reminded of the ultimate sacrifice that He gave for our salvation. Good Friday worship is actually the second part of the worship service that began on Maundy Thursday and that will conclude with Easter. The entire three-part service is known as the “triduum.” Thus the first portion of our Good Friday services has the feel of being “already in progress” as it begins with the Confession and Absolution in preparation for receiving Holy Communion.

Holy Saturday Easter Vigil – March 31

5:30pm, Mission Campus

This contemplative service begins outside and transitions indoors as worshipers begin to transition from the somber mood of Good Friday to the joy of Easter.