Holy Week is Here

Holy Week is here, Beloved Christ the King Community,

and we will be following Jesus’ journey to the cross through a variety of different worship services and activities this week.  I invite you to set aside time this week to be part of our liturgies this week.  The word and concept of “liturgy” comes from the joining of the Greek words, λαός meaning “the people” and the root ἔργο meaning “work.”  Liturgy is the work for and of the people.  As we gather this week in a variety of liturgies, it is not the work of our clergy, staff, and lay leaders that enacts liturgy, but rather the whole community gathered both in-person and online that enacts the work of the people for the praise and worship of God.  We need you participating in the ways you are able with your whole being pointed toward God and God’s amazing mystery that we will journey through this week.  May we have grace for ourselves and each other, focused not on the details of the service, but rather on God, on what God is doing for us and on what God is calling each of us to be and do.  May we experience God’s presence, Jesus’ sacrifice, and the Holy Spirit’s movement in our lives. Amen!

Grace and Peace, and Resurrection Hope to You!
Pastor Jennifer and your CTK Ministry Staff

Holy Wednesday + Meditative Stations of the Cross
Wednesday, April 16
6:00 p.m. Potluck Supper and Godly Play Stations of the Cross, parish hall
7:00 p.m. Meditative Stations of the Cross Service, nave

A self-guided procession through a multicultural Stations of the Cross will take place with meditative organ music playing in the background starting at 7:00 p.m.  We invite you to come and experience this journey at your own pace.

Maundy Thursday
Thursday, April 17
7:00 p.m. Worship Service + Holy Communion

On Maundy Thursday we begin the celebration of the Triduum, The Great Three Days. On Thursday we remember Jesus sharing the Last Supper with his disciples before his betrayal and arrest. The service will include confession and absolution, footwashing, Holy Communion, and the stripping of the altar.

Good Friday
Friday, April 18
3:00 p.m. Erickson's St. John Passion Presented by Bach Society Houston and the CTK Choir

7:00 p.m. Good Friday Worship Service
Erickson's St. John Passion Presented by Bach Society Houston In-person at the CTK Rice Village Campus. Entry is free!

On Friday, we continue our Triduum journey with The Passion according to St. John through readings interspersed with musical reflections, the Bidding Prayer, and Adoration of the Cross.

Holy Saturday
Saturday, April 19
Midnight-6:00 p.m. Canonical Hours (every 3 hours) in-person only
8:00 p.m. Vigil of Easter Worship Service

The Canonical Hours mark the course of Holy Saturday, every three hours beginning at midnight. Canonical Hours are short prayer times consisting of readings, a psalm and prayer. A hymn is appointed to each prayer hour which can be read or sung as desired. All are invited to participate either in-person in the narthex or to do so at home.

At 8:00 p.m., join us in the nave for our Vigil of Easter Service. This liturgy includes a Service of Light that begins outside as we bless our Paschal Candle and process it into the nave, a Service of Readings from the Hebrew Bible that remind us of God's faithfulness throughout history, an Affirmation of Baptism, and our first Holy Communion of Easter.

Easter Sunday
8:30 a.m. Festive Holy Communion Service, In-person
9:30 a.m. Easter Brunch, Flowering of the Cross, Easter Egg Hunts
11:00 a.m. Festive Holy Communion Service, In-person and online
2:00 p.m. German Language Communion Service, In-person and online
6:00 p.m. Easter Dinner Church at our Memorial Campus

Little ones help celebrate the Resurrection of Christ by participating in the Flowering of the Cross and hunting for Easter eggs. Please plan to bring lots of lovely flowers to help flower the cross and bring a basket for kids for the egg hunt.

Luther League, our CTK youth group, will provide breakfast tacos for our Easter Brunch. Members and friends are invited to bring a breakfast item (pastries, bagels, eggs, fruit, bacon, etc.)  to share. Easter egg hunts for the kids begin at 10 a.m. sharp - BYOB: bring your own basket and flowers for the cross! You may also bring a breakfast item to share with your CTK community