Making the Most of Holy Week

Rowan Williams, who recently retired as Archbishop of Canterbury, once said, “In all sorts of ways, Holy Week really is the most important week in the Christian year, because it’s a week when we discover, in a way we don’t do at any other time,  just who we are and just who God is.” Williams’ concise statement captures the heart of the mystery of Holy Week, but sadly, for many people, it’s a mystery left in the dark and scarcely observed.

Many Christians do attend some or all of the services of Holy Week and this is a good thing, but attendance at divine worship alone will not make the most of these seven days. The Christian year with its celebrations and fasts is meant to be observed not only corporately (for an hour on Sunday or a couple of extra hours during Holy Week), but daily, personally, and with one’s friends and family.

 Finding meaningful ways to observe Holy Week, in addition to attending the appointed services, especially the great three days of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday, will go a long way in unveiling the power and glory of Easter to you, your friends, and family.

Below are a number of ideas for observing Holy Week, which begins this Sunday (March 24).  You don’t need to do everything that’s listed, just select one or two practices per day, and also feel free to create your own. In the comments section feel free to share how you’ve observed Holy Week in the past or what ideas you have for observing it this year.  Some of the practices go together (i.e. the Bible reading suggestions), but most stand alone (I have a pdf version of this, slightly modified, if  you'd like one just e-mail me.)
 

Palm Sunday

-          Do something fun (i.e. go out to eat, go to the movies, etc.) in celebration and remembrance of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
-          Begin reading the shortest of the four Gospels, Mark chapters 1-2
-          Say grace at one or more meals
-          Your idea _____________________________________________
-          Invite someone to join you for a Holy Week and/or Easter service
-          Attend a Palm Sunday service

Holy Monday
-          Fast or partially fast from meat, texting, TV, cursing, coffee, or _____
-          Continue reading Mark’s Gospel, chapter 3-4
-          Say grace at one or more meals
-          Invite someone to join you for a Holy Week service and/or Easter service
-          Spend five or more minutes in silence, pondering God’s presence
-          Talk about faith, God, life, and spirituality with a friend or family member
-          Your idea _____________________________________________

Holy Tuesday
-          Fast or partially fast from meat, texting, TV, cursing, coffee, or  _____
-          Continue reading Mark’s Gospel, chapter 5-6
-          Say grace at one or more meals
-          Invite someone to join you for a Holy Week service and/or Easter service
-          Spend five or more minutes in silence, pondering God’s presence
-          Talk about faith, God, life, and spirituality with a friend or family member
-          Your idea _____________________________________________

Spy Wednesday
-          Fast or partially fast from meat, texting, TV, cursing, coffee, or  _____
-          Say grace at one or more meals
-          Continue reading Mark’s Gospel, chapter 6-7
-          Invite someone to join you for a Holy Week service and/or Easter service
-          Spend five or more minutes in silence, pondering God’s presence
-          Talk about faith, God, life, and spirituality with a friend or family member
-          Confess your sins to a priest or pastor
-          Your idea _____________________________________________
 
Maundy Thursday
-          Fast or partially fast from meat, texting, TV, cursing, coffee, or  _____
-          Continue reading Mark’s Gospel, chapter 8-10
-          Say grace at one or more meals
-          Invite someone to join you for a Holy Week service and/or Easter service
-          Spend five or more minutes in silence, pondering God’s presence
-          Talk about faith, God, life, and spirituality with a friend or family member
-          Confess your sins to a priest or pastor
-          Minimize and/or eliminate the use of lights, phone, computers, technology in remembrance of Jesus’ betrayal and death when “the light of the world” was hidden from view
-          Take a long walk by yourself, with your family or friends to ponder Jesus’ own long walk to Calvary and to his death
-          Do the practice above but carry a cross with you  
-          Your idea _____________________________________________
-          Attend a Maundy Thursday service

Good Friday
-          Fast or partially fast from meat, texting, TV, cursing, coffee, or  _____
-          Continue reading Mark’s Gospel, chapter 11-13
-          Say grace at one or more meals
-          Invite someone to join you for a Holy Week service and/or Easter service
-          Spend five or more minutes in silence, pondering God’s presence
-          Talk about faith, God, life, and spirituality with a friend or family member
-          Confess your sins to a priest or pastor
-          Minimize and/or eliminate the use of lights, phone, computers, technology in remembrance of Jesus’ betrayal and death when “the light of the world” was hidden from view
-          Take a long walk by yourself, with your family or friends to ponder Jesus’ own long walk to Calvary and to his death
-          Do the practice above but carry a cross with you
-          Dress in black to remember Jesus’ death
-          Don’t socialize or “go out” instead stay home and remember what Jesus did for you
-          Watch the Passion of the Christ or similar film about the life of Jesus    
-          Go to a Passion Play
-          Your idea _____________________________________________
-          Attend a Good Friday service

Holy Saturday
-          Fast or partially fast from meat, texting, TV,  cursing, coffee, or  _____
-          Continue reading Mark’s Gospel, chapter 13-15
-          Say grace at one or more meals
-          Invite someone to join you for an Easter Service
-          Spend five or more minutes in silence, pondering God’s presence
-          Take a long walk by yourself, with your family or friends to ponder Jesus’ own long walk to Calvary and to his death
-          Do the practice above but carry a cross with you  
-          Your idea _____________________________________________
-          Talk about faith, God, life, and spirituality with a friend or family member
-          Minimize and/or eliminate the use of lights, phone, computers, technology in remembrance of Jesus’ betrayal and death when “the light of the world” was hidden from view
-          Confess your sins to a priest or pastor
-       Don’t socialize or “go out” instead stay home and remember what Jesus did for you
-          Watch the Passion of the Christ or similar film about the life of Jesus    
-          Go to a Passion Play
-          Attend a Holy Saturday or Easter Vigil service

Easter Sunday
-          Finish reading Mark’s Gospel, chapter 16
-          Say grace at one or more meals
-          Throw a party! Invite friends, family, and others to celebrate the Resurrection!
-          Your idea _____________________________________________
-          Attend an Easter service