The words of the psalmist: "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me" serve as a framework for all of Lent, but especially during Holy Week. From Ash Wednesday to Good Friday, we are reminded over and over that our goal during this time is one of repentance and renewal. Each Sunday through Lent, the prayers, the sermon, the words of Scripture have encouraged our re-turning to (turning toward) a gracious, compassionate God who loves us.

Now, as we begin Holy Week, the Collect for Palm Sunday focuses our attention on the significance of these final days before the triumph of Easter. The Collects (opening prayers) remind us that God in His love for us gave us His son, Jesus Christ, who would suffer the humiliation of death rather than sacrifice what he stood for-God's never-failing love. In our prayers we also ask God to "mercifully grant that we may walk in the way of Christ's suffering, and also share in his resurrection . . ."

This is the message of Holy Week: to witness to and participate in the sorrow of the days which lead up to Good Friday so that we may share fully in the joy of Easter; to enter into the darkness of Christ's passion and death that we may emerge into the light of His resurrection. We do this by means of the words and the rituals of Holy Week.

Palm Sunday-The emphasis this day is on Jesus' entry into Jerusalem-the palms marking his way along the route. This triumphant entry is overshadowed, however, by our awareness of his impending crucifixion; hence the procession begins in triumphant majesty, but the focus quickly turns our attention to the suffering Christ underwent before entering into glory. The readings, therefore, underscore Christ's sacrifice for us-a gesture made all the more poignant in light of the words of the gospel when we, with the crowd before Pilate, cry out, "Crucify him! Crucify him!"

Stations of the Cross (Tuesday of Holy Week)-Together we follow Christ's path toward the cross by means of an ancient devotion. Events recorded in the gospel are recalled at 14 "stations" around the church. This action deepens our personal awareness of the pain and suffering of Christ and further unites us to those final acts, which fulfilled the prophecies written in the Scriptures.

Wednesday of Holy Week-As we come closer to the Triduum (the three sacred days preceding Easter) the Liturgy of the Word and the sung hymns and responses dwell on the lamentations of Jeremiah and the sense of doom and failure is emphasized. Although we leave the church in darkness on this evening, we feel both sorrow and an awareness of the coming joy-for we know that on Maundy Thursday, the sadness of the day will be tempered by Christ's institution of the Holy Eucharist.

Maundy Thursday-The word Maundy is taken from the Latin word, mandatum (command). The liturgy for this evening shows clearly that Christ asks of his disciples only those things which he himself is willing to do. By his example, we are shown what it means to love-in small as well as large ways.

Christ offers himself to the disciples in the consecrated Bread and Wine and finally gives himself up to die on the cross. And he asks us to follow him in acts of service, which manifest his unconditional love: "I give you a new commandment: Love on another as I have loved you."

The service begins in the Parish Hall with a communal ("Agape" or "love") meal. Then we process into the church to celebrate the Eucharist with bread and wine from dinner and to strip the altar. At the conclusion of this Eucharist, having shared these signs of Christ's love, we are sharply reminded that Good Friday is at hand.

Good Friday-The emphasis is upon Christ as having fulfilled the scriptures, and we are reminded of the promise of salvation for all people, which has now been fully realized by Christ's death. Thus our sorrow is tempered because we are uplifted by the triumph of the Cross. "We are reconciled to God and we bring before him, through the Cross, the whole world to be reconciled in and through the Body of Christ [i.e., the Church]."

At this point, we can with confidence say, "We glory in your Cross, O Lord, and praise and glorify your holy resurrection; for by virtue of your Cross, joy has come to the whole world."

Easter Sunday-The celebration of the first Eucharist of Easter. This is a celebration of the victory of our King over death and the powers of darkness. Alleluia, the watch-word of the Resurrection, is sounded because our vigil is over-our waiting for the risen Lord is rewarded with his presence among us. Christ now comes again into the darkness of the lives of his people with his risen life. In ways made even more meaningful at this special feast, we are invited to the table-thanks be to God!