Sunday, March 22nd
Young Children's Marionette Service (9:30 am - Council Chamber)
Bring your children or grandchildren for a simple depiction of the Easter story, using marionettes. The whole service is 15-20 minutes long, and it will be in the Council Chamber (the room above where Young Children's Service normally takes place). The Rev. Jeffrey Smith will lead this service.
Sunday, March 29th
We will have Palm Sunday celebrations at all four of our regular Sunday services. At the Informal Family Service, there will be a live donkey incorporated into the palm procession.
Young Children's Palm Sunday Service (9:30 am - Undercroft)
There will be a celebration of Palm Sunday as part of a regular Young Children's Service. There will be palm branches to wave around, Hosannas to shout, and Palm Sunday songs to sing. The Rev. Scott Frazier will lead this service.
Family Palm Sunday Service (9:30 am - Nave)
The Family Service Palm Sunday celebration will be a regular family service with the addition of a palm procession in the middle, accompanied by the Cathedral Brass. Rev. Derek Elphick will lead this service.
Informal Family Palm Sunday Service (10:15 am - Asplundh Assembly Hall)
The Informal Family Service Palm Sunday celebration will begin, as usual, with music to sing along with at 10:15 am. Partway through the service there will be an opportunity for those who are able to go outside and participate in a palm procession involving the donkey. Rev. Jeffrey Smith will lead this service.
Adult Palm Sunday Service (11:00 am - Nave)
The Adult Service on Palm Sunday will be a regular Adult Service with an opportunity, for those that want, to lay a palm branch down as they come into the nave at the beginning of the service. The Cathedral Brass will also play Palm Sunday preludes and postludes. Rev. Derek Elphick will lead this service.
Palm Sunday Zoom Discussion (11:30 am - Zoom)
There will be an online small-group discussion of the Palm Sunday service hosted by the team that regularly meets on Sundays to discuss the Informal Family Service. These meetings usually last 60-75 minutes. All are welcome. Join the meeting.
Thursday, April 2nd
Informal Family Maundy Thursday Holy Supper (7:00 pm - Asplundh Assembly Hall Lobby)
This family-oriented informal service will be held in the comfort of the lobby, where we will share food as we reflect together on the Lord’s last supper with His disciples. Children are welcome. The Holy Supper will be offered, including both unleavened and gluten-free breads as well as both wine and grape juice. This service will not be livestreamed. The Rev. Nathan Gladish will lead this service.
Adult Maundy Thursday Holy Supper (7:00 pm - Nave)
This will be a reflective Holy Supper service with readings and a talk on the significance of the Last Supper and an opportunity to take Holy Supper. Rev. Steven P. Gunther will lead this service. Note: unleavened wheat bread and wine will be on offer at this service.
Thursday through Monday, April 2nd - 6th
Easter Story Walk (Sunrise to Sunset, Cathedral Gardens)
Come and enjoy the Easter story, as told in the Gospels, in the beautiful setting of our Cathedral grounds. The walk begins at the Welcome sign just before the entrance of the Cathedral. The story begins with the Last Supper the Lord had with His disciples, and ends at the Alpha/Omega garden, with the Lord's ascension into heaven. For those with younger children, there will be an activity booklet at the Welcome sign at the beginning of the walk. As you walk the grounds with your children, you can read the modified text while your child collects a sticker at each sign to add to the booklet. Note: While the signs will be up from Thursday, April 2nd through Monday, April 6th, the activity book and stickers will ONLY be available on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Choose a time when you can do the walk at a leisurely pace. Allow yourself time for prayer, meditation, and listening to the Lord as you take in this powerful and emotional story.
Friday, April 3rd
Good Friday Choral Vespers (7:30 pm - Nave)
This service offers an opportunity to sit with and reflect on all that the Lord went through for us, while listening to extended readings from the Lord's Word and beautiful choral music. This year the Festival Chorus will sing the Funeral Sentences by Henry Purcell and William Croft along with other Baroque lamentations by Bach, Carissimi, Tomkins and Batten and the Rev. Jeffrey Smith will read selections from the Passion portion of the Gospel of John and from the teachings for the New Church. Organ preludes begin at 7:10 pm.
Sunday, April 5th
Easter Family Festival Services (9:30 & 11 am - Nave)
On Easter Sunday we will offer two identical services, both in the nave. There will be one talk for the whole family. The Rev. Malcolm Smith will lead these services.
To celebrate the Lord’s resurrection, the congregation is invited to bring an offering of flowers or potted plants at the beginning of either service. On Easter Monday, these offerings will be distributed by Bryn Athyn Church ministers to church members who have suffered a recent loss or challenging time.
If you have not already, you can go on the Easter Story Walk before or after either service. (See the details about the walk above.)
Easter Zoom Discussion (11:30am - Zoom)
There will be an online small-group discussion of the Easter service, hosted by the team that regularly meets on Sundays to discuss the Informal Family Service. All are welcome. These meetings usually last 60-75 minutes. Join the meeting.
*NO Informal Family or Young Children's Service on Easter Sunday.
