Emmanuel Episcopal Parish invites the community to join them in celebrating the spirit of Holy Week and Easter.

A traditional Palm Sunday procession marks the beginning of Holy Week, Sunday April 1 at 10 am. The church will provide the palm branches.

There will be a reflective Taizé style service of readings, interspersed with music n “Maundy Thursday,” April 5 at 5:30 p.m. The service will conclude with the “stripping of the altar” and lowering of the lights. The church will remain open for a while for quiet reflection following the service.

Friday, April 6 at 5 p.m., a guided Stations of the Cross will be held outside, followed by the Good Friday Service held in the church at 5:30 p.m. On Holy Saturday, community members are invited to walk the Labyrinth at any time.

On April 7, beginning at 9 p.m., there will be a contemplative evening all the way into Easter morning. The new Easter Fire will be lit outdoors, after a brief meditation. The Paschal/Easter candle will be lit from this fire and bring the flame into the Parish Hall, lighting dozens of candles and filling the room with candlelight. There will be soft music interspersed with silence, a place to sit (or lie down) and “be.”

On Sunday, April 8, at 5:30 a.m., join others in the Parish Hall for an early “watch,” as they sit in silence and wait for “first light.” Sunrise Service will begin at 6 a.m. in the Parish Hall, followed by a light breakfast. A traditional Easter Sunday Service will be held at 10 a.m. in the church with an Easter egg hunt and coffee hour afterward.  Emmanuel will also celebrate Greek Orthodox Easter on April 15.

For more information on any of these activities, visit www.orcasepiscopal.org.