Holy Time

I have to admit that a lot of times Church services don't do it for me. It's hard not to get worn down by the repetition and banality of it all. Since becoming an Anglican though, I've always enjoyed Holy Week. For those not in the know, Holy Week for Anglicans is kind of like a long passion play in several episodes, starting on Palm Sunday but particularly for me on Maundy Thursday, when you reenact the introduction of the Last Supper, and wash feet. On Friday you walk through the crucifixion and death of Jesus, venerate the cross, and don't celebrate the Eucharist. Then on Saturday, you participate again in the resurrection at Easter Vigil. Sunday morning, really, is for the folks who aren't serious about Church; it's a big group celebration--not that it isn't liturgically important as a festival of resurrection--that a lot of church folks skip for having been at Easter Vigil until late on Saturday. Holy week is a physical, intellectual and emotional experience, as liturgical worship should be. I wouldn't describe too many time periods as liminal--I usually preserve that descriptor for places I like--but Holy Week I would. In case you were wondering.