READINGS Mar 9/25 to Apr 20/25
Sunday, March 9th, 2025
First Sunday in Lent (Violet)
Holy Eucharist: Propers 286; Dt 26:1-11; Ps 91:1-2, 9-16; Rom 10:8b-13; Lk 4:1-13; Preface of Lent
Sunday, March 16th, 2025
Second Sunday in Lent (Violet)
Holy Eucharist: Propers 288; Gen 15:1-12, 17-18; Ps 27; Phil 3:17—4:1; Lk 13:31-35; Preface of Lent
Sunday, March 23rd, 2025
Third Sunday in Lent (Violet)
Holy Eucharist: Propers 290; Is 55:1-9; Ps 63:1-8; 1 Cor 10:1-13; Lk 13:1-9; Preface of Lent
Sunday, March 30th, 2025
Fourth Sunday in Lent (Violet)
Holy Eucharist: Propers 292; Jos 5:9-12; Ps 32; 2 Cor 5:16-21; Lk 15:1-3, 11b-32; Preface of Lent
Sunday, April 6th, 2025
Fifth Sunday in Lent (Violet)
Passiontide
The last two weeks of Lent have traditionally been referred to as Passiontide. It is customary in some places to veil images, statues, crosses, and crucifixes with violet veils during Passiontide. This may be done either on the Eve of Lent V or on the Eve of The Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday or Maundy Thursday
Holy Eucharist: Propers 294; Is 43:16-21; Ps 126; Phil 3:4b-14; Jn 12:1-8; Preface of Lent
Revised:
Isaiah 49:8-13; 2 Corinthians 5:11 – 20; John 4:4 – 6, 19 – 26, 39 – 42
Sunday, April 13th, 2025
The Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday (Red)
Holy Week
It is customary in some places to veil images, statues, crosses, and crucifixes with violet veils during Holy Week.
Palm Sunday: Christ’s entry into Jerusalem, the episode that marked the beginning of his Passover is commemorated on this day. But it also includes the reading (or singing) of a complete passion narrative (Matthew, Mark, or Luke according to the three-year cycle). This reading provides the narrative purpose of the week that follows, and dominates the celebration of the day itself, even when the celebration opens with the liturgy of the palms. To reflect this, the BAS gives this Sunday the newer title, “The Sunday of the Passion, with the Liturgy of the Palms.” The BAS directs that when the circumstances are suitable the Liturgy of the Palms should take place somewhere apart from the church. In many parishes this is not an option. If this is the case it may be more suitable to observe this rubric by placing a table and candles at the back of the church for the Liturgy of the Palms. Worshipers may gather at the back on the church for the Liturgy and then return to their seats as the altar party processes to the sanctuary for the Liturgy of the Passion.
The Passion Gospels in Dramatic Form: It is a popular custom to read the Passion in a dramatized form. The Church of England’s Common Worship provides the Passion Gospels in dramatic form for all three years.
Holy Eucharist: Liturgy of the Palms: 297; Lk 19:28-40
At the Procession: Ps 118:1-2, 19-29
At the Eucharist: 299; Is 50:4-9a; Ps 31:9-16; Phil 2:5-11; Lk 22:14—23:56; Preface of Holy Week
Thursday, April 17th, 2025
Maundy Thursday (Red or White)
Day of discipline and self-denial
Maundy Thursday
There should normally be only one celebration of the Eucharist on Maundy Thursday, in the evening. The Triduum, or the great Three Days, the heart of the church’s liturgical year, begins with this liturgy and ends with Evening Prayer on Easter Day. This means that the three days are treated as one liturgy. Thus, Maundy Thursday has an opening rite but no closing rite, Good Friday has no opening or closing rite, and the Easter Vigil has no opening rite but has a closing rite.
“Tone” of the Service: There is some debate about the “tone” that should be adopted for the Maundy Thursday observances. In a tradition familiar to many, the colour is white and Glory to God in the Highest is sung to the accompaniment of bells, after which the organ and bells are silent until Glory to God reappears at the Great Vigil of Easter. This approach, when carefully planned, deepens our response to the mysteries we celebrate in Holy Week, evoking a kind of restrained joy in thanksgiving for the Lord’s gift to the church of the Holy Eucharist as his Passion begins. Those who find that this approach to Maundy Thursday interrupts the tone of Holy Week and anticipates the liturgical announcement of the Resurrection on Saturday night at the Vigil adopt Passiontide Red as the colour for the celebration, and the singing of Glory to God in the Highest and the use of bells are omitted. Whichever option is chosen, the centrality of the Eucharist in the life of the church can be celebrated with unrestrained festivity on the feast of Corpus Christi, which is the Thursday after Trinity Sunday (usually transferred to the Sunday following).
Stripping of the Altars: After the liturgy, it is customary to “strip” the altars in preparation for Good Friday. This removal of ornaments and cloths from the church may be accompanied by the reading of Mt 26:30-46 and/or Ps 22.
Altar of Repose and the Vigil of Maundy Thursday: In some places, especially if Holy Communion is to be administered from the Reserved Sacrament on Good Friday, bread (and wine) for this purpose are consecrated at the Maundy Liturgy and at the end of the service may be processed to an “altar of repose” where a watch is kept until midnight or longer (representing the Garden of Gethsemane).
Holy Eucharist: Propers 304; Ex 12:1-4, (5-10), 11-14; Ps 116:1, 10-17; 1 Cor 11:23-26; Jn 13:1-17, 31b-35; Preface of Holy Week; “On this very night” for words of institution; No dismissal
Friday, April 18th, 2025
Good Friday: The Celebration of the Lord’s Passion (Red or Black)
Day of discipline and self-denial
Good Friday
Celebration of the Eucharist: While the BAS permits the celebration of the Eucharist today, it is suggested that, in keeping with ancient tradition, the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving not be offered. Holy Communion from Gifts consecrated last night can be a simple and moving way for people to be joined to Christ in his Passion on this day.
Veiling on Good Friday: In those places that keep the custom of veiling, crosses and crucifixes are
unveiled before the service of Good Friday. The other veils are removed when the church is prepared for the first service of Easter.
Holy Eucharist: Propers 308; Is 52:13—53:12; Ps 22; Heb 10:16-25 Jn 18:1—19:42 (omit Gospel
responses); Meditation on the Cross of Jesus 313; Holy Communion 317; No dismissal
Saturday, April 19th, 2025
Holy Saturday (Red)
Day of discipline and self-denial
Easter Eve (White or Gold)Holy Saturday
Celebration of the Eucharist: The Holy Eucharist is not celebrated, nor is the sacrament (if reserved) received, on Holy Saturday, except in the case of extreme necessity. If a liturgy of the word apart from the daily office is desired, it may consist of the Eucharistic liturgy up to and including the Confession and Absolution, with no dismissal.
Holy Eucharist: Propers 320; Job 14:1-14 or Lam 3:1-9, 19-24; Ps 31:1-4, 15-16; 1 Pet 4:1-8; Mt 27:57-66 or Jn 19:38-42; No dismissal
Sunday, April 20th, 2025
The Sunday of the Resurrection: Easter Day – PF (White or Gold)
Easter
The Great Vigil of Easter: There are extensive rubrics in the BAS for the Great Vigil which may be found on p. 321. Ten readings from the Old Testament are provided, at least three of which are to be read. The passage from Exodus 14 is never to be omitted. Two readings from the New Testament are provided, both of which are to be read.
1 – Gen 1:1—2:4a; Ps 136:1-9, 23-26
2 – Gen 7:1-5, 11-18, 8:6-18, 9:8-13; Ps 46
3 – Gen 22:1-18; Ps 16
4 – Ex 14:10-31, 15:20-21; C 1 (Ex 15:1-3, 6, 11, 13, 17-18)
5 – Is 54:5-14; Ps 30
6 – Is 55:1-11; C 3 (Is 12:2-6)
7 – Bar 3:9-15, 32—4:4 or Pr 8:1-8, 19-21, 9:4b-6; Ps 19
8 – Ezek 36:24-28; Ps 42, 43
9 – Ezek 37:1-14; Ps 143
10 – Zeph 3:14-20; Ps 98
(HE) Rom 6:3-11; Ps 114; Lk 24:1-12; Preface of Easter
Paschal Season: The Paschal Season begins tonight and ends after evening prayer (or Compline) on the Day of Pentecost.
Paschal Candle: The new paschal candle, blessed and kindled at the first Eucharist of Easter, burns in a prominent location in the church at all liturgies during the Paschal season, and then it is returned to its customary place in the church, usually near the font. Until the first Eucharist of Easter of the following year, it is typically lit only for funerals (when it is placed near the remains of the deceased), and for baptisms.
Holy Eucharist: During the Day: Propers 335; Acts 10:34-43 or Is 65:17-25; Ps 118:1-2, 14-24; 1 Cor 15:19-26 or Acts 10:34-43; Jn 20:1-18 or Lk 24:1-12; If the first reading is from the Old Testament, the second reading should be from Acts; Preface of Easter
