Resources on holy week

Resource Guide on Holy Week

Holy Week is the journey from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday, from Christ’s entry into Jerusalem to the resurrection. It moves through the entire arc from the Last Supper, Judas’s betrayal of Jesus, Jesus before Pontius Pilate, the journey to Golgotha, Jesus’ crucifixion, his burial, and his resurrection.

Holy Week Hymn Vesper Service

David Cherwien | Calvin Institute of Christian Worship

Song or Hymn, Benediction or Blessing, Closing Prayer

Video of a vesper service led by David Cherwien and Awet Andemicael, in which participants sang the story of the events that unfolded from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday, interspersed with scripture readings. (Length: 53:50)

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Holy Week, Crucifixion, Hymn, Resurrection

Holy Week: Story through Liturgy

Eric Cooter | Ministry Matters

Article about Worship and the Sacraments

This article describes ancient Holy Week liturgies and their meanings. It especially focuses on Triduum and Palm and Passion Sundays.

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Holy Week, Liturgy, Holiness, Eucharist

Holy Week

Carol Penner | Together in Worship

Benediction or Blessing

This worship resource by Carol Penner offers a benediction for Holy Week encouraging us to keep our eyes on Jesus as He will show us where we need to go.

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Jesus

The Bad News is Part of the Good News

Fleming Rutledge | Religion & Ethics Newsweekly

Article about Preaching, Article about Worship and the Sacraments

In this interview, Fleming Rutledge explores the themes of suffering and belief surrounding Easter and Good Friday, as well as the implications of these stories for Christians in the rest of history.

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Easter, Good Friday, Resurrection, Suffering

Holy Week

Roger O'Neel | Worship Blogger

Article about Worship and the Sacraments

Addressing Christians in the non-liturgical tradition, Roger O'Neel encourages the observance of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.

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Some Shout Hosanna

Roddy Hamilton | Re-Worship

Affirmation of Faith and Commitment to Christian Living

Rhythm and repetition build momentum in this poetic, responsive affirmation of faith that crescendos to the conclusion, "we choose to follow Jesus." It loosely follows the events of Holy Week.

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Holy Week, Faith, Holiness, Bread

Preparing for Lenten Worship

Calvin Institute of Christian Worship

Discussion Questions and 5 more types

This resource offers an introduction to Lent and a comprehensive guide to Lenten service planning. It provides suggestions for selecting passages, ideas for a sermon series, questions to consider, and sample elements of worship.

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Lent, Worship Planning, Easter, Lament

Good Friday: What Abides

Jan L Richardson | The Painted Prayerbook

Artwork, Poetry

Good Friday is the subject of this blessing poem and piece of artwork.

John 18:1-19

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Good Friday, Blessing, Goodness, Painting

Holy Week in Uncertain Times

John D Witvliet | Calvin Institute of Christian Worship

Service Outline or Song Suggestions, Article about Worship and the Sacraments

John Witvliet suggests that remembrances and celebrations of Holy Week during the Easter season present opportunities for both ...

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Holy Week, Lent, Easter, Worship Planning

Holiness in Holy Week

Anthony Baker | The Living Church

Scripture Meditation or Sermon

Sanctification is about finding ourselves within Christ’s pilgrimage to the cross. And as Anthony Baker says, "We are made holy not by our intense moral effort...Christ’s act of self-consecration...alone provides us with the gift of sanctification."

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Holy Week, Lent, Pilgrimage, Sanctification, Holiness

Holy Week Worship in an Era of Biblical Illiteracy

John D Witvliet | Reformed Worship

Article about Scripture

In this question and answer, John Witvliet discusses using Holy Week as an opportunity to increase biblical literacy by addressing an event with related texts from the Old Testament, the Gospels, and the later New Testament.

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Holy Week, Scripture Reading, Easter

Services for Holy Week

Adam Thomas | Day1

Sermon Preparation or Illustration

In this article, Adam Thomas gives a written tour of seven services often provided during Holy Week in the Episcopal Church.

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Holy Week, Easter, Worship Planning, Service

Search Results for "holy week" on Hymnary.org

O Lord, Who Through This Holy WeekPD
O Love, How DeepPD

Ah, Holy JesusPD
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The Holiest of Weeks

Thom M Shuman | Re-Worship

Scripture Meditation or Sermon, Call to Worship

Here’s a contemporary call to worship for Palm Sunday based on Matthew 21:1-11. It invites worshippers to celebrate the beginning of Holy Week while anticipating the difficult journey of Jesus in the days ahead.

Matthew 21:1-11

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Holy Week, Palm Sunday, Journey

Between Palm Sunday and Good Friday

James Iley McCord | Princeton Theological Commons

Scripture Meditation or Sermon

An audio-recorded sermon on Mark 11:12-19 given at Princeton Theological Seminary, during Holy Week, 1979. It addresses an audience of church leaders about Jesus, the fig tree, and their own vocation.

Mark 11:12-19

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Holy Week, Palm Sunday, Prayer, Pastoral Leadership

Unimaginable Words

Calvin Institute of Christian Worship

Sermon Preparation or Illustration, Service Outline or Song Suggestions

This Maundy Thursday service is patterned after tenebrae, a service of shadows or darkness. The theme is the disciple Peter's reflections on his "unimaginable words" denying Christ in Matthew 26:69-75 and his beginning to heal afterwards.

Matthew 26:69-75

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Maundy Thursday, Denial Of Christ, Forgiveness, Tenebrae

A Very Holy Week

Karoline M Lewis | Working Preacher

Article about Preaching

In this article, Karoline Lewis encourages preachers to remember that Holy Week "doesn't need a lot of preaching" or "over-interpretation." Lewis invites us to simply witness to the holy in our midst.

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Holy Week, Holiness, Preaching, Witness

Why Ash Wednesday?

Harry Boonstra | Calvin Institute of Christian Worship

Article about Worship and the Sacraments

Harry Boonstra explores the tradition of Lent and the use of ashes throughout the Bible and on Ash Wednesday, and the implications for believers (Genesis 3:19; Mark 1:15; Romans 6:1-11; and 1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

Genesis 3:19; Mark 1:15 Romans 6:1-11

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Ash Wednesday, Ash, Lent

The Fight Between Carnival and Lent

Daniella Zsupan-Jerome | Loyola Press

Artwork, Article about Worship and the Sacraments

Based on the painting, "The Fight Between Carnival and Lent" by Pieter Brueghel the Elder, this blog reflects on seeing the hand of God at work when the spiritual and the secular clash.

Joel 2:13

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Ash Wednesday, Lent, Confession, Baptism

A Blessing in the Ashes

Jan L Richardson | The Painted Prayerbook

Poetry

Ash Wednesday is the subject of a collection including a painting, reflection, poem, and other resources. The author writes about the grief of burying her husband, and the power of ashes and dust in God's hands.

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Ash Wednesday, Blessing, Family, Dust

Holy Week: Some Practical Advice

Bill Olnhausen | Ancient Faith Blogs

Article about Worship and the Sacraments

In this article from the Orthodox tradition, Fr. Bill Olnhausen offers suggestions to worshipers on how to prepare for the blessed days of Holy Week.

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Holy Week, Worship Planning, Orthodox Church