Holy Week Guide

Holy Week is upon us. Palm Sunday is the last Sunday of the Lenten Season. It is a yearly reminder that we were meant to praise King Jesus and give him the worship due his name. Palm Sunday is a glimpse of what Heaven will be like. As we enter into Holy Week, may I encourage you to spend time daily in prayer and the Word of God contemplating the last week of Jesus’ life. Take the journey to the cross with Jesus. Sit with him at the Passover Table, go with him into Gethsemane, weep at the foot of the cross, and remember Sunday is coming!

Palm Sunday (11am Worship at Concordia University Black Box Theater)

Verses- Matthew 21:1-11

Refection- Visualize yourself on the road that comes down from the Mount of Olives. See Jesus riding in as King on a donkey. Do you worship King Jesus as he deserves?

Prayer- Pray for our church to worship the Lord in Spirit and in Truth.

Cleansing Monday (At-Home Reflection)

Verses- Matthew 21:12-16

Reflection- Visualize yourself observing Jesus as he cleanses the Temple of corrupt money changers. Do you have a correct understanding of what God’s House is supposed to be like? 

Prayer- Pray for our church to be a House of Prayer as God intended.

Teaching Tuesday (At-Home Reflection)

Verses- Matthew 21:17-46

Reflection- Visualize yourself listening to Jesus as he teaches his final lessons and parables. Do you understand the significance of the fig tree, two sons, and tenants’ parables?

Prayer- Pray for our church to have listening hearts for the lessons of Jesus.

Spy Wednesday (At-Home Reflection)

Verses- Matthew 26:1-16

Reflection 1- Visualize yourself in the secret meeting in which the plot to kill Jesus is being finalized. Do you understand why the religious leaders wanted to kill Jesus? See yourself watching Judas, one of Jesus’ own disciples, go to the chief priests to betray Jesus. Do you understand why Judas would do this?

Reflection 2- In the middle of his betrayal, a beautiful act of worship occurs when Jesus is anointed by a woman at Bethany. Visualize yourself in the room where Jesus is worshipped in this unusual way. Do you understand why this woman did such a costly act of worship?

Prayer- Pray for our church to honor and worship Jesus in everything we do and to never betray him with our words or actions.

Maundy Thursday (6pm Passover Demonstration and Foot Washing Service at Concordia University Black Box Theater)

Verses- Matthew 26:17-30

Reflection- Visualize yourself at the Passover table with Jesus and his disciples. See the broken matzah bread and the wine. Do you understand the significance of this explanation of the Passover? See Jesus as he washes the feet of his disciples. Do you understand the mandate from Jesus that we are to love one another and serve one another as he did?

Prayer- Pray for our church to never take Holy Communion lightly and to develop a sincere appreciation for the Body of Christ broken for us and the Blood of Christ shed for us. Pray that we grow in love and service together.

Good Friday (6pm Tenebrae Service at Concordia University Black Box Theater)

Verses- Matthew 27:32-56

Reflection- Visualize yourself at the foot of the cross. See Jesus’ blood pouring out for you. Do you understand the significance of Jesus’ death on the cross? Do you know he did this for you?

Prayer- Pray for our church to preach Christ crucified to a world dying to know that Jesus died for them.

Silent Saturday (At-Home Reflection, Fasting Encouraged)

Verses- Matthew 27:57-66

Reflection- Visualize yourself at the tomb of Jesus. All seems to have been lost. Grief and silence have overtaken the disciples. Do you understand the significance of Jesus’ burial and this Sabbath rest?

Prayer- Pray for our church to spend Holy Saturday in prayer, reading, fasting, and silence in preparation for Christ’s glorious resurrection.  

Resurrection Sunday (Brunch at 10am and Celebration at 11am Concordia University Black Box Theater)

Verses- Matthew 28:1-10

Reflection- Visualize yourself at the EMPTY tomb of Jesus. Do you understand the significance of Jesus telling the women to report back to the other disciples that he has risen? What does Christ’s bodily resurrection mean for you?

Prayer- Pray for our church to celebrate and live out the Resurrection of Jesus Christ!

Let us continue to pray the Prayer of Saint Ephrem: O Lord and Master of my life, take from me the spirit of sloth, despair, lust of power, and idle talk. But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience, and love to Thy servant. Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see my own transgressions, and not to judge my brother, for blessed art Thou, unto ages of ages. Amen.

Blessings,

Rev. Lauren Green Yates, MDiv.

Pastor of Austin Global Methodist Church

austingmcpastor@gmail.com 

737-287-4716