High Holy Days

Because we are an Episcopal congregation, Christ’s Church
observes the liturgical seasons and acknowledges all the traditional
Christian holy days. Christmas and Easter, however,
are our most important times of celebration.

Christmas celebrations are anticipated during Advent, the first season of the church year. We bring an advent wreath into the sanctuary and light a candle each week until all four advent candles are burning during our Sunday services. We have a fun family night on the Feast of St. Nicholas. Our choir presents a festival of lessons and carols. Our kids present a Christmas pageant each Christmas Eve … and we celebrate all 12 days of the Christmas season, culminating on Epiphany, the day the magi visited the babe in the manger.

CLICK HERE for details on our Christmas celebrations and activities.

Easter celebrations are anticipated during the penitential season of Lent, which culminates in the solemn activities and observations of Holy Week. Palm Sunday opens our Holy Week observations as we process around the sanctuary, each of us holding a palm frond or a cross made from a frond. On Maundy Thursday, we celebrate the Last Supper with a Eucharist that includes washing one another’s feet (see John 13), then we strip the altar. We begin Good Friday by we join with St. Philip in the Field Episcopal Church in Sedalia to observe the stations of the cross, then finish the day with a Good Friday liturgy. Holy Saturday brings an Easter vigil and the kindling of a new fire. We celebrate Easter Sunday with joyous Eucharist services, an Easter egg hunt for the kids, and a pot luck brunch.

CLICK HERE for details on our Holy Week and Easter activities and celebrations.