People of Grace,
We are living in unusual times. Our worship life has changed dramatically. Yet, where two or three are gathered, whether in person or online, Christ is present.
This year, to celebrate the events of Holy Week: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Vigil, we are making available a Holy Week @ Home kit for people in the Grace community to journey through the three days of Holy Week through prayer, scripture and sensory experiences. Holy Week @ Home will take us through the stories and experiences of Holy Week in one evening lasting no longer than two hours on April 10.
Three versions of Holy Week @ Home will be made available:
1) Zoom Holy Week @ Home
This version entails one person hosting the Holy Week @ Home through Zoom, an online platform from the comfort of their own home for a group of 8-10 people. This Zoom version of Holy Week @ Home requires an email address or phone number. Vicar Beth will set up the Zoom sessions for all hosts, and if you need help navigating Zoom, Vicar Beth and Pastor Sarah are happy to assist.
2) Household Holy Week @ Home
This version is designed for household sizes of more than two people who prefer to gather with those living in their same home rather than join a Zoom session. With the growing number of COVID-19 cases in Arizona, we are discouraging members of Grace from gathering together in their homes for Holy Week @ Home.
3) Cloistered Holy Week @ Home
This version is designed for one person to journey through the three days on their own.
TO PARTICIPATE IN HOLY WEEK @ HOME
1) Contact Vicar Beth Gallen at vicar@graceinthecity.com and indicate your preferred version of Holy Week @ Home (Zoom or in-person). She will connect you with people in our community who are serving as Hosts of Holy Week @ Home.
2) Check your e-mail on April 1 for the Holy Week @ Home bulletin. If available, please print.
3) Gather Holy Week @ Home Supplies
Whether you are hosting a Holy Week @ Home via Zoom, in-person or journeying through the Three Days on your own, each version of Holy Week @ Home requires supplies. Most supplies can be found in your home. See below for the full list.
Maundy Thursday Supplies
Bible(s), large bowl filled with water or sink access, towels, bread baking ingredients and supplies (see recipe below), home altar supplies, cross and dark colored fabric, photos of Grace’s Altar (photos provided for hosts by Grace Lutheran Church).
Bread Baking Recipe
Ingredients: 2 cups whole wheat flour, 1 cup white flour, 1 ¼ teaspoons baking powder, 1 ¼ teaspoons salt, 1 Tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon oil, ¾ cup hot water, plus 2 Tablespoons hot water, 3 Tablespoons honey, 3 Tablespoons molasses,
Mix dry ingredients together. Cut in oil.
Combine water, honey and molasses; add to dry ingredients. Mix well. Dough will be a bit sticky.
Divide dough into four equal parts and roll each into a ball. On a floured surface, roll each ball with a floured rolling pin, turning periodically and rolling into a ¼ inch thick circle.
Score/mark top of each circle with a knife into fourths (do not cut through the dough—just score the dough). If you wish, you can mark each quarter with a cross or some other design.
Bake at 350 degrees for 15-18 minutes. ( You may remove the bread from the oven after 10 minutes and brush with oil for a uniform look.
Good Friday Supplies
Tapered candle or candle stick (one per person), holder for single candle or bowl of sand to hold multiple candles, matches or lighter, computer, smart device or some other electronic means of accessing recorded audio files. All audio files provided by Grace Lutheran Church.
Easter Vigil Supplies
One large candle in a holder, tapered candle or candle stick (one per person), holder for single tapered candle or bowl of sand to hold multiple candles, matches or lighter, computer, smart device, or some other electronic means of accessing the recorded audio files and recorded audio file, bowl filled with water, anointing oil (olive oil works well) on cotton ball, champagne or other non-alcoholic beverages, cups for beverages. All audio and video files provided by Grace Lutheran Church.
Holy Week @ Home is a new thing. We’ve never journeyed thorough the Three Days in quite this way before. Naturally, you may have questions and need clarification or help.
Please contact Vicar Beth Gallen at (623) 340-9965 or at vicar@graceinthecity.com for all queries.