Holy Week at Home

Holy Week is the week when we Christians tell the most important story in our faith – the story of the death and resurrection of Jesus.  It is typically a time when we have special worship services – times when we get together to tell this story (and experience it) in worship.  That’s different this year.  In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are following the guidance of the CDC, Virginia’s governor, and other public health officials by cancelling in-person gatherings and encouraging the people of Haymarket Church to stay home as much as possible.

But Holy Week still matters.  In fact, perhaps it matters now more than ever.  Holy Week is a time when we remember that even death cannot stop God.  It’s a time to celebrate the Good News that, in the light of the resurrection, the worst thing is never the last thing.  During a week that is expected to be pretty hard here in the United States, we hold onto this story – the story of life from death – and trust that no matter what happens, God is with us.

So, we are providing you some resources to experience Holy Week from home.  The first of these is our daily Holy Week Devotional.  It is delivered directly to your phone – just text “Haymarket” to 474747 and you’ll automatically receive a link to a new daily devotion every morning at 7 AM.

Holy Thursday at Home

Our second Holy Week resource is our “Holy Thursday at Home” resource.  This is a simple activity for you to do around the table on Thursday evening.  You can find it here.

Good Friday Worship

We’ve also put together a Good Friday worship experience – music, Scripture reading, and sermon.  That will be shared live to our Facebook page and our livestream page at 6 PM.  You can either watch it live then or the archived video anytime Friday or Saturday.

Easter Sunday Worship

Easter is the most important holiday in Christianity.  Our Easter Sunday worship service will be live (on our Facebook page and at our livestream page) at 10 AM on Sunday, April 12.  It will include music, Scripture, a sermon, and a special video treat from the children of Haymarket Church.  We hope you’ll worship with us!

A Holy Week Prayer

Because this Holy Week is also expected to be a very painful week in our country’s (and our world’s) fight against COVID-19, we offer you this prayer to pray throughout the week:

God, we ask that all who are affected by this virus be held in your loving care. We pray for the sick and those who suffer, for healthcare providers and essential employees, for those who mourn and all who are afraid.  In this time of uncertainty, help us to know what is ours to do. We know you did not cause this suffering but that you are with us in it and through it. Help us to recognize your presence in acts of kindness, in moments of silence, and in the beauty of the created world. Grant peace and protection to all of humanity for their well-being and for the benefit of the earth.  
As we tell the story of Holy Week this week, we remember the suffering that you have walked through for us.  We know that you are familiar with pain, death, and loss.  We know that you have offered your very life for us.  And, so, we pray that this story would come alive for us this week.  Even more, we pray that your death and resurrection would continue to be a source of hope and new life for a world in need.  Send forth your Holy Spirit and transform us, strengthen us, and renew us.  Be working for good, even in the midst of suffering and death.  And give us eyes to see your beauty, truth, and light in the midst of it all.  Amen.