Services and Ceremonies forAsh Wednesday and Holy Week
Authorised for permissive use under Canon 23-8, on behalf of the College of Bishops of the Episcopal Church in Scotland.
+Francis, Glasgow and Galloway, Primus
February, 1967.
© Copyright, Representative Church Council of the Scottish Episcopal Church.
Acknowledgements
Thanks are due to the following for permission to use or adapt copyright materials as follows:
Thomas Nelson & Sons Limited (for the Scripture quotations which are taken from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyrighted 1946 and 1952, by the Division of Christian Education, National Council of Churches, and used by permission); the Synod of the Bishops of the Church of the Province of South Africa and the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (from Services for Ash Wednesday and Holy Week); Prebendary G. B. Timms and the Alcuin Club (from a Directory of Ceremonial part 2, the Liturgical Seasons); A. R. Mowbray & Co. Limited (from Cambridge Offices and Orisons, a Thanksgiving for the Resurrection), the Church Literature Association and Society of S. Peter and S. Paul (material for the Holy Saturday and Easter Vigil Service); the Oxford University Press (English Hymnal No. 737); Student Christian Movement (four Prayers in the Easter Vigil Service from "Christ our Passover", by the Reverend J. T. Martin).
Preface
In 1948 the College of Bishops issued a small book entitled Services and Ceremonies for Ash Wednesday and Holy Week. It is generally felt that this book is now out of date and that a new one should be provided, especially in the light of the revised rites for Holy Week and Easter as used in Western Christendom. Hence the production of this book.
As a result of the Liturgical Movement a new interest is being taken in the observance of Holy Week. Its concern is with the redeeming work of Christ and with the Church to which his redemptive acts gave birth, and through which their effects are mediated to men. All this is summed up and renewed in the Paschal Rites which through the centuries have developed into the Holy Week and Easter Observance, and which each year proclaim that it is by his Cross and Passion and by his glorious Resurrection that mankind and the world shall find deliverance.
ASH WEDNESDAY
THE BLESSING AND IMPOSITION OF ASHES
The ceremony normally takes place before the Eucharist.
Ashes made from the Palms of the previous Palm Sunday are placed in a suitable receptacle at the Epistle side of the Altar, or on a table in the Chancel so that the priest faces the people.
1Blessing of Ashes
The priest blesses the ashes as follows:
The Lord be with you;
And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
O God,
whodesirest not the death of a sinner,
but rather that he should repent;
mercifully look upon the weakness of man's nature;
and of thy loving kindness
vouchsafe to bless these ashes
to be marks of our penitence;
that we, acknowledging that we are but dust
and unto dust must soon return,
may receive forgiveness of all our sins
and the reward which thou hast promised
to them that are penitent;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
2Imposition of Ashes
The celebrant then receives the imposition of ashes from another priest if one is present, otherwise the celebrant imposes ashes on himself. After this the people come forward and kneel at the Altar rails. Holding the vessel containing the ashes in his left hand, the priest dips the thumb of his right hand into the ashes and signs the forehead of each in turn with the sign of the Cross saying:
Remember, O man, thou art but dust
and unto dust shalt thou return.
3Collect
When all have received the ashes the priest cleanses his hands and returns to the Epistle side of the Altar and says the following:
The Lord be with you;
And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
O Lord Jesus Christ,
before whose judgment seat we must all appear;
grant, we beseech thee,
that when the books are opened in that day
the faces of thy servants may not be ashamed:
through thy merits, O blessed Saviour,
wholivest and reignest
with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, world without end.
Amen.
The Holy Eucharist follows.
HOLY WEEK
THE PASSION NARRATIVES
One of the principal features of the Holy Week Liturgy is the reading of the accounts of our Lord's Passion by the four Evangelists. The arrangement followed in the Prayer Book is familiar to us and involves reading the Passion according to St Luke at the Eucharist on Maundy Thursday. It is almost universally agreed that this is not suitable as a Gospel for the Eucharist on that day.
The question arises as to what should be done about the reading of St Luke's Passion. Two courses are open, either to omit it altogether or to adopt the arrangement by which it is read on another day.
The Liturgical Committee was unanimous that the second course should be followed, according to which the narrative of the Passion by each Evangelist is read as a whole, beginning at Gethsemane and ending at the laying of our Lord's Body in the tomb. Thus St Matthew's Passion will be read on Sunday, St Mark's on Tuesday, St Luke's on Wednesday, and that of St John on Friday.
For the Gospel on Monday is read the account of our Lord's visit to Bethany six days before the Passover, and on Maundy Thursday the account of the washing of the disciples' feet. Thus the readings for the Gospels and the narratives of the Passion will be as follows:
Palm SundaySt Matthew 26:36 - 27:60
MondaySt John 12:1-9
TuesdaySt Mark 14:32 - 15:46
WednesdaySt Luke 22:39 - 23:53
Maundy ThursdaySt John 13:1-15
Good FridaySt John 18:1 - 19:42
The Epistles are those as set in the Prayer Book.
COLLECT
The COLLECT FOR ASH WEDNESDAY may be omitted throughout Holy Week.
GLORIA
The GLORY BE TO THE FATHER at the end of the psalms and canticles and elsewhere where it is appointed to be said may be omitted on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday.
PALM SUNDAY
Palm Sunday is the first day of Holy Week and the traditional and characteristic observance is the Procession of Palms held before the Eucharist, and is the Church's acclamation and welcome of our Lord as Messiah and King as he comes in redemption.
The blessing and distribution of Palms are only incidental to the Procession which is the primary feature of the observance and recalls our Lord's processional entry into the City of Jerusalem.
There is no obligation to use crosses of dried palm. Strips of palm or sprigs and branches of natural foliage are equally if not more suitable. If there is a hall available, the congregation may assemble there for the blessing and distribution and the reading of the Gospel, after which the clergy will lead the people in procession to the Church. If it is preferred, instead of placing the palms on a table or trays for the blessing, the people may receive them as they enter the church or hall. They will then hold them in their hands for the prayer of blessing.
During the Eucharist the Passion according to St Matthew is read or sung. Even if the Passion is not sung in the traditional way it may well be read by three different voices, for the Narrator, the Christus, and the other single parts, while the choir or the congregation recite the words of the crowd.
THE BLESSING OF PALMS
1Blessing of Palms
The palms may be placed on a table or on trays held by servers either in the Sanctuary or at the Chancel steps. The Priest facing the people says the Collect of blessing.
The Lord be with you;
And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
Almighty and everlasting God,
who, in the fulfilment of prophecy
didst cause thine anointed Son
this day to ride into the Holy City:
sanctify to our use, we beseech thee,
these branches of Palm;
and grant that we who carry them
inhonour of our King and Redeemer may,
by a steadfast obedience to thy Sovereign will,
prepare the way for him to come again;
wholiveth and reigneth
with thee and the Holy Ghost,
one God, world without end.
Amen.
The priest may then sprinkle the palms with holy water and cense them. Then follows the distribution of palms. The priest takes a palm himself and then distributes them to the choir and servers, and lastly to the people at the Chancel steps.
Meanwhile, if desired, any for all of the following may be sung: English Hymnal 617, 618, 6:19. Psalms 24, 47.
When the distribution is finished the Priest or other Minister reads the Gospel from the accustomed place.
3Gospel
Matthew 21: 1-9
And when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, "Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find an ass tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. If any one says anything to you, you shall say, 'The Lord has need of them', and he will send them immediately." This took place to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet, saying,
"Tell the daughter of Zion, Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on an ass. and on a colt, the foal of an ass."
The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the ass and the colt, and put their garments on them, and he sat thereon. Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. And the crowds that went before him and that followed him shouted, " Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed be he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!"
THE PROCESSION
4Procession
After the Gospel, the Priest taking his own palm and standing before the Altar begins the Procession in the customary manner.
Let us go forth in peace
In the name of Christ.
Amen.
The Procession then takes place. The people may join in the Procession behind the Priest. During the Procession the following hymn is sung:
All glory, laud, and honour
To thee, Redeemer, King,
To whom the lips of children
Made sweet hosannas ring.
Thou art the King of Israel,
Thou David's royal Son,
Who in the Lord's name comest,
The King and blessed One.
The company of Angels .
Are praising thee on high,
And mortal men and all things
Created make reply.
The people of the Hebrews
With palms before thee went;
Our praise and prayer and anthems
Before thee we present.
To thee before thy passion
They sang their hymns of praise;
To thee now high exalted
Our melody we raise.
Thou didst accept their praises,
Accept the prayers we bring,
Who in all good delightest,
Thou good and gracious King.
5Post-Procession Collect
The Procession over, the priest standing before the Altar says the following Collect:
Let us pray.
O Lord Jesus Christ,
our King and Redeemer,
in whose honour we have carried these branches
and sung our joyful praises:
pour down thy blessing
wheresoever these palms are taken,
destroy the subtle tyranny of the devil,
and strengthen for service
those whom thou has set free;
wholiveth and reigneth
with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
ever one God, world without end.
Amen.
The Eucharist then follows.
6The Collect
Almighty and everlasting God,
who, of thy tender love towards mankind,
hast sent thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ,
to take upon him our flesh
and to suffer death upon the cross,
that all mankind should follow
the example of his great humility:
Mercifully grant that we may follow
the example of his patience,
and also be made partakers
of his resurrection;
through the same
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
7The Epistle
Philippians 2:5-11.
Have this mind among yourselves, which you have in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
8The Passion
Matthew 24:36 - 27:60.
Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, "Sit here, while I go yonder and pray." And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, " My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me." And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt." And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, "So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, "My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, thy will be done." And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words. Then he came to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Behold the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see my betrayer is at hand."
While he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, "The one I shall kiss is the man; seize him." And he came up to Jesus at once and said, "Hail Master!" And he kissed him. Jews said to him, "Friend, why are you here?" Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest, and cut off his car. Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?" At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, "Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But all this has taken place, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled." Then all the disciples forsook him and fled.
Then those who had seized Jesus led him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. But Peter followed him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and going inside he sat with the guards to see the end. Now the chief priests and the whole council sought false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward and said, "This fellow said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.' "And the high priest stood up and said, "Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?" But Jesus was silent. And the high priest said to him, "I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God." Jesus said to him, "You have said so. But I tell you, hereafter you will see the Son of man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven." Then the high priest tore his robes, and said, "He has uttered blasphemy. Why do we still need witnesses? You have now heard his blasphemy. What is your judgement?" They answered, "He deserves death." Then they spat in his face, and struck him; and some slapped him, saying, "Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?"
Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a maid came up to him, and said, "You also were with Jesus the Galilean." But he denied it before them all, saying, "I do not know what you mean." And when he went out to the porch, another maid saw him, and she said to the bystanders, "This man was with Jesus of Nazareth." And again he denied it with an oath, "I do not know the man." After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, "Certainly you are also one of them, for your accent betrays you." Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, " I do not know the man." And immediately the cock crowed. And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, "Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly.