Palm Sunday is fast approaching and many of our churches feel they are in a good place to continue their ministry online. However, participating in Holy Communion and sharing the importance of Holy Week through the internet has provided its unique challenges. One church in San Antonio, Texas, will be uniting as the body of Christ through "worship kits".
The idea is to organize Holy Week Worship Kits. These packages will include the following:
- palm fronds
- daily devotional guides with object lessons
- envelopes to help with offerings
- pre-sealed and consecrated communion cups
- a surprise gift (To find out what the surprise is, you can email Pastor John, or replace it with a surprise element of your choice.)
In continuous efforts of social distancing, they are asking members to pick up their worship kits. They have also been very careful in packing these kits by wearing gloves and masks. Holy Week Worship Kits will be available for curbside pick-up at the church facility on Saturday, April 4 and on Palm Sunday, April 5. They also ask that those with transportation hardships communicate directly through e-mail by Thursday April 2 to arrange for a worship kit to be delivered to their home.
Palm Sunday
Worship will be offered online at 9:30 AM in Spanish and at 11:00 AM in English. Let us sing "Hosanna!" as we celebrate Jesus together with palms!
Daily Devotions and Object Lessons
Each day of Holy Week, special devotions will use scripture and ordinary items to relate the story of Holy Week and the journey of Jesus through his Passion. Instructions and a guide will be included in your worship kit with a video resource on our YouTube channel.
Maundy Thursday
We invite you to join via ZOOM to share a community dinner and love feast at 6:00 P.M. hosted from the Feagins' residence. Install ZOOM on your smart device, tablet, or computer, then click on the link below at the time indicated to be included. Love Feasts, an ancient tradition of Christianity, share water and bread rather than the wine and bread of Holy Communion. (Communion will be shared on Easter Sunday.)
Topic: Maundy Thursday Love Feast
Time: Apr 9, 2020 06:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://smu.zoom.us/j/287035928
Meeting ID: 287 035 928
Good Friday
On Good Friday, a special video presentation featuring several pastors affiliated with La Trinidad UMC will be uploaded on the theme of the Seven Last Words of Christ.
Sunrise Selfies
We want to see you, too! Please email us your individual or family Easter portraits or "Sunrise-Selfie" pictures by noon on Saturday, April 11, 2020 if you would like your photos included (without names) in a special "Sunrise Selfie" Slideshow to be broadcast as part of an 8:00 AM "Sunrise" service on Easter morning. We will also share this slideshow to our church website.
Easter Sunday Communion Service
With communion elements consecrated and distributed in the worship kits, we will celebrate Holy Communion together at 9:30 AM and at 11:00 AM on Easter Sunday morning. Please retain the communion elements in your worship kit for this special service.
To read the full e-newsletter by La Trinidad, follow this link: English | Spanish
***Contact your bishop to ensure that you are following your Annual Conference guidelines regarding the participation of Holy Communion. If you have other ideas for Holy Week or virtual worship, let us know. Contact us with your suggestions at resourceumc@umcom.org.