St. Mary's Episcopal Church Kinston

HOLY WEEK 2025 WITH ST. MARY'S

PALM SUNDAY - Palm Sunday, April 13th, begins with the Holy Eucharist at 8am. Breakfast will be served in Moseley Hall at 9am, and throughout the morning, palm crosses will be made. A few minutes before 10:30am, we will gather outdoors (weather permitting) for a Blessing of the Palms before processing into the church, recalling Jesus' entry into Jerusalem before His Passion. We will even be joined by Lulu the mule again this year! In the event of inclement weather, we will begin our procession in Moseley Hall.

MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY - Community Holy Week Service and Lunch will be hosted daily by the Kinston-Lenoir County Association of Congregations at noon. The service schedule will be as follows: Monday, April 14th at Spilman Memorial Baptist Church; Tuesday, April 15th at St. Augustus AME Zion Church; Wednesday, April 16th at New Hope Church Ministries; and Thursday, April 17th at Queen Street United Methodist Church. Holy Week financial offerings will be given to the Lenoir County High Schools Bible History Classes.

MONDAY - On Monday, April 14, 5:30 pm, there will be a Teaching Eucharist in the Chapel. 

TUESDAY - On Tuesday, April 15, 5:30 pm, there will be Eucharist in the Chapel, and Jayden Wright will preach.

WEDNESDAY - On Wednesday, April 16, we will begin with a community meal at 6:30pm followed by a service of Tenebrae (Latin for “Darkness” or “Shadows”). At 7:30pm. Tenebrae features music from Taize & readings from the Psalms and other passages that foretell Jesus’ Passion. This beautiful service, held in the Nave, features Choral Scholar Emmalee Kennemore and offers a meditation upon and a prelude to the events of our Lord’s life between the Last Supper and His Resurrection. Staffed childcare will be available.

THE PASCHAL TRIDUUM: A Three-Part Liturgy (Thursday - Saturday Evening)
MAUNDY THURSDAY - On Thursday, April 17, at 7:30pm, our Maundy Thursday liturgy held in the Nave will recall the institution of the Last Supper and Jesus’ humble act of washing His disciples’ feet. It ends with the stripping of the altar and the beginning of a vigil throughout the night in the Chapel. The Chapel prayer vigil begins at the conclusion of the Maundy Thursday liturgy and ends with communion at the Good Friday liturgy. Join us for a special time of prayer and meditation, inspired by the question asked of all of us by Jesus - "Could you not watch with me one hour?" All are invited to sign up for a 1-hour time slot during the vigil on the door to the Chapel or at this link. Staffed childcare will be available for the 7:30pm liturgy.

GOOD FRIDAY (A day of fasting for the church) - The second portion of the Triduum is the Good Friday liturgy. This service in the Nave, on Friday, April 18, at noon, includes a homily, Solemn Collects, Veneration of the Cross, and Communion from the Reserved Sacrament. The Way of the Cross (Stations) will also be offered in the Nave at 5:45pm, ending the Good Friday observance. Staffed childcare will be available.

THE GREAT VIGIL OF EASTER - The Triduum concludes with the Great Vigil of Easter. Taking place in the Nave, the Lenten observance officially ends, and Easter celebration begins on Saturday evening at 7:30pm with this liturgy, one of the most ancient and exciting of the Christian Church - the celebration of the transition from the darkness of Holy Saturday into the light of Christ’s Easter Victory. The liturgy lasts about an hour. It begins with the lighting of the New Fire at the entrance to the church and includes hymns & spiritual songs, accompanied by City Lights Jazz, renewal of baptismal vows, and the first Eucharist of Easter! Staffed childcare will be available.

EASTER DAY - On Sunday, April 20, the Feast of the Resurrection of our Lord will begin with the Holy Eucharist in the Chapel at 8am. The 10:30am service is a Festal Holy Eucharist with handbells, full choir, flowering of the cross, and all the glory of Easter Morning! There is also an Easter Egg Hunt for children following the service, so be sure to bring their Easter baskets! Staffed childcare will be available.