12:05 p.m. Holy Eucharist in the Chapel, with prayers for healing on Wednesday.
5:30 p.m. Holy Eucharist with Children’s Homily and Foot-Washing
7:00 p.m. Holy Eucharist and Stripping of the Altar (with choir) Livestream
The Thursday in Holy Week. It is part of the Triduum, or three holy days before Easter. It comes from the Latin mandatum novum, “new commandment,” from Jn 13:34. The ceremony of washing feet was also referred to as “the Maundy.” Maundy Thursday celebrations also commemorate the institution of the eucharist by Jesus “on the night he was betrayed.” Egeria, a fourth-century pilgrim to Jerusalem, describes elaborate celebrations and observances in that city on Maundy Thursday. Special celebration of the institution of the eucharist on Maundy Thursday is attested by the Council of Hippo in 381. The Prayer Book liturgy for Maundy Thursday provides for celebration of the eucharist and a ceremony of the washing of feet which follows the gospel and homily. There is also provision for the consecration of the bread and wine for administering Holy Communion from the reserved sacrament on Good Friday. Following this, the altar is stripped and all decorative furnishings are removed from the church.
12:00 p.m. Liturgy for Good Friday and Reading of the Passion Livestream
12:45 p.m. Way of the Cross
The church will remain open for prayer and meditation until 3:00 p.m.
The Friday before Easter Day, on which the church commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus. It is a day of fasting and special acts of discipline and self-denial. In the early church candidates for baptism, joined by others, fasted for a day or two before the Paschal feast. In the west the first of those days eventually acquired the character of historical reenactment of the passion and death of Christ. The liturgy of the day includes John's account of the Passion gospel, a solemn form of intercession known as the solemn collects (dating from ancient Rome), and optional devotions before the cross (commonly known as the veneration of the cross). The eucharist is not celebrated in the Episcopal Church on Good Friday.
8:00 p.m. The first Holy Eucharist of Easter (with choir and incense) Reception to follow. Livestream
Please bring a bell to ring during “Alleluias.”
The liturgy intended as the first (and arguably, the primary) celebration of Easter in the BCP (pp. 284-95). It is also known as the Great Vigil. The service begins in darkness, sometime between sunset on Holy Saturday and sunrise on Easter, and consists of four parts: The Service of Light (kindling of new fire, lighting the Paschal candle, the Exsultet); The Service of Lessons (readings from the Hebrew Scriptures interspersed with psalms, canticles, and prayers); Christian Initiation (Holy Baptism) or the Renewal of Baptismal Vows; and the Eucharist. Through this liturgy, the BCP recovers an ancient practice of keeping the Easter feast. Believers would gather in the hours of darkness ending at dawn on Easter to hear scripture and offer prayer. This night-long service of prayerful watching anticipated the baptisms that would come at first light and the Easter Eucharist. Easter was the primary baptismal occasion for the early church to the practical exclusion of all others. This practice linked the meanings of Christ's dying and rising to the understanding of baptism.
8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite I (with choir) Reception to follow. Livestream
*10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite II (with choir) Livestream Reception and special treat for children to follow.
6:00 p.m. Holy Eucharist Rite II
7:00 p.m. The Great Paschal Vespers (with choir and incense) Livestream
*childcare available
The feast of Christ's resurrection. According to Bede, the word derives from the Anglo-Saxon spring goddess Eostre. Christians in England applied the word to the principal festival of the church year, both day and season. Easter Day is the annual feast of the resurrection, the pascha or Christian Passover, and the eighth day of cosmic creation. Faith in Jesus' resurrection on the Sunday or third day following his crucifixion is at the heart of Christian belief. Easter sets the experience of springtime next to the ancient stories of deliverance and the proclamation of the risen Christ. In the west, Easter occurs on the first Sunday after the full moon on or after the vernal equinox. Easter always falls between Mar. 22 and Apr. 25 inclusive. Following Jewish custom, the feast begins at sunset on Easter Eve with the Great Vigil of Easter. The Eastern Orthodox Church celebrates Easter on the first Sunday after the Jewish pesach or Passover (which follows the spring full moon). Although the two dates sometimes coincide, the eastern date is often one or more weeks later.
Families with little ones, come join us for a special evening at Holy Homes on Wednesday, May 7 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Take a break from the busyness of the day and come enjoy a home-cooked meal, meaningful community time with music, and an engaging, intergenerational lesson and activity designed to spark faith-filled conversations at home. Each family will also take home a fun, easy-to-follow lesson plan to continue the experience in their own way, on their own time!
Recognizing the challenges families face with traditional Sunday School, Holy Homes is a monthly intergenerational event inviting families to gather for songs, meals, and Bible stories, and will provide tools and kits for continued learning at home. Holy Homes is open to all families with young ones and happens on the first Wednesday of every month. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Marvin McLennon.
8:00 a.m. Liturgy of the Palms and Holy Eucharist Rite I (with choir) Livestream
*10:30 a.m. Liturgy of the Palms and Holy Eucharist Rite II (with choir and procession) Livestream
6:00 p.m. Holy Eucharist Rite II
7:00 p.m. Compline Listen
*childcare available
The Sunday before Easter at which Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Mt 21:1-11, Mk 11:1-11a, Lk 19:29-40) and Jesus’ Passion on the cross (Mt 26:36-27:66, Mk 14:32-15:47, Lk 22:39-23:56) are recalled. It is also known as the Sunday of the Passion. Palm Sunday is the first day of Holy Week. Red is the liturgical color for the day. The observance of Palm Sunday in Jerusalem was witnessed by the pilgrim Egeria in about 381-384. During this observance there was a procession of people down the Mount of Olives into Jerusalem. The people waved branches of palms or olive trees as they walked. They sang psalms, including Ps 118, and shouted the antiphon, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
Get your work clothes on and help us spring clean ahead of our renovations. We have accumulated a lot of things over the past decades, and while we're certainly holding onto much of it, everything from broken tables to VCRs are taking up room in closets and storage rooms. Help us open up space and get the church ready for our future. We'll have jobs for any ability level. Friday, April 11 and Saturday, April 12 from 9-noon. Questions? Contact Ragan Sutterfield (rsutterfield@christchurchlr.org) or Hannah Hooker (hhooker@christchurchlr.org).
Families with little ones, come join us for a special evening at Holy Homes on Wednesday, April 9 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Take a break from the busyness of the day and come enjoy a home-cooked meal, meaningful community time with music, and an engaging, intergenerational lesson and activity designed to spark faith-filled conversations at home. Each family will also take home a fun, easy-to-follow lesson plan to continue the experience in their own way, on their own time!
Recognizing the challenges families face with traditional Sunday School, Holy Homes is a monthly intergenerational event inviting families to gather for songs, meals, and Bible stories, and will provide tools and kits for continued learning at home. Holy Homes is open to all families with young ones and happens on the first Wednesday of every month. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Marvin McLennon.
Join the Christ Church and St. Michael’s communities this Advent season to reflect on the miracle of the Incarnation through the eyes of St. Francis. St. Francis was the first person to create a living nativity in a little hillside town in Italy over 800 years ago. For Francis, re-enacting the setting for Christ's birth was a way to recognize the Creator who came down to be a part of the creation. Drawing on his December cover story for The Christian Century magazine, Ragan Sutterfield will lead us in some fireside reflections on what it means that Christ came among us and the beautiful truths St. Francis first called to our attention. There will be activities for the children while the adults have time for reflection. Our time together will include with a Franciscan inspired “wild church” eucharist, and close with s’mores, hot cocoa, and cider around the fire. The cost is $10 per individual and $25 for families. Register here.
Christ Church needs a feast day, so we're claiming Christ the King Sunday as a time to celebrate our community with chili and cornbread. To make this meal a success, we invite you to gather a team to show us your best chili recipe. Whether it involves chocolate in a Cincinnati style, or a great meat-free option, we want to see which team can make the tastiest pot of chili at Christ Church. To decide the best of the pack, Jack Sundell, owner and founder of The Root Cafe, will be our guest judge. To enter, fill out the form below and show up on Sunday November 24th by 10:15 a.m. with your chili in a crock pot of at least 5 quarts or more. Each chili must have its ingredients clearly listed. If your chili is best served with a particular topping such as cheese, sour cream, or onions, provide those at your station as well. Chili not your thing? Bring cornbread, a side, or a dessert to share. Questions? Email Ragan Sutterfield: rsutterfield@christchurchlr.org. Register here: https://forms.gle/2fXob2cQaxgSKb7e7
The whole Christ Church community is invited to join us at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre for hors d'oeuvres, libations, and a joyful presentation about our exciting campaign. Childcare and transportation are available. Pledge cards will be provided. So that we may know how many to expect, please send your RSVP to Dustyn Spencer at dspencer@christchurchlr.org by Thursday, October 31.
Join us as we say prayers for our shared civic life and the common good. All political persuasions welcome.
All are invited to join us in celebrating this major feast day in the church year. On All Saints’ Day, we remember those who have died and all the communion of saints with exceptional musical offerings from the choir and organ, incense, and the reading of the necrology. A festive reception follows. This service will be live-streamed and childcare will be available. To add the name of a loved one who has passed to be read aloud, please email dspencer@christchurchlr.org.
All are invited to join us for our first ever inter-generational Christ Church Parish Bike Ride on Saturday, October 26 at 1 p.m. Participants will gather in the Christ Church parking lot and go on a lowkey bike ride through the downtown area with a midpoint stop at Loblolly Creamery, ultimately ending back at the Christ Church lot. Riders of all ages are welcome! Please bring a helmet and bike lock for the ride. If you have any questions, please contact Marvin at mmclennon@christchurchlr.org.
Organist John Coble will perform at Christ Church at 7:00 pm on Friday, October 25. The concert is co-sponsored by Arts@Christ Church and the Central Arkansas Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. Admission is free, with donations accepted to support expenses associated with the concert. The church is handicapped accessible.
All are welcome to join Christ Episcopal Church at the 12th Annual Central Arkansas Pride Fest and Parade. Parade walkers should gather in the Dickey Stephens parking lot by 10:45 a.m. Be sure to swing by the Episcopal booth anytime between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m and say hi! Questions? Contact Hannah at hhooker@christchurchlr.org
Families are encouraged to come in costume along with bringing their own cardboard boxcar vehicles/bikes/etc and join us for a screening of the Pixar film “Coco.” Concessions will be available, and be sure to come early to find a good parking space!
We are so excited to welcome Richard Michael Hall and William Blackart to The Undercroft stage this Friday evening, October 11th! $10 8 pm.
Please join us for a special opening night reception and exhibition at Christ Episcopal Church featuring our own Del Boyette. Del’s show features photography from his recent overseas travels and is entitled “Good Energy,” honoring places that give him exactly that. 100% of the proceeds will go to the capital campaign. The parlor will feature our 2nd annual Youth of Christ Church art show. All artworks will be on display and available for purchase from October 11 through December 30.
All are invited to join us for the first Family Worship Service of the new program year!
Arts@Christ Church presents a concert from Eric Vloeimans and Will Holshouser, an adventurous trumpet and accordion duo.
Check out the schedule of events for Open House Sunday! For more information, contact Hannah at hhooker@christchurchlr.org.
All kids from rising third graders through high school are invited to join the fun singing, learning stage movement and technique, some easy dancing, and putting together a Broadway-style show. This camp is open to kids at Christ Episcopal Church and the wider community, so tell your friends!
This year’s theme is “From Ordinary to Extraordinary!” and is based on Isaiah 43:19. Participants will learn through bible stories, art projects, music, games and more about where God is creating a “new thing” in their lives and how God can make the ordinary, EXTRAORDINARY! VBS will be held at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral.
Bishop Harmon will make his first official visit to Christ Church on Mothers’ Day!
Join us as we celebrate the feast of the Ascension, one of the six major feast days of our church year. We will hear the story of Jesus rising up into heaven after his resurrection and respond with prayers and praises in a choral Eucharist, followed by a festive reception!
Arkansas strawberries are at their peak! Come celebrate another year of the Green Groceries Program at Christ Church and help us raise money for the upcoming year.
From dust to dust, earth to earth—that is the traditional vision of our bodily destiny at death. But all too often our contemporary burial practices keep our bodies from returning to the earth. What if there were another way to care for the bodies of our loved ones? What if our bodies could be used to renew the earth rather than deplete it? Over eight weeks, moving from Lent into Easter, we'll be exploring these questions through readings, videos, and discussions. Our primary text will be Mallory McDuff's Our Last Best Act: Planning for the End of Our Lives to Protect the People and Places We Love. Questions? Email the Rev. Ragan Sutterfield: rsutterfield@christchurchlr.org.
Join us for a new monthly gathering to explore a short books (under 200 pages) on contemplation, prayer, and meditation. We'll begin this series with Biography of Silence by Pablo d'Ors. Written by a Spanish novelist and Jesuit priest, this book was a bestseller in Spain and is now published by Parallax Press, a nonprofit publisher founded by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. Beautiful and meditative in its language, Biography of Silence is a book about the depths we encounter when we still our minds and listen. Questions? Contact Ragan Sutterfield: rsutterfield@christchurchlr.org.
Join us for a Rite 1 celebration of Eucharist on Christmas Day.
Join us for Christmas carols and lessons from scripture, followed by a celebration of Holy Eucharist. The service will also be available via livestream.
A service of Holy Eucharist with choral music. Childcare provided and the service will be livestreamed.
Join us as we celebrate the Fourth Sunday of Advent and enjoy a retelling of the Christmas story with the children of Christ Church. The service will be followed by a reception with hot chocolate and cookies.
Join us for this annual tradition that captures the essence of the season of Advent through Scripture lessons and music. A festive reception follows, and childcare will be available in the nursery. This service will also be available via livestream and on the podcast, Christ Church Audio. Please note that this service replaces the Sunday evening Eucharist at 6:00 p.m. and Compline at 7:00 p.m., which will resume the following week.
Italian organist Alessandro Bianchi Organ presents a concert in partnership with the Central Arkansas Chapter of the American Guild of Organists on November 10, with a master class at Christ Church on November 11.
