The labyrinth at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Eastsound provides the opportunity for reflection, meditation and guidance.
From Emmanuel Episcopal Parish
Emmanuel Episcopal Parish offers a variety of worship opportunities during this most important part of the church year. By participating in one or more of the Holy Week services, the joy of Easter should be more profound.
On Maundy Thursday, March 28, the Holy Eucharist will be celebrated in the parish hall beginning at 5:30 PM with a simple Mediterranean theme potluck dinner. Following the meal, traditional foot washing will be offered prior to the Eucharist. At the conclusion of the Eucharist, the congregation will process to the church accompanied by Taizé chanting to witness the stripping of the altar.
On Good Friday, March 29, there are multiple opportunities to experience this most holy of days. At noon, the Rector, Bishop Craig Anderson, will hear individual confessions at the altar rail for those desiring confession. As it is sometimes said in the Episcopal Church, all may, no one must, yet some should confess. Later that afternoon at 4:30, the Stations of the Cross ceremony will be held outside by the labyrinth ending in the church in time for the 5:30 Good Friday Liturgy. This service will conclude with the tolling of the bell 33 times for each year of Christ’s temporal earthly life.
On Holy Saturday, March 30, there will be short service at 5:30 PM followed by a self-directed vigil. In addition, the weekly Centering Prayer group meets from 9:30 to 11 AM in our Meditation Hall. Everyone is welcome at Centering Prayer regardless of faith tradition or experience.
There are two opportunities to celebrate Easter, March 31. There will be a Sunrise Service at 6:00 AM followed by breakfast and a 10:00 AM Eucharist followed by an Easter egg hunt. The Sunrise Service will include a summary of Old Testament lessons starting from creation that are traditionally read in an Easter Vigil service.
The entire community is welcome to participate in any or all services. As an Episcopal Church, Emmanuel believes that all baptized Christians are welcome at the Lord’s Table.
Please remember you are always welcome to walk our labyrinth. For more details on the labyrinth or Emmanuel, please visit our web site: https://orcasepiscopal.org/labyrinth-2/
I love researching the origin of holidays as they come around. I appreciate explaining to my 7 year old daughter what they are about so she can celebrate authentically :)
If you dig just a little bit you’ll find corresponding answers pertaining to Easter. This excerpt is from the following link …
https://www.allaboutjesuschrist.org/origin-of-easter.htm
Origin of Easter – Its Pagan Roots
The origin of Easter dates back to ancient times, not long after the global Flood recorded in Genesis 6-9 of the Bible. Nimrod, a grandson of Noah, had turned from following his grandfather’s God and had become a tyrannical ruler. According to the biblical record, as king, Nimrod created Babel, Ninevah, Asshur, Calla and other cities, all known for lifestyles that promoted unspeakable evil and perversion. When Nimrod died, his wife, Queen Semiramis, deified him as the Sun-god, or Life Giver. Later he would become known as Baal, and those who followed the religion Semiramis created in his name would be called Baal worshippers. They became associated with idolatry, demon worship, human sacrifice and other practices regarded as evil.
The origin of Easter involves the birth of Semiramis’ illegitimate son, Tammuz. Somehow, Semiramis convinced the people that Tammuz was actually Nimrod reborn. Since people had been looking for the promised savior since the beginning of mankind (see Genesis 3:15), they were persuaded by Semiramis to believe that Tammuz was that savior, even that he had been supernaturally conceived. Before long, in addition to worshipping Tammuz (or Nimrod reborn), the people also worshipped Semiramis herself as the goddess of fertility. In other cultures, she has been called Ishtar, Ashtur and yes, Easter.
The origin of Easter goes back to the springtime ritual instituted by Semiramis following the death of Tammuz, who, according to tradition, was killed by a wild boar. Legend has it that through the power of his mother’s tears, Tammuz was “resurrected” in the form of the new vegetation that appeared on the earth.
According to the Bible, it was in the city of Babel that the people created a tower in order to defy God. Up until that time, all the people on the earth spoke one language. The building of the tower led God, as recorded in Genesis 11:7, to confuse their tongues to keep them from being further unified in their false beliefs. As the people moved into other lands, many of them took their pagan practices with them.
Contemporary traditions such as the Easter Bunny and the Easter egg can also be traced back to the practices established by Semiramis. Because of their prolific nature, rabbits have long been associated with fertility and its goddess, Ishtar. Ancient Babylonians believed in a fable about an egg that fell into the Euphrates River from heaven and from which Queen Astarte (another name for Ishtar or Semiramis) was “hatched.