Holy Week

Holy week is the time of year when Marian Heintz and her students prepare for the greatest feast of the church year. Heintz, principal at Holy Family Grade School, and her 315 students gathered for a performance of the Passion play in the sanctuary of Holy Family Catholic Church Wednesday. Ofelia Ruta's seventh- and eighth-grade students performed the play, which depicted the passion and death of Jesus Christ. Heintz said Lent -- the time between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday -- is a time for Catholics to improve themselves, renew their faith, do good things for other people and receive the sacrament of reconciliation.

I have always been amazed at the breadth of services that local churches organize in the days surrounding Holy Week and preceding Easter. Last year?s Holy Week and Easter Sunday services included choral passions and baptism by candlelight, presented by St. George?s Episcopal Church; a telling of the Passion story, presented by La Cañada United Methodist; a self-guided spiritual journey and Easter Sunday services on a hill behind Descanso Gardens presented by La Cañada Presbyterian; and six Masses at St. Bede?

With Easter Sunday just around the corner, Christians around the city are getting ready for the most important holiday in their faith with a week of remembrance recognizing the work and miracles of Jesus Christ. Holy Week — which began on April 1 with Palm Sunday and ends today with Holy Saturday — recognizes what many Christians see as the greatest miracle of all time, the death and resurrection of Christ. "In Holy Week we celebrate important events of our life as a Christian family and the events of our salvation," said Father Paul Hruby of Incarnation Catholic Church.

The News-Press has reported on some lowlife thieves over the years, but the person or persons who stole a statue of Jesus Christ from a Catholic church during Holy Week really took the cake. The $12,000 wooden statue, which depicts the crucified Christ and weighs about 90 pounds, was stolen from St. James the Less in La Crescenta just before Holy Week in early April. The thief stole the statue right off the cross on which it was mounted. No signs of forced entry were found, but church officials told police many people have keys to the building.

Holy Week, the time between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday, is an important time of the year for Christians. On Holy Saturday , April 7, the sanctuary will be open for a Prayer Vigil from 9 a.m. to noon. People may come and go for prayer and meditation during that time. There will be a special opportunity for children to learn about Easter and have a lot of fun doing so. A Children's Easter Party will be held at the church from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. All children are welcome, and parents are encouraged to attend with their children.

Rosette Gonzales Members of St. Mark's Episcopal Church and Incarnation Catholic Church walked with branches of palm trees down Glendale city streets Sunday, symbolizing what Jesus' entry into Jerusalem might have been like more than 2,000 years ago. This marks the first year that the two congregations initiated holy week with an ecumenical event. "We're doing it today as two communities joining together as one," said Father Paul Hruby of Incarnation Catholic Church.

Holy Family Catholic Community choirs will raise their voices in song on Palm Sunday to remember the Passion of Jesus. A concert of "The Passion of St. John," by the 16th century composer William Byrd, will recount the events leading up to the Crucifixion. Made up of 50 church members, the chorale will be joined by four soloists and backed by a wind ensemble, said Christian Marcoe director of music and organist at Holy Family. "This choir has never sung a Passion," said Marcoe, a Burbank resident who earned his doctorate of musical arts in sacred music from USC. The purpose of the concert is to provide those attending with a spiritual presentation to prepare for the upcoming Holy Week, he said.

More than 50 worshipers listened to seven separate sermons reflecting on Jesus Christ’s life during the First Baptist Church of Glendale’s Good Friday service, a reminder of his crucifixion and death. Christians observed the religious holiday during Holy Week, the last week of Lent. Holy Week began with Palm Sunday on April 5 and includes Holy Thursday, a commemoration of the Last Supper. The week culminates with Easter Sunday. Glendale resident Vivian Flores often attends services at the church.

As the clock approached 10:45 this past Sunday morning, children dressed in their Sunday best gathered in the La Crescenta Presbyterian Church narthex, each holding a palm frond, smiles on their faces conveyed happiness at being at the forefront of the morning liturgy. Other kids played with their fronds or stood silently in line waiting for their cue to walk in a single-file line down the center aisle. Pre-liturgy music could be heard coming out of the church?s pipe organ.

Christians crowded into local churches Wednesday, joining their counterparts around the world to mark the start of Lent with the traditional application of ashes to the forehead. The 40-day Lenten season is regarded by Roman Catholics and others as the most sacred time of the year. It culminates with Holy Week and Easter Sunday, recognized as the day of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The ashes, applied as a sign of repentance to the forehead in the form of a cross by a priest or Eucharistic minister, traditionally come from palm fronds collected on the previous Palm Sunday and then burned.

I have always been amazed at the breadth of services that local churches organize in the days surrounding Holy Week and preceding Easter. Last year?s Holy Week and Easter Sunday services included choral passions and baptism by candlelight, presented by St. George?s Episcopal Church; a telling of the Passion story, presented by La Cañada United Methodist; a self-guided spiritual journey and Easter Sunday services on a hill behind Descanso Gardens presented by La Cañada Presbyterian; and six Masses at St. Bede?

More than 50 worshipers listened to seven separate sermons reflecting on Jesus Christ’s life during the First Baptist Church of Glendale’s Good Friday service, a reminder of his crucifixion and death. Christians observed the religious holiday during Holy Week, the last week of Lent. Holy Week began with Palm Sunday on April 5 and includes Holy Thursday, a commemoration of the Last Supper. The week culminates with Easter Sunday. Glendale resident Vivian Flores often attends services at the church.

As the clock approached 10:45 this past Sunday morning, children dressed in their Sunday best gathered in the La Crescenta Presbyterian Church narthex, each holding a palm frond, smiles on their faces conveyed happiness at being at the forefront of the morning liturgy. Other kids played with their fronds or stood silently in line waiting for their cue to walk in a single-file line down the center aisle. Pre-liturgy music could be heard coming out of the church?s pipe organ.

The Call of Lent is the Crescenta Valley Sun?s Lenten series on the messages of Christ?s death and resurrection as interpreted by local religious leaders. ? Before there was an Easter, before there was a Good Friday, before there was even a church, there was Palm Sunday. Some were mad, many were glad. But who could be sad to see King Jesus enter Jerusalem that Sunday? This day the prophecy was fulfilled. Zechariah the prophet had predicted more than 500 years earlier that the holy city would receive her king: ?

First Baptist Church of La Crescenta 4441 La Crescenta Ave., La Crescenta; (818) 249-5832 Easter Sunday March 23 9:30 a.m. All are welcome at Easter breakfast in Fellowship Hall. 10:45 a.m. Easter service in the sanctuary.   Crescenta Valley Community Church 4001 La Crescenta Ave., La Crescenta; (818) 249-5805 Easter Sunday March 23 8:15, 9:45 and 11:15 a.m. Love Always Wins — The community is invited to Crescenta Valley Community Church to experience the love of God. Easter Sunday services feature contemporary worship music featuring special musical guest Bill Cantos, combined with a message of hope and love.

With Easter Sunday just around the corner, Christians around the city are getting ready for the most important holiday in their faith with a week of remembrance recognizing the work and miracles of Jesus Christ. Holy Week — which began on April 1 with Palm Sunday and ends today with Holy Saturday — recognizes what many Christians see as the greatest miracle of all time, the death and resurrection of Christ. "In Holy Week we celebrate important events of our life as a Christian family and the events of our salvation," said Father Paul Hruby of Incarnation Catholic Church.

Holy Week, the time between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday, is an important time of the year for Christians. On Holy Saturday , April 7, the sanctuary will be open for a Prayer Vigil from 9 a.m. to noon. People may come and go for prayer and meditation during that time. There will be a special opportunity for children to learn about Easter and have a lot of fun doing so. A Children's Easter Party will be held at the church from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. All children are welcome, and parents are encouraged to attend with their children.

April 6: GOOD FRIDAY PRAYER SERVICE Noon Together we will share a time of remembering Jesus on the cross and at his death. Lisa Myers, Tony Chunn and the La Cañada Presbyterian Church vocal ensemble will lead this time of special music, scripture reading, prayer and silent meditation as culmination of the events of Holy Week and preparation for Easter celebration. This service will be held in our newly-built Worship Arts Center. April 8 EASTER SUNRISE SERVICE 6 a.m. Come worship, celebrate and participate in communion in this outdoor service led by the Youth Ministry Team.