Holy Triduum:![]()
Maundy Thursday Eucharist at 5:30 p.m.![]()
Maundy Thursday watch at the altar of repose from 6:30 p.m. until 12:00 a.m.![]()
Good Friday service at 5:30 p.m.![]()
Easter Vigil part one, Fire and Word, on Saturday at 8:00 p.m.![]()
Easter Vigil, part two, sunrise, Gospel of Resurrection, Renewal of our Baptismal Vows, and the first Holy Eucharist of Easter with Communion on Sunday at 6:00 a.m.![]()
Easter Day Eucharist at 10: a.m.![]()
Click on the link for our newsletter:![]()
- mailchi.mp/orcasepiscopal/april-5-2026
Sermon outline notes from last Sunday:![]()
1. The Book of Common Prayer Collect prayer for Palm Sunday says: “…Mercifully grant that we may walk in the way of his suffering, and also share in his resurrection…”![]()
2. Holy Week is not like watching a movie; we are not mere spectators but are invited to enter it, to contemplate the mighty acts, and to walk in the way of His suffering and His resurrection. Not only the resurrection (Easter Sunday), but the whole journey. We might identify with Peter, or the Centurion, Judas, Mary, etc.![]()
3. Paul, in today’s 2nd reading, invites us to focus on Jesus: “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.” (Phi 2:5 NRSVue). The New International Version reads: “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.”![]()
4. The context of this text is found in Philippians 2:1-5 (CEB): “Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort in love, any sharing in the Spirit, any sympathy, complete my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, being united, and agreeing with each other. Don’t do anything for selfish purposes, but with humility think of others as better than yourselves. Instead of each person watching out for their own good, watch out for what is better for others.”![]()
5. This letter to the community of Philippi is written by Paul, who is imprisoned and has received a donation from the Philippians. The community is suffering from internal divisions (2:3, 5; 3:15, 19; 4:2) and outside op-position (1:27-30; 2:15-17; 3:2, 3:18-29). “Much of Phi-lippians, then, is an appeal for the readers to imitate Christ by putting the good of others above themselves so that the church can live in unity.” ![]()
6. The commentator David E. Fredrickson concludes his introduction to Philippian in the Society of Biblical Lit-erature Study Bible saying: “What is new in Philippians is Paul’s attempt to promote an assembly of equals that opposed imperial power by structuring internal rela-tions around a form of love that mourned the loss of the beloved, spurned the need to control others, and eliminated boundaries of gender and social class.”![]()
7. Observe the cover image from today’s service bulletin. It is a modern interpretation of Palm Sunday by Peter Koenig. It depicts a crowd of people from all nations welcoming Jesus with great joy and celebration. However, Jesus has his face covered with his hands, showing sadness or disbelief. They don’t understand the kind of Kingdom he is bringing! The disciples will try to defend him with swords in Gethsemane, but he tells them to put their weapons away. Peter is suspected of being a foreigner because of his accent. Even the ban-dits mock Jesus. The values of this world oppose the kind of reign Christ offers. The world prefers violence, power, and dividing those who are “in” from those who are “out.” Even between the two criminals crucified with Jesus, they gang up against someone worse off than themselves.![]()
8. I believe more than ever that Paul’s urging that we “have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had” (NET 2nd Ed.) is needed today.![]()
9. I would like to emphasize how important this message is and how counter-cultural it remains. On Wednesday, March 25, at the Pentagon, the Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, led a Christian worship service with Pentagon staff. He read a scripture passage and a prayer that was given to him by the chaplain who accompanied the mission to abduct the President of Venezuela. This is the text I transcribed from the recording: ![]()
Almighty God, who trains our hands for war, and our fingers for battle. You who stirred the nations from the north against Babylon of old, making her land a desolation where none dwell. Behold now the wicked who rise against your justice and the peace of the righteous. Snap the rod of the oppressor, frustrate the wicked plan, and break the teeth of the ungodly. By the blast of your anger, let the evil perish. Let their bulls go down to slaughter for their day has come, the time of their punishment. Pour out your wrath upon those who fought vain things and blow them like chaff before the wind. Grant this task force clear and righteous targets for violence, surround them as a shield, protect the innocent and blameless in their midst. Make their arrows like those of a skilled warrior who returned not empty-handed. That every round finds its mark against the enemies of righteousness and our great nation. Give them wisdom in every decision, endurance for the trial ahead, unbreakable unity, and overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy. Preserve their lives, sharpen their resolve, and let justice be executed swiftly and without remorse. That evil may be driven back and wicked souls delivered to the eternal damnation prepared for them. For the wicked flee when no one pursues but the righteous are as bold as a lion. We ask these things with bold confidence in the mighty and powerful name of Jesus Christ King over all kings. And Amen.” ![]()
10. How can we even respond with an "Amen" to this prayer? This prayer is sacrilegious, even blasphemous! It is a travesty and an affront to our faith and a stain on Christianity. No wonder why so many good-hearted people have left Christianity and why so many filled with bigotry and hatred have found a home here. This is not Christianity; this is not the message of Christ!![]()
11. So more than ever, let’s walk the path of Holy Week to genuinely embrace “the mind/heart of Christ,” the humble king on a donkey who is betrayed, tortured, and crucified!
This Sunday will be the beginning of Holy Week with Palm Sunday. We will start both services, at 8am and 10am, in the Parish Hall with the Liturgy of the Palms. Join us and journey together the path of Christ from death to life. ![]()
Check this week's newsletter by clicking the followin link: - mailchi.mp/orcasepiscopal/march-29-2026