St. Paul’s Cathedral: Holy Week Begins

HOLY WEEK BEGINS – MARCH 24

Palm Sunday 8 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. Sunday, March 24

Bishop Sean Rowe joins us and we begin with the blessing and distribution of palms. Note: Due to the cold weather, we will meet at the church entry/ Narthex area for this, then process into the church, instead of beginning our processions outside. As we process into the church, we recall Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem and Passion on the cross. Holy Week begins on this day and red is the liturgical color. “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!”

Maundy Thursday 7 p.m. Thursday, March 28

This service marks Christ’s Last Supper and the initiation of the Eucharist. From the Latin word mandatum, meaning “command,” (John 13:34), Maundy Thursday recalls the new commandment given to us. The Holy Eucharist is celebrated and, in accordance with the Gospel of John, foot washing (and hand washing) will be offered. At the close of the service, the high altar will be stripped and elements carried to the Altar of Repose for a vigil, to stay awake an hour with Jesus. This begins the Paschal Triduum, the three days ending on Easter Sunday, commemorating Jesus’ death and resurrection. There is no dismissal, as it is considered one, continuous service.

Music at the services on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday will contain chant and music dating from the Renaissance to the 20th century. This music both transports us to a sacred space and reminds us of the generations of Christians who have come before to walk the path of Holy Week.

Good Friday 12-3 p.m. and 7 p.m., Friday, March 29

The Cathedral will be open 12-3 for prayer and devotion. Brief liturgies will be offered on the hour, beginning at noon and ending at 3 p.m. with 33 strikes of a bell, marking Jesus’ death. Bishop Sean Rowe will lead the liturgy of the day at 7 p.m., which includes the Passion from the Gospel according to John.

Help With Easter Preparations

On Saturday, March 30, the altar guild and others will be preparing the church for the Vigil and Easter Sunday morning. We need help with placing flowers on the various altars and the aisle candles. If you can come to help, you are most welcome. We will begin around 9 am and should be finished before noon. Many hands make light work so we hope to see many of you on Saturday the 30th.

The Great Vigil of Easter 7:45 p.m. Saturday, March 30

The first celebration of Easter begins in darkness and moves to the service of Light, with the chanting of the Exsultet, then readings of scripture, the renewal of baptismal vows, and Holy Communion. We keep the ancient Easter feast, in one of the most ancient customs of the church – with candlelight, prayer, music, and incense – rising to new, joyous life in Christ.

Easter Sunday 8 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. Sunday, March 31

Join us on this Sunday of the Resurrection. The Cathedral will celebrate this Easter with beloved choral favorites by Handel and Mozart. Brass will add to the hymn-singing, and the mass will end with Widor’s Toccata from the Fifth Symphony. Download a single-page announcement of Holy Week and Easter services

Worship this Sunday: 8 and 10:15 am

• View or download the bulletin here • Read the lessons here

• Watch the livestream on Facebook or YouTube

Easter Lilies

Memorial gifts may be made through Palm Sunday for Easter lilies to adorn the altar. After worship at Easter, lilies are delivered to persons who are at home or in nursing care and unable to attend in person. Cards for contributions are available at the church or you can download one here.

Brass for Easter

This year after a hiatus of several years, we are happy to announce that we will once again have a brass ensemble with us for our joyful celebration of the resurrection of our Lord. We do not allocate funds for this, so, as in the past, we are asking for the help of the congregation to underwrite this expense. This could be an opportunity to memorialize or honor an individual, or simply an expression of thanks for the gift of music. If you wish to be part of this, checks in any amount can be sent to the office, placed in the offering plate, or given to a member of the music committee. Be sure to indicate EASTER BRASS in the memo line. The names of contibutors will be listed in the bulletin. If you wish to be anonymous please let that be known.

MUSIC COMMITTEE: Michael Bonilla, Wendy Darling, Su Hadden, Patricia Hills, Estelle Siener, Bill Siener

Good Friday Offering

The Anglican Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East have been supported through the annual Good Friday offering for more than 100 years, beginning in the aftermath of World War I. Learn more here. • You can donate directly through the site, place your offering in a Good Friday envelope at the Cathedral, or mail a check to the Cathedral to be included: St. Paul’s Cathedral, 4 Cathedral Park, Buffalo, NY 14202 • A special concert will be offered on this site at 3 p.m. Friday, March 29

Distributing Easter Flowers

Several years ago we began a tradition at the cathedral at both Christmas and Easter. The flowers and plants on the high altar will be available for you to take to a shut-in, a nursing home, or even to plant in your own garden. You can reserve an Easter lily or azealea by speaking to Kim Goodman O'Connell or Michael Bonilla. This year you may take any of the plants that are in front of the clergy stalls. If possible we ask that after the foliage dies off, you bring the bulb(s) back to us. We will plant them in the cathedral gardens. We began doing this last year and we should soon see some of our last year's Easter plants starting to peek out of the ground.

Dean Search Updates

From Evelyn Smigelsky, Dean Search Committee chair

In a little over two weeks, the final stage of the search process for the next Dean of St. Paul’s Cathedral will commence. After the commissioning of the Search Committee in January, the group initially was focused upon responding to and talking with all of the interested individuals who had applied. Thereafter, the process shifted to selecting a smaller number of people who seemed to possess all of the qualities that had been identified by members of the congregation as most essential for a future Dean. Those qualities – compassion, commitment to serving the Cathedral for the long term, commitment to social justice, and a strong liturgical background – were evident in the five candidates who ultimately were selected for the second phase of the interview process. Thus, the task of discerning which finalists among the group of five would be chosen for the final round of interviews was challenging, even daunting, at times, because we sincerely enjoyed “Zooming” with each of the candidates. Moreover, we found all of them to be fine priests who serve their churches with dedication and distinction.

After much discussion, the committee recently decided upon the candidates whom we believe best fit the established criteria of the search process. These individuals bring a deep personal faith as well as a strong commitment to sharing their faith and their leadership skills with the people of St. Paul’s Cathedral. It is our sincere hope that, with God’s guidance and direction, we will wisely select the person who ultimately will lead St. Paul’s into the next phase of its history. Faithfully, Evelyn

Search Committee: Evelyn Smigelsky, chair; Jessy Alexander, co-chair; Chris Casto, David Jemmott, Rob Jones, Roger Woodard

Worship Through the Week

Thursdays, Holy Eucharist – Due to the Holy Week schedule, there will be no 12:05 Holy Eucharist this Thursday. Weekday worship resumes the first Thursday in April, the Oratory Chapel (upper level of the church, near the pulpit).

On Social Media – Follow the Cathedral on Instagram (spcbuffalo) and Facebook for prayers and devotions through the week, including a brief, Monday morning devotional on Facebook Live.

SJAT Note: Remembering May 14, 2022

From Chris Casto for the Social Justice Action Team

“Before and After Again” at the Buffalo AKG Art Museum

Earlier this month, the AKG opened “Before and After Again,” an exhibit of paintings (mostly portraits), poetry, and prose. It invites interaction, reflection, and response, and I encourage you all to see it. The artists consulted with family members of the Tops shooting victims and other community members. The exhibit is in a space that is free to access, and is on display through September 30,2024. Find more information on the AKG web site Before and After Again | Buffalo AKG Art Museum or ask me about it.

Garden of Love: Sorting Saturdays

About once a month, volunteers gather to sort clothing donations for the Garden of Love ministry, which serves neighbors at 11:30 each Tuesday – offering a sack lunch and the opportunity to “shop” (free) for clothing. The Sorting Saturdays are at 10 a.m., on the first floor of the ministry center, and the next ones are April 27 and May 25. Clothing donations may be brought to the center on sorting days or by appointment through the week (716-855-0900 or email). Please bring washable items, either in season or slightly ahead of season; we’re receiving spring items now and lightweight jackets and rain gear will be especially appreciated!

Prayer and Pastoral Care

We lift up the following in prayer: John, Michael, Mark, Tabitha, Kathy, Judy, Latanya, Wyatt, M’Lou, Patrick, Lisa, David, Judy, Michelle, Amir, Martha, Leonard, Leann, Josephine, Billy, Margaret, Betty Lou, Linda, Barbara, Len, Dominic, Lenny, Michael, Heather, Gail, Rob, Galen, Elaine, Viola, Albert, John, Lindsay, Sharon, Allen, Renee, Shirley, Joni, Jim and Judy, Andrea, Don, Bob and Carol, Sue, and Rachel. We remember those in the life of the Cathedral who have died in years past – including Loretta E. Betts – and their loved ones who remember them.

• If you have requests to add to the weekly Prayers of the People or a name to add for the prayers of clergy and the Pastoral Care Team, please email prayerrequests.

• If you know someone in need of pastoral care, please contact Judy Elliott or Canon Barbara Price.