Holy Week

The final week of Lent is Holy Week, a special time in which the Church recounts the final week of our Lord's earthly ministry; his trial and his death on the cross. This begins on Palm Sunday when the congregation begin the liturgy outside the church building and process to the service waving palm branches or palm crosses. This "Liturgy of the Palms" gives way to the "Liturgy of the Passion2 including a reading of the complete passion narrative from one of the 4 gospels. The colour on that day is red to remind us of Christ's suffering on our behalf. Following this day the colour reverts to purple until Thursday.

The evening of Maundy Thursday begins the "Triduum Sacrum" - "The sacred three days". These begin with a service commemorating the Last Supper. The colour is white and the service includes a re-enactment of the washing of the disciples feet to remind us of the way in which Christians should always be open to humble service of one another. Following the celebration of Holy Communion the Blessed Sacrament is carried to a temporary altar of repose decked in flowers, symbolising the Garden of Gethsemane. The altar frontal and all other decorations in the church are stripped bare and the congregation leave without blessing and in silence. This ending of the service recalls the striking of the shepherd and the scattering of the flock. When Jesus was arrested all his fearful followers abandoned him to his fate. Some may stay for ‘The Watch’ a time of silent prayer at the altar of repose before the Blessed Sacrament.

Good Friday is the most solemn of all days in the Calendar. It is the day in which the Church recalls the cost of its salvation - the death of Jesus on the cross outside Jerusalem. In Largs member churches of Largs Churches Together gather in the morning to share a "walk of witness" by carrying a plain cross from St Columba’s to the town war memorial and stopping at stages between for reflection and prayer. Later, from 2.00pm – 3.00pm St Columba's offers a service of devotion during which we hear the passion narrative read from one of the 4 gospels and focus on the cross of Christ. The service concludes with communion from the remainder of the Reserved Sacrament and the congregation depart without blessing and in silence.