A Beginner’s Guide to Holy Week
Dear Friends,
As we prepare to enter the season of Lent, we invite you to join us for a special journey through the most pivotal week in the New Testament.
This year, our Lenten study is titled "A Beginner’s Guide to Holy Week." Whether you have walked the way of the cross for decades or are exploring these stories for the very first time, this class is designed to provide fresh eyes and deep historical context to the events leading up to Easter.
Our Study Guide
We will be using Amy-Jill Levine’s acclaimed book, Entering the Passion of Jesus. Known for her wit, deep scholarship, and ability to bring the First Century to life, Dr. Levine will help us explore the risks taken by those around Jesus—and the risks we are called to take today.
Class Details
Week 1 - Feb. 25th: Palm Sunday and the Entrance to Jerusalem
We begin at the city gates, exploring how the Triumphal Entry was not just a parade, but a public challenge to power. We ask ourselves: What are we willing to risk for the sake of the Gospel?
Week 2 - March 4th: Jesus in the Temple
Jesus flips tables and social expectations, demonstrating that true faith requires more than just ritual. We examine the difference between "keeping the peace" and seeking God’s justice.
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Week 3 - March 11th: Holy Week Teachings
Through parables and provocative questions, Jesus engages his critics in a high-stakes battle of wits. We look at how these difficult teachings still push us to re-examine our own certainties today.
Week 4 - March 18th: A meal with his disciples
A woman performs a radical, extravagant act of anointing Jesus with expensive oil, drawing immediate criticism from the disciples. We explore the risk of "extravagant love" and how often we prioritize practicality over devotion.
Week 5 - March 25th: The Last Supper
In the Upper Room, Jesus transforms a traditional meal into a farewell that predicts betrayal and desertion. We sit with the vulnerability of Jesus as he offers himself to a community he knows is about to fracture.
Week 6 - April 1st: The Garden of Gethsemne
In the darkness of the garden, Jesus faces the ultimate human struggle: the desire for his "cup" to pass and the commitment to say, "Thy will be done." We conclude by reflecting on the courage required to stay present in our own moments of trial.
More Class Details
Our Lenten Class will be a hybrid model, meeting in-person in the Parish Hall, and online via Zoom.
For our in-person group, we will be hosting a potluck. If you would like to sign up to bring a soup, salad, bread, beverages, or a dessert, please sign up using the form below. We look forward to seeing you next week!