St. Luke’s Episcopal Church invites our neighbors in the Lebanon community to Holy Week and Easter services at our historic church, located at 22 S. 6th Street, Lebanon.

Visitors can expect a warm welcome at St. Luke’s, whether they are guests from out of town, local residents curious about the church building and the traditions of the Episcopal Church, or spiritual seekers looking for an open and affirming Christian tradition that seeks to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.

The ceremonies of Holy Week include those of Palm Sunday and the Sacred Triduum: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the liturgies of Easter beginning with the Great Vigil on Saturday evening. The main Holy Week services at St. Luke’s are as follows:

Palm Sunday services, which commemorate Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem, will be held at 8:00 and 10:30 a.m. on March 29. Palm fronds will be distributed as a symbol of hope and eternal life.

The Maundy Thursday service will be at 7:00 p.m. on April 2. This day we remember the Last Supper with a solemn service of love and humility. Worshippers are invited to join us at 5:30 PM in the Parish Auditorium for our annual Agape Meal–a simple supper of olives, bread, and fruit, and a chance to connect with one another. If you would like to attend the Agape Meal, please contact the Parish Office at 717-272-8251 to RSVP.

Our Good Friday service will be at 7:00 p.m. on April 3 to commemorate the arrest, trial, crucifixion, and death of Jesus Christ.

The Great Vigil of Easter will be Saturday, April 4, at 7:30 p.m. This candlelit service begins in darkness with the simple flame of the bonfire and ends with the joyous celebration of our Lord’s victory over death. This is a longer than average service.

Lay-led Stations of the Cross services will be held Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of Holy Week at 6:00 p.m.. The Stations of the Cross is a 14-step devotion that commemorates Jesus Christ’s final journey from his condemnation to his burial, as worshippers walk to the icons at various points around the church.

Easter is the most significant and joyous holiday in The Episcopal Church, and St. Luke’s celebrates this momentous day with two Easter Sunday services: at 8:00 a.m., there will be a Festal Eucharist with organ prelude and Easter hymns led by St. Luke’s choir; at 10:30 a.m., there will be a Choral Eucharist, which is a sung service featuring all aspects of St. Luke’s music ministry, including its magnificent Austin organ, choir, and a complement of other instrumental accompanists. Incense, bells, Easter lilies, and gold and white vestments are all part of this spectacular once-a-year event. This service will be followed by an Easter egg hunt in the church yard. All children are welcome to participate.

The Rev. Alyssa Pasternak Post will be presiding at all Holy Week and Easter services. She is one of several supply priests graciously serving the parish while St. Luke’s conducts a rector search.

To continue the celebration of Easter. St. Luke’s choir will be joining with the choir of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Cathedral of Harrisburg for a Choral Evensong for Easter on Sunday, April 12, at 4 p.m. at St. Luke’s and Saturday, April 18, at 5 p.m. at the cathedral.. Evensong is a completely sung Vespers service preserved through the centuries in English cathedrals and college chapels. A recital by the organists of both churches will follow the Evensong services.