At 12 noon, we gather for a simple liturgy of the “stations of the cross” in the sanctuary, as we walk the via dolorosa — the way of suffering — with Jesus at the hour of his crucifixion. This service is intentionally short (approximately 30 minutes in length) to accommodate lunchtime schedules. Throughout the remainder of the afternoon, the sanctuary will be open for prayer and reflection as we keep our Good Friday vigil beneath the cross of Jesus. At 1:00, 2:00, and 3:00 p.m., a brief interlude of scripture, prayer, and song will punctuate our silent vigil-keeping at the cross. We will gather in the balcony for those brief, five-minute interludes. At 7:30 p.m., a service of tenebrae (shadows) and adoration of the crucified one will be held in the sanctuary, with scripture, hymns, and growing darkness as we commemorate the saving death of Jesus. It was a very good Friday indeed, “for God so loved the world.”

We gather at 7:30 p.m. to remember the night Jesus had a last meal together with his friends, the same evening on which he also took a towel and a basin of water and washed the feet of his followers, the night he gave a mandatum (a new “mandate” and thus the word maundy): to love one another. On this night, the night of his betrayal and arrest, we remember and do likewise as we wash one another’s feet and gather around the Lord’s table in a more intimate way. The liturgy concludes with the stripping of the altar, a reminder of our Lord’s humiliation at the hands of his enemies.

We gather outside the front doors of the church to begin our great procession into Holy Week, remembering Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem which ushered in the last week of his life on earth. Everyone receives a palm branch as we shout our “Hosannas in the highest” and read the story of the passion of our Lord according to St. Luke in a congregational “reader’s theater.”

And then, as we arrive at the crucifixion portion of the story, our attention will turn to the new windows in the balcony which for the very first time will illustrate our communal hearing of the crucifixion narrative. We will celebrate the installation of the windows with a solemn rite of dedication, and following the Palm Sunday service, we will gather for a festive catered luncheon in the Parish Hall, with our special guests David Judson of Judson Studios and Tim Carey, the artist who designed the windows. If you plan to attend the luncheon, please indicate your intention by calling the parish office or making a note on the back of an attendance card so we might have an accurate count. There is no charge for the luncheon.

Son of new members Jennifer and Gregory

The L.A. Marathon will run through north Santa Monica this Sunday for the first time, on its way from Dodger Stadium to the beach.

Closures include San Vicente in Santa Monica, and Santa Monica Boulevard in Westwood and West L.A.

Be sure you approach St. Paul’s from the south or the east this Sunday, using Cloverfield or Lincoln Blvd. exit.

Give yourself plenty of extra time for a timely arrival!

We’ll save a parking place for you!

Council Retreat is scheduled for Saturday, March 20. We’ll begin gathering at 8:30 for a continental breakfast so that the retreat “agenda” can begin
promptly at 9.  We’ll finish up by 1 p.m. having grazed the entire morning (hence, no lunch).  Please plan to bring a snack-to-share with your fellow workers!

6:00 p.m., Simple Soup Supper in the Parish Hall

7:00 p.m., Lord Jesus, You Shall Be My Song: Prayer Around the Cross

(Thursdays, February 24, March 3, 10, 17, 24)

Holy Communion and Imposition of Ashes, 7:30 p.m.

The annual meeting of the Congregation will be held on Sunday, February 8, immediately following services.

This Sunday at 10 a.m. St. Paul’s will participate in a “Pulpit Exchange” with our neighbors from down the street at the United Methodist Church as we recognize our “Full Communion” status between ELCA and the UMC.