Holy Week and Easter Services at Emmanuel Episcopal Church

Wakefield, MA: Emmanuel Episcopal Church announces its Holy Week and Easter schedule. This year Emmanuel Church is sharing several Holy Week services with its neighboring Episcopal parishes, Church of the Good Shepherd in Reading and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Lynnfield.

Holy Week events commence on Thursday, March 29 with Maundy Thursday observances at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 127 Summer Street, Lynnfield. The evening begins with a community Agapé Supper at 6:00 p.m. The supper consists of homemade soups, bread, cheese, salads, and fruit. At 7:00 p.m. parishioners will reenact Jesus’ last night with his disciples before his arrest and crucifixion. The participatory service includes foot washing, Holy Communion, and the stripping of the altar.

The Good Friday liturgy will be held at Emmanuel Church in Wakefield 12:00 noon on March 30. It includes St. John’s passion gospel, veneration of the cross, and communion from the reserved sacrament. Cantor Cecilia Gandolfo will lead the congregation in singing traditional hymns. The Rev. Dr. Matthew P. Cadwell, the church’s rector, will officiate and offer a Good Friday meditation. An evening service for Good Friday will be offered at 7:00 p.m. at Church of the Good Shepherd, 95 Woburn Street, Reading.

The Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday will be held at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Wakefield. Beginning at 7:00 p.m., the vigil is rich in symbolism and recalls early Christian traditions, including lighting the first fire, readings, chants, sprinkling holy water, and Holy Communion. The combined choirs of Emmanuel Church, Good Shepherd, and St. Paul’s will sing. Mrs. Jen Vath, a parishioner at St. Paul’s in Lynnfield and a candidate for ordination in the Diocese of Massachusetts, is the guest preacher.

Two services are held at Emmanuel Episcopal Church on Easter Sunday, April 1: Holy Communion with Easter hymns at 8:00 a.m., and a larger Festival Choral Eucharist at 10:00 a.m. Both will include Dr. Cadwell’s Easter sermon. The latter service also features G. F. Handel’s famed “Hallelujah Chorus” sung by the Parish Choir, under the direction of Michael Salvatore, and a communion solo by Amy Cook, former parishioner and now director of Christian education in the Diocese of California. Professionally staffed childcare will be offered beginning at 9:45 a.m. A children’s Easter egg hunt follows, as will a festive coffee hour reception.

The Rev. Dr. Matthew Cadwell invited the wider community, stating: “All are welcome at Emmanuel Episcopal Church—singles and families, younger and older, LGBTQ, everyone. God’s promises of abundant life, offered so freely at Easter, are for us all, without exception. We invite you to visit Emmanuel Church for Holy Week and Easter as we share in the deepest mysteries of the Christian faith and life.”

Emmanuel Episcopal Church is located at 5 Bryant Street (corner of Main and Bryant Streets) adjacent to the Veteran’s Memorial Common. The church and parish hall are handicap accessible. Contact 781-245-1374 or info@emmanuelwakefield.org for more information.