Sunday, April 11th | 10:00am in the Sanctuary

The Sunday before Easter is called "Palm Sunday". The name comes from a story in the Bible in which Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem. Prior to this event, Jesus and his friends roamed the countryside teaching and performing miracles, gaining a lot of recognition. The people of Jerusalem were super-excited that Jesus was coming to their city to celebrate a big religious festival. In their excitement, the people grabbed palm branches to wave around and threw their cloaks before Jesus on the road. The whole scene might have looked something like an ancient tickertape parade.

NDUMC’s Palm Sunday service will offer a festive atmosphere. We will all have palm branches to wave and the children will bring their branches with them through Sanctuary waving the branches in celebration and shouting "Hosanna!"

Thursday, April 17th | 7:00pm in the Sanctuary

What is a “Maundy” and why do we mark it with worship the Thursday prior to Easter?

The etymology of the word “Maundy” is from Middle English maunde, from Old French mandé, from Latin mandatum command, order; from the words spoken by Jesus to his disciples after washing their feet at the Last Supper, "a new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another" (John 13:34)

The story tells us that Jesus said this to his Disciples just after they had celebrated the passover meal around the table together and he shared the words we use in our Communion service with them (Luke 22:19-20). We will share in a special Communion service on Maundy Thursday.

Jesus washed his disciples’ feet on the night of his final Passover Celebration with his disciples. His act of humility and service set an example for us to love and serve one another in humility (John 13:3-17) We will have opportunity to observe foot-washing in our Maundy Thursday service as a symbol of our following the ways of Jesus in humble service of others.

Friday, April 18th | 7:00pm in the Sanctuary

What is Good Friday, and why do we call the Friday of Holy Week “good”?

Since the 3rd century, the English and the Dutch have called the night of Jesus’ crucifixion “Good Friday”. This is likely a version of the Germanic word “Goode” which means God, or Holy.

Good Friday, the Friday before Easter, is the day we commemorate the crucifixion and death of Jesus.

This day is also known as Holy Friday, Great Friday, Great and Holy Friday, and Black Friday.

The biblical account of Jesus' death on the cross, or crucifixion, his burial, and his resurrection, or raising from the dead, is found all four Gospels (Matthew 27:27-28:8; Mark 15:16-16:19; Luke 23:26-24:35; and John 19:16-20:30).

Our Good Friday service will be a remembrance of the last seven sayings of Jesus as recorded across the Gospel stories. The service will end in silence and darkness.