As Palm Sunday approaches, marking the beginning of one of the holiest weeks of the year for Christians around the world, churches throughout Virginia, Maryland and the District are preparing an array of services and ceremonies to commemorate Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem before the Passion.
As the president prepares to return to his ranch in Crawford, Texas for Easter, worshippers and tourists alike will flock to the District for the holiday season this weekend.
The National Cathedral, which expects to see between 1500 and 2000 churchgoers in attendance for its Sunday service, will also host its third annual performance of Johann Sebastian Bach’s St. John Passion by the Cathedral combined choirs, Baroque Orchestra and two soloists.
“There’s a very heavy spiritual undertone and it is crammed full of art,” conductor Michael McCarthy said. “It’s an experience of getting closer to the church without making anyone feel like they’re making a commitment. This is community outreach.”
In addition to holding its regular seven weekend services, the Cathedral of St. Matthew’s will conduct an outdoor procession with palms while reading the passion gospel, Rev Msgr. Ronald Jameson, director of the church, said.
“It’s a procession of joy that changes very quickly into the gospel procession,” he said. “We begin the celebration with a high not and end on lower note.”
In Virginia, the members of the historic Christ Church in Alexandria will march in a procession to market square in Old Town where they will meet with congregations from St. Paul’s and Meade Memorial Church, Rev. Laura Gettys said. The church will also hold special services all week.
“The services should be very rich in terms of the music so we’re very excited,” she said.
Lady of the Little Flower Church in Bethesda, Md., will hold its regular mass schedule as well as a processional which they will carry out with St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church and Pilgrim Lutheran Church of Bethesda that afternoon.
