St. John Passion | April 1 at 6:30 p.m.
The Passions of J.S. Bach represents the zenith of the German Passion tradition, and the coming together of several musical forms to present the story of Christ’s death. Combining chorales, arias, recitative, and choruses, Bach tells the story of the Passion of Christ in a manner that explores the full range of the baroque style. The Cathedral Choir is overjoyed to collaborate with the Indianapolis Baroque Orchestra to present St. John Passion on the eve of Holy Week. Purchase your tickets HERE to experience one of Bach’s greatest masterworks.
Palm Sunday | April 2 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
We begin Holy Week with the joyful celebration of Palm Sunday. Quickly, we turn our thoughts from Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem to his persecution and passion upon the cross. Each service begins outside, where the congregation processes into the church. During this service the Passion Gospel is read, bringing alive the story of redemptive suffering of Jesus Christ in the events surrounding his death.
As we prepare to enter another Holy Week, we invite you to join Dean Gray Lesesne and Dr. David Chandler, CCC member and retired philosophy faculty member at Franklin College, for an exploration how anti-Semitic comments, threats and actions of violence, and inter-religious misunderstandings for thousands of years have impacted the reading and singing of the Passion Gospels. We’ll gather on Zoom on Wednesday, March 29 from 6-7 p.m.
8 a.m.: Begin your Holy Week journey with a reflective service of Holy Scripture, the reading of the Passion Gospel, and Holy Communion. While there is no music and the service is shorter, the welcome is warm. This service is held in English.
10 a.m.: This service is held in English and begins on Monument Circle. We will process with our palms into the church with a liturgy that includes a dramatic reading of the Passion Gospel, read by CCC members.
1 p.m.: Members of our Latino community have been rehearsing for their annual representation of the Passion Gospel where the story of Christ’s journey to the cross is portrayed in a live reenactment. This service is in Spanish and begins on the portico steps of the church where congregants process inside with their palms.
Holy Tuesday Reaffirmation of Ordination Vows | April 4 at 12:05 p.m.
CCC is honored to host the annual Renewal of Ordination Vows service for all clergy in the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis. At this service, clergy from all over central and southern Indiana will rededicate themselves to the work of the Church, and you are invited to come support and celebrate with them! A luncheon will be served in the Parish Hall after the service. Please RSVP HERE if you plan to stay for lunch by March 28.
Holy Wednesday Tenebrae | April 5 at 7 p.m.
The Book of Lamentations tells the story of the grief of Israel after the destruction of Jerusalem. The prophet Jeremiah is thought to be the author, and in Hebrew poetry he describes the pain and loss suffered by his people when they are separated from their city and forced into exile when Jerusalem was destroyed by Babylon in 586 BC.
Thomas Tallis, who wrote musical settings of this poetry, strides both sides of a great divide in the history of English music. Born around 1505 into Catholic England, Tallis was trained to produce polyphony for Latin texts, in the style of his Lamentations. However, during the English reformation that began under the reign of Henry VIII, writing such music became not just out of style, but downright dangerous. With the daily political shifts of the time, Tallis and his contemporaries had to invent new styles, building the plane as they flew it. Tallis’ Lamentations is a triumph of an earlier Catholic style, with a power the still resonates today.
On April 5 at 7 p.m., join the Cathedral choir to experience Tallis’ exquisite music during your Holy Week journey towards the cross and resurrection.
Maundy Thursday | April 6 at 7 p.m.
The final days in Holy Week are part of the Triduum, or three holy days before Easter. The bilingual service will include the eucharist and the ceremony of washing feet, also referred to as “the Maundy.” Following this service, the altar is stripped and all decorative furnishings are removed from the church. A vigil is kept in the nave after the service and until 9 p.m.
Good Friday | April 7 at 12:05 p.m., 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.
It is on Good Friday that we commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It is also the day we walk the Stations of the Cross, a devotion to the Passion of Christ which recalls a series of events at the end of Jesus’ life from His condemnation to His burial.
12:05 p.m.: This solemn service is held in English, begins in the nave, and will flow directly outside for the Stations of the Cross. Bishop Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows will preside.
1 p.m.: Walk the Way of the Cross with CCC’s walkable Stations of the Cross that begins in the nave, flows outside onto the lawn, and around Monument Circle. Participants will hold images that depict the 14 events leading to Jesus’ burial. Stations of the Cross will conclude in silence in the nave after we read aloud the last station and Jesus is left in the tomb.
7 p.m.: This service is in Spanish, and the service in its entirety is held in the nave.
Holy Saturday | April 8 at 9 a.m.
9 a.m.: This simple, contemplative prayer service in English allows participants to linger in the “moments in between.” Jesus has been laid to rest, and although we faithfully await the coming resurrection, there is nothing left for us to do but wait. Let’s wait together.
Egg Decorating at 10 a.m.: Families, youth, and adults will decorate Easter eggs for the children’s egg hunt on Easter Sunday. Youth and adults also have the opportunity to learn about the Ukrainian wax method of egg dying.
The Great Vigil of Easter | April 8 at 7 p.m.
On this most holy night, in which our Lord Jesus passed over from death to life, the Church invites her members to gather in vigil and prayer. For this is the Passover of the Lord, in which, by hearing his Word and celebrating his Sacraments, we share in his victory over death. Join us for a jubilant celebration when we light the paschal candle for the first time of the year.
Our bilingual service begins at 7 p.m., in darkness. It is the first service of Easter and consists of four parts: The Service of Light (kindling of new fire, lighting the Paschal candle, the Exsultet); The Service of Lessons (readings from the Hebrew Scriptures interspersed with psalms, canticles, and prayers); Christian Initiation (Holy Baptism) or the Renewal of Baptismal Vows; and the Eucharist. Our choir sings glorious music throughout, and Bishop Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows will preach.
Easter Sunday | April 9
On this day we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
7 a.m.: The congregations of Christ Church Cathedral, Central Christian Church, and Roberts Park United Methodist Church are gathering for a simple Easter Morning Community Sunrise service. Celebrate the joy of Christ’s Resurrection in community with us in the garden of Lockerbie Marketplace, just outside Needler’s Fresh Market on 320 North New Jersey Street. Dress warmly and bring a lawn chair if you’d like. The service will last approximately 30 minutes.
8 a.m.: Be with us for a reflective service of Holy Scripture and Holy Communion. While there is no music and the service is shorter, the welcome is warm. This service is held in English.
10 a.m.: This service is held in English and is a joyous service filled with music and celebration. Our choir is preparing glorious music and Bishop Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows will preside.
11:30 a.m. Easter Egg Hunt: Children of all ages are invited to this Easter Egg Hunt on the lawn of the Soldiers & Sailors Monument.
1 p.m.: This service is very similar to the 10 a.m. in its structure and content, but it’s conducted in Spanish. The music provided by the Coro Latinoamericano and guitarists is joyful and lively. Even if you don’t speak Spanish very well, you will be welcomed warmly! Bishop Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows will preside.
Parking and Childcare
CCC will validate parking for the Express Park Garage at 20 N. Pennsylvania St. Please bring your ticket to the church to have and ask an usher for a parking sticker.
Childcare will be provided for the evening services on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Watch Online
The following worship services will be streamed online at www.cccindy.org/live, on Facebook Live, and on YouTube: Palm Sunday at 10 a.m., Good Friday at 12:05 and 7 p.m., and Easter Sunday at 10 a.m.