If you hadn’t been following the Holy Week and Easter promotion produced by Christ Church Cathedral communications you might have thought you were being involved in an April Fool when you walked into the nave of the diocesan cathedral on April 1st, 2012.
The interior lay-out of the church had been changed for Holy Week, with the Altar positioned in front of the Crucifixion Window located in the west transept facing east.The Palm Sunday preacher, Archdeacon Ellen Clark-King began her homily, reflecting on the Passion Story from Mark’s Gospel by saying that this is a “troubling Sunday” a Sunday “where things have been turned around.” Ellen remarked that the chairs in the nave have been moved so people will have to sit in different places, this is exciting for those who embrace the new and different but not-so-much for those who like the comforts of tradition and normalcy. The configuration worked very well and early reports were that the experiment was a success.
At about 10:15 am a very black cloud hovered over Oppenheimer Park located at the intersection of East Cordova Street and Dunlevy Avenue in Vancouver’s Downtown East Side. The park is a significant part of the neighbourhood route for the annual St. James’ Palm Sunday Procession through the neighbourhood. By 10:20 rain was beginning to fall on the DTES.
At about the same time, many of the St. James’ community had gathered in the Parish Hall for the Liturgy of the Palms including some special guests, The Carnival Band. Father Mark Greenaway-Robbins, Rector of St. James announced prior to the commencement of the Liturgy that the procession this year would have to take place within the confines of the church buildings as the rain was continuing.
At the conclusion of the Liturgy of the Palms the MC arranged for the doors exiting the building to be opened and then everyone began the procession, but not through the building as had been announced but out and on to the sidewalk of the neighbourhood. The rain had stopped and the sun was breaking through. The Carnival Band began a spirited rendition of All Glory Laud and Honour and the procession through the neighbourhood went ahead as planned. As the worshipers moved through the DTES neighbourhood, palm fronds were distributed to those who were watching and a great time was had by all as the St. James’ community experienced metaphorically as well as spiritually the physical manifestation of Jesus’ triumphant entry to Jerusalem.
The sounds of singing stirred the mid-morning quiet of Edgemont Village as the St. Catherine’s Capilano community embarked on their annual Palm Sunday procession through the North Vancouver neighbourhood. The streets were still wet from the Sunday morning rain shower but as was the case 10 kilometres away in the DTES the weather cleared up for the procession.
Bishop Michael joined Rev. Dave Price and the community of All Saints, Agassiz for Palm Sunday, 2012. Not only did the community celebrate the triumphant entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem with Bishop Michael presiding and preaching but the Bishop was also there to bless the new labyrinth, memorial garden and interior lighting system. In true West Coast fashion, Rev. Dave distributed cedar boughs to take the place of palm fronds for the Liturgy of the Palms. The procession began at the newly blessed labyrinth and the All Saints community singing and waving the cedar boughs moved together into the sanctuary for worship.
Images: Top, Mother Jessica Schaap offers a palm frond. Upper, St. James' procession through Oppenheimer Park. Middle right, St. James' cross, candles and incense. Lower Middle Right: St. Catherine's cross and candles. Lower, The blessing of the new labyrinth at All Saints, Agassiz. Below 1, Rev Dave with the cedar boughs. Below 2, a change in lay-out for the sanctuary at Christ Church Cathedral. Homepage, The Absolution at Christ Church Cathedral, (Cathedral photos by Bayne Stanley, St. Catherine's photo, Alison Watt, All Saints photos by Fred Watson and Anthea Lewis)