The word Triduum (pronounced TRID-oo-um) is a Latin term meaning “three days.” This Easter experience of Triduum is offered to the entire community by the Greensboro First United Methodist Church.  For three consecutive evenings during Holy Week, services will be held at the South Campus church on Carey Station Road.  This unique Easter experience will be led by church pastor, the Reverend Dr. Matthew Stewart. Although the event encompasses three separate time periods, it is considered one service — just as the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus is one divine action, separated in time.

April 1 – Maundy Thursday. The first evening of the Triduum focuses on Jesus’ mandate or commandment, stated in John 13:34, I give you a new commandment that you love one another.  Here we celebrate a humble Jesus, who shared the bread and cup with his disciples and washed their feet. The symbolic action of stripping bare the altar of the church conveys the humiliation of Jesus, as he is stripped of his clothes. 

April 2 – Good Friday. The dark, completely bare worship space set up on Thursday creates a strong and powerful visual as the service continues Good Friday evening.  The most significant feature of this is the Tenebrae (shadows.) Twelve candles represent the apostles and all followers of Christ.  The Christ candle from the Advent wreath is the center. Gradually, the candles are extinguished as the passion of Jesus is read. The dramatic high point comes in total darkness with a sudden loud noise that represents the death of Jesus.  

April 3 ^– Holy Saturday, the service concludes with The Great Easter Vigil, which consists of four parts: (1) Service of Light, (2) Service of the Word, (3) Baptism and Reaffirmation, (4) Eucharist –Holy Communion. During the Service of Light, The Paschal Candle, the largest candle used in the church is lit. The word Pasch comes from the Hebrew word “pesah” which means deliverance or Passover and thus connects the Resurrection to the Exodus — symbolizing both the pillar of fire that led Israel and the risen Lord who stands among us at Easter. This candle will remain lighted near the Communion Table throughout the Easter season.

Greensboro First United Methodist and Pastor Matt welcome the church congregation and the community to this extraordinary service that continues over three evenings. This special Easter experience will be held on three evenings: April 1, 2, and 3 at 7:30 p.m. at the South Campus church on Carey Station Road. Nursery will be provided all three evenings.