SATURDAY IN HOLY WEEK (HOLY SATURDAY),
YEARS A, B, C

2018 - 31 March
2019 - 20 April
2020 - 11 April
2021 - 03 April
2022 - 16 April
2023 - 08 April
2024 - 30 March
2025 - 19 April
2026 - 04 April
2027 - 27 March
2028 - 15 April
2029 - 31 March
2030 - 20 April
2031 - 12 April
2032 - 27 March
2033 - 16 April
2034 - 08 April
2035 - 24 March
2036 - 12 April
2037 - 04 April
2038 - 24 April

Note: For explanations and suggestions on the various resources provided, see the documents 'General notes and resources' and 'Holy Week' in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

LITURGY

SERVICE ON HOLY SATURDAY
Holy Saturday is the true 'sabbath' of the liturgical year. On the day which commemorates Christ's resting in the tomb, the church also rests. Although the RCL gives a complete set of eucharistic readings, the eucharist is not celebrated on this day. Morning and evening prayer may be personally observed, but usually there is no gathering of the congregation at all until after sunset on Saturday night, when the Easter vigil begins. Nor are there any special ceremonies for this day in the Western tradition. 

Even the Easter vigil does not, strictly speaking, take place on Holy Saturday. Liturgical time follows the Hebrew way of measuring the day, which starts at sunset rather than at sunrise. This is why we begin to celebrate Christmas on the night of 24 December. In the same way, Holy Saturday extends from sunset on Good Friday to sunset on Saturday, when Easter Sunday begins.

One authority suggests that on this day a service without communion may be conducted, such as we have it in our tradition on page 23 of the Lutheran Hymnal with Supplement. If this is done, then the following conditions are observed:
*	No lit candles, no flowers
*	The service is spoken without hymns
*	Enter in silence
*	Begin the service with the Sentence and the prayer of the day (collect)
*	The gospel is announced as follows:
The conclusion of the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St Matthew/St John.
*	Instead of the usual intercessions, the responses 'In the midst of life . . .' (see below) are said
*	After the Lord's Prayer, there is no blessing but all leave in silence

Weddings are inappropriate on this day.

SENTENCE
You protect me from the power of death,
and the one you love you will not abandon to the world of the dead.  
(Psalm 16:10 TEV)

PRAYER OF THE DAY (COLLECT)
Traditional
Lord God our Father, 
maker of heaven and earth: 
As the crucified body of your dear Son 
was laid in the tomb 
to await the glory that would be revealed, 
so may we endure 
the darkness of this present time 
in the sure confidence 
that we will rise with him. 
We ask this through your Son, 
Jesus Christ our Lord, 
who lives and reigns 
with you and the Holy Spirit, 
one God, now and forever. 
Amen.

OR, alternative
Merciful God, 
by the death of your Son Jesus Christ 
you destroyed death; 
by his rest in the tomb 
you have made holy 
the graves of your saints. 
Keep us with Christ 
in the company of all who wait for you on earth 
and all who surround you in heaven; 
where he lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, 
one God, now and forever. 
Amen.

FIRST READING
Job 14:1-14 We all lead the same short, troubled life.

OR
Lamentations 3:1-9,19-24 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases

PSALM
Psalm 31:1-4, 15, 16
Antiphon: 
Be a rock of refuge for me (, O Lord) (, a strong fortress to save me).  (Ps 31:2 NRSV)

SECOND READING
1 Peter 4:1-8 The gospel is proclaimed to the dead
(Note: This unusual reference is chosen for this day because of the ancient tradition about 'the harrowing of hell', that is, that when Christ was buried, he went to the realm of the dead, and freed those kept there in prison.)

VERSE
For those who enter God's rest 
also cease from their labours 
as God did from his. 
Let us therefore make every effort 
to enter that rest.  (Heb 4:10,11 NRSV)

GOSPEL
Matthew 27:57-66 The burial of Jesus

OR

John 19:38-42 The burial of Jesus

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
Loving Father, we thank you that your Son, Jesus, our human brother, carried the terrible burden of our sin on his shoulders. But after Jesus, our human brother, offered himself up for us as the perfect sacrifice for all people's sin, he rested in the tomb, for he was completely exhausted, to the very point of death. As he had always kept your holy law perfectly for our sake, so we thank you that, out of love as our God and brother, he perfectly fulfilled the third commandment, to rest on the Sabbath day.

Refresh us this day as we rest in the peace of your forgiveness. Renew us when we rest in the sleep of death, and fill the deathly silence of the tomb with the promises of your word, especially with the good news of Jesus' victory over our powerful enemies, Satan, death and sin.

Father, you give us life by your creative Spirit, who is the Lord, the giver of life. You have designed us to rest from each day's activities in the gentle massage and healing of your precious gift of sleep. Wake us refreshed to live the gift of each new day. Touch our spirits so that we want to please you, as we play out our roles on this earth, even when it means using up our lives for the sake of other people you put near to us, in our families, in the congregation and in our local community.

Caring God, you have designed us to find peace of mind when we take refuge and rest in your arms of faith. Renew us each day to live as your children. Continue to renew us with your promises, until the day you call us home and we rest in perfect peace, joy and love with you in eternity.

We ask this through Jesus, who entered the tomb of death for us, so that we might live with him forever.
Amen

CANTICLE: IN THE MIDST OF LIFE
This canticle has many sources in holy Scripture, but is best known for its use in the English order for burial. It is also used in our funeral order in Church Rites. The additional passage is mainly from Psalm 103. This canticle may be said after the gospel and the sermon, in the place of the prayer of the church, either by the minister or a solo reader, or responsively. It is followed by the Lord's Prayer.

In the midst of life we are in death. 
We grow and wither as quickly as flowers; 
we disappear like shadows.
To whom can we go for help, but to you, Lord God, 
though you are rightly displeased because of our sins? 
And yet, Lord God Almighty, 
most holy and most merciful Saviour, 
deliver us from the bitterness of eternal death. 
You know the secrets of our hearts; 
mercifully hear us, most worthy judge eternal; 
keep us, at our last hour, 
in the consolation of your love. 

[You, O Lord, are gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and rich in love.
As kind as a father is to his children,
so kind is the Lord to those who honour him.
For you know what we are made of;
you remember that we are dust.
As for us, our life is like grass.
We grow and flourish like a wildflower;
then the wind blows on it, and it is gone
no-one sees it again.
But for those who honour the Lord, his love lasts forever,
and his goodness endures for all generations.]

Amen.

HYMNS AND SONGS

SONGS FOR HOLY SATURDAY
In Enemy of Apathy, volume 2 of the songs from the Iona Community, there are three songs specifically for the Saturday of Holy Week:

page 59	We need you, God
page 60	Sing, my soul, when hope is sleeping
page 62	Lord of the morning

The following songs from the 'All Together' books are also suitable:

ATO 347	O dearest Jesus (esp v 5)
ATW 449	Walk him along

PSALM 31:1-4,15,16
For musical settings of Psalm 31:1-4,15,16, see Music Package 2.

TIS 19,  By your saving power deliver me, is a form of Psalm 31:1-4,7.

The following paraphrase of Psalm 31:1-5,14-16 by David Schütz is preferably sung to the tune Von Gott will ich (Erfurt), LH 400, or if that tune is too difficult, Von Gott will ich (Crüger), LH 130. If reproducing this version, please put 'Words (c) David Schütz' at the beginning or the end of the psalm.

In you, Lord, I seek refuge;
don't let me be ashamed.
In righteousness, Lord, save me,
incline your ear to me.
Come quickly to my help,
and be my rock of refuge,
a fortress to protect me,
for you're my rock and fort.

For your own name's sake, lead me
and guide me in your paths.
From hidden traps, Lord, free me,
for you are my defence.
Into your open hands,
Lord, I commit my spirit,
for you, in grace, redeemed me,
O Lord, my faithful God.

O Lord my God, I trust you,
I say, 'You are my God.'
My life and times and future
are all held in your hand.
Deliver me, O Lord,
from those who seek to harm me,
and let your face shine on me,
and rescue me in love.