poppy Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 I am planning a wine social for a group I belong to. The date the venue offered is April 2. My coleader said, oh that's Holy Thursday, no one will come if it's that day.She is a very devout Catholic. We are not in a very religious community. My question is, is she right or a little off base?Do most Catholics tend to go to church that evening?How about non Catholic Christians? The biggest church here is probably Congregationalist. (We are in New England) For people who don't go to church, is it a big family day, or a day you'd avoid a night out with wine? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AK_Mom4 Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 Not Catholic here. We have some church activities on Holy Thursday, but since they are centered around the Last Supper, I would not have a problem skipping them for a Wine Social. Seems like a reasonable substitute. :D Holy Friday would be a different thing, but I think the Thursday would be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alice Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 Not Catholic. We do not have church events on Holy Thursday and wouldn't have a problem attending an event. Agreeing that Good Friday would be different. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bettyandbob Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 Our Episcopal church has services, but attendances is not high. Among my Episcopal friends you might find a few who gave up alcohol for Lent. Generally, I don't think Maundy Thursday services are big among protestants Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8circles Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 We limit our non-religious activities during holy week but I don't think that's common. And that doesn't mean I wouldn't go, just that it would be part of the consideration (it being during holy week). Schedule it then if you want, just know that it might be less well attended. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 Maundy Thurs is big here. I'm Episcopalian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loowit Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 I am non-denominational and I have found that most non-liturgical churches do not typically do services on Thursday. My best friend is Lutheran and she went to church every night of Holy Week. So it really varies by church/denomination. My church growing up as well as most of the ones that we associated with (Nazarene, Baptist, etc) didn't do much of anything other than Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday. The first Good Friday service I attended was when I was at Bible College. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamajag Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 It is not a holy day of obligation, but it is important to many Catholics. If you're wanting to include Catholics in your social, that's just not a good day for it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol in Cal. Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 I'm Confessional Lutheran, and during Holy Week we go to church on Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and of course Easter Sunday. Sometimes also on Saturday night for Easter Vigil. So for me, that evening would be completely out of the question. It's the celebration of the institution of Holy Communion, and there is always a full Divine Service with Communion. I would never miss it. Tuesday or Wednesday would be good nights. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forty-two Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 Another Confessional Lutheran, and ditto - we have service on Maundy Thursday and I've always considered it to be a "big deal" service, equal to Good Friday - I wouldn't miss it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kharisma Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 We also have service that night. We go to a Dutch Reformed Church. I don't believe it is in high attendance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pehp Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 I am Presbyterian and we do have Maundy Thurs services. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TechWife Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 I am Protestant, we don't have services during Holy Week. I would not attend a social event that day, however. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 Does the venue have any other dates available? I'm sure you are putting a lot of time and effort into organizing your event, and it would be a shame if several people didn't show up because of the date. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurie4b Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 Maundy Thursday is one of the most moving services of the year. nondenominational. I wouldn't attend. If you schedule it for the following week, it would be more inclusive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 I am planning a wine social for a group I belong to. The date the venue offered is April 2. My coleader said, oh that's Holy Thursday, no one will come if it's that day. She is a very devout Catholic. We are not in a very religious community. My question is, is she right or a little off base? Do most Catholics tend to go to church that evening? How about non Catholic Christians? The biggest church here is probably Congregationalist. (We are in New England) For people who don't go to church, is it a big family day, or a day you'd avoid a night out with wine? Although it is not a holy day of obligation, I can tell you that my parish is packed on Holy Thursday. *I* would not attend your event, because I would be at church. When I was a non-Catholic Christian, I belonged to denominations which did not put any special emphasis on Holy Thursday. It would be thoughtful of you to look for another date. :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emzhengjiu Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 Maundy Thursday is important in our church. In general, I wouldn't attend a social event during Holy Week since we want to spend that time focusing on our Lord. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TianXiaXueXiao Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 Pascha or Easter is the Feast of Feasts for Traditional Christians. Holy Week is of utmost importance to us. It's hard to understand if you don't observe the liturgical calendar (I remember what it was like to be in your shoes). I schedule spring break to start on the Monday of Holy Week and end on the Friday of Bright Week, so that we will be available for all the church services leading up to Easter and have a full week to celebrate during the week after. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HS Mom in NC Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 Not Catholic. I'm in the Baptistic/Bible Church wing of Evangelical Christianity. Some churches I have attended will have a Good Friday Service. A few will have a Maundy Thursday service. I've never been to one that had both and some didn't have either. When I attend a church that offers Thurs. or Fri. I go because that's one of my favorite services of the year. They are not the highest attended services, though. High attendance services would be Easter morning and Christmas. I don't usually plan things on a Thursday evening. My experience is most people do evening events on Fridays and Saturdays. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horsellian Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 Anglican here and I have to say I wouldn't attend a non-church social event on Maundy Thursday. We have a Maundy Thursday service in the evening, and often followed by a prayer vigil for some/most of the night. The Good Friday service remembers Christ's 3 hours on the cross, so goes from 12 midday to 3pm, with nothing in the evening. We then have the Easter Eve service late on Saturday night (my favourite service of the whole liturgical year!), and Easter Sunday service at normal service time. It's rather busy (although I probably won't make Good Friday this year, but will try to do the rest) so I really wouldn't want another event during Holy Week. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sassenach Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 Non-denominational. We do have Maundy Thursday plans this year, but it's actually the first time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 I was just thinking about this, and I really think you should reschedule the date -- not just for religious people, but because many people who aren't particularly religious still celebrate Easter with family gatherings, Easter egg hunts, etc. Many people might have a very busy weekend planned and be preparing for it on Thursday, even if it's just going grocery shopping to get the food for Easter dinner, or doing last-minute shopping for Easter outfits and candy and Easter basket stuff. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 Non-Catholic Christian and I don't know that I've ever even heard of Holy Thursday. Thursdays in general are very popular for MLM parties and get togethers in my neck of the woods.. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amira Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 If your community isn't particularly religious I doubt it would be a problem. I've lived in lots of places in the US where scheduling events that day was normal. Most people in the US aren't doing anything for Holy Thursday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vonfirmath Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 Not Catholic. I'm in the Baptistic/Bible Church wing of Evangelical Christianity. Some churches I have attended will have a Good Friday Service. A few will have a Maundy Thursday service. I've never been to one that had both and some didn't have either. When I attend a church that offers Thurs. or Fri. I go because that's one of my favorite services of the year. They are not the highest attended services, though. High attendance services would be Easter morning and Christmas. I don't usually plan things on a Thursday evening. My experience is most people do evening events on Fridays and Saturdays. Baptist here. We had both services last year. Surprisingly well attended. Having both again this year. My husband is eager to go. I have not yet decided. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThursdayNext Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 Our church (baptist) doesn't have services on Holy Thursday or Good Friday, but if they did I would be there. Our family has special devotions all that week, and this year we will have a special meal on Thursday. I wouldn't be likely to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OhanaBee Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 Presbyterian, here. We have services on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. And I would probably feel strange about doing any kind of party/social during Holy Week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrsMommy Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 I'm Confessional Lutheran, and during Holy Week we go to church on Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and of course Easter Sunday. Sometimes also on Saturday night for Easter Vigil. So for me, that evening would be completely out of the question. It's the celebration of the institution of Holy Communion, and there is always a full Divine Service with Communion. I would never miss it. Tuesday or Wednesday would be good nights. Another Confessional Lutheran, and ditto - we have service on Maundy Thursday and I've always considered it to be a "big deal" service, equal to Good Friday - I wouldn't miss it. Also a Confessional Lutheran, and I totally agree. The Maundy Thursday Divine Service is one I wouldn't consider missing. It's only the beginning of the Holy Triduum, and missing part of that makes the rest of it feel incomplete. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicianmom Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 Back when I was in a church that didn't observe Maundy Thursday, wine was a no-no, so it wouldn't have worked either way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erica in OR Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 I'm Confessional Lutheran, and during Holy Week we go to church on Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and of course Easter Sunday. Sometimes also on Saturday night for Easter Vigil. So for me, that evening would be completely out of the question. It's the celebration of the institution of Holy Communion, and there is always a full Divine Service with Communion. I would never miss it. Tuesday or Wednesday would be good nights. This pretty much describes our Lutheran church. Our family attends all services (DH is pastor). Honestly, with Easter coming up, I'm looking for fewer activities, not more, even if they would be as relaxing as a night with friends and wine. Erica in OR 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2ndGenHomeschooler Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 We are protestants and attend a Baptist church. We have Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services so anything else would be out on those days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milovany Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 Pascha or Easter is the Feast of Feasts for Traditional Christians. Holy Week is of utmost importance to us. It's hard to understand if you don't observe the liturgical calendar (I remember what it was like to be in your shoes). I schedule spring break to start on the Monday of Holy Week and end on the Friday of Bright Week, so that we will be available for all the church services leading up to Easter and have a full week to celebrate during the week after. Eastern Orthodox here also -- wanted to comment that this is one of the years when we don't share the Easter date. Orthodox Easter is a week later than Western Easter, so the night in question would be during the week before Holy Week if you have any potential Orthodox guests. Some Orthodox maintain a strictness for all of Lent, so this still wouldn't be a good date; some might not be as strict that week as during Holy Week, so it might. All that to say, I'm no help to you [the OP] at all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bettyandbob Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 Around here most school districts are off that week, so you'd also run into people who were scheduling around spring break. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*Lulu* Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 UMC, have Maundy Thursday services, agree with Cat that even for those who don't have services that day may be gearing up for the holiday weekend. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TianXiaXueXiao Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 Eastern Orthodox here also -- wanted to comment that this is one of the years when we don't share the Easter date. Orthodox Easter is a week later than Western Easter, so the night in question would be during the week before Holy Week if you have any potential Orthodox guests. Some Orthodox maintain a strictness for all of Lent, so this still wouldn't be a good date; some might not be as strict that week as during Holy Week, so it might. All that to say, I'm no help to you [the OP] at all! You make a good point, Milovany,regarding the difference in feastal calendar. My earlier comment was more focused on how belonging to a liturgical church changes the significance of certain dates. I never understood the meaning of Holy Week before I became Orthodox and even though I celebrated Western Easter before, I wasn't a Trinitarian Christian and I had only one or two friends who were and we rarely talked about religion. I totally would have scoffed at the notion of missing a social gathering in order to attend a weekday service because I had no context for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppy Posted March 17, 2015 Author Share Posted March 17, 2015 I could do it the day before instead (Wednesday). Which is part of the week but not a religious holiday, I take it? The venue is a local nonprofit artisan shop that my club is a booster of. They want people to come that week to buy gifts, decorations, accessories, etc for visiting family over that weekend. The focus is more "private shopping event" than "wine", and I think doing it after the holiday would result in a lower attendance. Hope that helps to clarify. Appreciate all the replies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*Lulu* Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 I could do it the day before instead (Wednesday). Which is part of the week but not a religious holiday, I take it? The venue is a local nonprofit artisan shop that my club is a booster of. They want people to come that week to buy gifts, decorations, accessories, etc for visiting family over that weekend. The focus is more "private shopping event" than "wine", and I think doing it after the holiday would result in a lower attendance. Hope that helps to clarify. Appreciate all the replies. I think that would be lovely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AimeeM Posted March 18, 2015 Share Posted March 18, 2015 Catholics are encouraged to go to Mass that day. It is not a holy day of obligation, but most devout Catholics do go. I have no clue what other, non-catholic, Christians do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiguirre Posted March 18, 2015 Share Posted March 18, 2015 I could do it the day before instead (Wednesday). Which is part of the week but not a religious holiday, I take it? The venue is a local nonprofit artisan shop that my club is a booster of. They want people to come that week to buy gifts, decorations, accessories, etc for visiting family over that weekend. The focus is more "private shopping event" than "wine", and I think doing it after the holiday would result in a lower attendance. Hope that helps to clarify. Appreciate all the replies. I think it's fine. It sounds more like a drop in when you can, stay as long as you can event. You might get more people who are going out to church or grocery shopping anyway if you do it Thursday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThisIsTheDay Posted March 18, 2015 Share Posted March 18, 2015 Conservative non denom here. I'm not sure I've ever been in a church that does anything on Thursday, and if I was, we didn't participate. However, I am currently attending a small church and was surprised to see that they have a service Thursday. We'll probably go. (They only have Sunday morning service, nothing in the evening, nothing on Wednesday, and not even anything on Christmas Eve!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rebbyribs Posted March 18, 2015 Share Posted March 18, 2015 UU here, and our church has regular Thursday night supper and services throughout the year. Some people go weekly, others go once in a while, and many people only attend on Sundays. We're in the once-in-a-while category and wouldn't mind doing something else on a Thursday evening. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKL Posted March 18, 2015 Share Posted March 18, 2015 Our Lutheran church is having some sort of Seder supper that night. I do believe they normally have church stuff on that day, and in general that week is not considered a time to party. I wouldn't know how many people attend the church stuff because I never have on Maundy Thursday. Another possibility is that some people may be traveling to see family. Kids don't have school Friday, so some folks might start Thursday. Maybe send out some feelers to other group members? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reefgazer Posted March 18, 2015 Share Posted March 18, 2015 In my community, the wine social would trump Holy Thursday services for most people. Heck, most don't go to Holy Thursday services even when wine is not offered up elsewhere. AS a PP suggested, however, some people may be out of town and travelling to see family for Easter and not be available then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeacefulChaos Posted March 18, 2015 Share Posted March 18, 2015 I am planning a wine social for a group I belong to. The date the venue offered is April 2. My coleader said, oh that's Holy Thursday, no one will come if it's that day. She is a very devout Catholic. We are not in a very religious community. My question is, is she right or a little off base? Do most Catholics tend to go to church that evening? How about non Catholic Christians? The biggest church here is probably Congregationalist. (We are in New England) For people who don't go to church, is it a big family day, or a day you'd avoid a night out with wine? I know nothing about Holy Thursday. I don't know that I've ever even heard of it before. I'm a Christian but I'm not Catholic. Does that help at all? :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppy Posted March 18, 2015 Author Share Posted March 18, 2015 I know nothing about Holy Thursday. I don't know that I've ever even heard of it before. I'm a Christian but I'm not Catholic. Does that help at all? :lol: Holy Thursday is..... 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacquelyn in NC Posted March 19, 2015 Share Posted March 19, 2015 I am a Methodist, and we have both Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services. Those would definitely take priority over a social outing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daria Posted March 19, 2015 Share Posted March 19, 2015 Maundy Thursday is one of the most moving services of the year. nondenominational. I wouldn't attend. If you schedule it for the following week, it would be more inclusive. Except the next week is the middle of Passover. Around here you'd have more people who couldn't do an event with food on Passover than you would have people attending Maundy/Holy Thursday services. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QueenCat Posted March 19, 2015 Share Posted March 19, 2015 I know nothing about Holy Thursday. I don't know that I've ever even heard of it before. I'm a Christian but I'm not Catholic. Does that help at all? :lol: There are Protestant denominations that honor Holy Thursday (also called Maundy Thursday). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alessandra Posted March 19, 2015 Share Posted March 19, 2015 Maundy Thurs is big here. I'm Episcopalian.Ditto here, to both sentences. Some churches have an all-night watch. People stay for an hour or so, but try to make sure that the church is not empty that night. It is also on the list of official religious holidays (when kids can be excused from school) in my state. For NYC residents, it is one of the days when alternate side of the street parking is suspended. (If you have no idea what that means, don't obsess.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alessandra Posted March 19, 2015 Share Posted March 19, 2015 Maundy Thursday is one of the most moving services of the year. nondenominational. I wouldn't attend. If you schedule it for the following week, it would be more inclusive. The next week is Holy Week for Eastern Orthodox, however. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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