Every Christian leader knows that the three most important day on the church calendar is Easter Sunday, along with Holy Thursday and Good Friday. And for the past five centuries, we have created liturgies that focus on a kind of historical re-enactment of the last days of Jesus' life. In the early church, however, these days did not mark the end of a penitential Lent, but were an entrance into Easter joy. Just past sundown on Holy Thursday, the community stepped into "triduum" (latin word for three days) in which the community celebrated oneness with each other, with All and with God.

Exploring the traditional great rites (footwashing, honoring the cross, night of vigil and Easter dawn/day), this week will present and demonstrate the principles of how to recast the rituals in a way that is consistent with tradition yet with fresh vitality for today. The Study Week includes experience, presentation, worship, reflection and practical guidance. The week is not about telling you what to do. The week will demonstrate the principles that you might use to develop worship within your unique community. Our 'laboratory' is Easter. The principles apply to each and every Sunday and communal prayer.

The Study Week is designed to aid pastors, liturgists, ministers, musicians, catechists and anyone so charged with developing communal worship. The ecumenical team is led by Alexander Shaia with Rev. Anne Ritchings (Episcopal), Rev. David Mullen (ELCA-Lutheran), Veronica Cukrow (cantor, instrumentalist).

Please see the brief video

filmed at last year's retreat at La Casa.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqxFCaSqCIs&feature=player_embedded

Alexander J. Shaia, Ph.D. is a writer, liturgist, spiritual director, psychologist and a passionate professional speaker. He also has over twenty years of direct parish ministry. He is the author of the groundbreaking book, The Hidden Power of the Gospels: Four Questions, Four Paths, One Journey from HarperOne and endorsed by Brian McLaren, Diana Butler Bass, Phyllis Tickle, Mpho Tutu and many others across the spectrum of Christianity. (see www.quadratos.com and www.alexanderjshaia.com) He travels internationally, lecturing and conducting retreats on Quadratos - the four fold gospel journey of spirit and transformation, rites of passage, liturgy, and Christian spirituality. His book on the ancient/fresh Easter Triduum, The Wedding Chamber: A Re-freshed Celebration of Easter and Our Oneness with All is to be published early 2011.