Triduum schedule
What times on what days should be considered the beginning and end of the Paschal Triduum? I've heard versions including Thursday evening through Saturday night, Friday afternoon through Sunday morning, and Thursday evening through Sunday evening. I recently taught a class on our church year and there was confusion on this topic among members, including some lifelong WELS members. Thanks in advance for clarifying this for us.
With human customs, it is not surprising to find variations. I can pass along to you this introductory information about the Triduum from the WELS Resource Center.
“For more information about the history of the Triduum, see page 183 and following in Christian Worship: Occasional Services. However, a simple explanation would be this. The Triduum adds one service to Holy Week from what most WELS churches are used to. Specifically, it adds the Great Vigil, one of the most ancient services in the Christian Church. And it organized the services of the ‘three days’ (i.e. triduum) so that they go together. There is no benediction after Maundy Thursday or Good Friday, because they are just parts 1 and 2 of a three part observance.
“Some churches have arranged the three services into one large worship folder. For ease of printing and customization, we have kept them distinct. This allows churches to modify the services using sound pastoral judgment to be appropriate for each congregation’s sensibility. In some locations, it might cause confusion to not have a benediction and to ask people to leave the church in silence. That portion of the worship folder can be easily modified.
“The Great Vigil is growing in popularity throughout the WELS. There are churches that have used it for years now and find it as well attended as Maundy Thursday or Good Friday. Traditionally, it is held late on Saturday night. However, one possibility to introduce it to your church would be to do it as your Easter sunrise service. It has a very different tone than a festival Easter service. Members would be encouraged to come to it and a festival service on Sunday morning. You could have an Easter breakfast in between.”
These links will take you to the preceding information and will also provide you with worship service templates for the Triduum.