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1964 County Road 43, Kemptville, Ontario K0G 1J0, Canada
Easter at KPC
Join us this Easter to experience and celebrate our hope in Jesus.
If this is your first time joining us, Welcome!
Services
Palm Sunday - April 13th at 10am
Good Friday - April 18th at 10:30am
Good Friday - April 18th at 10:30am
Jesus entered Jerusalem on what we now call Palm Sunday. Palm branches, which symbolize triumph or victory, were strewn in His path as He entered the city.
We will have a traditional worship service with a message from our Senior Pastor, and our Missions Cafe will be open after the service.
Kids' church and nursery will be available for children 0 - Grade 6.
Good Friday - April 18th at 10:30am
Good Friday - April 18th at 10:30am
Good Friday - April 18th at 10:30am
You can’t have the joy of Resurrection Sunday without the pain of Good Friday. Our Good Friday service is geared to focus our hearts and minds on the price Jesus paid for us on the cross.
Services will be held at 10:30 am, and children will be in service with families.
Easter Sunday - April 20th at 10am
Good Friday - April 18th at 10:30am
Easter Sunday - April 20th at 10am
The resurrection of Jesus Christ gives us hope that what is dead in our lives can come to life again. We want to celebrate and rejoice about the greatest day in all of history.
We will have a traditional worship service with a message from our Senior Pastor, and our Missions Cafe will be open after the service.
Kids' church and nursery will be available for children 0 - Grade 6.
What Is Holy Week?
Holy Week is a string of eight days that allow us to reflect upon the shift in humanity that Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross launched.
It starts with Palm Sunday when Jesus enters the city of Jerusalem. The week leads us through the Last Supper, His Crucifixion, and ends on Easter Sunday with His resurrection.
This is the basis of Christianity. His sacrifice launched the New Covenant that God promised and many had prophesied throughout the Old Testament. Each day of Holy Week allows us to peek into the heart of our Savior at intently close proximity. His love for us is reflected in every significant step toward the cross, every breath up to the last, and His resurrection.
All four of the Gospels tell the story of the Holy Week and offers different details to the last week of Jesus life:
Using these Scriptures as a guide, let's take a closer look at each day of Holy Week—the key events that took place and how churches commemorate them today.
Palm Sunday
Jesus rode into Jerusalem on what we now call Palm Sunday; palm branches, which symbolize triumph or victory, were strewn in Jesus’ path, as He rode into the city. He rode into town on a humble donkey, fulfilling the prophecy in Zechariah 9:9: “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your kings comes to you, righteous and victorious, low and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” The people welcomed Him, echoing the words of Psalm 118:25-26: “Lord, save us! Lord, grant us success!” more popularly recognizes as “Hosanna! Hosanna!”
The word hosanna originated from the word save. The meaning of the word eventually shifted to express gratitude for salvation, and is used in the New Testament initially in Matthew 21:9: “The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David!’ ‘Blessed is he who comes the name of the Lord!’ ‘Hosanna in the highest heaven!’” This is a pivotal moment in the history of humanity, as the long-awaited new covenant God promised to His people would produce new salvation through Jesus’ death on the cross.
Churches celebrate Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem by distributing palm branches and reading passages like Matthew 21:1-11 or John 12:12-19 to reflect on the crowd’s cries of “Hosanna!”
Monday of Holy Week
It’s after the big day when Jesus was greeted with palm leaves, before the day Judas agreed to betray him, and before all the vivid events that take place from the Last Supper onward. However, the Bible has much to say about the day, and it helps us understand the rest of the Passion story.
On the Monday of Holy Week, Jesus continued His journey toward the cross with significant events that revealed His authority and mission. He cleansed the Temple, driving out money changers who were exploiting worshippers (Matthew 21:12-17), symbolizing the need for true worship. He also cursed a barren fig tree (Mark 11:12-14), representing Israel’s spiritual emptiness. Later, He taught in the Temple, confronting religious leaders who questioned His authority (Matthew 21:23-27).
- “Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. ‘It is written,’ he said the them, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a den of robbers.’” -Matthew 21:12-13
Those who heard and witnessed Jesus' miraculous healings that day sang praises to Him, which caused authorities to begin looking for a way to kill him. The Gospel of Luke says that “they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words.” -Luke 19:48
Why is Holy Monday Significant?
There are many important things to observe about Holy Monday, but two are particularly important.
First, Holy Monday set up the events which happened on Thursday. By clearing the temple, Jesus criticized the leaders who allowed and promoted the activity happening in the temple. His teachings rebuked the religious leaders overtly (particularly by telling people to watch out for corrupt leaders), and by telling a parable meant to criticize them. Matthew 21:45-46 explains that the leaders knew they were the “evil farm tenants” Jesus mentioned in that parable. The religious leaders had been concerned about Jesus before this, but his actions on Holy Monday and Holy Tuesday clinched it: they wanted him dead.
Second, Jesus describes these teachings and parables as being about the kingdom of God. They use different images and words but are all about two ideas: God will offer the kingdom to unexpected people, and when the kingdom arrives in full there will be judgment.
The parable of the two sons, the evil farm tenants, and the great feast all deal with God offering the kingdom to people and varying responses, which results in God offering it to others. The son who initially does not obey the father is ultimately honored for doing what he’s asked in the end, and Jesus ends it by telling the religious leaders, “I tell you the truth, corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom of Heaven before you do” (Matthew 21:31). The evil farm tenants ultimately lose the farm, which the landlord gives to others (Matthew 21:22). The king invites many to his great feast, when many do not take him up on his offer he seeks others to attend.
The parables of the servants and the ten bridesmaids describe people given things for a time to come (the bridegroom’s approach, the master’s return). Some of these people wisely use what they were given (the oil, the money). Others do not. There is a coming event to be prepared for.
The apocalyptic discussion about Jerusalem (possibly referring to the city’s fall in A.D. 70, possibly talking about the end days) and the story about God’s response to people at the final judgment both highlight the idea that something unexpected is coming. Therefore, people needed to consider what they did with the time they were given.
On one of his last days before his death, Jesus warned people that the kingdom of God was coming. He also warned them that their understanding of It had to change.
Tuesday of Holy Week
On the Tuesday of Holy Week, Peter noticed the fully withered fig tree Jesus had cursed, to which Jesus admonished a lesson to have faith and recognize the power of forgiveness:
- “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. "Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not count in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” -Mark 11:22-26
Holy Tuesday was a day of avoiding traps and teaching. The priests set four traps for Jesus, the first questioning His authority, to which He answered with a question and then taught three parables: The Parable of the Two Sons, The Parable of the Tenants, and The Parable of the Wedding Banquet. The second trap challenged Jesus’ allegiance, the third trap attempted to ridicule Jesus’ belief in resurrection, and the fourth Jesus answered by claiming God’s greatest command to be “Love.”
Stopping at the Mount of Olives to rest on the way back to Bethany to spend the night, Jesus spoke to His disciples about the upcoming trials for His followers.
Wednesday of Holy Week
Wednesday of Holy Week is referred to as a day of rest for Jesus. While in Bethany, a woman anointed Jesus’ feet with perfume. It is also widely known throughout the church as “Spy Wednesday.” While Jesus rests in Bethany at the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, the plot of the high priest and the authorities to kill Jesus is in full swing.
Spy Wednesday refers to Judas Iscariot, the spy in Jesus’ followers, who betrayed Jesus over to the religious leaders, in exchange for 30 silver coins (Luke 22). Although Judas clearly committed a wrong by betraying his leader, he plays an important role in Easter. It is a significant reminder of the betrayal, greed, and darkness that led to Jesus' suffering—but also of God’s ultimate plan to bring redemption through the cross.
Thursday of Holy Week
On Thursday, Holy or Maundy, Jesus and His disciples shared the Last Supper in an upper room. This was the Passover Seder Meal, remembering Israel's exodus from Egypt.
During this Passover meal, we see Jesus washing the feet of His disciples. After showing this example of humility, love, and service, Jesus then commanded his disciples to go and serve likewise. Jesus also foretells his betrayal during this time.
- Matthew 26:26-29: "Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing, it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.”
This day marks an important part of Holy Week; here is what you should know about it. It commemorates the day Jesus submitted His will to that of the Father and prayed, "Not my will, but thine, be done" (Luke 22:42).
After the meal, the disciples accompanied Jesus to the Garden at Gethsemane, where Jesus prayed in agony. “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” An angel came to strengthen Jesus in the garden. There, He taught His disciples and us what to do when we come to the end of our strength and need God to help us press on.
Maundy, from the Latin root madam, means "commandment" or "mandate." On that Thursday, Jesus gave His disciples a new commandment, which is why we use the term Maundy today. Jesus uses the word in this context after He washes the feet of His friends.
- “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another.” -John 13:34
Good Friday
Why is it called Good Friday when it’s the day Jesus brutally died?
It’s called Good Friday because, by Jesus’ death, he became the final, complete sacrifice for our sins. We couldn’t have erased our sins. Our hands would have been forever stained with every single sin for a lifetime. But Jesus broke the bonds of death and sin!
For Christians, Good Friday is a crucial day of the year because it celebrates what we believe to be the most pivotal day in the history of the world. On Good Friday, Jesus willingly suffered and died by crucifixion as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins (1 John 4:10).
Good Friday was the last day of Jesus’ life on earth before His resurrection.
The Bible says his disciple and friend Judas betrayed Jesus’ whereabouts in the Garden of Gethsemane. He was arrested and taken to the house of Caiaphas, the high priest, which was an informal late-night meeting of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council. They had plotted to put Jesus on trial. They were looking for evidence that would justify putting Him to death, but they could not find any.
Finally, the high priest demanded Jesus, "Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God." Jesus replied, "I am, and you will see me, the Son of Man, sitting at God's right hand and coming back on the clouds of heaven." Then the high priest said, "You have just heard His blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? What is your verdict?" They all shouted, "He deserves death!" Then they spat in Jesus' face and started beating Him. After he was convicted in their mock trial, they took Him to Pilate because they did not have the authority to put anyone to death under Roman law. They falsely accused Jesus of treason against the Roman Empire for claiming to be the king of the Jews and for urging people not to pay their taxes. However, Pilate knew Jesus wasn’t guilty of any crime; yet the mob wanted Him crucified. So he washed his hands of it and did what the crowd wanted.
He was condemned, beaten, mocked, and required to carry His own cross to the place where He was crucified and died. “The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head.” Though he was offered something to dull the physical pain, Jesus refused. He chose to face the pain of death head on. They stripped Him of His clothes and cast lots for them, fulfilling another prophecy.
Two prisoners were crucified alongside Jesus. One mocked Him, but the other said, “‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ Jesus answered him, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise’” (Luke 23:39-43). Amidst the most cruel, unfair, unjust, and painful death a human body could endure, Jesus chose to respond in grace to the criminal beside Him and care for His mother and best friend. “When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, ‘Woman, here is your son,’ and to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother’” (John 19:25-27).
Then at noon, strange things began to happen. The sky grew dark for three hours and Jesus cried out, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit," and then He died. The curtain of the temple was mysteriously torn in two from top to bottom and there was a great earthquake.
- “It was at about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.” -Luke 23:44-46
- At noon, Jesus cried out “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit,” and died.
After Jesus’ body was taken down from the cross, He was wrapped in strips of cloth and laid in a tomb. Roman guards were sent two guard the tomb to ensure no one stole the body or spread rumors that He wasn’t dead. Finally, three days later, Jesus rose from the dead and conquered death!
- Mark 15: 42-47: "This all happened on Friday, the day of preparation, the day before the Sabbath. As evening approached, Joseph of Arimathea took a risk and went to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body. (Joseph was an honored member of the high council, and he was waiting for the Kingdom of God to come.) Pilate couldn't believe that Jesus was already dead, so he called for the Roman officer and asked if he had died yet. The officer confirmed that Jesus was dead, so Pilate told Joseph he could have the body. Joseph bought a long sheet of linen cloth. Then he took Jesus' body down from the cross, wrapped it in the cloth, and laid it in a tomb that had been carved out of the rock. Then he rolled a stone in front of the entrance. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where Jesus' body was laid."
Saturday of Holy Week, Also Known as Black Saturday
On the Saturday of Holy Week, Jesus’ body rested in the tomb; it was a rich man’s tomb, fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 53:9. Preparations were made for Jesus’ body and placement in the tomb until 6pm, when preparations for the Sabbath began.
- “The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.” -Luke 23:55-56
Easter Sunday (Resurrection Day)
- “He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.” -Matthew 28:6
On Easter Sunday, Jesus rose from the dead, fulfilling the prophecy. Early in the morning, the women who had prepared the spices before the Sabbath returned to Jesus’ tomb to find it empty. Mary Magdalene arrived first.
- “Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.” -John 20:1
Two men, angels, appear to the women to tell them Jesus has risen (Matthew 28:2-7; Mark 16:4-7; Luke 24:2-7). The women, afraid and joyful, remained silent first, and then quickly found the eleven disciples. Mary ran ahead to tell Peter and John, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him” (John 20:2). Jesus met the other women on their way!
- “And behold, Jesus met them and said, ‘Greetings!’ And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshipped him.” -Matthew 28:9-10
After all eleven have been informed, they rush to the empty tomb. Jesus appeared to Cleopus and another on the road to Emmaus, and to Peter. That evening, He entered a room with locked doors to greet the other ten disciples.“Peace to you!” (Luke 24:36-43; John 20:19-23)
Other Questions & Answers
When is Easter, and Why Does the Date Change?
Unlike Christmas, which is always on December 25, Easter and Holy Week have movable dates because they follow the lunar calendar, not the fixed solar calendar.
Easter is determined by the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox (March 21). This means Easter can fall anywhere between March 22 and April 25 each year. Since Holy Week is tied to Easter, its dates—Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday—shift each year as well.
This dating comes from the connection between Easter and Passover, which also follows the lunar calendar. Because Jesus was crucified during Passover, the early Church set Easter’s timing based on the moon’s cycles, making it a movable feast that changes yearly but always stays within the spring season.
In 2025, Easter falls on Sunday, April 20th. Easter is celebrated on the Sunday following the first full moon, the Paschal full moon, after the vernal equinox. Since the vernal equinox date changes yearly, calculating the proper date can be difficult. This is still the method used to determine Easter today, which is why some years we have Easter earlier than others.
Future Easter Dates:
- April 5, 2026
- March 27, 2027
- April 16, 2028
How Does Easter Connect to Passover?
The day before his crucifixion, Jesus observed Passover with his disciples. This event is known as the Last Supper. Passover is the time that Jews remember their freedom and exodus from Egypt. During this Passover feast, Jesus told his disciples that the bread symbolized his body, which would be broken, and the wine, his blood, which would be poured out for the forgiveness of sins (Matthew 26:17-30). The Last Supper is remembered today in churches and religious services through the act of taking Communion and sharing bread and wine to remember the sacrifice of Jesus.
Jesus was arrested after the Passover meal while he was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. He was then taken before the Roman Governor, Pontius Pilate, for trial.
Why is it Called Good Friday?
- “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” -Romans 8:28
This doesn’t mean we are protected from all things that are bad. Jesus’ death was awful. The most painful thing, physically, mentally, and spiritually, that any human could have to endure. Why would Jesus choose to obey His Father’s will? And why was His will for His only Son to suffer? God’s ways are truly above our ways, but the good that came out of Jesus’ death saved our souls for eternity.
Bible Readings of the Crucifixion:
If you haven’t read the complete story of the crucifixion. Here are the four Gospel accounts of the story: