Holy Week at Riverside 2026
The season of Lent concludes with Holy Week as we follow Jesus into Jerusalem, share his last supper, witness his crucifixion, embrace grief in the silence of Saturday, and embody the resurrection on Easter Sunday. Join us onsite at Riverside or online this week for our Holy Week worship services and events.
NOTE: Parking during Holy Week services (Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday) in the church garage is discounted to $5 for each day.
ENTRANCES: There are two entrances to the church. You can enter the church at 490 Riverside Drive which is closest to the Nave (sanctuary). Wheelchair accessibility is available at 91 Claremont Avenue. Ask the security desk for directions to our Nave.
ATTIRE: You can dress comfortably and in a manner that makes you feel at ease. Whether it’s casual attire or dressed-up, we’re happy to welcome you just as you are.
Palm Sunday
Sunday, March 29 at 11:00 AM ET • Nave & Online
Palm Sunday Worship with Rev. Adriene Thorne, preaching
Join us after worship for a sermon talkback in Virtual Coffee Hour.
There will be waving palms this Sunday. We will also contemplate a sign lifted high on the cross: “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” As we walk slowly toward the cross, we hold together all that this day contains—palms and passion, hope and heartbreak, faith proclaimed and love that costs.
As the shouts of Hosanna fade, love remains visible.
Join us for worship as we walk into Holy Week, reflecting on what it means to follow Jesus—a love made public in the world today.
Crown and Cross: A Passion Sunday Concert
Sunday, March 29 at 3:00 PM ET • Nave & Livestream
Experience the Passion of Christ brought vividly to life by The Riverside Choir, Soloists, and Orchestra. Johann Sebastian Bach’s Palm Sunday cantata Himmelskönig, sei willkommen, ushers in Holy Week with reverent joy, while Margaret Bonds’ Simon Bore the Cross — once thought to be lost — offers a poignant reflection on Christ’s suffering and sacrifice through the rich lens of African American musical tradition. Together, these works invite listeners to witness, reflect, and feel the profound weight and beauty of the Passion.
Tickets:
$25 | Adults
$20 | Students & Seniors
This event will also be livestreamed free of charge on our website and YouTube channel.
Maundy Thursday
Thursday, April 2 at 7:00 PM ET • Nave & Online
Join us for a sacred evening of dinner, communion, and reflection as we remember Jesus’ final meal with his disciples. Through worship, scripture, and the ancient practices of communion and foot washing, we reflect on a love expressed through humility and service.
Following the meal, we will enter the solemn Tenebrae service, where scripture and song guide us through the deepening shadows of the night Jesus was betrayed.
NOTE: Parking during Holy Week services (Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday) in the church garage is discounted to $5 for each day.
What is Maundy Thursday? Click here to learn more.
Good Friday
Friday, April 3 at 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM ET • Nave & Online
On Good Friday, love is made public at the cross—with a Savior who believes we are worth dying for.
We will gather for The Seven Last Words of Jesus and contemplate the final hours of his life. Through scripture, preaching, and embodied practices, we bear witness to a love that does not retreat into silence, even in pain.
This lavish love calls us to see what is often hidden today: the many who suffer away from the spotlight. At the cross, their pain is no longer invisible. We gather to witness, to grieve, and to refuse to look away.
You are welcome to stay for the entire service or come and go as you need.
NOTE: Parking during Holy Week services (Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday) in the church garage is discounted to $5 for each day.
Holy Saturday
Saturday, April 4 at 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM ET • Assembly Hall (self-guided)
Join us in Assembly Hall for a self-guided prayer labyrinth experience. This ancient practice offers a quiet opportunity to be present in the stillness of Holy Saturday as we find ourselves between the sorrow of Good Friday and the hope of Easter Sunday.
Is America Possible?
Saturday, April 4 at 3:00 PM ET • Nave & Online
On Holy Saturday, which marks the 59th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Beyond Vietnam” speech, we gather with our partners from Union Theological Seminary to ask again the question posed by historian, activist, and teacher Vincent Harding: Is America Possible?
The event will feature music, dance, and a dramatic multi-voice re-reading of the prophetic speech delivered by Dr. King in 1967. Following the program, there will be a live On Being podcast conversation and recording with Krista Tippett, Lucas Johnson, and Michelle Alexander.
Come remember, reckon, and renew democracy’s promise.
NOTE: Parking during Holy Week services (Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday) in the church garage is discounted to $5 for each day.
Sunday, April 5 at 11:00 AM ET • Nave & Online
Resurrection Sunday Worship with Rev. Adriene Thorne, preaching
Join us on Easter Sunday at The Riverside Church as we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord.
Christ is risen. Christ is risen, indeed. Alleluia!
Easter Egg Hunt • After Worship • Cloister Lounge
After the 11:00 AM Easter Sunday service, children are invited to participate in our annual Easter Egg Hunt, beginning in the Cloister Lounge.
Easter Brunch After Worship • Assembly Hall *ticketed event*
Join us on Sunday, April 5, immediately after our Resurrection Sunday worship service (approx. 12:30pm-3pm), for a festive and memorable Easter Brunch in Assembly Hall. Enjoy a traditional Easter meal with a variety of options, including vegan dishes and a delicious dessert station.
The menu will feature:
• Entrées: NY Strip Steak, Turkey with Gravy, BBQ Ribs, Honey-Glazed Ham, and Dressing
• Sides: Mashed Potatoes, Baked Macaroni and Cheese, Assorted Grilled Vegetables, and Cornbread, Bread Dinner Rolls with Butter
• Vegan Options
• Beverage Bar
• Dessert Station
$25 | Adults $20 | Seniors $12 | Children (under 12)
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