St. Luke’s Church in Forest Hills (my Episcopalian parish) is “burying the alleluias” this Sunday, March 6th, with a choral evensong service at 4:00pm. I will be one of the scripture readers.
In many Christian liturgical traditions, all uses of the celebratory word “Alleluia” are removed from services during Lent. This is an old custom, in keeping with the idea that Lent is a time of solemnity and denial. “Burying the Alleluias,” therefore, is usually done just before Ash Wednesday, either on Shrove Tuesday or the Sunday before. In some traditions, this is done literally in a ritual where banners or papers with “Alleluia” on them are solemnly locked in a chest and hidden away–even physically buried–until Easter. In the Episcopal Church, burying the Alleluias is done figuratively by selecting as many hymns, anthems, prayers and other liturgical elements that contain the word “Alleluia” as possible. “Alleluia” isn’t heard again until the Great Vigil of Easter.
If you’re interesting in coming, the church web site linked above has the address–it is reasonably convenient to the E/F trains (ten minute walk from the 71st-Continental Ave/Forest Hills station through a beautiful section of Forest Hills Gardens).
