The Vigil before the Altar of Repose 

Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, "So, could you not stay awake with me one hour?"

Matthew 26:40

Keeping vigil before the Altar of Repose has long been a tradition among Christians. At the conclusion of the Maundy Thursday service, the reserved sacrament is removed from the Church, symbolizing Jesus' being forcibly taken from those who loved him in the garden of Gethsemane. The reserved sacrament is then moved to what is known as the Altar of Repose, a special location where we keep vigil marking the hours between Jesus' arrest and his crucifixion. This is a time of meditation, contemplation, prayer, and sitting in the presence of the Lord.

You are invited to take part in this ancient tradition by signing up to keep vigil here at St. James. The Vigil is divided into one hour time slots which begin at 9:00 pm on Maundy Thursday and conclude at 11:00 am on Good Friday. When you click below to register, you will be asked to choose a time slot. You can also sign up others to keep vigil with you. There will be an off-duty policeman in the parking lot throughout the Vigil to ensure security. 

Please consider setting aside one hour to keep vigil while his passion unfolds.