Easter Week is Early!

Holy Week Schedule

Choir Cantata, Palm/Passion Sunday, March 16, 10 AM

Communion, Tenebrae Service on Maundy Thursday, March 20, 7:30 PM

Easter Celebration March 23, service at 10 AM (and more)

Join Us for Music, Spiritual Blessings and Family Fun!

With Easter arriving earlier than ever, don’t miss the special events at First Congregational Church:

Sunday March 16, 10:00 a.m. -- The Seven Last Words of Christ, a cantata by the German Renaissance composer Heinrich Schütz, will be featured during the Palm/Passion Sunday service. “The music,” says Music Director Tracy Shirk, “is straightforward and helps highlight the drama in the text, which will be sung in English.”  The Meeting House Choir will be accompanied by organ with soprano, alto, tenor, baritone and bass soli.

Thursday, March 20, 7:30 p.m – Maundy  Thursday Communion and Tenebrae Service will be led by the Reverend Nayiri Karjian, interim senior minister. 

 “Maundy is the English form of the Latin word commandment,” says Rev. Karjian. “It refers to Jesus’ commandment to ‘love one another as I have loved you.’ Tenebrae is the Latin term for shadows. During the service, as the Passion story unfolds, candles are extinguished and darkness increases. At the end of the service one light is left burning, the Christ candle, the light of God’s love. The Christ candle is removed from view, then restored, for in the shadow of the cross the light is eclipsed but not extinguished. The shadows are those of the cross. The light is that of the resurrection.

 “Join us during Holy Week for this dramatic service of light and shadows and be part of our faith story as we move from the shadows of Lent to the glorious light of the Resurrection.”

Easter Sunday, March 23

8:00 a.m. -­- sunrise service, led by youth

9:00 a.m. -- pancake breakfast

10:00 a.m.--worship service

(Children’s classes during this service)

Following the 10:00 a.m. service, egg hunt and bubble release

After the shadowy days of Lent, Easter is a long awaited, delightful celebration of light and life, new life and rebirth.  Join us Easter morning to celebrate the Day of Resurrection, and renew your own life with an Easter message for today, and with the joy of music!

Complete Holy Week Schedule

Sunday, 16 March, Palm/ Passion Sunday

10:00 a.m. – Worship Service

                    Children’s Classes

11:00 a.m. – Coffee, Tea and Conversation

                    Children’s Choir

11:30 a.m. – Adult Classes

Thursday, 20 March

7:30 p.m. – Maundy Thursday Service

Easter Sunday, 23 March

8:00 a.m.  sunrise service, led by youth

9:00 a.m. – pancake breakfast

10:00 a.m. – worship service

(children’s classes during this service)

Following the 10:00 a.m. service, egg hunt and bubble release