Sunday, March 28: Palm/Passion Sunday Worship
10:30 a.m. on YouTube
We will begin by remembering Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and then turn to join Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane for prayer. In preparation for this day, we invite you to send a photo of yourself or your family holding a “Palm Branch,” one you have picked up at the church office, or an indigenous branch from your yard or a trail. Take a picture of yourself and send it to christopher@firstcong.net by Wednesday, March 24 to help create our online parade.
Thursday, April 1: Maundy Thursday Worship
7:00 p.m. on YouTube
Join us for a Service of Shadows with Holy Communion when we remember the washing of the disciples’ feet and the Last Supper before the lights dim to darkness and we recall Jesus’ anguished prayer, his arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, and his’ death on the cross. Please bring a lit candle, bread and juice or wine for communion, and a container of water and towel for an actual or symbolic foot washing.
Thursday, April 1, to Saturday, April 3: Holy Week Visits
Church Sanctuary and Chapel
We invite you and anyone in your household to sign up to visit the Church Sanctuary and Chapel for a half hour during Holy Week. When you enter the Pine Street door, please pick up your own prayer kit, sign in, take your temperature, and linger in our beautiful space. View the COVID Memorial Butterfly Project and visit four touchless prayer stations in the Sanctuary, and experience a video of Holy Week art in the Chapel. You and the members of your household will be the only people in the Sanctuary and Chapel during your visit. To participate, sign up in advance.
Thursday, April 1. Friday, April 2. Saturday, April 3.
THU 4/1 9:00a-12:00p. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040949A9A828A75-holy
FRI 4/2 4:00p-7:00p https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040949A9A828A75-holy2
SAT 4/3 9:00a-3pm https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040949A9A828A75-holy1
Friday, April 2: The Poetry of Holy Week
Noon to 1:00 p.m. on Zoom Meeting ID: 244 993 715 Passcode: poetry
Join the First Congregational Poetry Group for a time of poetry reading and reflection. Bring a poem to share about Holy Week, Good Friday, dying, or death or just listen and reflect in the company of others.
Easter Sunday, April 4: Outdoor Worship
9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. at the Church
Trumpets, Trombones, Bells, Kites, and Alleluias! Sign up to attend a half hour Service of Joy on Pine Street. The city has allowed us to close the street for these services so that we can hear the Easter story proclaimed in the midst of good company in person! To amplify your Alleluias, bring a bell to ring, a shaker to shake, or any kind of homemade noise maker. Wear your mask and please be mindful of maintaining physical distances from other folks as you wish them a Happy Easter! Sign-up below…
Easter Sunday, April 4: Online Worship
10:45 a.m. Prelude and 11:00 a.m. on YouTube
Join us for worship as we proclaim the story of the Christ’s Resurrection and sing Alleluia songs! Music will begin 15 minutes before the service starts. Worship will include the Sacrament of Holy Communion, so please prepare bread and juice, wine or water. In advance of this service, we invite you to take a video of yourself or your family sharing an Easter Greeting. Turn your phone horizontally so that the camera catches your face as you record and say with joy, “Alleluia! Christ is Risen! Christ is Risen Indeed!” If you like, include in the video the Alleluia page you received in your Lenten mailing to color. Or maybe ring a bell or hold flowers as you offer your greeting. Be creative! Send your video to christopher@firstcong.net by Wednesday, March 31 so that it can be included in the opening to our Easter Worship online.
Easter Flowers
This Easter, in lieu of flowers, we invite you to make a donation in honor or memory of someone. The names of those remembered received by Wednesday, March 31, will be printed in the Easter Sunday bulletin and the donations collected will be given to an organization decided by Church Council which provides direct service for COVID relief. To donate in lieu of flowers click here
Please type the name of the honoree(s) in the memo line.
