First Congregational United Church of Christ
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What is Holy Week?

Holy Week is the week leading up to Easter, which is the celebration of Jesus's resurrection.

The week begins with a re-enacted parade as we wave palms and welcome Jesus on his final journey to Jerusalem.

On Maundy Thursday, we gather at tables and remember Jesus's last meal with his disciples.

We stare death in the face together on Good Friday when we remember Jesus's execution.

And we kindle a small flame of new hope in the midst of darkness on Holy Saturday.

​Easter morning we go all out - celebrating the God-of-Eternal-Do-Overs in grand style. 

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Easter is Sunday, April 4.

We start the day off right with a celebratory breakfast. Bring your favorite tasty treats to your dining room table and join us at 9:30 a.m. Kids are welcome and we hope they'll join in the laughter and chaos of Easter morning. Click to Zoom or call 1-669-900-6833 and dial meeting ID 152 486 671# at the prompt. Meeting password is 66502. Note: long-distance charges may apply if you use the call-in option. 

At 10:45 a.m. we will gather on Facebook Live for Easter worship. If it's your first time worshiping with us, welcome! You can learn more about our online worship here. 
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​Because we are still worshiping from home through Easter this year we will not be purchasing lilies for memorials. The Deacons encourage you to remember or honor a loved one by donating to one of the local nonprofits listed below or by choosing one of your own. When you've made your donation, fill out the online form (deadline: April 4). Your loved one will be recognized during the month of April in worship and in the Friday Update e-mail.
Click to Register your Easter Memorial/Recognition

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Palm Sunday
March 28

Join us on Facebook Live for Palm Sunday worship at 10:45 a.m. You can pick up your palms at the church on Friday, March 26 between 9am-noon or 1-3pm OR Saturday, March 27 between 9:00-11:00 a.m. When you arrive, please buzz at the video camera by the doors off the lobby and a volunteer will bring your palm(s) out to you. 
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If you'd rather, you can also use any branch from your own yard OR print and color a palm using this free resource from Illustrated Ministry. 

We also have a special activity for kids and their families and we'll share more information about that here and on social media soon!
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Sign Up for Sanctuary Prayers

Our Sanctuary will be open for silent prayer during Holy Week and you can sign up here. You can bring along your Bible, a favorite book, or your own music to enjoy. Each participant will be invited to write/draw a prayer and leave it on the pew before leaving. As we gather at separate times we’ll be able to see how the pews will filled by those who came before us! COVID precautions include all of our general guidelines like masks and distancing. We will only be allowing people from one household in the Sanctuary at a time.
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Advance sign ups are required. 
Sign Up for Sanctuary Prayers
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Treat Yourself to an Easter Buddy!

Join us for an Easter Buddy Event! Deacons are sponsoring an event for all ages. Individuals can sign up to be matched with an Easter Buddy. The short survey below gathers information like name, address, favorite food or drink, hobbies, would you prefer a call to a gift, etc. and Deacons will match participants with individual buddies and send buddy information to partners via email. Participants can send a small gift, call their buddies, send greetings via letter or email, etc. You can choose your activity between April 4 and April 15, but please complete your Easter Buddy communication by April 15th. All ages are welcome! For more information, email Julie Hunt or contact the church office at 785-537-7006.
Sign up to be an Easter Buddy

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Maundy Thursday
April 1, 6:00 p.m.

Join us via Zoom for cooking, prayer, and Holy Communion. “Maundy” comes from the same root as “mandate” and this holy day is the day we remember Jesus’s commandment to love and serve one another. We will gather in our own kitchens on Zoom at 6:00 p.m. to prepare a simple flatbread recipe together. While we’re waiting for our dough to be ready we’ll pause for prayer. After cooking together we will share Communion. You’ll find a list of the ingredients and supplies needed here. Contact Pastor Caela if you have any questions.

Click to Zoom or call 1-669-900-6833 and dial meeting ID ​590-240-441# at the prompt. Meeting password is 66502. Note: long-distance charges may apply if you use the call-in option. 
Ingredient and Supply List
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Good Friday
April 2, 12-1pm

Join us via Facebook live for a prayer vigil livestreamed from our Sanctuary. You can drop in on Facebook Live anytime between 12-1 p.m. Mary Ellen Sutton will play our organ from 12:00-12:20 p.m., Pastor Caela will hold silence and read some scripture from 12:20-12:40 p.m., and Bob Edwards will provide music from 12:40-1:00 p.m. Set aside five minutes or the whole hour to mark this day wherever you are.
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Holy Saturday
April 3, 7:53 p.m.

Join us at the Tuttle Creek Overlook (click for directions) at sunset. The Easter Vigil is an ancient Christian tradition to gather in the darkness of night, light a new fire, and prepare for the morning to come. We will be doing our own (much shorter) take on Holy Saturday at sunset 7:53 pm). Join us as we kindle the Paschal Fire and share Holy Communion together. We thank the Ministry of the Decorative Scissors for making our Paschal Candle.

​COVID precautions include all of our general guidelines like masks and distancing. We will briefly remove our masks to receive the Communion elements, which are pre-packaged.

We will also have brief meditation on Facebook Live at 7:53 p.m. for those who are unable to attend the in-person service or prefer to worship at home. 

Please bring a lawn chair and your mask. 
Holy Saturday Bulletin
First Congregational United Church of Christ 
700 Poyntz Ave., Manhattan, KS  66502
785-537-7006

© 2015 First Congregational United Church of Christ. All Rights Reserved.