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. 

Easter is Sunday, March 31.

Join us for a celebratory Easter morning! At 9:30 a.m. we'll have a potluck breakfast in our fellowship hall. Bring your favorite breakfast food to share and we'll have the coffee ready for you. Please bring your own table service to help us care for the environment and simplify clean up.  

Easter worship is at 10:45 a.m. in our sanctuary or via Zoom. We'll have special music with our brass ensemble and our tradition of flowering the cross. We encourage you to arrive EARLY to enjoy music from the brass beginning around 10:30 a.m. Plan to stick around for the Kids' Easter Egg Hunt immediately after the service. | Click to Zoom for worship 

Palm Sunday
​March 24

We will gather with friends from other downtown churches at 9:30 a.m. in City Park (south shelter) for a Palm Parade. Join us for singing a couple songs and sharing a brief prayer together before we walk/roll/drive down Poyntz waving our palms. 

We will also have our palm processional during worship, of course! After worship, the kids will present "Walking through Holy Week."

NO Sunday School on Palm Sunday

If you need to pick up a palm BEFORE Palm Sunday (if you're worshiping at home) you can come by the church on any time on Friday or Saturday, March 22-23. We will have the palms in a rubbermaid bin located just outside the office doors.

Maundy Thursday
March 28 at 6:00 p.m.

“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 gather for a simple meal provided by the Deacons at 6:00 p.m. After we eat, we share prayer and singing together and remember Jesus’s last supper with his friends through the sharing of Holy Communion. 
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ONLINE OPTION: If you aren’t able to join us, we are also providing an at-home liturgy with links to music, videos, and recipes so you can create your own remembrance of this Holy Day at home with family, friends, or on your own. ​

Good Friday
March 29, Noon-1:00 p.m.

Join us over the noon hour on Good Friday in our Sanctuary. Mary Ellen Sutton will play the 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 Alicia Santee-Davis will play piano from 12:40-1:00 p.m. Set aside five minutes or the whole hour to mark this day.

ONLINE OPTION: login to the regular worship Zoom (link here) anytime between 12-1pm to join us. ​

Holy Saturday
March 30 at 7:49 p.m.

Join us at sunset on Holy Saturday as we kindle our Paschal Fire together at the Tuttle Creek Overlook. This is our take on the ancient tradition of the Easter Vigil, where we gather in the darkness of night, light a new fire, and prepare for the joy of Easter morning. We are grateful to the Ministry of the Decorative Scissors for making our Paschal Candle. Please bring a lawn chair for this service.  

Directions: From Manhattan, take Tuttle Creek Blvd. (US 24) north approximately 5 miles. Turn right onto K-13 Hwy towards the dam. Take the first left onto Tuttle Cove Road, then an immediate right into Observation Point. We will gather in the parking lot at the top of the hill. View Google Map.

ONLINE OPTION: We will share a pre-recorded Paschal Fire lighting on our Facebook page at 7:49 p.m. or you can watch anytime on YouTube here. ​

Easter Memorials & Recognitions

As we prepare our hearts during Lent, First Congregational UCC also prepares for Easter Sunday on March 31. We would like to join together to provide a display of beautiful lilies for Easter Sunday! Lilies are available for a suggested donation of $10. We encourage you to make a purchase in dedication or in honor of a loved one. You can take your lilies home after worship on Easter Sunday.

Place your order by using the form in the church bulletin on Sunday morning or by e-mailing the church office. Please be sure to indicate in whose honor or memory the order is being given. Your dedication will appear in the bulletin on Easter Sunday. If you have any questions, contact the church office.

Walking Through Holy Week

Right after worship on Palm Sunday, enjoy a Walking Through Holy Week experience... provided by our children! Our children will be in stations throughout the church that will take you through the life of Jesus. This will be a very quick walk through that will be accessible for all ages.

Fellowship snacks will be provided by the Board of Christian Ed, so grab a snack and then let the kids help you prepare your hearts for Holy Week! Instructions for participating will be provided during the service. Kids who would like to take part- we will set up after the Palm Parade on Palm Sunday before church! Please let Brandy know if you have any questions.