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, April 9.

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 

Lenten Continual Prayer Vigil, Mar. 31-Apr. 1

During this Lenten season the Deacons would like to offer our congregation a chance to center ourselves with prayer. We will be holding a prayer vigil in our sanctuary. We will have 30 minute increments in which you can sign up for silent prayer beginning on Friday, March 31st at 6pm to continue until April 1st at 12:30 p.m. You're welcome to sign up for one or more slots. Many people have told us that a half-hour flies by very quickly!

Enjoy the quiet peace of our sanctuary and help us create a  period of prayer and reflection. A basket with materials to guide your time will be provided. You may want to read devotionals or scripture, draw or color, create music, or simply rest in God’s presence. Invite a friend to join you if you’d rather have company during your shift!
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Palm Sunday
​April 2

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 31-April 1. We will have the palms in a rubbermaid bin located just outside the office doors.

Maundy Thursday
​April 6

“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. There are two options for Maundy Thursday worship this year: join us in the church building at 7:00 p.m. for a service project and shared communion. In following Christ’s commandment to “love one another” we’ll be preparing lunches for Second Helping, tidying up the kitchen for our Second Helping volunteers, and refilling/organizing the Blessing Box. We’ll conclude with a simple Holy Communion service in Pioneer Hall. 

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
​April 7, Noon-1pm

Join us over the noon hour on Good Friday, April 7 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. 

Walking Through Holy Week (for all ages)

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.

Holy Saturday Paschal Fire Lighting
April 8, 7:57pm

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 7:57 p.m. or you can watch anytime on YouTube here.