March 24: Palm Sunday - 8:00 am Holy Eucharist Rite II with blessing of Palms and Passion Reading 9:30am Meet in the lower parking lot for the Service of the Palms and procession to the Church for the Palm Sunday service with Holy Eucharist and Passion Reading
: Tuesday in Holy Week - Morning Prayer at 9:30
April 13: Wednesday in Holy Week - Morning Prayer at 9:30
April 14: Maundy Thursday - Maundy Thursday service begins with prayer, readings and a simple Agapé Meal at 5:30 in the Parish House. After we eat we will move to the Church for the completion of our service of Holy Communion followed by the striping of the altar. This services ends in silence and parishioners are invited to Watch with Christ at the Altar of Repose. Note: this service provides the option to receive foot washing as the disciples did on that fateful night, please wear shoes/sandals that are easily removed if you wish to participate in this powerful act of humility.
April 15: Good Friday - Two services We offer two opportunities for worship on Good Friday. The Community Good Friday service at noon with downtown churches returns to St. John’s this year. Our preacher at the noon service will be the Rev. M. Scott Hagaman, Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church of Marion. St. John’s offers a second Good Friday service at 6pm for all those who are unable to attend a service during the workday. If you can volunteer for either service as a reader or acolyte please contact the office right away. Both services involve the reading of the Passion and communion from the Sacrament reserved for that purpose during the Maundy Thursday service.
April 16: Holy Saturday - Holy Saturday service is at 9:50am. You are invited to stay after to decorate and sprucing up the church for Easter beginning at 10am. All helpers are welcome!
April 17: Easter Sunday - Two services! Bring your Alleluias, your bells and whistles, and ring out your JOY! Christ is Risen today!
The Easter Vigil service begins at 6:45am, this is the First Service of Easter. The Great Vigil is a beautiful service and begins in darkness, then, as the sun rises we light the great fire. The first flame of Easter is then used to light the Paschal Candle. All of our service candles will receive their light from the Paschal Candle and will be our main source of light as we process inside to hear the Exultet, the beautiful chant that recalls the story of the Word of God entering into a darkened world to bring Light and Love. This is considered by many to be the most beautiful service of the year and was for centuries the main service at which new christians were baptized and received into the church. Please bring bells, whistles, shakers, and other noise makers to celebrate the opening of creation with a clap of thunder as we celebrate the moment of Christ’s resurrection at this service.
Festival Easter Eucharist at 10am. Not an early riser? Please join us at 10:00am for a Joyful Festival Easter Eucharist. At this service we will flower the Cross to represent its transformation from an instrument of death into a symbol of Life. This whole service is a celebration from beginning to end! After the service we celebrate with St. John’s Easter Luncheon that pulls out all the stops! An Easter Egg Hunt will entertain young and old alike as we gather to share our love of Christ and one another.