First Lutheran Church announces Holy Week services
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PARKERSBURG -- Holy Week services at First Lutheran Church, 1701 19th St., Parkersburg, will begin on Palm Sunday, March 24.
The triumphal entry of Jesus' coming into Jerusalem will be celebrated with a worship service at 8:30 a.m., Sunday School at 9:40 and the traditional worship service at 10:45, according to the Rev. Ian B. Reid, senior pastor. Palms will be distributed to everyone attending.
Holy Week will continue with Maundy Thursday services at noon and 7 p.m. Thursday, with Holy Communion to be celebrated at both. This year's class of First Communicants and their families will participate in the 7 p.m. service. A reception in the new gathering space will follow.
Good Friday evening Tenebrae service will begin at 7 p.m. Friday. Worshippers will have the opportunity to nail their confession or requests to the wooden cross in the sanctuary.
The Vigil of Easter service will be at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 30. Invited to assist Reid in this service are Pastor Thomas Darr, Christ Lutheran Church, Vienna; and Father Charles Wilson, Trinity Episcopal, Parkersburg.
Following the vigil, the wooden cross in front of the church will be decorated with flowers. This is a long-standing tradition which invites all to bring fresh flowers and participate in the decorating of the cross. The flower-bedecked cross will stand in front of the church greeting worshipers coming to celebrate Christ's victory on Easter morning.
Easter morning breakfast will be served beginning at 8:30 a.m. The breakfast is open to everyone. Donations will be accepted to support summer Camp Luther scholarships.
The traditional Easter Sunday celebration worship service on Sunday, March 31, will be a combined service beginning at 10 a.m. There will be no 8:30 a.m. service or Sunday School. The celebration will include the traditional procession of the paraments that are returned to the altar. Special music presentations will include the Festival Choir, and in keeping with tradition, "The Eastlawn Brass" will also participate.
First Lutheran Church also invites everyone to walk the 14 "Stations of the Cross" positioned around the walkway around the Church.
The stations will be posted on Palm Sunday and will be available through Easter Sunday.
The "Stations of the Cross" walk has become one of the most popular devotions of the Lenten/Easter season, helping Christians make a spiritual pilgrimage through contemplation of the Passion of Christ. Visitors are invited to take their time, stop, reflect, and pray as they make their way through the path depicting Jesus' walk.
Reid said the "Stations of the Cross" walk, also known as the "Way of Sorrows," includes a series of images depicting the events along the path Jesus walked to his crucifixion.
On Friday, March 29, at 10 a.m., Reid will do an in-person walk and talk through the stations. He invites everyone to join him when he gives a special narration of the stations and incorporates some of his personal observations and experiences from his visit to the Holy Land.
More information is available by calling the church office at 304-428-6174.
There is ample parking adjacent to the church. First Lutheran is handicap accessible and has the "LOOP" system in the Sanctuary for those needing hearing assistance.