It’s Easter! Local churches prepare for Holy Day

The southside Christian religious community is busy observing Holy Week activities this week as the Lenten season winds down to the joyous celebration of Easter this Sunday. Christian Holy Week ends the 40-day season of Lent which began on Ash Wednesday in March.

 

The following churches have announced their Holy Week and Easter events:

 

 

 

Brooks Christian Church will host a free breakfast in the Carrier Fellowship Hall following the Brooks Community Easter Sunrise Service at 7 a.m. in the Brooks Cemetery. Easter will be celebrated at Brooks Christian Church with Bible study groups at 10 a.m. and a special Easter Worship Celebration including the mini-musical, “Jesus Christ, Forever, Amen!” at 11 a.m.

 

 

 

 

Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran Church, Peachtree City, will offer several services for Holy Week and Easter. A Maundy Thursday service with Holy Communion and stripping the altar is at 12:15 p.m. Apr. 17. That evening Christ Our Shepherd and First Presbyterian Church will continue a tradition established in 1997 when they share a Maundy Thursday communion service at 7 p.m. at First Presbyterian. Pastor Fritz Wiese will preach, Pastor Morgan Hay will celebrate communion, and a combined choir will sing.

 

The Good Friday Tenebrae Service is at 8 p.m. Apr. 18. This service of darkness includes “Requiem” by K. Lee Scott, with Sanctuary Choir and a chamber orchestra conducted by James C. Hagberg. Strings, winds, organ, and harp will accompany the choir. Delee Rehak and Karl Dietmeyer will be soloists.

 

The unique Easter Vigil Service is on Saturday at 7 p.m. Worship begins in the Fellowship Hall, progresses to the Good Shepherd window, and finally moves to the sanctuary. Scripture and musical responses give structure to the service.

 

Easter Morning Festival Services are at 8:30, 9:45, and 11 a.m. in the sanctuary. The Christ Our Shepherd Brass will play at 8:30 and 11. Christ Our Shepherd Flute Choir will provide music at 9:45. The Sanctuary Choir and Joyful Noise Ringers will lead in worship at 9:45 and 11. Contemporary Worship at 10:50 in the Fellowship Hall will be led by GraceFlock Band.

 

The church is on the corner of Ga. Hwy. 54 and Peachtree Parkway in Peachtree City.

 

 

 

 

Church of the Holy Cross Charismatic Episcopal Church, Fayetteville, will share Holy Week services with The Cathedral of Christ The King in Sharpsburg. However the Easter Sunday Service will be at 10:30 a.m. at the Fayetteville location, 140 Kathi Avenue off Ga. Hwy. 85, in the Pathfinders Plaza office building, behind McDonald’s, Michael’s and Radio Shack.

 

 

 

 

This year Cokes Chapel United Methodist Church in East Coweta County is offering several new family-friendly components in its annual Holy Week Celebration. Starting at 6 p.m. on Maundy Thursday, April 17, and continuing on Good Friday, April 18, participants will have the opportunity to view the Christian mini movie “Son of Man,” consider three interactive Lenten-focused table top displays, and engage in a time of self-reflection by walking through an indoor labyrinth. A communion service will be held on Thursday night at 7 p.m. in the sanctuary. The Good Friday service will start at 7 p.m. in the sanctuary.

 

Cokes Chapel’s annual Lenten Journey to the Empty Tomb will culminate on Easter Sunday with the celebration of the Resurrection. A sunrise service will be held at 7 .am., followed by a covered dish breakfast. Traditional Easter worship will be held at 9 a.m., followed by Sunday School at 10 a.m., and the Contemporary Easter worship service at 11 a.m. 

 

The Cokes Kids for Christ will have a Resurrection Party, complete with an Easter Egg Hunt, at 10 a.m. on Sunday morning. Children of all ages are welcome!  

 

For more information call 770-253-6052 or visit www.cokeschapel.org.  Cokes Chapel is located at 4096 Lower Fayetteville Road, near Ga. Hwy. 154, Sharpsburg.

 

 

 

 

Dogwood Church will have Easter services at 6 p.m. Saturday, April 19, and at 9:15 and 11 a.m. on Easter Sunday, April 20.

 

The church is on Ga. Hwy. 74 North between Peachtree Parkway and Dogwood Trail. GPS: 975 Hwy. 74 North, Tyrone, 30290.

 

 

 

 

The Episcopal Church of the Nativity will observe the Great Vigil of Easter on Saturday, April 19 at 8:30 p.m.

 

The Easter Day Service will be at 10 a.m. on Easter Sunday. The Rev. Rita Henault is pastor.

 

The Episcopal Church of the Nativity is at 130 Antioch Road, Fayetteville. For more information, call 770-460-6390 or visit nativityepiscopal.org.

 

 

 

 

Evergreen Church, a Presbyterian congregation, will host a Community Wide Easter Service on April 20 at 10:30 a.m. at the Starr’s Mill High School Auditorium, 193 Panther Path, Fayetteville. Dr. David Miller, pastor, will give the sermon. For more information, visit www.evergreenchurchga.org.

 

 

 

 

Fayette Presbyterian Church will observe Holy Week with a special Maundy Thursday communion service on April 17 at 6:30 p.m. which will include guests from Fayetteville Christian Church. Pastor Andrew Higle from FCC will give the message that evening and assist Fayette Presbyterian’s pastor, Alex Moses, with communion by intinction. The service will also feature congregational music, meaningful drama, and an outdoor Garden of Gethsemane challenge. Older children and youth are encourage to attend. Kids activities will be available for K5-third grade.

 

On Easter Sunday, a Sunrise Service at 6:30 a.m. (sunrise expected at 7:01 a.m.) will begin the day followed by a Communion Service at 11 a.m. with the Handbell Choir. The church is at 791 Forest Avenue (Ga. Hwy. 92 N.), Fayetteville. For information, call 770-461-7147 or visit www.fayettepcusa.org.

 

 

 

 

Fayetteville First Baptist Church will celebrate the resurrection with services at 8:30 and 11 a.m. on Easter Sunday.

 

The following Sunday, April 27, the church will present an Easter play, “The Resurrection on Trial.” at 6 p.m. The play is described as a “ … well researched and beautifully written drama of a court case in which most of those on the scene at the resurrection are called on to prove or disprove the validity of the resurrection.”

 

For more information, call 770-461-8378 or visit www.fayettevillefbc.org. The church is at 205 E. Stonewall ave (Gag. Hwy. 54 East), Fayetteville.

 

 

 

 

Forty Days For the Kingdom will continue through Holy Week at Fayetteville First United Methodist Church as congregants prepare for Easter through self-reflection, outreach, and a conscious focus to “let the kingdom of God come first.”

 

Holy Week continues after Palm Sunday with the Maundy Thursday Service April 17 at 7 p.m. led by  Chris Mucha. The service will include a meditation on “Stop Talking…Start Walking,” special music, and communion.

 

On Good Friday, the combined choirs of the church, orchestra, and guest organist will present “Requiem” by Gabriel Faure at 7 p.m. The work was described by Faure as the way he views death: “ … as a happy deliverance, an aspiration towards happiness above, rather than as a painful experience.” Director Rick Massengale has worked with the choir since January to present the interpretation offered by the composer, which according to Faure is  “ … dominated from beginning to end by a very human feeling of faith in eternal rest.” Sam Burch and Mikeila McQueston will be the featured soloists for this classic work.

 

Forty Days For the Kingdom will conclude Easter Morning with the celebration of the resurrection at three services in the main sanctuary at 8:30, 9:45,  and 11 a.m.

 

Everyone in the community is invited to participate in all of these studies and services. Visit fayettevillefirst.com or call 770-461-4313 for more information. Fayetteville First United Methodist Church is next to the historic courthouse in downtown Fayetteville at 175 East Lanier Avenue (Ga. Hwy. 54 West).

 

 

 

 

Heritage Christian Church’s Family Ministry invites local families to its Easter Sunday worship services on April 20 at 9:30 and 11 a.m. Kids ages Kindergarten through sixth grade will enjoy music, object lessons and family fun with Ronnie Caldwell and the Peaceable Kingdom Ministry during both worship hours. Childcare for babies and toddlers is provided at the 9:30 and 11 a.m. services. Heritage Christian Church is on Redwine Road in Fayetteville at the corner of Bernhard and Redwine Road. Visit www.heritagechristian.org or the Facebook page for more information.

 

 

 

 

Hopewell United Methodist Church will begin its Holy Week celebration with a Maundy Thursday Service on April 17 at 7 p.m. The church will be closed on Good Friday. Easter Sunday Services on April 20 will be held at at 9 and 11 a.m. with an Easter Egg Hunt between services at  10 a.m. All children are asked to bring their Easter baskets to church. Parents bring your cameras. Hopewell is on Jenkins Road in Tyrone, across from Sandy Creek High School.

 

 

 

 

McDonough Road Baptist Church will begin its Easter celebration with an Easter Sunrise Service at 7 a.m. in the front parking lot of the church. A light Easter breakfast will be served at 7:30 a.m. Bible Study will follow at 9:45 a.m. and Easter Worship at 10:55 a.m. will conclude the celebration. The church is at 352 McDonough Road (just past drivers’ services building)Fayetteville. For more information, call 770-460-5423 or visit. www.mcdonoughroad.org.

 

 

 

 

Mt. Olive Baptist Church, 1565 Ga. Hwy. 92 N., Fayetteville, will observe Holy Week with a foot washing and communion Service at 6 p.m. on Maundy Thursday, April 17. A Love Feast Easter Program will be presented on Friday, April 18, at 6:30 p.m. On Easter Sunday, a Sunrise Service will  be held at 6:30 a.m.

 

 

 

 

Peachtree City United Methodist Church will begin Holy Week celebrations with a Maundy Thursday Servce on April 17 at 7 p.m. This day, also known as Holy Thursday, commemorates the Last Supper when Jesus shared the Passover meal with His disciples on the night before He was crucified. PTCUMC members and guests will gather in the worship center at Robinson Road for prayer and Holy Communion. 

 

On April 18, Good Friday, PTCUMC members will join together with Christians from all over Peachtree City for the Good Friday Community Service at noon at Holy Trinity Catholic Church (101 Walt Banks Road). PTCUMC’s senior pastor, Dr. Stephen Dodson, is one of the participating preachers. At 7 p.m. that evening, worship and prayer will be observed at the center at Robinson Road.

 

 

 

 

On April 20, Easter Sunday, members will share in celebrating the resurrection at 8 a.m. with members of All Saints Anglican Church and Evergreen Presbyterian Church.The Rev. Michael Fry, Dr. David Miller, and Dr. Dodson will be participating as the lead pastors from all three congregations. Ken White, director of music ministries at Hopewell United Methodist Church, will bring special music. 

 

At 9:30 and 11 a.m., the Chancel Choir and Orchestra will lead in a musical celebration of Easter and Dr. Dodson will deliver the Easter message from the Scriptures.  Peachtree City UMC is at 225 Robinson Road, Peachtree City. For information, call  770-487-6499.

 

 

 

 

Prince of Peace Lutheran Church will have an outdoor Sunrise Service at 7:30 a.m. Easter Sunday, followed by a contemporary service at 9:15, an Easter Egg Hunt at 10:50, and a Pipe Organ Service at 11:15. The church is at 257 Ga. Hwy. 314, between Lowe’s and The Pavilion. For information, call 770-461-3403 or visit www.princeofpeacefayette.org.

 

 

 

 

Providence United Methodist Church invites the community to Holy Week activities. The Last Supper, one of Christianity’s most significant events, was portrayed by Leonardo Da Vinci centuries ago. This Renaissance masterpiece will be brought to life at Providence UMC in Ruth Elaine Schram’s remarkable work, “The Living Last Supper” on Thursday, April 17,  at 7 p.m. Orchestra and choir music capture the pathos of the event while, one by one, the disciples speak, expressing their innermost thoughts with brief but poignant monologues that portray their astonishment at Jesus’ assertion that one of them would betray Him that fateful night. High drama, emotional impact, and a spiritual reconnection with the true significance of The Last Supper are conveyed through the program. Because of the solemn nature of this service, free childcare is provided in the Children’s Building beginning at 6:15 p.m. for children who cannot sit quietly throughout the one hour service. 

 

On Easter Sunday, April 20, Providence will offer two contemporary services at 9 and  11:11 a.m., with praise and worship music led by praise band leader Adam Holt. The Traditional Worship Service at 10:05 a.m. will include music by Adult and Handbell Choirs along with favorite hymns.

 

 Providence is at 592 Bernhard Road in southern Fayette County between Redwine Road and Ga. Hwy. 85. Go to www.provumc.com or call 770-719-8800 for more info.

 

 

 

 

St. Andrew’s in the Pines Episcopal Church, located at 316 North Peachtree Parkway in Peachtree City, announces the following schedule of services for Holy Week: Wednesday, April 16, Holy Eucharist Rite I at noon; Holy Eucharist Rite II at 6:30 p.m. followed by a Pot Luck Dinner; Maundy Thursday,  April 17, Holy Eucharist Rite II (with the stripping of the altar) at 7 p.m.;  Good Friday, noon, Good Friday Liturgy. No service is planned for Holy Saturday but Parish clean up day begins at 9 a.m.

 

 On Easter Sunday at 8 a.m., Holy Eucharist Rite I will be celebrated at at 10 a.m., Holy Eucharist Rite II.

 

An Easter Egg Hunt will follow the 10 a.m. service. All are welcome. St. Andrew’s in the Pines Episcopal Church is at 316 Peachtree Parkway North, Peachtree City. For information, call the office, 770-487-8415.

 

 

 

 

St. Christopher Hellenic Orthodox Church (and The Very Rev. Father George Tsahakis, Chancellor) invites everyone to partake of its many offerings during Holy Week. 

 

On Holy Wednesday, April 16, Service of the Bridegroom Christ and Holy Unction will be at 6 p.m. 

 

On Holy Thursday, April 17, Vesperal Liturgy is at 7 a.m., and Holy Passion Service is at 6 p.m. 

 

On Holy Friday, April 18, Royal Hours will be observed at 7 a.m., Decoration of Kouvloukion at 8:15 a.m., Vespers at 3:30 p.m., and  Lamentations at Tomb of our Savior at 7:30 p.m. 

 

On Holy Saturday, April 19, Vesperal Liturgy is at 9 a.m. and Canon of Crucifixion is at 11 p.m. 

 

On the Great and Holy Pascha (Easter), April 20, Proclamation of the Resurrection is at midnight, Divine Liturgy at 12:30 a.m., and Great Vespers of Agape at 11 a.m. Sunday morning. St. Christopher is at 313 Dividend Drive, Peachtree City.

 

 

 

 

St Mary Magdalene Catholic Church in east Coweta County will begin its liturgies of Holy Week with a Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7 p.m. on Holy Thursday, April 17. The Mass will include foot washing and will be followed by Eucharistic Adoration.

 

Good Friday events will include a Scriptural Rosary at 10:30 a.m., the “Seven Last Words” worship service at 12:10 p.m., Scriptural Stations of the Cross at 3 p.m. and Celebration of the Lord’s Passion at 7 p.m.

 

An Easter Vigil Mass celebrating the Sacraments of Initiation will be celebrated on Holy Saturday at 8:30 p.m.

 

On Easter Sunday, Masses will be celebrated at 9 and 11 a.m. (Children’s Mass), and at 12:30 p.m. A nursery will be available at the 9 a.m. Mass.

 

St. Mary Magdalene is at 3 Village Road, Newnan, near the Ga. Hwy. 154-Lower Fayetteville Road intersection. For information, visit www.smmcatholic.org or call 770-253-1888.

 

 

 

 

St. Paul Lutheran Church in Peachtree City will begin Holy Week events with a Seder Meal in the cafeteria at 6:15 p.m. on Maundy Thursday, April 17. 

 

Two services will be featured on Good Friday, one at noon and a Tenebrae Service at 7 p.m. Both services will be held in the cafeteria. 

 

An Easter Egg Hunt (for everybody) will be held from 10 a.m. until noon on Saturday with lunch following the hunt.

 

An Easter Sunrise Service with communion will be held at 7 a.m., outside, weather permmitting. An Easter breakfast will be held at 8:15 followed by a combined Easter service at 10 a.m.  

 

St. Paul Lutheran Church and School is at 700 Ardenlee Parkway, just off  Ga. Hwy. 74, Peachtree City.

 

 

 

 

The Summit Church will have Easter services at 7 and 11 a.m. on Easter Sunday. Breakfast will be served between services. Childcare and Children’s Church will be available at 11 a.m.

 

The Summit is at 1373 Ga. Hwy. 92 South, Fayetteville. 

 

For information, call 770-460-3335 or visit TheSummitPC.net.

 

 

 

 

Word of God Lutheran Church (NACL and LCMC) will have a Maundy Thursday worship  service with Holy Communion at 7 p.m. on April 17. 

 

Good Friday worship service will be at 7 p.m. on April 18. 

 

Easter morning worship services with Holy Communion will be held at 8:30 and 11 a.m. 

 

For more information, call 770-897-4508 or visit www.woglutheran.org.  

 

Word of God meets at 303 Kelly Drive, Suite 10, Peachtree City.