County churches observe Maundy Thursday, Good Friday with services
The following services, times of silent prayer, Stations of the Cross and Adoration are held around Delaware County for Thursday and Friday of Holy Week. Listings for the remainder of the Easter Triduum and Easter Sunday will appear in Friday’s Times:
• First Pentecostal Holy Church: 324 Pusey St., Chester, hosts a Good Friday service featuring the Seven Last Words of Christ, presented by the Ministerial Fellowship of Chester and Vicinity, at noon Friday. Presenting the Seven Last Words are Dr. Ronald Williams of Macedonia Seventh-day Adventist Church, Chester; the Rev. Terrell McBride of Murphy AME Church, Chester; the Rev. Claudia Williams, Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, Twin Oaks; Min. Andrea McLaughlin, First Pentecostal Holy Church, Chester; the Rev. Elain Saunders, Molding Disciples Ministries, Rose Valley; the Rev. Barbara Hobbs, The Church Triumph Ministries, Claymont, Del.; and the Rev. Gertrude Duckett of Eastwich UMC, Philadelphia. Dr. Rodney Bradley and Friends are the musical guest.
• First African Baptist Church: 901 Clifton Avenue, Sharon Hill, holds its Seven Last Words of Christ service from noon-3 p.m. Friday, presented by seven preachers.
• Thomas M. Thomas Memorial Presbyterian Church: 1408-1414 W. Third St., Chester, holds Good Friday service from noon-3 p.m., highlighting the Seven Last Words of Christ.
• Annunciation BVM Church: 401 Brookline Blvd., Havertown, holds Holy Thursday Mass at 7:30 p.m., followed by prayer at 10:15 and Adoration until 10:30. Good Friday prayer is at 9 a.m., followed by a Solemn Liturgy at 3 p.m.
• C.C. Hancock United Methodist Church: 542 Wesley Road, Springfield, holds Maundy Thursday service is at 7 p.m., with the sermon theme “Neither Hunger or Thirst.”
• Christ Episcopal Church: 311 S. Orange St., Media, holds Maundy Thursday Eucharist service is at 7 p.m. Good Friday Stations of the Cross is at noon, followed by an evening service at 7.
• Christ United Methodist Church: 600 E. Dutton Mill Road, Brookhaven, holds Holy Thursday Communion service is at 7 p.m. The church opens on Good Friday from noon-3 p.m. for quiet reflection and interactive prayer stations.
• Drexel Hill United Methodist Church: 600 Burmont Road, holds Maundy Thursday services are at 7:30 p.m. in the McBurney Chapel. Good Friday observance is at noon. Easter services are at 10 a.m., followed by an Easter egg hunt.
• Holy Trinity Lutheran Church: 927 S. Providence Road, Wallingford, holds Maundy Thursday service at 7:30 p.m. with worship and stripping of the altar. Good Friday service is noon with contemplative prayer and at 7:30 p.m. Easter Sunday worship is at 10:30 a.m. There is a pancake breakfast at 9 a.m., followed by an egg hunt at 9:45. For information, call 610-874-8652.
• Middletown Presbyterian Church: 273 S. Old Middletown Road, observes Maundy Thursday Tenebrae service at 7:30 p.m. The sanctuary is opened on Good Friday from 1-3 p.m.
• Prospect Park UMC: Eighth and Lincoln avenues, holds Maundy Thursday service at 6:30 p.m.
Join Smedley Park Friends
NETHER PROVIDENCE » Friends of Smedley Park, a volunteer group organized to enhance the quality of the park and improve the visitor experience, is currently seeking members. The group seeks individuals and families to help with volunteer efforts or provide donations.
Smedley Park is located two miles east of Media along the border of Nether Providence and Springfield townships. The park covers 120 acres bisected by Crum Creek. It includes miles of hiking and off-road biking paths, picnic groves, children’s play areas, sports fields and forested hillsides.
Those interested in joining may contact George Gorman at 610-543-2870 or georgefgorman@yahoo.com
Busy April at DCCC
MARPLE » Delaware County Community College holds a Spring Open House at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 5, in the Large Auditorium in the Academic Building on the Marple Campus, 901 S. Media Line Road, Media.
Prospective students and parents are invited to attend to hear about the admission process and how to: Transfer credits easily toward a more affordable bachelor’s degree; link programs of study to careers in the region; cover the cost of college; get involved in athletics and other student activities; and earn college credit as a high school dual enrollment student. Guided tours will also be offered, and admissions staff and select faculty members will be on-hand to answer questions. To register to attend, visit www.dccc.edu/openhouse or call 610-723-4000.
The college’s Culinary and Hospitality Career Night is set for 5-6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 11. The event is free and open to the public and held in the STEM Center on the Marple Campus. Qualified culinary and hospitality workers are in high demand by regional employers. Prospective and current students can use this opportunity to network with employers seeking to fill positions covering both front and back of house. Participating employers include Wawa, Wegmans, Embassy Suites by Hilton, Hilton Garden Inn (Exton/West Chester) and Springfield Country Club.
Attendees also hear from keynote speaker Patrick J. Byrne, who has spent 32 years as the proprietor of the historic General Warren, an award-winning country inn and restaurant. Byrne, a graduate of The Culinary Institute of America, will speak about his experiences as a handson owner and classically trained chef.
The college offers an associate degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management as well as an associate degree and a short-term certificate in Culinary Arts. Students in the Hotel and Restaurant Management program learn what it takes to work in the hospitality field and, after graduation, can begin their career or transfer to a four-year school to earn a bachelor’s degree. Careers in the field are available all over the world and include working in casinos, hotels, restaurants, resorts, theme parks, on cruises and more. For information, visit www.dccc.edu/hotel
The college’s Culinary Arts program is offered in both Chester County, at the Brandywine Campus, and in Delaware County at Widener University through a special partnership. Students can choose to pursue an associate degree or a certificate. The program is managed by Peter Gilmore, a renowned chef with more than 35 years of experience. For information, visit www. dccc.edu/culinary
‘Top Shelter Chef’ back April 28
UPPER DARBY » Amateur chefs from Delaware County churches don their aprons and face-off for the honor of “Top Shelter Chef” in a fundraiser to benefit three Delaware County shelters. The sixth annual “Top Shelter Chef Contest” is scheduled for 5 p.m. Saturday, April 28, at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, 229 Powell Lane.
The contest benefits the Community Action Agency of Delaware County, Inc.’s (CAADC) Save Our Shelters (S.O.S.) Campaign. The S.O.S. Campaign supports CAADC’s emergency shelters serving families and individuals from all of Delaware County including the Family Management Center, Life Center of Eastern Delaware County and the Wesley House.
Funding from the S.O.S. Campaign has been vital to the continued operation of these homeless shelters. Currently, 50 different volunteer groups cook and serve meals at the Life Center on a rotating basis. The contest will feature volunteers from those organizations who will provide samples to all attendees and vie for the title of “Top Shelter Chef 2018.”
Tickets for the event are $25 and all proceeds will benefit CAADC’s shelters. Attendance is limited. Tickets may be purchased by clicking the “TICKETS” button at www.caadc.org. Tickets may also be purchased by calling CAADC at the 610-833-4454. If you are unable to attend but would like to donate to the S.O.S. Campaign, you may click on the “DONATE” button at www.caadc.org or make checks payable to Community Action Agency of Delaware County, Inc. and mail to Save Our Shelters Campaign, c/o CAADC, 1414 Meetinghouse Road, Boothwyn, PA 19061.
Senior exercise in Chester
CHESTER » Senior Community Services’ Chester Senior Center, 721 Hayes St., holds the following fitness classes at no charge and all are welcome to attend:
• Zumba on Mondays from 11 a.m.-noon
• Sit and Get Fit, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:30–11:15 a.m.
• Cardio Fitness, Tuesdays from 5-6 p.m.
• Chair Yoga, Wednesdays from 11 a.m.-noon
• Gospel Aerobics, April 11, 19 and 25 from 10-11 a.m.
All classes offer individual attention to meet participants’ needs. For information, call the center at 610-497-3550.
Chester Senior Center is one of the four Nationally Accredited senior centers in southeastern Delaware County operated by Senior Community Services. SCS, based in Folsom, is a non-profit agency that also provides in-home support services for homebound elderly. SCS works in partnership with the Delaware County Office of Services for the Aging (COSA) and is a United Way Agency.