Area congregations schedule special Holy Week services Bethel UMC Christ Lutheran

Good Shepherd UCC

Boyertown: Potluck Lunch and Youth Bake-Off following the 10:20 a.m. service on Sunday at Good Shepherd United Church of Christ, 35 W. Philadelphia Ave. All are welcome. Dinner Church at 6 p.m. and Service at 7 p.m. on Maundy Thursday. Tenebrae Service at 7 p.m. on Good Friday. All are welcome.

Holy Ghost Orthodox

Phoenixville: An Easter Bazaar will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at Holy Ghost Orthodox Christian Church, Bridge and Starr streets. Ethnic Food and baked goods — halupkie, pierogi, haluskie, kielbasa, homemade paska bread, nut, poppy, apricot rolls. Crafts and ethnic items. Call 610-933-3336 for more information.

First Presbyterian

Pottstown: It is “Share the Love” Sunday at First Presbyterian Church. The Hospitality Committee hopes you will reach farther in love by inviting a friend (or two) to the 10:30 a.m. service on Palm Sunday and then come down to Fellowship Hall for cake afterwards. The Chancel Choir and both children’s choirs will sing during the service.

Spring City: Arrow of Light (Cub Den 1) Crossover at 3 p.m. on Sunday in the pavilion at Bethel United Methodist Church, 952 Bethel Church Road.

Barto: The Passion Reading according to Matthew will be read during the 7:45 and 10:15 a.m. services on Sunday at Christ Lutheran Church, 222 Niantic Road, with lay people portraying various roles in the telling of the Passion story. During both services, palms will be blessed and distributed. The children will process singing a song with Transformation Praise Band prior to the Blessing of the Palms at the 10:15 a.m. service. A Maundy Thursday service of Holy Communion with the First Communion Class partaking in this sacrament will be held at 7 p.m. in the sanctuary. Those in this class are Callie Bartman, Kole Davidheiser, Hunter Francisco and Catherine Shade. We will also partake, for those who wish to, in a service of Foot Washing during the service. The stripping of the altar will be at the end of the service to prepare for Good Friday. A Good Friday Service will be held in the sanctuary at 7 p.m. This will be a service of Bidding Prayer and special music. The community is invited to attend any of the services during Holy Week.

St. Luke’s Lutheran

Obelisk: The Palm Sunday worship service at 10:30 a.m. will be held at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, Route 73 and Neiffer Road, with a blended service including the church’s Praise Band, Messenger, and the senior choir providing special music. A pot luck supper will be served at 6 p.m. on Thursday in the Fellowship Hall followed by a Communion Service. A Prayer Vigil will be held in the church from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Good Friday. A Tenebrae Service will be held in the church at 7 p.m. following the Prayer Vigil.

Centennial Lutheran

Kimberton: There will be an Easter Egg Hunt for children at 11 a.m. on Sunday following the 9:30 a.m. worship service at Centennial Lutheran Church, 1330 Hares Hill Road. Children ages birth through grade 5 are invited. All are invited to worship services at 7:30 p.m. on both Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.

Calvary UCC

Barto: All are welcome for a Stations of the Cross Experience at 9 a.m. on Sunday and at 10:15 a.m. for Palm Sunday worship service at Calvary United Church of Christ, 1231 Route 100.

St. James Lutheran

Limerick: Palm and Passion worship services, with the distribution of palms, will be held at weekend services at St. James Lutheran Church. Maundy Thursday worship with communion will start at 7:30 p.m. The youth of St. James will lead the service. A Good Friday Tenebrae service will start at 7:30 p.m.

Trinity UCC

Pottstown: Members of Trinity United Church of Christ, 60 N, Hanover St., will celebrate Palm Sunday by welcoming three new members. Brooklyn Catherine Jackson, Nadia Kaite Jackson, and Aiden Isaac Jackson will be baptized and confirmed into full membership in the church at the 10:15 a.m. service. In addition, the children of the church will participate in a palm procession at the beginning of the service. A special reception will follow the service to welcome the new members. Sunday will also be the last opportunity to purchase a lily to remember or honor your loved ones at the Easter Sunday service. All are welcome.

Zion’s UCC

Pottstown: Palm Sunday will be celebrated at the 10:15 a.m. worship service at Zion’s United Church of Christ, Hanover and Chestnut streets. The Handbells under the direction of Rev. Mary Etta Mest will ring. Volunteers are needed to peel potatoes starting at 7 a.m. on Thursday to prepare the potato filling orders. The service for Maundy Thursday beginning at 6 p.m. will include a potluck dinner of chicken and potato filling with side dishes and desserts. A service of worship and table communion will follow at 7 p.m. The Good Friday worship will be in the sanctuary at 7 p.m.

Shepherd of the Hills

Bechtelsville: This season of Youth Club at Shepherd of the Hills Church, 527 Hoffmansville Road, will conclude with a skate night at Pheasantland on Wednesday. Both services for the Maundy Thursday worship and the Good Friday worship will be held at 7 p.m. The Community Good Friday worship sponsored by the Boyertown Area Ministerial Association will be held at noon on Friday at Butter Valley Community Church in Bally.

St. Paul’s UCC

Pottstown: The congregation of St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, 927 N. Franklin St., will celebrate Palm Sunday with the distribution of Palms at the 9 a.m. worship service. An All-You-Can-Eat Pancake Breakfast will be held from 8 to 11 a.m. on Sunday. Included are pancakes, eggs, sausage, toast, coffee, juice, and baked goodies. Cost is $6 for adults, $3.50 for kids 6 to 10 years, and age 5 and under are free. Maundy Thursday services will be held at 7:15 p.m., and will include the sacrament of Holy Communion and the Service of Tenebrae. Church members are invited to join the congregation at Falkner Swamp UCC in Gilbertsville for Good Friday services noon.

Coventryville UMC

Pottstown: Palm Sunday will be celebrated at both the 9:30 and 11 a.m. worship services at Coventryville United Methodist Church. Maundy Thursday will be observed at a 7 p.m. Worship Service. A Community Good Friday Worship Service will be hosted at 2 p.m.

St. Luke Lutheran

Gilbertsville: Palms will be distributed and a narrative reading of the passion will be done by church members at the 9:30 a.m. worship service on Palm Sunday at St. Luke Lutheran Church. The Community Clothing Rack will be open from 1 to 4 p.m. on Wednesday for distribution of clothing. It will not be open on Thursday due to it conflicting with the Maundy Thursday service. The Maundy Thursday service will be held at 7:30 p.m. and includes Holy Communion and the stripping of the altar. The Senior Choir will sing. The Tenebrae service will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Good Friday. The Senior Choir will sing. A trio comprised of Valerie Schlegel, Rick Huss, and Kathy Billger will also sing.

Mount Carmel UMC

St. Peters: Refreshments will be served after the 10 a.m. service on Sunday at Mount Carmel United Methodist Church, 2203 Harmonyville Road. Everyone is welcome. A Maundy Thursday Service will be held at 7 p.m. on Maundy Thursday.

First UCC

Royersford:

Palm Sunday will be celebrated at the 11 a.m. Worship Service at First United Church of Christ, 367 Washington St., and Palms will be distributed.

Bethel Community

Pottstown: Palm/Passion Sunday will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. at Bethel Community Church of Pottstown, 575 N. Keim St. The church will host the Pottstown Clergy Association Community Good Friday Service at noon with the proclamation of the Last 7-Words of Jesus from the Cross.

St. John’s UCC

Pottstown: The Social Committee at St. John’s United Church of Christ, 11 S. Price St., will host a card-making party at 6 p.m. today. Palm Sunday service will be celebrated at 10:15 a.m. in the Sanctuary. Maundy Thursday service will be held at 7:30 p.m. in Fellowship. All are invited to attend all the Holy Week services and events.

St. Peter’s Lutheran

Pottstown: The Passion/Palm Sunday will be celebrated at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, 564 Glasgow St., with a special procession of palm branches by the congregation at the beginning of the 8 and 10:30 a.m. Worship Services. The Passion Reading, from the book of Matthew, will be read by members of the congregation. During week five, parishioners’ imaginary “Walk to Jerusalem” has logged the last 310 miles and successfully arrived at their destination, Jerusalem. Maundy Thursday Holy Communion Services begin with a spoken service at 2 p.m. At the 7:30 p.m. service, Psalm 22 will be read by Sherry Mann during the stripping of the Altar and Chancel of all adornments in preparation for Good Friday. The Tenebrae Service “Service of Shadows” on Good Friday at 7:30 p.m. will include the Pastor’s Homily, Special Choir Anthems and Dramatic Affects. During the reading of the seven parts of the Passion by Beverly Yanocha and Charles Gottshall, one candle is extinguished and lights are dimmed, eventually leaving the church in total darkness after the master candle is removed. The congregation will leave in total silence.

Brownback’s UCC

Spring City: The annual Easter Egg Hunt will be held at 11 a.m. today at Brownback’s United Church of Christ, 640 Ridge Road. This is a free event for all children up through grade 6. At the conclusion of the Hunt, all are invited inside to the Fellowship Hall for games, prizes and snacks. Palm Sunday will be celebrated at the 10 a.m. Worship Service. Providing special music will be the Youth Handbell Choir. All are then invited to remain after the Service for Social Hour in Fellowship Hall.

First Baptist

Pottstown: Palm Sunday will be celebrated at 10:45 a.m. at First Baptist Church, 301 King St. Maundy Thursday Service will be held at 7 p.m. Communion will be served. Good Friday is the Prayer Walk and the three-hour service at Bethel Community Church from noon to 3 p.m.

Shenkel UCC

North Coventry: Palm Sunday service at Shenkel United Church of Christ, 1580 Shenkel Road, will begin with singing hosannas along with the crowd that welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem, and then the choirs will lead all, via an Easter Cantata, entitled “Eyes of Faith.” Maundy Thursday Service will be held at 7 p.m. and communion will be served. Good Friday service will be held at 7 p.m. in the sanctuary and an Easter Vigil will begin immediately following that service and last until noon on Saturday.