Area congregations schedule special Easter week services Holy Ghost Orthodox

Holy Trinity Orthodox

Pottstown: The Annual Spring Bazaar will be held from 8 a.m. to noon today at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, 1236 Juniper St. Customers can purchase Easter breads, nut rolls, pierogi, holupki (stuffed cabbage), and halushki (buttered noodles). Home-made chocolates, and other baked goods, and soup will be available. All food items are take-out only. The Bazaar will feature gift basket raffles and a large flea market. Phoenixville: The Annual Easter Bazaar will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at Holy Ghost Orthodox Catholic Church, Bridge and Starr streets. Ethnic foods include Pierogi, Halupki, Haluski, Kielbasa, Paska bread, nut, poppy, apricot rolls, kifli and other baked goods. Ethnic items and crafts. For more info call 610933-3336.

Union of Churches

East Coventry: Maundy Thursday services will be held at 7 p.m. at Parkerford Baptist in Parkerford, Bethel United Methodist in Spring City, and St. Vincent UCC in Phoenixville, and a 7:30 p.m. service at St. Matthews UCC in Chester Springs. A Good Friday Service will be held at 7 p.m. at Brownback’s UCC in Spring City. Also on Good Friday, St. Matthew’s UCC is open 12 to 3 p.m. for private prayer.

Centennial Lutheran

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

St. Luke’s Lutheran

Obelisk: A potluck supper and Maundy Thursday service will be held at 6 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall at Saint Luke’s Lutheran Church, Route 73 and Neiffer Road A prayer vigil will be held on Good Friday in the church beginning at 7 a.m. and ending at 7 p.m. The Good Friday Service will begin at 7 p.m. in the church.

Christ Lutheran

Barto: The Reading of the Passion will be read during the 7:45 and 10:15 a.m. services on Sunday by members of the congregation at Christ Lutheran Church, 222 Niantic Road . Palms will be blessed and given out during the services. A Maundy Thursday service will be held at 7 p.m. in the sanctuary. This will be a service of Holy Communion, with those children who participated in the First Communion Class receiving communion, as well as Foot/Hand Washing. A Good Friday Tenebrae service will be held at 7 p.m. in the sanctuary.

First UCC

Royersford: An Egg Hunt will be held at 1 p.m. today at First United Church of Christ, 367 Washington St. Palm Sunday will be celebrated at the 11 a.m. worship service. It will also be Daffodil Sunday and the Bells of Praise will be performing. On Maundy Thursday a Soup Supper and Worship will be held in the Social Hall at 6:30 p.m.

St. James Lutheran

Limerick: Palm and Passion worship services, with the distribution of palms, will be held at Sunday services. A special remembrance of the Last Supper will start with dinner at 6:30 p.m. on Maunday Thursday and worship with communion will start at 7:30 p.m. The youth of the church will lead the service. A Good Friday Tenebrae service will start at 7:30 p.m.

First Presbyterian

Pottstown: It is “Invitea-Friend” Sunday at First Presbyterian Church. The Hospitality Committee hopes you will invite a friend (or two!). Share this special day and your church with others and then come down to Fellowship Hall for cake afterwards. The Chancel Choir and both children’s choirs will be singing during the service. On Maundy Thursday the Service of Shadows and the celebration of the Lord’s Supper will begin at 7:30 p.m.

St. Luke Lutheran

Gilbertsville: A number of members of St. Luke Lutheran Church will meet today in Memorial Hall with the pastor, along with their families, for an introduction to First Communion. Palm Sunday will be celebrated at the 9:30 a.m. worship service. All who worship will receive a palm as they enter the sanctuary. During the offertory anthem, the first communicants will set the altar, then they will set the communion on the altar. They will be the first members to receive communion. Following the service, a coffee hour will be held in Memorial Hall, in honor of the first communicants. Also, all members helping to lead worship services on Easter Sunday will meet. The Community Clothing Rack will be open for distribution from 1 to 4 p.m. on Wednesday. Maundy Thursday worship will begin at 7:30 p.m. Holy communion will be offered, as will handwashing for those who choose to participate. The altar will be stripped at the conclusion of the service. The Good Friday Service will begin at 7:30 p.m.

St. John’s UCC

Pottstown: Members of St. John’s United Church of Christ continue to collect food items for Operation BackPack. This Mission initiative will continue through mid-April. Palm Sunday service will be celebrated in the Sanctuary at 10:15a.m. Maundy Thursday services will be held in Fellowship Hall beginning at 7:30 p.m. Good Friday services will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary. All are welcome. Preparations are also underway for the Easter Eggstravaganza to be held on March 31.

Coventryville UMC

Pottstown: Palm Sunday will be celebrated at both the 9:30 and 11 a.m. services at Coventryville United Methodist Church, 1521 Old Ridge Road. The Senior Lunch Bunch will hold its monthly luncheon and activity on Wednesday. They will be filling eggs for the Easter Egg Hunt. For information or reservations call the church at 610-469-9350.

St. Paul’s UCC

Pottstown: The Annual Easter Egg Hunt will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. today (rain or shine) at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, 927 N. Franklin St. All kids, toddlers through 6th grade are invited. Palm Sunday will be celebrated with the distribution of palms at the 9 a.m. worship service. Maundy Thursday will be observed at 7 p.m. and will include Holy Communion and the Service of Tenebrae.

Zion’s UCC

Pottstown: The Palm Sunday service at Zion’s United Church of Christ, Hanover and Chestnut streets, will present a drama “The Procession of the Passion.” The Maundy Thursday observance will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a potluck dinner. Zion’s has invited sister church Trinity UCC to share the meal with them. Pastor Nichole Jackson will deliver the message at the service of worship and the Upper Room table communion will be celebrated at 7:30 p.m. On Good Friday both congregations will worship at Trinity UCC at 7 p.m. Pastor Nichole will plan the Tenebrae service including Pastor Austin and members of Zion’s.

Bethel Community

Pottstown: The Sisters in Spirit Women’s Ministry will gather at 1030 a.m. today in the Community Room at Bethel Community Church of Pottstown, 575 N. Keim St. At 2 p.m. it’s “Springtime in Paris” dress rehearsal. Palm Sunday will be celebrated at 1030 a.m. on Sunday. The church’s Food Pantry will be open from 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday and new applications are being accepted. On Friday at noon, the church will host the Community Good Friday Service sponsored by the Pottstown Ministerium. All are welcome.

St. Peter’s Lutheran

Pottstown: The Passion/ Palm Sunday will be celebrated with a special procession of palm branches by the congregation at the beginning of the 8 and 10:30 a.m. worship services at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, 564 Glasgow St. The Passion Reading will be read by members of the congregation. 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 Melinda Deamer during the stripping of the Altar and Chancel of all adornments in preparation for Good Friday. The Tenebrae “Service of Darkness” at 7:30 p.m. on Good Friday will include the pastor’s homily, special choir anthems and dramatic affects. During the reading of the seven parts of the Passion, by Melinda Deamer and Sherry Mann, 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.

Trinity UCC

Pottstown: Worship will begin on Sunday at Trinity United Church of Christ, 60 N. Hanover St., with a “Palm Procession.” Children and adults of the congregation will parade around the sanctuary with palm branches and flowers to begin the Palm Sunday service. A continental breakfast will follow the service. The Maundy Thursday service will be held at Zion’s UCC at 6:30p.m. Good Friday service will be held at Trinity beginning at 7 p.m. The congregations of both Trinity and Zion’s will worship together. All are welcome.

Mount Carmel UMC

St. Peters: There will be an Easter egg hunt and light refreshments after the 10 a.m. service on Sunday at Mount Carmel United Methodist Church, 2203 Harmonyville Road. All are welcome. There will be a Maundy Thursday Communion Service at 7 p.m.

Emmanuel Lutheran

150 N Hanover St. (there is Sunday School). The Maundy Thursday service will be held at 6 p.m. The Good Friday service will be held at 7 p.m.

Calvary UCC

Barto: The Maundy Thursday Worship will take place at 7:15 p.m. in Fellowship Hall at Calvary United Church of Christ, 1231 Route 100. Pastor Linda will offer foot or hand washing and the sharing of the Bread of Life and the Cup of Blessing. After the meal, members will proceed to the Sanctuary for the tradition of stripping the altar and the chancel area. Good Friday Service of Worship will be held at 7:15 p.m. In addition to hearing the narrative of Jesus’ final walk and final words we’ll also hear the voices of folks who remember how Jesus changed their lives.

Salem UMC

Pottstown: Palms will be distributed during the 10 a.m. service on Palm Sunday at Salem United Methodist Church, West and Evans St. Maundy Thursday service will be held at 7 p.m. in the social hall. Good Friday service will be held at noon. All are welcome for all of these services.

Christ Episcopal

Pottstown: The Maundy Thursday Eucharist will be observed at 7 p.m. at Christ Episcopal Church, 316 High St. The vestry will take part in the traditional observance of foot washing. The stripping of the altar will be done. When parishioners leave the church they are asked to follow the custom of complete silence. A prayer vigil follows the service and continues until Good Friday at 7 p.m. at the Altar of Repose. Parishioners are signed up for a half-hour or one-hour vigil. The Good Friday liturgy will be held at 7 p.m. The church follows the custom of complete silence when leaving the sanctuary.

Shepherd of the Hills

Bechtelsville: Holy Week worship will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday at Shepherd of the Hills Church, 527 Hoffmansville Road.