The following area churches have announced their Holy Week services for the coming Easter season:
First UMC, Shamokin
First United Methodist Church, Shamokin, will hold Good Friday services at 7 p.m. Friday. Easter Sunrise Service will be held at 6 a.m. with a morning breakfast being served at 7:30 a.m. Participants are Nan Weller, liturgist; Lee Weller and Arlene Seedor, greeters.
First Baptist
First Baptist Church, 10 E. Lincoln St., Shamokin, will present a Good Friday service at 7 p.m., featuring special music from Mark Mantz performing "I Walked Today Where Jesus Walked," and the choir singing, "Into the Garden."
Easter Sunday services will be held at 10:45 a.m., featuring a sermon from Pastor Samuel Derr and the singing of the hymn "Christ Arose," "Christ the Lord Has Risen Today," "I Know That My Redeemer Liveth," "Rejoice My Heart," "Crown Him with Many Crowns," "My Jesus, I Love Thee," and "He Lives."
Bethany Bible
Bethany Bible Fellowship Church, 654 Wilburton Road, Mount Carmel, will hold a Good Friday service, with communion at 7 p.m.. Easter Sunrise service will be held at 8 a.m. on Sunday, April 24, with a worship service an the Cantata "Behold the Lamb" at 10 a.m.
Zion UMC, Grace Evangelical, and Wilburton UMC.
Easter Week services will be held by Pastor Rose Marquardt in three churches in the area. Maundy Thursday services will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday at Zion United Methodist Church, Aristes. A Good Friday service will be held at 7 p.m. Friday at Grace Evangelical Independent Church, Locustdale. Easter Sunday services will feature a Sunrise service at 6 a.m. with breakfast at 7 a.m. at Wilburton United Methodist Church. Easter service at Zion United Methodist Church, Aristes, at 9:30 a.m. and at Grace Evangelical Independent Church, Locustdale, at 11 a.m.
Ukrainian Holy Week
The Very Rev. Archpriest Michael Hutsko, pastor of Assumption BVM Ukrainian Catholic Church, Centralia, and SS Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church, Mount Carmel, announces the Holy Week activities for both churches.
In Centralia, Good Friday vespers and prayers at the tomb will be held at noon, with a vigil at the tomb starting at 1 p.m. The vigil at the tomb will resume at 11 a.m. Saturday. At 6 p.m., the church will hold Resurrection Matins/Easter Divine Liturgy, followed by the blessing of Easter foods. A Divine Liturgy with procession will be held at 9 a.m. Easter Monday.
In Mount Carmel, Lenten Hours will be held Monday through Wednesday at 8 a.m. with Liturgy of Pre-Sanctified Gifts being held at 6 p.m. Monday and Wednesday. Stations of the Cross will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday.
On Holy Thursday, the Vesper Liturgy of St. Basil the Great will be held at 9 a.m., followed by the 12 Gospels of the Passion of Our Lord at 6 p.m.
Good Friday will see a vespers service at 3 p.m., followed by prayer at the tomb. The vigil at the tomb will be held from 4 to 10 p.m. with Jerusalem Matins at 7 p.m. On Holy Saturday, the Vesper Liturgy of St. Basil the Great will be held at 9 a.m. followed by the vigil at the tomb from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The traditional blessing of the Easter foods will be held at 1 and 3 p.m. in the church hall.
On Easter Sunday, the church will celebrate Easter Sunday with Resurrection Matins and an Easter Divine Liturgy at 7 a.m., and an Easter Divine Liturgy at 10 a.m. Easter Monday Divine Liturgy will be held at p.m. with a procession and a Divine Liturgy at 9 a.m. Easter Tuesday.
All Saints, Kulpmont
Maundy Thursday service at All Saints Lutheran Church, Kulpmont, will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday.
Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, Shamokin
Grace Lutheran Church, West Chestnut Street, Shamokin, and St. Paul Lutheran Church, Gowen City, will hold joint services during Holy Week. The Rev. David M. Byerly is pastor for both congregations.
A joint service of word and sacrament will be held at 7 p.m. Maundy Thursday in Grace Lutheran Church. Diane Calhoun is the organist. Shelley Faust is the worship assistant. Pastor Byerly will preside and preach. The service will conclude with the stripping of the altar in preparation for Good Friday.
The two congregations will observe Good Friday with a joint service Friday at 7 p.m. in St. Paul Lutheran Church. The solemn service will focus on Christ's passion and death on the cross. Walter Boyer is the organist. Pastor Byerly will preside.
On Easter Sunday, there will be a joint sunrise service in St. Paul Cemetery, Gowen City, beginning at 6:30 a.m. Coffee and doughnuts will be served in St. Paul Church following the service. The service will be held in St. Paul Church if it rains. Pastor Byerly will preside.
St. Paul will hold its regular Sunday worship on Easter Sunday at 8:15 a.m. The Easter service of word and sacrament will be held at Grace Lutheran Church at 10:15 a.m.
The public is invited to attend Holy Week and Easter Sunday services.