2018 Holy Week and Easter Services

Palm Sunday: March 25, 10 AM

Get your arms ready to wave the palms, your feet ready for a festive procession, and your lungs ready to sing out with joy: Jesus has come to us! We’ll march, and we’ll sing, and we’ll wave those festive fronds!

Then we will listen to the story of Jesus’ Passion from the Gospel of Mark. Four readers will share their voices, with one as Jesus, two others as other participants, and one as narrator. Anticipate a deeply moving experience.

Maundy Thursday: March 29, 7 PM

“Maundy” comes from the Latin “Mandatum,” meaning commandment, and refers to Jesus’ twin commandments at the Last Supper: both to remember him in the communion meal, and to love one another. Joined by the worshipers and pastors of the Congregational Christian Church of American Samoa in Hilo, we will celebrate the Lord’s Supper, and then move into the service of Tenebrae, or “shadows.” Readings of the events on that Thursday, from the Last Supper to Jesus’ arrest and trial, will be followed by dimming lights, concluding in darkness and the hush of the Lord’s Prayer.

Good Friday: March 30, 12 to 3 PM

In simplicity, our sanctuary will be open for prayer from noon until 3:00 pm, the hour at which Jesus died on the cross. Each half hour, one of the Seven Last Words of Jesus will be read, concluding with the last at 3:00.

Holy Saturday: March 31, 9 AM

Bring your children for the joy and wonder of dyeing Easter eggs, watching the unadorned shells transform into starbursts of color. The activity runs from 9 am to noon in J’s Cafe. Bring your friends, wear your “okay to get dyed” clothes, and come get creative!  Light lunch to follow.

Easter Sunday: April 1, 9 AM and 10 AM

This is the Day of Days! Children will hunt for those Easter eggs (and some goodies, too). Please assemble in the lounge at 9 am.  Pastor Eric will tell his first story of the day so don’t be late! The egg hunt will follow – BYOBasket if you want to participate.  Older students will be sent on a scavenger hunt, locating objects that are related to the Easter story.  There will be no Sunday School that day, so that families may participate in worship service together.

Come worship at 10 am and celebrate. We’ll have special music and will sing those favorite Easter hymns. Jesus is risen – and in his life, so we live!

Sunrise Service at Wainaku Executive Center, 6 AM, hosted by Haili Congregational Church