by Timothy Rutt
Holy Week, the highlight of the Christian year, begins tomorrow with Palm Sunday. Some of the local churches have shared their activities with us in the week ahead, after the jump.
Palm Sunday Peace Parade
The annual Palm Sunday Peace Parade is a joyous witness to nonviolence led by Pasadena Mennonite Church and other Pasadena churches and organizations. On March 24 the parade starts at Messiah Lutheran Church, 570 E. Orange Grove Blvd., Pasadena, at 3:30. Destination: Paseo Colorado. Altadena Community Church (home of the Friday afternoon peace vigil) will participate. Honk for peace, or walk with Altadena neighbors on Sunday.
Altadena Community Church
Palm Sunday worship begins at 10 a.m. at Altadena Community Church, 943 E. Altadena Drive. Pastor Joe McGowan's sermon will continue with the Lenten theme, "Who Is This Man?"
A Maundy Thursday communion service, celebrating Christ's Last Supper, begins at 7:30 p.m. on March 28.
Good Friday worship, with music by the ACC choir, soprano Wendy Caldwell, and oboist Jonathan Davis, begins at 7:30 p.m. March 29. Worship services, including communion, are open to all at Altadena Community Church, a welcoming community of faith.
Easter worship begins on the early side of 10 a.m. with the flowering of the cross. Bring blooms from your garden (or come and find there are plenty of flowers!) to create a tangible symbol of resurrection for the altar. A brunch buffet follows this Easter celebration.
Childcare will be provided for the Thursday and Friday evening services. On Easter and Palm Sundays, the children are invited to leave worship after the anthem for Sunday school and children's activities.
For more about Altadena Community Church and the United Church of Christ denomination, see www.altadenaucc.org and www.ucc.org.
Christ the Shepherd Lutheran Church (185 W. Altadena Drive, Altadena) and Trinity Lutheran Church (997 E. Walnut Street, Pasadena) are collaborating in Holy Week/Easter services this year:
Maundy Thursday Trinity 7:00 pm<
Good Friday CTS 7:00 pm
Holy Saturday Trinity 7:00 pm
Easter Sunday CTS 6:00 am ("Sonrise")
Trinity 8:00 am
CTS 10:00 am
Trinity 10:00 am
7:45 a.m. Holy Eucharist
9:00 a.m. Family Service, Liturgy of the Word
10:30 a.m. Choral Holy Eucharist
Maundy Thursday March 28
6:00 p.m. Agapé Supper, Holy Eucharist and Stripping of the Altar
11:00 a.m. Family Stations of the Cross
12:30 p.m. Good Friday Liturgy
7:00 p.m. Good Friday Prayers
7:30 p.m. The Great Vigil of Easter, Renewal of Baptismal Vows and Holy Eucharist with St. Mark’s Choir
Festive Reception following the service in the Community Hall
9:00 a.m. Children’s Service with St. Mark’s Choristers, St. Mark’s Choir, Easter Egg Hunt to follow; bring your own basket!
11:15 a.m. Festive Eucharist with St. Mark’s Choir
Historic First Lutheran Church, Pasadena
Historic First Lutheran 808 N. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena, announces its Holy Week schedule. The Fourth Annual Blessing of the Animals is Saturday 23 March at 11:00 a.m. on the Church Field at 851 N. Oakland Ave. (will move into the gym in the event of rain). The Palm Sunday Bilingual Worship Celebration including a procession with live animals is Sunday 24 March at 10:00 a.m. A petting zoo in the center courtyard will follow worship. Maundy Thursday (3/28) communion services are at 12:00 Noon and 7:00 p.m. Good Friday (3/29) services of darkness are at 12:00 Noon and 7:00 p.m. Easter Sunday Festival Services are at 10:00 a.m. in English and 1:00 p.m. in Spanish. All are invited. For more information contact 626.793.1139 or Firstpasa@aol.com or www.historicfirstlutheran.org
Pasadena Presbyterian Church
HOLY WEEK
PALM PASSION SUNDAY
10:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary
This service begins with a festive procession with palm branches waving and then look forward to the Holy Week events. The Kirk Choir and children’s choirs will sing. Elder Robert Thomas will preach. (Also have Spanish language service at 10 a.m. in the chapel and Korean language at noon in the sanctuary.)
THURSDAY, MARCH 28: MAUNDY THURSDAY
6:00 p.m. in Fellowship Hall
On the evening when we remember Jesus’ last supper with his disciples, all language groups will share a simple meal followed by a photo-language interpretation of the Last Supper and Holy Communion. (Photo language is where there are a pile of pictures on the table and you choose a couple and talk about why you chose that one. Sometimes it can be pretty insightful.)
~ STATIONS OF THE CROSS
5:00 p.m. in the patio
A reenactment of the journey of Jesus carrying his cross to Calvary with short meditations at each of seven stations. (This is led by our Latino Ministries.)
~ 16TH ANNUAL DEVOTIONAL CONCERT
7:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary
The Kirk Choir, guest singers, soloists, organist Meaghan King and the Friends of Music Orchestra join in this annual devotional concert featuring Duruflé’s Requiem and other music for the Holy Week season.
FREE ADMISSION — INVITE YOUR FRIENDS.
10:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary
Festival Worship with glorious music by the Kirk Choir, Van Etten Handbell Choir, brass and organ. Dr. Mark Smutny will preach. The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper will be celebrated.
Easter Sunrise Service, Farnsworth Park, 6 AM
Several churches will join for a sunrise service at the Farnsworth Park Amphitheater on Easter Sunday, March 31.
