“I think the feeling people have during this week — Holy Week — is that the small differences Christians have regarding beliefs are transcended or overcome by the centrality of Jesus Christ in His life, death and resurrection,” said the Rev. Nathan Carden, associate pastor of Pell City First United Methodist Church.
The community Holy Week services are at 12:05 p.m. April 2-April 6 at the Pell City First United Methodist Church sanctuary. The services are multi-denominational and free to the public.
“The feedback from the community is they are very grateful for the Holy Week services because it gives people who normally don’t worship with one another — because of separate locations and different traditions — it gives them the opportunity to worship with other Christians during a season in which all Christians are celebrating the resurrection of Jesus,” Carden said.
Each Holy Week service includes a greeting, congregational song, prayer, special music, and a short sermon from various local pastors. Lunch follows each Holy Week service at 12:30 p.m. in the Beacon. The lunch is free. Individuals who need to return to work are given priority in the lunch lines.
“The lunch is provided by different local churches each day,” he said. “It is a community potluck, so to speak.”
Carden said donations are accepted at the door, to cover the cost of lunch products. Any additional donations are given to the Pell City Ministerial Fund and the Christian Love Pantry.
“It is a privilege for our church to host these Holy Week services every year, and we enjoy working with all the churches that come together to make this event meaningful for those who attend,” he said.
All services are at Pell City First United Methodist Church unless otherwise specified.
Palm/Passion Sunday services are at 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. April 1 with Procession of the Palms at the traditional Sanctuary 10:30 a.m. service. The 10:30 a.m. Wide Open Worship is in The Beacon.
Monday’s Holy Week service will feature the Rev. John Thweatt, with Pell City First Baptist Church.
Tuesday’s Holy Week service will feature the Rev. Paul Lett, with Harvest Center Church of God.
Wednesday’s Holy Week service will feature the Rev. Donald Gover, with Life Family Worship Center.
Thursday’s Holy Week service will feature the Rev. Jeff Garner, with St. Simon Peter Episcopal Church.
Friday’s Holy Week service will feature the Rev. Sam Huffstutler, with Pell City First United Methodist Church.
A Maundy Thursday Communion is at 6:30 p.m. April 5 and features re-living the story of the Last Supper, Jesus’ betrayal by His disciples and his journey to the Garden of Gethsemane. The Rev. Nathan Carden, with Pell City First United Methodist Church, will preach.
The Good Friday Service is at 6:30 p.m. April 6. The service remembers Jesus’ crucifixion and death. The Rev. Nathan Carden, with Pell City First United Methodist Church, will preach.
There is a children’s Easter Egg Hunt Saturday April 7 from 10 a.m.-noon at The Beacon with a complimentary hotdog lunch.
Easter Sunday will feature an Easter Sunrise Service at 6:30 a.m. at Chapel in the Pines, weather permitting, located near Pine Harbor Golf Course in Pell City, with the Rev. Nathan Carden preaching. In case of rain, the Easter Sunrise Service is moved to Pell City First United Methodist Sanctuary. There is also Sanctuary Worship at 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. at Pell City First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Sam Huffstutler preaching; and Wide Open Worship at 10:30 a.m. at Pell City First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Nathan Carden preaching.
Contact Elsie Hodnett at ehodnett@dailyhome.com.
