Special Worship Services

During the seasons of the church year, there are special worship services in addition to regular Sunday services. 

The first Sunday of November is All Saints' Sunday.  At our 10:00 a.m. worship service, we remember the lives of those who have died in the past year, lighting a candle as each name is called, accompanied by the ringing of a bell. 

Advent is the four week season leading up to Christmas.  It is a time of hopeful expectation and preparation for the birth of Jesus.  During this time, the 10:00 a.m. service may have special music or choral sermons, and a creative theme may be presented.  The church is decorated with a Christmas tree, garlands and flowers.  

On Christmas Eve, there is a Family Worship early in the evening at 5:00 p.m., and a Candlelight Communion Service at 11:00 p.m.  

There is also a special Christmas Lessons and Carols service at Ashlar Village a day or two before Christmas Eve for the residents and all who would like to attend.

Lent is the 40 day season of reflection, penitence and preparation for Easter.  As with Advent, the 10:00 a.m. service will often have special music and worship elements during this time.

We begin Lent with a Shrove Tuesday family pancake supper, followed by a worship service. 

On Ash Wednesday, there is a meditative evening service of reconciliation and forgiveness, with the anointing of oil.  

Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday, the Sunday before Easter, when we celebrate Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem.  The Palm Sunday Service is a special occasion at First Church, when the children joyfully process with their palms, the entire congregation sings a traditional Palm Sunday anthem, and we close the service with the powerful transition to Holy Week with the entry of the bare cross, fashioned from our Christmas Tree, as a soloist sings “The Via Delarosa.” 

On the following Thursday, we hold a Maundy Thursday service at 7:00 p.m.  This is a service of Communion, followed by the story of Jesus’s last week and betrayal, with the extinguishing of light and the entrance into darkness. 

On Good Friday, the youth of our church lead a noontime worship service, telling the story of Jesus’s trial and execution.  This thoughtful service is full of music, silence and creativity. 

We offer a Saturday afternoon Easter Vigil at Ashlar Village, which anyone is welcome to attend. 

Easter Sunday is a celebration of Jesus’ resurrection, with the sanctuary full of flowers, the darkness of the week before transformed into light and joy, with special music and the singing of the Hallelujah Chorus. 

On Boy Scout Sunday, our Troop 5 participates in the worship service and the sanctuary is decorated with colorful flags.

On Mother’s Day, our Confirmation Class leads the 10:00 a.m. worship service. 

Children’s Sunday is held at the end of the Church School year, where the children participate and lead parts of the service. 

Pentecost Sunday and Confirmation Sunday are celebrated together on the first Sunday in June.  Pentecost is considered the birthday of the church, when Jesus's disciples were called to go forth into the world.  Our confirmands officially join the church as adult members, and we rejoice with them as they commit themselves to discipleship. 

Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday is a special moment at First Church, when we begin the walking the journey with Jesus to the cross of Good Friday and the joy of Easter.  Our worship begins with a parade of palms and closes with the empty cross.  [ more ]


Maundy Thursday

On the Thursday evening following Palm Sunday, we hold a Maundy Thursday service at 7:00 p.m. This is a service of Communion, followed by the story of Jesus's last week and betrayal, with the extinguishing of light and the entrance into darkness. [ more ]


Good Friday

Our Good Friday worship service is held at noon on Good Friday, and is led by the young people of our congregation. [ more ]


Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday is a celebration of Jesus' resurrection, with the sanctuary full of flowers, the darkness of the week before transformed into light and joy, with special music and the singing of the Hallelujah Chorus. [ more ]





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