St. George’s Episcopal Church, Sanford

All are welcome to attend Holy Week and Easter Sunday services at St. George’s Episcopal Church, located at 3 Emerson St. in Sanford. Child care is available at the 10 a.m. service. Services are as follows:

Ӣ March 29: Palm Sunday with a service at 9 a.m.; there will be only one service on this day, with a potluck breakfast following the service.

Ӣ April 2: Maundy Thursday with a service at 7 p.m.

Ӣ April 3: Good Friday services at noon and 7 p.m.

Ӣ April 5: Easter Sunday services at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m., with an Easter egg hunt to follow after the 10 a.m. service.

The Rev. Cn. Susan M. Murphy is rector.

For more information, call 324-8119, email [email protected], visit www.stgeorgesanford.org or like the church on Facebook.

Trinity Episcopal

Church, Saco

Trinity Episcopal Church in Saco is offering the following holy week events:

Ӣ Palm Sunday, March 29: 8 a.m. and 10 a.m., blessing of the palms, reading of the Passion narrative and Holy Eucharist;

Ӣ Monday-Wednesday, March 30-April 1: 7 p.m., Holy Eucharist;

Ӣ Maundy Thursday, April 2: 6 p.m., agape meal pot luck; 7 p.m., foot washing, Holy Eucharist and stripping of the altar;

Ӣ Good Friday, April 3: 12:10 p.m., Good Friday service of lessons and collects; 7 p.m., stations of the cross

”¢ Easter Eve, April 4: 8 p.m., Great Easter vigil with lighting of the primordial fire, readings of God’s acts of salvation, renewal of baptismal vows and first Easter Eucharist;

Ӣ Easter day, April 5: 6 a.m., sunrise service (Ocean Park, end of Temple Ave.); 8 a.m. and 10 a.m., Festive Holy Eucharist, Easter egg hunt following 10 a.m. service.

Kennebunk Baptist Church, Kennebunk

For 58 years, since 1957, the Kennebunk Baptist Church has hosted the noon services for Holy Week. Each year Rev. James King, pastor, creates a theme, and visiting pastors from the area prepare a sermon based on that theme. This year the theme is “Bringing Meaning into our Lives.” The service schedule:

Ӣ Monday, March 30: Bringing Meaning to Commitment, Rev. Ruth Merriam;

Ӣ Tuesday, March 31: Bring Meaning to Sorrow, Rev. Laura K-J Campbell;

Ӣ Wednesday, April 1: Bringing Meaning to Prayer, Rev. Mark Abisi;

”¢ Thursday, April 2: Bringing Meaning to One’s Daily Activities, Rev. Charity O’Martian

Ӣ Friday, April 3: Bringing Peace and Healing to Mankind, Rev. Dan Moore.

Kennebunk Baptist Church is located at 77 Main St., Kennebunk. For more information, call 985-5921.

First Parish Congregational, Saco

First Parish Congregational Church in Saco is hosting the following Holy Week events:

”¢ Palm Sunday, March 29: The “Triumphal Entry” and palm waving celebration;

”¢ Maundy Thursday, April 2: 7 p.m., “Dies Mandati” (The day of the commandment). In remembering the long, last night that Jesus was with his disciples, those interested are invited to immerse themselves in the drama as it pours forth in hymn, prayer, sacrament, scripture, sound, sight and darkness;

Ӣ 24-hour prayer vigil 9 p.m. Thursday to 9 p.m. Friday: Sign up for this Deacon-coordinated prayer opportunity; commit to one (or more) hour(s) of prayer and become one link in a continuous chain of prayer;

Ӣ Reaffirmation of Baptism, April 3: 9 p.m., following the close of the prayer vigil, a brief service will invite participants to remember their Baptism and to re-commit to the hope and promise that lies within this event.

Ӣ Easter, April 5: Sunrise service at Ocean Park; 10 a.m. celebration of the resurrection.

St. David’s Episcopal Church, Kennebunk

Holy Week services begin on Sunday, March 29 with the distribution of palm fronds and the reading of the Passion Gospel according to Luke. Rite I Eucharist is at 8 a.m. and Rite II Eucharist at 10:30 a.m. with music, hymns, and choir.

Other events:

”¢ Maundy Thursday, April 2 at 7 p.m.: A commemoration of the Lord’s last supper. This is a very community-oriented service which includes ceremonial washing of feet for any who would like to participate. The Church and Altar are stripped of all ornamentation in preparation for Good Friday.  

”¢ Good Friday, April 3 at noon: Stations of the Cross. These services will observe the “Stations of the Cross.” The service consists of processing around the church, and stopping at each symbolic “station” for prayers and readings from the Scripture. This ancient custom, widely practiced throughout Christianity from about the 4th century, recalls and reenacts the path of Jesus from his trial to the cross. 7 p.m.: The Liturgy of Good Friday. This service will focus on the Liturgy of Good Friday, on this, the most solemn day of the church year. The passion story is told, and the congregation enters into a period of darkness, awaiting the coming of the Easter resurrection and new life.

”¢ Easter Eve, April 4 at 7:30 p.m.: The Great Vigil of Easter. Come witness and partake in the most ancient service in Christianity, written by Bishop Hippolytus in 210 A.D. This service begins in total darkness, followed by the lighting of candles and ending with the brightness and joy of Easter. Ancient Christians were accustomed to staying up all night following this service to be awake for the dawn of Easter Day. 

Ӣ Easter Day, April 5 at 8 a.m.: Holy Eucharist Rite I. At 10:30 a.m.: A festive celebration of Holy Eucharist Rite II with music and choir.

For more information, call 985-3073.

Union Congregational Church, York Beach

The Union Congregational Church at York Beach is offering the following Holy Week events:

Ӣ Palm Sunday, March 29: Worship at 10 a.m.;

Ӣ Maundy Thursday, April 2: Worship at at 7 p.m.;

Ӣ Good Friday, April 3: Hosting York area churches at Union Congregational Church, worship at noon

Ӣ Easter Sunrise, April 5: At 6 a.m., partnering with First Parish Church UCC, York, there will be worship at Nubble Lighthouse in Sohier Park. There will also be a complimentary Easter breakfast at Union Congregational Church at 6:30 a.m. All sunrise service attendees are invited. Easter worship is at 10 a.m. at Union Congregational Church.

For more information, call 646-8355.