Holy Week is fast approaching and many area churches will celebrate the season with special services and events.
On Saturday, April 9, Second Baptist Church will host an Easter Egg hunt at Hendrickson Park at 1180 Davis St. It will start at 11 a.m. and is open to children of all ages.
First Baptist is following their Palm Sunday service on April 10, with the Bikes for Missions charity bike ride. It will take place on the church grounds at 551 N. Westwood Blvd. and start at 12:30. The bike ride is open to children from pre-kindergarten to sixth grade and the rider pledges will benefit the Sleep in Heavenly Peace organization that provides beds to area children.
Anyone interested in sponsoring a rider or riding in the charity event can contact the church at 573-785-1431.
On Wednesday, April 13, Holy Cross Episcopal at 420 Main St. will open up the doors of their historic old church for a Tenebrae service. Named for the Latin word for darkness, this unique church service started in the middle ages and is rarely enacted in modern times. It involves prayer and the gradual extinguishing of candles until the church is left in darkness.
Church member Teresa Lee attended Tenebrae for the first time in 2021. She was moved by the shadows, sadness and somber prayer readings, she said.
“The joyous celebration of Easter seems more sacred to me now,” she added.
The service is open to everyone and will start at 6:30 p.m.
First Church of God at 3482 S. Westwood Blvd. will celebrate the season by hosting an Easter Festival on Saturday, April 16. There will be outdoor games, an egg toss, an egg hunt, face painting and races from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Concession stands will also be available.
All churches will be celebrating Easter Sunday, but First Baptist Church of Doniphan is moving its Easter service to the Doniphan High School gym. The service will begin at 10 a.m. and feature Dr. Roc Collins as guest speaker. Collins is the director of strategic objectives for the Tennessee Baptist Missions Board. Pastor Monty Flanigan knew Collins from preaching conferences and invited him to preach at the Doniphan service, he said.
“We decided to use the gym as an outreach to get more people in to hear the gospel and the story of the resurrection,” said Flanigan.
The gym is located at 5 Ballpark Road in Doniphan. A children’s church and nursery will be provided by church members.