Holy Week begins Sunday for the Christian community.
In many churches, the week will begin with the waving of palm fronds to re-enact the biblical account of Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. The week will continue with somber reflections on the events that preceded his death on the cross.
Special services will be offered to help Christians place the hope of the Resurrection against the backdrop of suffering and death. While Holy Week traditionally extends through Saturday, most special services are on Palm Sunday, Holy [or Maundy] Thursday and Good Friday.
Maundy Thursday commemorates the day before Jesus was arrested. It is observed in many churches with a meal or communion because the day is remembered as the time Jesus ate a final meal with the disciples.
Good Friday is the day the Church remembers the arrest of Jesus, his trial, crucifixion, suffering, death and burial.
Christians will celebrate their most sacred day, Easter, on March 31.
Here are some of the local events planned for Holy Week and other local religious activities:
Holy Week services
Bethel Temple Assembly of God — 711 25th St. NW, Canton. Good Friday Family Communion from 4 to 7 p.m. in 15-minute segments. Call to sign up for a time. Easter Sunday worship service at 10 a.m. Theme is Experience the Joy of a New Day with special music and message from the Rev. Brad Myers. 330-454-3058.
Calvary Baptist Church — 820 White Pond Drive, Akron. Easter Sunday program at 11 a.m., with the choir and the Rev. Aaron Furman.
Canton Baptist Temple — 515 Whipple Ave. NW, Perry Township. Good Friday service at 7 p.m., child care available through age 5. Three identical services Easter weekend at 6 p.m. Saturday (childcare to age 5), 7:30 and 10:15 a.m. Sunday. Choir, orchestra and special music at each. The 9 a.m. children’s Sunday School and Adult Bible fellowships will be on the normal schedules. 330-477-6267.
Christ Centered Church — 803 Wooster Road N., Barberton. Good Friday Celebration at 7 p.m. The Seven Last Words of Christ.
Christ the Servant Parish — 833 39th St. NW, Canton. Palm Sunday services at 9 and 11 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Holy Thursday, Celebrations of the Lord’s Supper, 7 p.m. Good Friday, Stations of the Cross, noon; Remembrance of the Lord’s Passion and Death, 7 p.m. Holy Saturday, March 30, Blessing of the Food and Animals, 1 p.m.; Easter Vigil, 7 p.m. Easter Sunday, March 31, services at 9 and 11 a.m. 330-492-0757.
Cottage Grove Evangelical Church — 3133 Cottage Grove Road, Coventry Township. Good Friday communion service at 7 p.m. On Easter Sunday, the youth group will present an 8 a.m. sunrise service followed by breakfast. Sunday School at 9:30 a.m. and worship service at 10:45 a.m. 330-644-5616.
Fairlawn West United Church of Christ — 2095 W. Market St., Fairlawn. Palm Sunday service at 10 a.m. Maundy Thursday at 7 p.m., Good Friday at 8 p.m., Easter worship service at 10 a.m. 330-864-2179.
Goodyear Heights Community Church — 464 Brittain Road, Akron. Good Friday Communion service at 7 p.m. Reflection and celebration through song and scripture. Nursery provided. 330-733-6664.
Grace United Church of Christ — 13275 Cleveland Ave. NW, Lake Township. Palm Sunday worship at 10:45 a.m. Prior to that, Sunday School for all ages at 9:30 a.m. Nursery provided, with junior church for elementary ages. From 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Teens Loving Christ for grades 7-12. At 7:30 p.m. Thursday, there will be a Maundy Thursday Tenebrae service of darkness with communion. On Good Friday, the sanctuary will be open for prayer and meditation from noon to 3 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Also on Friday from 6 to 8 p.m., Active Children Together Serving pizza night. From 10 to 11:30 a.m. March 30, a free Easter Egg-stravaganza for toddler through grade 6 in the Family Activity Center. Easter Sunday Sunrise contemporary youth-led service at 7 a.m. followed by pancake breakfast at 8 a.m. Free-will offering supports summer youth mission trip. Easter traditional worship service at 10:45 a.m. 330-699-3255.
Green Clergy Association — at Queen of Heaven Church, 1800 Steese Road, Green. Noon Friday. Good Friday Ecumenical Prayer Service. It will consist of music, readings, prayers and short sermons given by the pastors from participating Green churches. Also included are East Liberty Church of the Nazarene, Green Valley United Methodist Church, Greensburg Church of God, Greensburg United Methodist Church, Lakeview Christian Church, Messiah Lutheran Church and The Chapel. 330-896-2345.
Holy Cross Anglican Church — 1046 Lake St., Kent. Distribution of Palms with communion and music at 10 a.m. Sunday. The Stations of the Cross at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the sanctuary. On Thursday at 6 p.m. there will be a potluck dinner followed by Maundy Thursday service with communion and Stripping of the Altar. Good Friday service at 7 p.m. Easter Sunday service at 10 a.m. with communion and music. 330-298-0373.
Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church — 401 Robert St., Akron. Family and Friends Day on Palm Sunday with baptism at 10 a.m. and morning worship at 10:45 a.m. Good Friday service at 7 p.m. On Easter Sunday there will be a 9:30 a.m. Sunday School Ministry Easter Program.
Northminster Presbyterian Church — 237 W. Maple St., North Canton. Stations of the Cross on Good Friday from noon to 7 p.m. in the sanctuary. 330-494-5008.
Queen of Heaven Church — 1800 Steese Road, Green. Holy Week services are as follows: Masses Monday through Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. (Tuesday at Greenview Inn). Confessions Monday through Wednesday, 9 to 10 a.m. Holy Thursday, The Lord’s Supper Mass at 7 p.m., confessions for one hour after Mass, Adoration until 11 p.m. Good Friday, Liturgy of Lord’s Passion, 3 p.m.; Stations of the Cross, 7 p.m.; confessions 9 to 10 a.m. and after 3 and 7 p.m. services for one hour. Holy Saturday, March 30, confessions 10 to 11 a.m., Blessing of Food, 3 p.m.; Vigil Mass with baptism and adult choir, 9 p.m. Easter Sunday, March 31, Masses at 8 and 10 a.m. and noon. 330-896-2345.
St. Luke’s Lutheran Church — 2121 Sixth St., Cuyahoga Falls. Palm Sunday service at 10 a.m. Maundy Thursday worship at 7 p.m. and Good Friday service at 7 p.m. Easter Sunday Sunrise service at 7:30 a.m., followed by continental breakfast at 9 a.m. and a Holy Communion service at 10 a.m. The chancel choir invites singers for the finale, the Hallelujah Chorus. 330-929-2683.
Tallmadge Lutheran Church — 759 East Ave., Tallmadge. Palm Sunday services at 8 and 10:30 a.m. will include a cantata that portrays the passion week of Jesus’ life. Maundy Thursday worship at 7:30 p.m. with Holy Communion and traditional stripping of the altar. Good Friday prayer breakfast at 8 a.m. and services at noon and 7:30 p.m., the latter will follow the liturgy of Tenebrae and increasing darkness. Easter Sunday sunrise service at 7 a.m. and festival services at 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. Holy Communion, special music and children’s message in all services. Easter breakfast served from 8 to 10 a.m. 330-633-4775.
Trinity Cathedral — 2230 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. Palm Sunday services: 8 a.m., Early Eucharist; 9 a.m., Mostly Jazz Mass; 11:15 a.m., Choral Eucharist; and 5 p.m., Eventide. At 6 p.m. Wednesday, Tenebrae service with the Cathedral Chamber Singers. On Maundy Thursday, a 12:10 p.m. Eucharist and healing service; 6 p.m., potluck and vigil. Good Friday: noon, Solemn Liturgy; 1 p.m., blues and lamentations with music by the Gateway Band, and children’s program; 7:30 p.m., concert with the cathedral choir performing a German Requiem. Easter Sunday: 6 a.m., Great Vigil of Easter; 9 a.m., Contemporary Festival Eucharist; 10:10 a.m., Easter Egg Hunt for grades pre-K to 5; and 11:15 a.m., Festival Eucharist.
Westminster Presbyterian Church — 1250 W. Exchange St., Akron. Procession of palms at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, celebrating Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem. Maundy Thursday service at 7 p.m., and Good Friday service at noon. On Easter Sunday, Sunrise service at 8:30 a.m. on the patio. Communion service at 10:30 p.m. with choir, organ, the Paragon Brass Quintet and percussion. Child care provided. 330-836-2226.
Events
Community Church of Portage Lakes — 3260 Cormany Road, Coventry Township. 7 p.m. Friday. Vladimir Mitnitsky of Jews for Jesus will present Christ in the Passover on Good Friday. Child care and children’s activities available for children up through fifth grade. 330-644-6121.
Good Shepherd Baptist Church — 853 Copley Road, Akron. 4 p.m. Sunday. The Rev. Earnest Stallworth and Messiah Baptist Church will be guests at the service. 330-762-6795.
Grace Academy of Small Wonders — at Akron Women’s City Club, 732 W. Exchange St., Akron. 3 p.m. April 7. Second annual Dinner and Fashion Show fundraising event. It is a youth program for at-risk girls ages 3-6. Tickets $40 and must be purchased by Monday. Sponsorship donations are tax deductible. Email graceacademyofsmallwonders@aol.com.
Journey Covenant Church — 2679 North Haven Blvd., Cuyahoga Falls. 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday. Free, hot dinner to local residents on the last Tuesday of every month. Christ Kitchen dinners are open to the public. 330-923-8021.
Morning Star Baptist Church — 1360 Newton St., Akron. 10 a.m. Sunday. Annual Women’s Day. Speaker will be usher board president La Tanya Becton. 330-923-8462.
New Millennium Baptist Church — 906 E. Tallmadge Ave., Akron. 10:30 a.m. Sunday. The ministry is celebrating its 13th anniversary at its new location. Theme is Moving By His Spirit. Special guests are the Rev. John Peterson and the Fellowship Baptist Church of Medina.
RiverTree Christian Church — 7373 Portage St. NW, Jackson Township. 2:30 p.m. March 30. Easter Egg Hunt, followed by Easter celebration service at 3:30 p.m. The RiverTree location at 2201 Lake Center St. NW, Lake Township, will have its Egg Hunt at 4 p.m. the same day, followed by a 5:30 p.m. Easter celebration. 330-494-1860.
Wintergreen Ledges Church of God — 1889 Vernon Odom Blvd., Akron. 5:30 to 7 p.m. Friday. Free hot meals the last Friday of each month through December. Free personal hygiene items while supplies last. 330-753-3027.
Wooster Avenue Church of Christ — 1147 Vernon Odom Blvd., Akron. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 30. Snack lunch and clothing giveaway. First come, first served. All sizes when available. 330-762-7301.
World Harvest Christian Church — 989 N. Portage Path, Akron. 6 p.m. Sunday. Omega Women’s International presents My Story for His Glory, with Prophet Toni Isichei and guest psalmist Audrey Poole. Free and open to the public. 330-835-1982.
Performances
New Beginnings Fellowship Church — 4567 State Route 43, Brimfield Township. 6 p.m. today. The Southern Gospel Singing Series will feature Victory Trio from Nashport, Ohio, and Fellowship Singers from Brimfield. Free-will offering. 330-673-0700.
St. Sebastian Parish — 476 Mull Ave., Akron. 4 p.m. Sunday. A Lenten concert, Colors of Grace, will be performed by the St. Sebastian choir. 330-836-2233.
Speakers, classes,
workshops
Akron Area Interfaith Council — at The Bath Church UCC, 3980 W. Bath Road. 6:30 p.m. April 9. Dan Moulthrop, curator of conversation at The Civic Commons, will speak on Finding Common Ground at the AAIC’s 32nd annual dinner. The Civic Commons is an online social media site designed for open, moderated conversation on difficult issues facing Northeast Ohio and the nation. Also featured will be the Mount Zion Baptist Gospel and Bath Chancel choirs. Cost for the dinner is $15 and reservations are due April 2. For more information, call Susan at 330-329-5132.
Fairlawn Lutheran Church — 3415 W. Market St., Fairlawn. 6:30 p.m. April 2. Financial Peace University, a money-management course taught by Dave Ramsey, will be held. To register or for more information, contact Larry Long at 330-836-7286.
Medina Presbyterian Church — 5020 Burgundy Bay Blvd., Medina. 7 p.m. Tuesday. Dr. Timothy Stover, CEO of the Akron General Health System, will speak on the challenges faced by the nation’s health care system and alternative approaches to hold down the rising costs associated with the industry. It is free and open to the public. 330-723-1000.
Walsh University Jewish/Catholic Studies Institute — Barrette Business and Community Center, 2020 E. Maple St. NW, North Canton. 7 p.m. April 3. A special presentation, Sharing the Silence: The Child of a Holocaust Survivor Tells His Father’s Story, will feature Rabbi Peter Grumbacher of Beth Emeth Congregation in Wilmington, Del. Free and open to all. Reservations not required. For more information, contact Rabbi John Spitzer at 330-244-4734.
The deadline for Religion Notes is noon Tuesday. Items must be in writing. Please fax information to 330-996-3033, email it to religion@thebeaconjournal.com or send it to Religion, Akron Beacon Journal, 44 E. Exchange St., Akron OH 44309.