Community Easter and Holy Week Observances

The Easter holiday means many things to many people.
Cape May County will celebrate Easter with many special events – egg hunts, holiday meals and family get-togethers. Many of these events are listed in the Herald’s calendar. Type “Easter” in the calendar search bar or use this link: www.tinyurl.com/CapeMayCountyEaster.
For Christians, Holy Week observances – Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday – memorialize a tumultuous week of events, marked by the hopeful celebration and tribulation of Jesus Christ, followed by his betrayal, crucifixion, death and resurrection.
The date for Easter varies each year, because the date of the holiday is based on the first full moon following the vernal (spring) equinox. Since Greek Orthodox Christians reference the Gregorian calendar for religious observances, they will mark Easter on May 5 this year, while most American Christians will observe Easter on March 31.
To commemorate this most important of Christian events, churches throughout the county will hold special worship services. You’ll find many of these events when you read this week’s Herald, pages 27-31, or you can click the following link to download a copy now: http://www.capemaycountyherald.com/print-archives
COURT HOUSE – On March 29, Good Friday, First United Methodist Church, 1 Church Street. will host an ecumenical, community-oriented service of worship. Clerics from various churches throughout Middle Township will deliver devotions based upon the seven last sayings of Jesus Christ as he hung on the cross.
The service will feature meditations on each saying, with each meditation presented by a different pastor. Each church will also offer special music for each saying.
Worshipers will be invited to sing the traditional hymns of the church, led by Debra Dilworth playing the church’s newly-reconditioned pipe organ.
The service will run from noon until 3 p.m. Everyone is welcome to worship for the entire three hours, or they can stop in at any time when they want and they can also feel free to leave when they must, according to Pastor Ted Osler of First United Methodist Church, Court House.
“Father, forgive them …”
Will be delivered by Pastor Bob Stahler of Great Commission Baptist Church, Court House.
“ …Today you shall
be with Me”
Will be delivered by Pastor Robert Fox of Immanuel Baptist Church, Goshen.
“Woman, behold
thy son…”
Will be delivered by Pastor Chip Northup of First Baptist Church, Court House.
“My God,
Why have you forsaken…”
Will be delivered by Pastor Rudy Sheptock of Lighthouse Church (Christian and Missionary Alliance), Court House.
“I Thirst”
Will be delivered by Pastor Gerri Ridings of Goshen and Green Creek United Methodist Churches.
“It is finished”
Will be delivered by Pastor Michael P. Smith of Tabernacle United Methodist, Erma.
“Into Thy Hands
I commend…”
Will be delivered by Pastor Ted Osler of First United Methodist Church, Court House.