LAURINBURG — Area churches will be holding special services to mark Holy Week.
Holy Week is the last week of Lent leading up to Easter and observes the final events of Christ’s Life. It includes Palm Sunday, the day that Jesus was greeted by crowds cheering and waving palm branches as he entered Jerusalem; Holy Wednesday, which traditions says is the day that Mary Magdalene anointed Jesus feet; Maundy Thursday or the Last Super; Good Friday the day Christ was crucified and Holy Saturday or the day on which Jesus’ body was laid to rest.
It begins with Palm Sunday on March 25 and continues to Easter Sunday which falls on April 1 this year.
First Baptist Church on Church Street will begin their Easter observances on Palm Sunday with a Choir concert. The themes is “Because He Lives.” The choir will be accompanied by a 14-piece orchestra led by Sylvia Stewart, organist and director of music ministries. Tim Altman will direct a brass quintet which will perform special selections, and harpist Eryn Jones Fuson will play.
The service begins at 11 a.m.
Pastor Wayne Wike and Betty Smith will narrate the musical. Susan Floyd, Luther Kimrey and Ken Warner will portray Mary Magdalene, Joseph of Arimathea and Pontius Pilate.
First Baptist will continue its observances with a Tenebrae or service of darkness and Communion in the sanctuary on Maundy Thursday at 7 p.m.
“This is a service of reflection about Jesus’ final days,” said Stewart. “Beginning with lighted candles, the church is darkened as the candles gradually are extinguished as the service progresses. Following a period of darkness, the congregation leaves the church in total silence.”
On Resurrection Sunday First Baptist hold a flowering of the cross, a tradition that dates to the sixth century, according to Stewart.
“Members bring fresh flowers with which to adorn the cross. Following the service, the cross is placed outside to bear witness that Jesus lives and that Christians are to share that message with the world,” she said.
For information about First Baptist’s services, Sylvia Stewart, 910-276-2161
The pastors of the Scotland County Ministerial Alliance have also put together a series of events to commemorate Holy Week.
The Alliance has set up a series of seven rotating services to be hosted at a different church each day.
Palm Sunday services will be held at Star of Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church at 6 p.m. Rev. Billy Olsen of St. Luke United Methodist Church will deliver the sermon.
On March 26, the service will be held at Westminster Presbyterian Church at 7 p.m. Rev. Janice Stuckey of Franklin Chapel AME Zion Church will speak.
Cedar Grove Baptist Church will host the March 27 service at 7 p.m., and Rev. Warren Jones Jr. of Oak Hill Baptist Church will deliver the message.
The Holy Wednesday service will be held at Galilee United Methodist Church at 7 p.m. Rev. Emily Ivy of Star of Bethlehem Church will lead the service.
Bright Hopewell Baptist Church will host the Maundy Thursday service on at 7 p.m. Rev. Kenneth Bethea of Cedar Grove Baptist Church will speak.
Services on Good Friday will be held at Union Grove Baptist Church at 7 p.m. The Rev. Garland Pierce of Bright Hopewell Baptist Church will deliver the sermon.
Ministerial Alliance services culminate in a sunrise service at Franklin Chapel AME Zion Church at 6 a.m., and Rev. Vermel Taylor will deliver the Easter message.
Other churches in the area will hold events as well.
On Holy Saturday Mount Olive Seventh Day Adventist Church will celebrate the life, death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth with the drama “Unforgettable Love,” at 801 S. Caledonia Road from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The tour will be done four times at: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., noon to 1:30 p.m. and 12:30 to 2:00 p.m.
On Easter Sunday Monroe Camp and Retreat will hold a lakeside community Easter Sunrise Service on Camp Road at 6:30 a.m. Snead’s Grove United Methodist Church and Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church will serve breakfast.
Reedy Creek Missionary Baptist Church will hold its Easter morning service at 11 a.m.The guest speaker will be Deaconess Mary Prince.