The Easter season is a powerful time in the life of our church. We spend the days of Lent preparing to celebrate our risen Lord. We observe Holy Week by making those final preparations in our hearts for the joy of Easter Sunday. And we invite you into this journey with us.
What is Lent?
Lent is traditionally observed as the 40 days leading up to Easter. Former FPC staffer, Rev. Rebecca Mihm, wrote about Lent during her time at FPC. Take a moment and read her history of Lent. READ ARTICLE
Please make sure that you check out the resources at the bottom of this page.
Easter and Lent Services
Ash Wednesday
February 18 | Noon
Chapel
Ash Wednesday is the day marking the beginning of Lent. We will be holding a special service at noon in the FPC chapel on Feb. 18, Ash Wednesday.
Holy Week
Holy Week is the week leading up to Easter. We will observe several special services that week. We invite you to participate with us.
Easter Egg Hunt
Saturday | March 28 | 9:30 am
Front Lawn
Our annual Easter Egg Hunt for toddlers through fifth graders will be held on Saturday, March 28 at 9:30 am on the front lawn. Children will enjoy an egg hunt along with an age-appropriate telling of the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ.
Palm Sunday
Sunday, March 29
Each year, we recognize Palm Sunday as the start of Holy Week. It commemorates the day Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. Crowds gathered to see him and to welcome him, they waved palm leaves. Join us for one of our three services on Sunday, March 29, Palm Sunday.
Maundy Thursday
April 2 | 7:00 pm
Loudon Hall
Maundy Thursday is a remembrance of Christ’s Last Supper with his disciples.
24-Hour Prayer Vigil
April 2 – 3
Various Locations including Chapel and Kincart Prayer Garden
Come pray at the church during Holy Week. This prayer vigil begins at the end of the Maundy Thursday service and continues until the start of the Good Friday service. We are wanting to fill every hour with someone committed to be in-person and praying. The Chapel is the main location and we will have prayer stations to aid in prayer. During the day, the Kincart Prayer Garden is also available.
Good Friday
April 3 | 7:00 pm
Sanctuary
This service will also be available LIVESTREAM.
This solemn day marks the day of Jesus’ crucifixion. We will gather together at 7 pm on April 3 to prayerfully reflect upon Jesus’ sacrifice for us.
In recognition of Good Friday, the bells that can be heard around the Lake Hollingsworth area will go silent at 3 pm and will not ring again until Easter morning when we celebrate a risen Lord. Read related article.
Easter Sunday
April 5
He is risen!
We will have four celebratory services focused on God’s love and kept promises.
The services include:
- 6:30 am | Sunrise service on our front lawn
- 8:15 am | Classic service in the sanctuary
- 10:30 am | Classic service in the sanctuary
- 10:30 am | Modern service in Loudon Hall
Flowering of the Cross
Bring cut flowers to church Easter morning and place them on the flower cross. The barren cross, a reminder of Jesus’s death, will be transformed into an Easter symbol. Covered with fresh, living flowers, the cross serves not only as an emblem of Jesus’ resurrection but also of the continuing presence of Christ among today’s Christians.
Resources
We have several resources available to you to help as you move through Lent toward Easter.
- Sermon series – From Dust to Glory
You may watch all of our worship services on our website or our YouTube channel.
- Children’s Guide
Children and families are important to us, and we have created a children’s guide to Lent. Please download and use with your children. Feel free to share with friends and family.
Download “Children’s Guide”
- Lenten Playlist
If you are in search of prayerful music to mediate upon during this time, we have a YouTube playlist just for you.
- Lenten Self-Offering
Let this Self-Offering be for you a personal tool to help shape intentional patterns for these 40 Days of Lent. This is an invitation to add or subtract rhythms in daily life so that you might draw nearer to God, become more attentive to the Holy Spirit’s work within you, and ready your heart in faith for Easter. Prayerfully consider how you will offer this season to the Lord—and let these forty days form you for the joy to come.
Download “Lenten Self-Offering” Worksheet
- “Developing a Personal Rule of Life”
Our Senior Pastor, the Rev. Dr. John Fullerton has created a guide for adults and youth entitled, “Developing a Personal Rule of Life.” A rule of life is typically an intentional set of spiritual practices which guide your life.
We encourage you to download the guide in PDF form and work your way through it.
Download “Developing a Personal Rule of Life“
Download “Ordering Time” Worksheet