Churches busy with Holy Week activities

Members of Memorial United Methodist Church take center stage Monday night during the dress rehearsal for the Maundy Thursday drama "Will You Wait With Me" Thursday night, 8 p.m., at the church. The presentation will include special music by Greg Hepp and Michael Pochop, accompanied by Marie Coffey and a service of Holy Communion. Shown are, front from left, Ashley Pick, servant girl to whom Peter denied Christ, Keri Ohslon as Mary Magdalene, and Atheana Parde as Mary the Mother of Jesus. Back, Brenda McGuire as Salome, Tami Pochop as Martha, Holly Olson as Corrie tenBoom, Patty Keene as the sister of one of the thieves crucified with Christ, Peggy Andrews, Joseph of Arimathea's wife, Randy Andrews as Joseph of Arimathea and Colleen Olson as a homeless mother.

The road from Bethlehem to Golgotha took some 33 years to traverse. However, it is the road following the triumphal entry to Jerusalem, to Gethsemane, then Calvary to the Resurrection that becomes the focal point of Christianity this week.

Many area churches are conducting special services in observance of the events in Jerusalem that heralded salvation for mankind; the crucifixion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, as detailed in the four synoptic Gospels. (Matthew chapters 21-27; Mark chapters 11-16; Luke chapters 19-24 and John chapters 12-21)

Among the services is a special drama presentation by members of Memorial United Methodist Church, 105 East E, presenting "Will You Wait With Me?" Thursday evening, 8 p.m., with special music by Greg Hepp and Michael Pochop. Communion will be served and childcare will be provided. Refreshments and fellowship will follow the presentation detailing modern day and biblical women keeping a vigil with Mary, written by Molly M. Garnett and produced by special arrangement with Contemporary Drama Service.

A Good Friday service is set for 7 p.m.; and on Easter Sunday, the fellowship will have an Easter Sunrise service at 6:30 a.m., followed by breakfast, and two worship services, 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. At 9:30 a.m., the children will have an Easter Egg Hunt inside the church building.

Also in McCook:

The men's group from Our Savior's Lutheran Church, 312 Seminole Dr., 9-10 a.m., Sunday morning, will serve the annual Easter Breakfast, celebrating the church's softball team taking the YMCA Church League Tournament. They will also conduct a Maundy Thursday service at 7 p.m., a Good Friday service Friday at 7 p.m., and worship with Holy Communion at 8 and 10:30 a.m., Sunday.

McCook Harvest Church invites the public to join them Saturday, 10 a.m., at Norris Park for the Sixth Annual Eggstravaganza, an Easter Egg Hunt and program for children ages 1 through sixth grade. More than 6,000 eggs have been filled with candy and prizes. On Sunday, the congregation will conduct a Sunrise Service at Highland Park Retirement Community at 7:30 a.m., followed by a breakfast fellowship at the church, 207 E. Sixth, at 9:30 a.m., and an Easter Sunday service with a special Communion service at 10:30 a.m. The day wraps up with a Pot Blessing Dinner following the service.

An Easter breakfast will be served at 9:30 a.m., Sunday at First Assembly of God Church, 811 East C Street, followed by the Easter drama production, "He is Risen" at 10:30 a.m.

Prairie View Baptist, on the Black Angus Ranch 5 miles west of McCook to Perry Grain, North one mile, follow the signs, will have a Lord's Supper Service Thursday at 7 p.m., and a Sunrise Service Sunday at 7 a.m., followed by a potluck breakfast.

Peace Lutheran Church, 411 E. Sixth, will have a Maundy Thursday service at 7:30 p.m.; a Good Friday service at 7:30 p.m.; Easter Service Sunday morning at 7 a.m., followed by breakfast, and regular worship at 10:30 a.m.

On Sunday, McCook Baptist Church, 329 N. Cherokee, will have a Sunrise Service at 7 a.m., followed by breakfast. Worship services are at 11 a.m.

St. Alban's Episcopal Church, 509 W. First, will offer Holy Eucharist each evening at 5:30 p.m., on Thursday, it will be a solemn Eucharist at 6:30 p.m., and the stripping of the Altar, followed by the Gethsemane Watch at 8 p.m. St. Alban's will also be the destination location of the Community Cross Walk, which begins at Memorial United Methodist Church at 11:15 a.m., and ends at St. Alban's followed by the annual Community Good Friday service at 12:05 p.m. The Liturgy of Good Friday is at 6:30 p.m. The Great Vigil of Easter is Saturday at 7:30 p.m.; and the Easter Day Holy Eucharist is at 8 and 10 a.m., Sunday.

First Congregational Church, 212 East E, will have a Maundy Thursday service at 7 p.m.; an early service Sunday morning at 8 a.m.; followed by Breakfast with the Deacons, 8:45-9:30 a.m.; and worship at 10:30 a.m.

McCook Christian Church will combine Good Friday services with the Indianola Christian Church Friday, 7:30 p.m., at the Indianola Christian Church at 419 East E Street. A Sunrise Service at McCook Christian Church, 507 West B Street, is at 7:30 a.m.; followed by breakfast at 8:30 a.m.; Sunday School at 9:30 a.m., and worship at 10:30 a.m.

St. Patrick Catholic Church, 401 East F, will conduct the Mass of the Last Supper Thursday, 7 p.m.; the Stations of the Cross at 3 p.m. Friday and the Good Friday Liturgy at 7 p.m. On Holy Saturday, the Easter Vigil will begin at 8:30 p.m.; and Easter Sunday services are at 7:30, 9 and 11 a.m.

The McCook Evangelical Free Church, 602 East 14th, will have a Good Friday Communion Service at 7 p.m., Friday; a free will offering Easter Breakfast from 6:30-7:30 a.m. Sunday morning, served by the Haiti Missions Team, and Easter Services at 8:30 and 11 a.m.; with coffee and rolls served at 9:45 a.m.

McCook First Church of the Nazarene, 801 W. First, is having Sunrise Services Sunday at 8 a.m.; breakfast at 8:30 a.m., Sunday School at 9:30 a.m., and morning worship at 10:30 a.m.

INDIANOLA

St. Catherine's Catholic Church, 815 D Street, will conduct Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7:30 p.m.; on Friday, the Way of the Cross at 3 p.m. and the Good Friday service at 7:30 p.m. On Holy Saturday, there is an Easter Vigil Mass at 8 p.m., and on Sunday, the Easter Morning Mass is at 8 and 10:45 a.m.

BENKELMAN

Zion Lutheran Church, 422 Sixth Avenue West, will have Maundy Thursday services at 7 p.m.; Good Friday services, at 7 p.m.; and on Sunday, a Sunrise Service at 6 a.m., Sunday School and an Easter Egg Hunt at 9:15 a.m., and worship with Communion at 10:30 a.m.

MAYWOOD

Maywood Christian Church, 202 South Plum, will have Good Friday services at 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, a Sunrise Service at the Maywood School ballfield at 7:15 a.m., followed by breakfast at the church; Sunday School at 9:30 a.m.; and worship at 10:30 a.m.

CULBERTSON

Trinity United Methodist Church, 502 Colorado Street, will have Maundy Thursday services at 7:30 p.m.; Come-and-Go Communion from 7-9 a.m., Friday and a Good Friday service at 8 p.m. On Sunday an Easter Sunrise Service is at 7 a.m., followed by breakfast, and worship will be at 10:30 a.m.