Easter services to cap Holy Week observances

GILFORD — On Holy Thursday, March 29, the Gilford Community Church will join the Methodist church at their location at 18 Wesley Way in Gilford to share in a program of music by the Gilford Chancel Choir, the Wesley Choir, a woodwind quartet, Trio Eclectia, and John Cosgriff on Cello. This service will include communion and a Tenebrae service. Tenebrae means “darkness.” The service emphasizes the Passion Story along with diminishing light from candles; symbolizing the approaching death of Jesus and the hopelessness of a world without God. The service ends in darkness and people leave in silence to meditate and pray. That service is at 7:00 p.m. Following that service there will be a prayer vigil starting at 8 p.m. that night at the Methodist Church and ending on Good Friday at 3 p.m. You are invited to come to their sanctuary to pray or meditate during those hours There will also be a communion service on Good Friday at noon. Communion elements will remain available until 3 p.m. when the prayer vigil ends.

A Sunrise Service at the docks at Weirs Beach Easter morning, April 1, at 6:30 a.m. Everyone is invited to come and observe this special day during this brief and meaningful service. Following the worship service there will be a breakfast at the Weirs Trinity Methodist Church on Tower Street. At 10:30 a.m. the Methodist Church in Gilford will be alive with spring flowers and signs of the Risen Christ. Everyone is invited to come and participate in the joy of Jesus’ resurrection. Pastor Jim Shook’s sermon will be “April Fools, Pontius Pilate.” The First United Methodist Church is located at 18 Wesley Way (Off Rt. 11A /Gilford Avenue, near the 3/11 bypass). For more information call 603-524-3289.