From the Worship Team

The Worship Team is excited to celebrate and worship with you during our Holy Week services at FCPC! Please join us at 7:00 PM on April 2nd for our Maundy Thursday Service, and at 10:30 AM on April 5th for our Easter Sunday Service. 

We are eager to unite in Christian fellowship through both solemn Communion and joyous resurrection. While our services will feel familiar to those who have worshiped with us in previous years, the Worship Team has made some minor changes to better accommodate our congregants, friends, and honored guests. We are aware that many of you have questions regarding these changes and endeavor to answer your questions here. 

Will there be a Good Friday service this year?

No. Over the past two years, we have held services on both Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. Attendance was limited during these past two Good Friday services, and the Worship Team felt that consolidating them into one weekday service would allow us to gather more fully, and we chose to keep the Maundy Thursday service because it was better attended last year. We promise that those who attend will recognize the Good Friday elements incorporated into the service. We will have Communion, and the cross will be draped in black. The tone of the service will reflect the solemnity and reverence of this sacred time.

Will the cross be adorned with Easter lilies on Easter Sunday?

Yes! Our beautiful cross will be decorated with greenery and Easter lilies. However, the lilies on the cross will be artificial this year. This is a change the Worship Team has been considering for some time, as we regularly hear from members whose allergies make the service highly uncomfortable for them. We want to preserve this cherished tradition while also ensuring everyone feels welcome and congenial at our Easter service!

If the flowers are artificial, what have I been purchasing with my Easter flower dedications?

Live Easter lilies (and other live flowers)! While the lilies on the cross will be artificial, the cross will still be surrounded by an arrangement of fresh, less fragrant flowers and ferns at its base. There will also be real Easter lilies lining the steps to the Sanctuary. Everyone who has dedicated flowers will have the opportunity to take a fresh flower home with them after the service, if they choose. We only request that donors wait until everyone is done taking photos in front of the cross before taking them home.  Alternatively, you may pick them up on Monday or Tuesday the following week.

The Worship Team believes these changes strike the right balance by honoring our beloved traditions while making our Holy Week services as meaningful and welcoming as possible. We look forward to seeing everyone there! If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to a member of our team.

Sincerely,

The Worship Team