NEWSpapers of Iowa County

For Christians, Easter is – aside from Christmas – the most important time of the year. It represents a time to reflect on the sacrifice Jesus Christ made on the cross, dying for man’s sins, and His Resurrection over death.

Churches in Iowa County and vicinity have planned numerous services to mark this occasion and share the message of salvation and hope. While churches will have their own services, many are also planning special community services to allow those of all denominations to share in the message.

Some of the larger events include:

* Williamsburg Tre Ore service: The Williamsburg Lutheran Circuit churches will host its annual Tre Ore service on Good Friday, Friday, April 14, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 500 Clark St. The service runs from noon to 3 p.m. The three-hour service is a series of short services focusing on the seven last words of Jesus Christ. Churches participating, in addition to the host church, are Immanuel Lutheran, Williamsburg; St. John’s Lutheran Church, Marengo; St. John’s Lutheran, Homestead; St. James and St. John’s Lutheran churches, Victor; Trinity Lutheran, Conroy; and Good Shepherd Lutheran, Wellman.

* Marengo Community Good Friday Service: The service, sponsored by the Marengo Ministerial Alliance, has been planned for 7 p.m. Friday, April 14, at Trinity United Church of Christ, 1895 200th St., Marengo. Participating churches include Trinity, First Presbyterian Church, the Church of the Nazarene and First United Methodist Church, all Marengo; and First Lutheran Church, Conroy. The service aims to remember the events of Good Friday, plus there will be a choral reading of the events of the Passion, with members of the community participating.

* Eastern Iowa Bible Camp Easter service: Four area churches are participating in an Easter Sunday sunrise service at 7 a.m. Sunday, April 16 at East Iowa Bible Camp, 1433 F52 Trail, Deep River. The churches are Deep River Community Church, Millersburg; Victor Baptist Church; Cornerstone Evangelical Free Church, Williamsburg; and Pleasant Grove Brethren Church, North English. A continental breakfast will follow.

The following other services are planned, as announced by churches NEWSpapers of Iowa County were able to make contact with:

Marengo

* Church of the Nazarene, 940 Eastern Ave.: The Easter Sunday schedule includes a prayer meeting at 9 a.m., Sunday school for all ages at 9:30 a.m. and morning worship at 10 a.m.

* First Presbyterian Church, 902 Marengo Ave.: Maundy Thursday is 7 p.m. and is with communion. Easter Sunday service is 9:30 a.m.

* First United Methodist Church, 895 Court Ave.: Maundy Thursday services with communion are 5:30 p.m. The Easter Sunday schedule includes breakfast at 9 a.m., an Easter egg hunt at 9:30 a.m., and worship at 10:15 a.m.

* Oak Lawn Church of God, 1321 F Ave.: Easter sunrise service 6:30 a.m. at the church, with breakfast at 7:30 a.m., Sunday School at 8 a.m. and regular service at 9 a.m.

* St. John’s Lutheran Church, 780 Court Ave.: Maundy Thursday 7 p.m., Good Friday 7 p.m., Easter Saturday vigil 7 p.m., and Easter sunrise service 7 a.m., Festival is 9:30 a.m. Also participating in Tre Ore service from noon to 3 p.m. Good Friday at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Williamsburg.

* St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 957 Western Ave.: Holy Thursday Mass is 7 p.m. at St. Mary’s church, Williamsburg. Good Friday services are 3 p.m. at St. Joseph’s in North English and 7 p.m. at St. Mary’s. Holy Saturday service is 8:30 p.m. at St. Mary’s. Three Easter Sunday services are offered: 8:30 a.m. at St. Patrick’s, 9:30 a.m. at St. Joseph’s and 10 a.m. at St. Mary’s.

* Trinity United Church of Christ, 1895 200th Ave.: Maundy Thursday 7 p.m. with communion; Easter Sunday egg hunt at 8:30 a.m., followed by breakfast at 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. worship.

* * *

Victor/HLV

* St. Bridget’s Catholic Church, 204½ Third St.: Maundy Thursday with communion is 7 p.m., and Good Friday services are 3 p.m., both at St. Bridget’s, with St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Brooklyn joining. An Easter Vigil will be observed at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, April 15, at St. Patrick’s. Easter Sunday services are 8 a.m. at St. Patrick’s and 10 a.m. at St. Bridget’s.

* St. James Lutheran Church, 502 Washington St.: Maundy Thursday service is 7 p.m. and includes communion. Good Friday service is at 7 p.m. Easter Sunday services include a sunrise service at 6:30 a.m. and the regular 9 a.m. service, with breakfast in between.

* St. John’s Lutheran Church, 2656 CC Ave.: Maundy Thursday is 7 p.m., and Good Friday worship is 7 p.m. Easter Sunday worship services include a 6:30 a.m. sunrise service and Divine service at 9 a.m., with breakfast served at 8 a.m.

* Victor Baptist Church, 201 Seventh St.: Easter Sunday service is at 10 a.m. at the church.

* New Covenant Life Parish (churches at Victor, Ladora and Ohio): Maundy Thursday service is 7 p.m. at Victor. Good Friday service is 7 p.m. at the Ohio-Ladora Heritage Church in Ladora. Easter services include a 7 a.m. sunrise and regular 9:15 a.m. services, both at Victor; and 10:30 a.m. service at Ladora.

* * *

Clear Creek Amana

AMANA

* Amana Church: Holy Week prayer services are continuing this week, taking place each night of the week at 7 p.m. at the Middle Amana Church. Good Friday traditional worship services are 7 p.m. Friday, April 14, at the Middle Church. On Sunday, April 16, The Easter “Son Rise” service is at 8 a.m. at the Amana Church in Amana, with a breakfast served by the Church Guild at 8:15 a.m. A Sunday School Easter Egg hunt will be 9 a.m. at the Amana Church. The Easter Sunday worship service, combining prayer, scripture and hymns, follows at 10 a.m., with the church choir and Sunday school children singing.

COSGROVE

* St. Peter Catholic Church, 4022 Cosgrove Road SW: Stations of the Cross service is 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 12, followed by Mass at 5:20 p.m. Holy Thursday Mass is 6 p.m. and includes communion. Good Friday service is 6:30 p.m., and an Easter Vigil is 8 p.m. Saturday, April 15. Easter Sunday service is 8 a.m.

HOMESTEAD

* St. John’s Lutheran Church: Maundy Thursday is 7 p.m., and Good Friday worship is 6:30 p.m. Easter Sunday Divine service is 9 a.m.

OXFORD

* Anchored in Faith Gospel, 131 W. Main St.: Resurrection Sunday is 11 a.m. Sunday, April 16.

* Hands of Christ Worship Center, 132 E. Main St., and Windham Community Church, 1424 Black Diamond Road: Maundy Thursday service is 6:30 p.m. while Good Friday is 6:30 p.m., both at Hands of Christ. Easter Sunrise Service is 6:30 a.m. at Hands of Christ, followed by breakfast at the church; Windham Community Church will have a brunch at 9 a.m. followed by a 10:15 a.m. service.

* Oxford United Methodist Church, 202 E. Main St.: Good Friday services are at 6 p.m. Easter Sunday worship is at 9 a.m.

* St. Mary Catholic Church, 215 Summit St.: Stations of the Cross service is 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 12, followed by Mass at 5:20 p.m., with both services at St. Peter’s, Cosgrove. Holy Thursday Mass is 6 p.m. at St. Peter’s and includes communion. Good Friday service is 6:30 p.m., and an Easter Vigil is 8 p.m. Saturday, April 15. Easter Sunday service is 10 a.m.

TIFFIN

* Grace United Methodist Church, 300 W. Marengo Road: Maundy Thursday is 7 p.m. and Good Friday is 7 p.m. Easter Sunday service is 8:30 a.m., with a community breakfast and Easter egg hunt to follow.

* LifePointe Christian Faith Center, 400 Stephans St.: Easter Sunday services are 9 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.

* * *

Williamsburg

WILLIAMSBURG

* First Presbyterian Church, 504 S. Highland St.: Maundy Thursday spaghetti service 6 p.m., followed by 7 p.m. service with communion. Good Friday 7 p.m. Sunday 9 a.m. breakfast and 10 a.m. service.

* Immanuel Lutheran Church, 2978 225th St.: Maundy Thursday is 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 12. Good Friday worship is 6:30 p.m. Easter Sunday worship is 8:30 a.m.

* St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 102 E. Penn St.: Holy Thursday Mass is 7 p.m. at St. Mary’s. Good Friday services are 3 p.m. at St. Joseph’s in North English and 7 p.m. at St. Mary’s. Holy Saturday service is 8:30 p.m. at St. Mary’s. Three Easter Sunday services are offered: 8:30 a.m. at St. Patrick’s in Marengo, 9:30 a.m. at St. Joseph’s and 10 a.m. at St. Mary’s.

* St. Paul Lutheran Church, 500 Clark St.: Maundy Thursday service is 6:30 p.m., and Good Friday worship is 6:30 p.m. Easter Sunday services are 6 a.m. and 9 a.m., with a 7:30 a.m. Easter breakfast.

* St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 803 Clearview Drive: Holy Wednesday service with communion is 6:30 p.m. Good Friday service is 6:30 p.m. Easter Sunday services are 8:30 a.m., 9:40 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

* St. Timothy Evangelical Lutheran Church,113 WRM Drive: Holy Wednesday Vespers, Maundy Thursday Divine and Good Friday services are 7 p.m. each evening at the church; a Lenten supper will be served at 5:45 p.m. each evening, with all invited. Easter Vigil service is 7 p.m. Saturday at the church, with no meal prior. On Easter Sunday, breakfast will be served at 7:45 a.m. followed by Divine service at 9 a.m.

CONROY

* First Lutheran Church, 2504 175th St.: Maundy Thursday service is 7 p.m. Easter Sunday services are 10 a.m., with an Easter egg hunt at 11 a.m.

* Trinity Lutheran Church, 626 Eighth Ave.: Maundy Thursday is 7 p.m., and Good Friday worship is 7 p.m. Easter Sunday services include a 6:30 a.m. sunrise service and Festival service at 9:30 a.m., with breakfast served at 8 a.m.

* * *

English Valleys

NORTH ENGLISH

* North English Christian Church, 131 N. Howard St.: Maundy Thursday Service is at 6:30 p.m. Easter Sunday service is 10 a.m., with fellowship and refreshments served starting one hour prior to the service.

* North English United Methodist Church, 218 W. Oak St.: Maundy Thursday service is 6:30 p.m. at United Church of Deep River. Easter Sunday service is at 8 a.m.

* Pleasant Grove Grace Brethren Church, 1899 294th St.: Easter Sunday service is 10:30 a.m.

* St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 774 W. Broad St.: Holy Thursday Mass is 7 p.m. at St. Mary’s church, Williamsburg. Good Friday services are 3 p.m. at St. Joseph’s and 7 p.m. at St. Mary’s. Holy Saturday service is 8:30 p.m. at St. Mary’s. Three Easter Sunday services are offered: 8:30 a.m. at St. Patrick’s in Marengo, 9:30 a.m. at St. Joseph’s and 10 a.m. at St. Mary’s.

MILLERSBURG

* Millersburg United Methodist Church, 473 Jefferson St.: Maundy Thursday service is 6:30 p.m. at United Church of Deep River. Easter Sunday sunrise service is 7:30 a.m. followed by breakfast and the 9 a.m. service.

DEEP RIVER

* Deep River Community Church, 1417 F52 Trail, Millersburg: Easter Sunday service is 10 a.m.

* United Church of Deep River, 304 Third St: Maundy Thursday 6:30 p.m. Easter sunrise service at 7:30 a.m., followed by breakfast and worship at 10 a.m.