Easter services and other activities in churches this week include the following:
All Nations Healing Arena
All Nations Healing Arena will hold a night of prayer, praise and power at 4 p.m. on Saturday at 459 North Main Street (Safe Love Ministry), Kilmarnock. Register on Eventbrite https://facebook.com/events/s/one-night-with-the-king/224970743127185.
Apostles Lutheran
Apostles Lutheran Church, Gloucester, will hold a Maundy Thursday service at 7 p.m. and a Good Friday service at 7 p.m.
Apostles will join with six other Lutheran and Episcopal churches for an Easter Vigil service at 7 p.m. on the beach at Yorktown behind the Watermen’s Museum; bring a chair.
Easter worship will be held in-person at 9:30 a.m. at the church. The service can also be joined via Zoom or YouTube; an invitation to the service and the bulletin will be sent to the congregation via email and can also be accessed on the church’s website at apostles-elca.org. There will be an Easter brunch and Easter Egg Hunt after the service.
Bellamy United Methodist
Bellamy United Methodist Church, Gloucester, will offer a Service of Tenebrae at 7 p.m. Friday in the sanctuary.
An Easter sunrise service will be held at 6:30 in the picnic pavilion. A breakfast will follow in the Fellowship Hall. The 9 o’clock service will be held in the picnic pavilion, and the 10 o’clock service will be held in the sanctuary. Holy Communion will be celebrated.
Bethany United Methodist
Bethany United Methodist Church, Gloucester Point, will hold a Maundy Thursday worship and the Lenten cantata, “Colors of Grace,” at 7 p.m.
The sermon title of Pastor Paul Song at the 10 a.m. Easter and Confirmation Sunday service will be “Do Not Be Afraid.”
Bethel Baptist
The sermon title of the Rev. James L. Harris of Bethel Baptist Church, Gloucester, at the noon Sunday in-person service will be “What Comes Next.” The service will also be held virtually by logging onto https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/929136757. You can also call 1-312-757-3121 and use access code: 929-136-757#. Sunday school will start at 10 a.m. virtually.
Bible study is held virtually at 7 p.m. on Wednesday.
Bethel United Methodist
Bethel United Methodist Church, Onemo, will hold a Maundy Thursday, Tenebrae service with Holy Communion at 7 p.m. There will be no Chosen Bible study this week.
An Easter Egg Hunt with crafts and snacks will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday. Children are encouraged to bring a basket.
An Easter sunrise service will be held at 6:20 at Bethel Beach. The sermon title of Pastor Kristie Askew will be “While it was Still Dark.” Her sermon title at the 10:50 service will be “Utter Nonsense.”
Mission Project for the month of April is collecting baby items (diapers, wipes, baby wash, and diaper bags) for Mathews Social Services.
Central United Methodist
Central United Methodist Church, Mathews, will hold a Good Friday Tenebrae service at 7 p.m. It will feature meditative readings of the Passion account.
The United Methodist Men will meet at 8 a.m. Saturday in the fellowship hall.
An Easter sunrise service will be held at Old Field Point at 6 o’clock. Worship will also be held at 9:15 in the sanctuary, followed by Sunday school.
Chesapeake Bay Chapel
Chesapeake Bay Chapel (Thousand Trail Campground), Gloucester, will resume its Sunday services at 6:30 a.m. and 9 a.m. on Easter and at 9 a.m. every Sunday thereafter.
Church of the Living Word
The sermon title of Minister Melvin Epps of Church of the Living Word, Hayes, at 10 a.m. Sunday will be “Jesus is Alive.”
The H.O.P.E. service will be at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday (in-person).
Church of the Visitation
Church of the Visitation, Topping, will hold will hold a Holy Thursday service at 6 o’clock tonight.
Stations of the Cross will begin at noon Friday and a Good Friday service will be held at 5:30 p.m. An Easter Vigil will begin at 8 p.m. Saturday.
An Easter service will be held at 9 a.m.
First Baptist, Mathews
First Baptist Church, Mathews, will celebrate Good Friday with a service at 7 p.m. Evangelist Rose Mason will deliver the Word. Come and celebrate with us the final days of Jesus, “The Most Important Week of the Most Important Person Who Ever Lived,” a release said.
Resurrection Sunday will be celebrated at 11:15 a.m. Minister Willie E. Gause Jr. of First Baptist Church Jefferson Park, Newport News, will be the guest minister. Communion will be served.
Services will be both live and Facebook @fbcmathews. Safety protocols will be in place for both services.
First Baptist, Ordinary
The sermon title of the Rev. Ward Warren of First Baptist Church, Ordinary, at the 11 a.m. Resurrection Sunday in-person service will be “A Report from a Roman.” Church school will begin at 9:30. Services can be in-person and/or virtual.
First Morning Star Baptist
The sermon title of Pastor Larry J. Arrington of First Morning Star Baptist Church, Bena, at the 11 a.m. Sunday in-person service will be “The Greatest Truth of History.” The service will also be broadcast on the church’s Facebook page and by teleconference at 804-256-2475. Sunday school will begin at 9:45 in the fellowship hall.
Gloucester Point Baptist
Gloucester Point Baptist Church will hold an Easter sunrise service at Virginia Institute of Marine Science at 6:15. Pastor Michael Gray will speak at the 11 o’clock service.
The church is also broadcasting from its parking lot; tune your radio to FM 90.5.
Grace Covenant
Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church will show “Toy Story 4” from 7:30-10 p.m. Friday, April 22. Admission and refreshments will be free. Everyone is encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs; there will also be door prizes.
Groves Presbyterian
The sermon title of the Rev. Michael Condrey of Groves Presbyterian Church, Coke, at 10 a.m. Sunday will be “He is Not Here!”
The Shelby Friend Circle will meet at 5 p.m. Tuesday at the church.
Gwynn’s Island Baptist
Gwynn’s Island Baptist Church will hold an Easter sunrise service beginning at 6:20 at the end of North Bay Haven. The sermon title of Pastor Ed Jordan will be “Stop Weeping!” and Gary Hudgins will sing. Breakfast will follow the service at the church. The drive-in service around the gazebo across from the church will be at 10 o’clock. Parking will begin at 9:30. The sermon topic of Dr. Jordan will be “Second Chances.” Special music will be provided by Hunter Owens and Tyrone Hudgins.
Kingston Episcopal Parish
Kingston Episcopal Parish, Mathews, will observe Maundy Thursday Holy Eucharist and Stripping of the Altar at 7 p.m. at Christ Church. Two Good Friday Liturgy and Stations of the Cross services will be held: noon at Christ Church and 7 p.m. at Kingston Chapel at the parish house. On Holy Saturday at 7 p.m., the congregation will join other area churches for the Great Easter Vigil at Yorktown Beach in front of the Watermen’s Museum.
On Easter, Festival Eucharist will take place at 8 a.m. at Christ Church; at 10:30 a.m. Festival Eucharist is at Kingston Chapel followed by an Easter Egg Hunt on the lawn. Services are livestreamed and available on Facebook and YouTube.
Holy Eucharist/Healing worship is cancelled for Wednesday. For more information and the ID and passcode, call the church office at 804-725-2175.
Mathews Baptist
Mathews Baptist Church, Hudgins, will hold two in-person services on Sunday: contemporary at 9 a.m. (also online) and traditional at 11 o’clock (also on CD upon request). The sermon title of the Rev. Brian Kramer will be “Remembering the Resurrection.”
Mt. Zion United Methodist
The sermon title of the Rev. Calvin Griffin of Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, Gloucester, at the 9 a.m. in-person Sunday service will be “Hope is Alive.”
New Mount Zion Baptist
The Youth Department of New Mount Zion Baptist Church, Gloucester, will hold an Easter Egg Hunt at 2 p.m. Saturday.
An Easter sunrise service will be held at 6 o’clock at the church. The Rev. Darrell Hudson will bring the message. Communion will be observed and breakfast will follow the service. Pastors are asked to wear white robes, deacons, black and white, and deaconesses white.
The Food Bank will be postponed to Saturday, April 23.
New Point Friends
The sermon title of Pastor Thomas Bunting of New Point Friends Church at the 11 a.m. Sunday service will be “Hopes are Fulfilled!”
Newington Baptist
Newington Baptist Church, Gloucester, will hold an Easter sunrise service at 6:30 at the end of Ware House Road, Gloucester. The service is held jointly with Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church. The sermon title of the Rev. Larry Biermann, interim pastor, at 10:30 a.m. Sunday will be “He is Not Here; He has Risen.” It will also be livestreamed on the church’s Facebook page. The nursery, for infants and toddlers, and Kids Worship, for children aged four years to fifth grade, will be available. Sunday school will begin at 9 o’clock for all ages.
An Easter Egg Hunt will be held from 2-4 p.m. Saturday.
Activities for adults and grades 1-12 begin every Wednesday evening at 6:30.
Olive Branch United Methodist
Olive Branch United Methodist Church, Gloucester, will hold a Maundy Thursday service at 6:30 p.m.
An Easter Egg Hunt will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the church.
An Easter sunrise service will be held at 6:30 at Freeport Landing in Gloucester. A breakfast will be hosted at Salem UMC following the service.
The sermon title of Pastor Ann Tang at the 9:30 a.m. Sunday service will be “The Foundation of Our Faith: Part 1.” A virtual service will also be held at 10:30 on the Facebook page at Salem United Methodist Church, Gloucester.
Virtual devotion and Bible reading by Pastor Tang is held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday on Facebook.
The Women’s Group will hold a dessert raffle sale again this year. The winner of the drawing will receive one dessert for a month for a year (12 total). Tickets are $5 each and can be purchased from the church office, 804-693-3754. The drawing will be held on May 3.
Redeeming Grace Baptist
Redeeming Grace Baptist Church, Gloucester, will hold an Easter sunrise service at 6:30. Breakfast will follow at 7:30; a time of testimonies at 8:30. The sermon title of Pastor Van Loomis at 10 o’clock will be “The First One to See and Believe in the Resurrection.” There will be no community groups meeting this Sunday.
Discipleship Group will meet at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, April 23, to discuss this month’s book.
Salem United Methodist, Diggs
Salem United Methodist Church, Diggs, will have a covered-dish supper at 6 o’clock tonight. A Maundy Thursday service will follow at 7.
A children’s Easter party and youth scavenger hunt will be held from 5-7 p.m. Friday.
The sermon title of Pastor Charlie Moore at the 10:50 a.m. Sunday service will be “He is Risen Indeed.” Sunday school for all ages will be at 9:45.
Mission project for April is collecting canned vegetables for Hands Across Mathews and snacks for the teachers of Mathews County Schools.
Salem United Methodist, Gloucester
Salem United Methodist Church, Gloucester, will hold an Easter sunrise service at 6:30 at Freeport Landing in Gloucester. Breakfast will be hosted at the church following the service. The sermon title of Pastor Ann Tang of at the 11 a.m. Sunday service will be “The Foundation of Our Faith: Part 1.” A virtual service will also be held at 10:30 on the Facebook page for Salem United Methodist Church, Gloucester.
Virtual devotion and Bible reading by Pastor Tang will be held at 10:30 a.m. every Wednesday on Facebook.
Severn
Severn Church, Naxera, will have an Easter sunrise service at 6 o’clock at Johns Point, at the end of Johns Point Road, Gloucester. A breakfast will follow at the church. The Easter worship service will be held at 11 o’clock.
Shepherdsville Baptist
Shepherdsville Baptist Church, Gloucester, will hold its in-person service at 11 a.m. Resurrection Sunday. You can still join by way of Zoom and conference call, www.shepherdsvillebaptistchurch.org and clicking on the Zoom button or call the conference line at 518-418-1016. The sermon title of Pastor Douglas Riley will be “He Did It All For Me!”
Singleton United Methodist
Singleton United Methodist Church, Ware Neck, will hold a Holy Thursday service at 7 p.m.
The sermon title of the Rev. Calvin Griffin, pastor, at 11 a.m. Sunday (in-person and Zoom) service will be “Hope is Alive.” The service will also be available on YouTube. For Zoom login information, email Calvin.griffin@cox.net.
Monday Bible study, “Entering the Passion of Jesus,” will be at 9:30 a.m. and Wednesday Bible study, “7 Words,” will begin at 7 p.m. These studies will also be on Zoom.
Spring Hill Baptist
Spring Hill Baptist Church, Cobbs Creek, will hold a “Good Friday” service at 7 p.m.
The sermon title at the 11 a.m. Sunday service in will be “What the Empty Tomb Means.” Both services will include special music by the choir.
Sunday school and adult Bible study will begin at 10 o’clock.
St. James on-the-Glebe Anglican
The Mass, Procession, and Stripping of the Altar will be celebrated at 6 p.m. Maundy Thursday in St. James on-the-Glebe Anglican Church, Gloucester.
On Good Friday, the Mass of the Presanctified and the Veneration of the Cross will be at noon; the Stations of the Cross will be prayed outdoors at 6 p.m., followed by Evensong and the Litany.
On Holy Saturday, Mattins and Ante-Communion will be at 10:30 a.m. and Easter Vigil at 8 p.m.
On Easter, Holy Communion will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m., with feasting, fellowship, and an Easter Egg Hunt following.
On Easter Monday and Tuesday, Mattins and Mass will be at 9 a.m.
St. Matthew United Methodist
The Chosen Bible study will not be held this week. A Maundy Thursday Tenebrae service with Holy Communion will be held at 7 p.m. at Bethel UMC, Onemo.
An Easter sunrise service will be held at 6:20 at Bethel Beach. The sermon title of Pastor Kristie Askew will be “While it was Still Dark.” Her title at the 9:30 service will be “Utter Nonsense.”
Mission project for the month is collecting baby items (diapers, wipes, baby wash, and diaper bags) for Mathews Social Services.
The First United Baptist
The sermon title of Pastor E. Randolph Graham of The First United Baptist Church, White Marsh, for the 11 a.m. Sunday service will be “Resurrection Sunday: The Empty Tomb and The Folded Napkin.” Praise and worship begin at 10:45. The in-person service will be streamed via Zoom and Facebook Live.
Union Baptist
Union Baptist Church, Hayes, will hold a Maundy Thursday service at 6 p.m.
An Easter sunrise service will be held at 6 o’clock at the home of Betty and Henry Leigh. The Easter worship service will be held at 11 a.m.
Prayer for Ukraine continues from 1-4 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of The Rappahannock
Bob Weekley will speak on “My UUFR Journey” at 10:30 a.m. Sunday in Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of the Rappahannock, White Stone.
Westville Baptist
The sermon title of Pastor Bob Huff of Westville Baptist Church, Mathews, at the 10:45 a.m. Sunday service will be “Because He Lives.”
Wednesday Bible study will be held at 3:30 p.m.
Toiletries for Mathews Social Services and non-perishable foods for Hands Across Mathews are still being collected.
Westville Christian
Westville Christian Church, Mathews, will hold Holy Communion at 6:30 tonight.
The sermon title of Pastor Timothy Dice at the 11 a.m. Sunday service will be “Resurrection Matters.” Bible Café will begin at 9:45.
Zion Poplars Baptist
Zion Poplars Baptist Church, Gloucester, will observe its inside and conference call Easter sunrise service at 6 o’clock. The Rev. Willie Dickerson, pastor of Union Zion Baptist Church, Ware Neck, will bring the message. No food will be served. The sermon title of Pastor Ronald W. Gayle Sr. at the 10 o’clock service will be “No Cross—No Resurrection Sunday.”
Conference call number for services is 1-617-769-8975.