Area churches have planned a variety of services to celebrate Holy Week.
Community Good Friday services, sponsored by Iola’s Area Ministerial Association, will be at noon April 22 at Calvary United Methodist Church, 118 W. Jackson Ave.
The Rev. Barbara Miniefee of Ward Chapel A.M.E. Church will be the guest speaker. Saundra Upshaw will sing a solo “Jerusalem Called.”
The Good Friday service is part of what is known in Christianity as Holy Week, which culminates in the Easter celebration of Jesus’ resurrection.
An offering at the service will go into the Iola Area Ministerial Association’s general fund. This special service is open to the public.
The following churches will hold special services during Holy Week:
St. John’s
Catholic Church
302 S. Jefferson
St. Joseph’s
Catholic Church
Yates Center, and
St. Martin’s Catholic
Church, Piqua
The Rev.
Robert Wachter
Holy Thursday services will be at 7 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Yates Center.
Good Friday services will be at 7 p.m. at St. Martin’s Catholic Church in Piqua.
Holy Saturday confessions on April 23 will be from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. at St. John’s in Iola. Holy Saturday Mass will be said at 7 p.m. at St. John’s.
Easter Sunday Mass will be at 8 a.m. at St. Joseph’s in Yates Center and at 10 a.m. at St. John’s in Iola.
First Assembly
of God Church
1020 E. Carpenter
The Rev. Paul Miller
Members of Iola’s First Assembly of God Church will meet at 8 a.m. for an Easter sunrise service on April 24 at the church.
The church will sponsor a free community Easter egg hunt at 11 a.m. in Riverside Park. Area families are invited to attend. Activities also include free food, face painting, games and prizes.
First Christian Church
1608 Oregon Rd.
The Rev. Dave McGullion
First Christian Church’s choir will present an Easter cantata, “No Other Lamb,” at 6 p.m. Sunday. Area residents are invited to attend.
This year’s final Lenten breakfast is at 7 a.m. Wednesday at the church.
Easter sunrise services will be at 6:30 a.m. at the church. Breakfast will follow the service at 7:15. Sunday school commences at 9:30, and worship service begins at 10:30.
Grace Lutheran Church
117 E. Miller Rd.
The Rev. Bruce R. Kristalyn
Observance of Maundy Thursday worship, with Holy Communion, will start at 7 p.m.
Good Friday worship service at the church will begin at 7 p.m.
Easter sunrise worship, with Holy Communion, begins at 6:30 a.m. at the church. The choir will sing “Our Paschal Lamb That Sets Us Free.” An Easter breakfast will follow the service.
Easter worship services begin at 10:30 a.m. Holy Communion will be served during the service.
Grace Baptist Church
214 W. Madison
The Rev. Dr. Robert Francis
Grace Baptist Church will host a “Sonrise” service at 8 o’clock on Easter morning followed by a fellowship breakfast at the church.
Sunday school begins at 9:15 a.m. and morning worship services are at 10:30.
There will be no evening services on Easter.
Harvest Time
Fellowship Church
329 S. First
The Rev. Gerald Bailey
Members of Harvest Time Fellowship Church will observe their second annual Easter Celebration. Services begin at 10 a.m.
Following the service there will be a fellowship meal of chili and “He is Risen” biscuits.
The celebration will conclude with an Easter egg hunt for the youth of the church and their guests.
Hope Chapel Assembly
of God Church
3 miles East of Moran
on Highway 54
The Rev. Tom Yates
Easter morning services begin at 10:30 a.m. The services will feature Holy Communion and a water baptism service.
Area residents are invited to attend.
Fellowship
Regional Church
202 S. Washington Ave.
The Rev. Jeff Cokely
On Good Friday, the Lord’s Supper service will begin at 6:30 p.m. under the direction of Jared Ellis.
There will not be a Crux service on Saturday night.
The Rev. Jeff Cokely will be in charge of Easter sunrise services which begin at 6:30 a.m. at Lake Bassola. Breakfast will follow at the home of Neil and Joy Westervelt.
Easter morning services begin 10:30 a.m. under the direction of Cokely and Ellis.
An Easter egg hunt for children up through the fifth grade will follow the service.
