The annual ecumenical Community Cross Walk is Good Friday, March 30, 2018, beginning at 12:15 p.m. (new time) at Resthave Home, 408 Maple Avenue, Morrison, IL, and continuing to Pleasant View Rehabilitation & Health Care Center, 500 N. Jackson Street. The public is invited to walk with others or watch the procession.
2018 Holy Week Services are listed below for 16 Morrison, IL, churches. Know that each welcomes new and long-time residents–as well as visitors–to attend.
Editor’s note: The painting below, “The Disrobing of Christ” holds pride-of-place in the small Sacristy of the Cathedral in Toledo, Spain. It is one of the most famous altarpieces by El Greco, crammed with emotional tension swirling around the calm, central, larger-than-life figure of Jesus. Strong, linear faces–all avoiding His face–and the split-finger hand gesture were popularized be El Greco. Morrison Travel Club members and I stood in silence before this towering painting in September 2017.
Bethesda Lutheran Church, 301 W. South Street, will hold a Palm Sunday Worship in March 25, at 9:00 a.m. Maundy Thursday, March 29, service at 7:00 p.m. with choir and a Good Friday Tenebrae service on March 30 at 7:00 p.m. Easter service, Sunday, April 1, is at 9:00 a.m., with Holy Communion and the choir and coffee afterwards. Children in grades six and under will receive a treat bag.
Brethren in Christ Church, 209 E. Knox Street, will hold a Maundy Thursday, March 29, Foot Washing service at 6:00 p.m., followed by a free meal. The public and congregants are invited to attend just the meal, if desired. On Sunday, April 1, “Sonrise” service is at 8:00 a.m., followed by a free, potluck, community brunch at 8:45 a.m. Resurrection service is at 10:00.
Crossroads Community Church, MIT Auditorium, 701 Portland Avenue, will offer a 10:00 a.m., March 25 Palm Sunday service including a special musical performance by the children. March 30 Good Friday service with Holy Communion is at 6:30 p.m., at the Crave Building, 201 W. Market Street. Children are welcome, but there is no child care. On Easter Sunday, April 1, there will be continental breakfast before (9:30) and after (11:00) the 10:00 a.m. worship.
Ebenezer Reformed Church, 309 E. Park Street, will hold a Palm Sunday, March 25, Parade service at 9:30 a.m. Maundy Thursday, March 29, services begin at 7:00 p.m. and include Holy Communion. Easter Sunday, April 1, begins with service at 9:30, followed by fellowship and a children’s Easter Egg Hunt.
Emmanuel Reformed Church, 202 E. Morris Street, will hold a March 25, 9:00 a.m., Palm Sunday service in a casual, come-as-you-are atmosphere, with Choir anthems, Praise Team, and Palm Processional. Maundy Thursday, March 29, services are at 7:00 p.m. with Holy Communion. On Easter Sunday, April 1, worship service, in a casual, come-as-you-are atmosphere, is at 9:00 a.m. and includes music by the Praise Team and Choir.
First Baptist Church, 406 Maple Avenue, celebrates Palm Sunday, March 25, with a procession. That evening an Easter film, suitable for the entire family, will be shown at 5:00 p.m. Maundy Thursday, March 29, service begins at 6:00 p.m. and includes Holy Communion. On Easter Sunday, April 1, children’s Sunday School will meet at 9:00; the worship service is at 10:00 a.m.
First Presbyterian Church of Morrison, 100 E. Lincolnway, will hold a March 25, Palm Sunday service at 10:15 a.m. The Free Community Meal is from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m., serving cheesy ham and potato casserole, on Maundy Thursday, March 29. The 7:00 Maundy Thursday service includes Holy Communion. There is a 7:00 p.m., March 30, Good Friday, service. Easter Sunday, April 1, service is at 10:15 a.m.
Morrison Christian Church, 201 S. Genesee Street, will celebrate the Resurrection of Christ on Easter Sunday, April 1, with a free breakfast of pancakes and potluck, at 9:00 a.m. The service follows at 10:00.
Morrison Christian Reformed Church, 300 W. South Street, will hold Easter Sunday, April 1, service at 8:45 a.m.
Morrison United Methodist Church, 200 W. Lincolnway, will hold March 25, Palm Sunday services at 10:15 a.m. On Maundy Thursday, March 29, at 7:00 p.m., a Tenebrae service includes Holy Communion. Good Friday, March 30, will offer a 30-minute time for quiet reflection and prayer, beginning at 7:00 p.m. There will be three Easter morning services on Sunday, April 1: 6:30-to-7:00 a.m. “Sonrise” Service, with continental breakfast following; at 8:00 and 10:15. Sunday School is at 9:00.
Open Bible Fellowship, 11429 Ward Road, hosts an Easter Sunday, April 1, service at 10:00 a.m.
Our Savior Lutheran Church LCMS, 21496 Hazel Road, will hold March 25, Palm Sunday services at 9:00 a.m., followed by potluck breakfast at 10:30. Maundy Thursday, March 29, service and Holy Communion begin at 7:00 p.m. Easter Sunday service, April 1, is at 9:00 a.m., with coffee and fellowship to follow.
St. Anne’s Episcopal Church, 401 N. Cherry Street, offers a 9:00 a.m. March 25, Palm Sunday, Liturgy of the Palms where everyone processes to Holy Eucharist. On Wednesday, March 28, at 5:30 p.m., Holy Eucharist is followed by 6:30 Soup Supper and 7:00 final installment of “The Mystery of the Cross” book study. Maundy Thursday, March 29, includes at 5:30 p.m. Holy Eucharist with Washing of Feet, Stripping of the Altar, The Watch at the Altar of Repose, and Maundy Thursday Potluck following the service. On Good Friday, March 30, at 8:00 a.m., The Watch ends with Stations of the Cross. At 12:15 p.m., beginning at Resthave Home, we participate in the Ecumenical Cross Walk; The Rev. Fr. James Brzezinski is one of the preachers. At 5:30 p.m. is The Veneration of the Cross and the Mass of the Pre-Sanctified. On Holy Saturday, March 31, at 5:30 p.m., The Great Vigil of Easter, The Holy Eucharist begins with The Lighting of the New Fire and the Paschal Candle. On Easter Sunday, April 1, The Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Solemn Holy Eucharist begins at 9:00 a.m. Coffee hour follows.
St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 13320 Garden Plain Road, will hold a Palm Sunday Vigil Mass on Saturday, April 24, at 5:30 p.m. and at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, March 25. March 29, Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper is at 6:30 p.m. Good Friday, March 30, Solemn Liturgical Service of the Passion is at 12:15 p.m. Holy Saturday Easter Vigil Mass, March 31, is at 7:30 p.m. Easter Sunday Resurrection of the Lord Mass, April 1, is at 9:00 a.m. Holy Communion is offered at all masses.
St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church LCMS, 601 N. Jackson Street, celebrates Palm Sunday, March 25, at 9:30 a.m., with Sunday School children singing and processing with palms. The March 29, Maundy Thursday service begins at 7:00 p.m. and includes Holy Communion. Good Friday service is March 30 at 7:00 p.m. On Sunday, April 1, the sunrise service is at 7:00 a.m., followed by breakfast from 8:00-to-9:15; there is also a 9:30 service. There will be no Sunday School.
Spring Valley Reformed Church, 10960 Spring Valley Road, offers a March 25, Palm Sunday celebration at 9:30 a.m., with children processing. March 29, Maundy Thursday Tenebrae service with Holy Communion begins at 7:00 p.m. The Easter Sunday, April 1, service is at 9:30 a.m., with coffee hour to follow.