Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 23, 1991 TAG: 9104020148
SECTION: DAYS OF REVERENCE PAGE: 12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: FRANCES STEBBINS RELIGION WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
For churches in the EASTERN ORTHODOX tradition, such as Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox and St. Ambrose Orthodox Church in America, Easter is April 7 this year. The Rev. Nicholas Bacalis of Holy Trinity said Orthodoxy requires that Easter follow, not coincide with, the Jewish Passover.
At VINTON BAPTIST CHURCH, Washington Avenue at Poplar Street, the Chancel Choir will perform a Living Cross program on Palm Sunday at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. The congregation has built a large cross-shaped structure on which singers will stand. The music will be accompanied by readings from Mark's Gospel. A nursery will be staffed.
\ THE 124th ANNIVERSARY of First Baptist Church, 226 S. Broad St. in Salem, will be observed with a drama, "As Easter Dawns." It will be given Easter Sunday at 3:30 p.m. for the first time at the church.
\ "CALVARY'S LOVE," a cantata, will be presented Sunday at 11 a.m. at Belmont Baptist Church, 825 Stewart Ave. S.E.
\ A SERVICE OF DARKNESS combining Maundy Thursday and Good Friday devotions is Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at Melrose Baptist Church, 3520 Peters Creek Road.
\ LAKESIDE BAPTIST CHURCH, 447 Dalewood Ave., Salem, will present the current Mrs. North Carolina to give Christian testimony at the Easter Sunday service at 10 a.m. The Soldiers choral group will sing, and a ventriloquist will be present for children. The North Carolina woman, Judy Bomar of Charlotte, overcame obesity, depression and cancer before winning the pageant; she attributes her success to God.
\ NORTH ROANOKE BAPTIST CHURCH, 6402 Peters Creek Road, will stage the Ernest Emurian dramatization of the Last Supper Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Nursery is planned.
\ AIRLEE COURT BAPTIST CHURCH, Hershberger and Williamson Northwest, will veil three lawn crosses Good Friday at noon. The black veils will be removed Easter morning at 7:30; breakfast follows the early service.
\ A Joint GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE is planned at Morning Star Baptist Church, 1513 Rorer Ave. S.W. at 7:30 p.m. with the pastor of the other participating congre-gation, the Rev. J. Eugene Young of Jerusalem Baptist, speaking. Jerusalem's Mass Choir will sing.
\ OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP CATHOLIC CHURCH, 314 Turner Road, Salem, will have Holy Thursday and Good Friday Stations of the Cross at 7:30 p.m. The Easter Vigil with reception of new members will begin March 30 at 8 p.m. Easter morning Masses are at 9 and 11:30.
\ EDGEWOOD CHRISTIAN CHURCH, 1006 Peck St. N.W., has scheduled a community Easter egg hunt Sunday at 12:15 p.m. Activities are for children through sixth grade. Call 986-0414 for more information.
\ An unbroken PRAYER VIGIL that began Friday at 9 a.m. opened Holy Week at Westhampton Christian Church (Disciples of Christ,) 2515 Grandin Road S.W. It will last for 36 hours. Children with palms will lead a Palm Sunday procession into worship, during which members will pass their privately written lists of weaknesses to the altar for the "burning of the chaff." A worship drama is planned Maundy Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Easter worship begins at 8:30 and 11 a.m.
\ "CELEBRATING EASTER," a musical, will be sung Easter Sunday at 10:55 a.m. by the Sanctuary Choir of Edgewood Christian Church, 106 Peck St. N.W. Nursery will be staffed.
\ A drama, "THE LAST SUPPER," will be featured Palm Sunday at 7 p.m. at First Church of the Brethren, 2001 Carroll Ave. N.W. Congregation members will pose asin the da Vinci painting, taking take the parts of Christ and his disciples. The program is based on a work by the Rev. Ernest K. Emurian, a Virginia United Methodist minister and composer.
\ Three MASON COVE neighborhood churches will join Palm Sunday night for music at 7. The event will be at the Church of the Brethren, with Mountain Pass Baptist and Mason Cove Chapel cooperating.
\ THE SPEERS, gospel singers, perform Easter Sunday at 10 a.m. at First Church of the Nazarene, 739 Highland Ave. S.E. Nursery and children's programs are planned.
\ CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 1101 Franklin Road S.W., begins Holy Week with a procession from Highland Park starting Sunday at 10:15 a.m. Easter morning worship includes musical accompaniment by the Brass Five at the 9 and 11 a.m. services.
\ ST. PAUL'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH in Salem plans daily Holy Week services, with the Liturgy of the Palms Sunday at 9 and 11 a.m., 5:30 p.m. devotions Monday-Wednesday, Maundy Thursday Eucharist at 7:30 p.m. and a Good Friday liturgy at noon. Baptisms will be part of the 7 p.m. Easter Eve vigil. Three Easter Communion services are scheduled at 7:30, 9 and 11 a.m.
\ CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH, 2011 Brandon Ave. S.W., begins Holy Week with a Palm Sunday interpretive reading of the Passion story by the Rev. Mark Radecke, pastor, at 8:30 and 11 a.m.
Thursday, Friday and Saturday services, considered as part of a single observance, begin Thursday with Communion, continue Friday with a liturgy of darkness, and move Saturday night to the transitional Easter Vigil. Thursday and Friday worship starts at 7:30 p.m. and includes nursery. The Saturday vigil of light, readings, Baptism and Communion starts at 10:30 p.m.
\ Holy Week devotions at COLLEGE LUTHERAN CHURCH in Salem will include the Senior Choir singing "The Seven Words of Christ on the Cross" Thursday night at 7, followed by the stripping of the altar. The Tenebrae "service of shadows" begins Good Friday night at 7. Easter worship is at 8:30 and 11 a.m. with nurseries. The church is at 210 S. College Ave.
\ METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCH OF THE BLUE RIDGE, 2015 Grandin Road S.W., will include foot-washing in its Maundy Thursday service. It begins at 7 p.m., as will a Good Friday devotion. Easter Sunday worship begins at 3 p.m.
\ TWO BONSACK CHURCHES, Bonsack United Methodist and Peace Presbyterian, will combine choirs for a contemporary work, "The Seven Last Words" by John Carter. It will be given Good Friday at 7 p.m. at the Presbyterian worship center, 4365 Cloverdale Road.
\ "REQUIEM," by Gustav Faure will be sung Maundy Thursday at 7:30 p.m. by the Senior Choir of First Presbyterian Church, South Jefferson at McClanahan. Communion follows.
\ THE DA VINCI DRAMA will be presented Good Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church in America, 2216 Peters Creek Road N.W. Nursery is planned.
\ RALEIGH COURT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 1837 Grandin Road S.W. has scheduled a re-enactment of the Lord's Supper at 7:30 p.m. Maundy Thursday in the chapel. Good Friday worship follows a 6:30 congregational dinner. Easter morning services are at 8 and 11 a.m.
\ A HOLY SATURDAY QUIET DAY is planned March 30 at Windsor Hills United Methodist Church, Mud Lick at Windsor Roads Southwest. Participants will engage in prayer and reflection on their own spiritual lives, 9 a.m. to noon. The Rev. William Olewiler of Christiansburg will lead.
\ Maundy Thursday worship at WHITE MEMORIAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, Shawsville, will include a re-enactment of the Last Supper by men of the parish. It begins at 7:30 p.m. as will Good Friday services.
\ At SOUTH ROANOKE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, South Jefferson at 24th Street, Christ's entry into Jerusalem will be re-enacted on the lawn at 10:30 a.m. Sunday by parish youths. Prayer will be offered on Good Friday, 6 a.m.-6 p.m.
\ "WORD OF LIFE, " a Passion play by a New York Bible college troupe, is scheduledGood Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the Roanoke Civic Center. Seating is by free tickets. Call the Rev. Randy Ledsome at 344-2789 for information.
by CNB