Palm, taize, agape, Easter Vigil with churches in Camden, Rockland and Thomaston

Thu, 03/23/2023 - 8:00am

St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, Belfast, will mark Holy Week with a full schedule of worship services and activities that date back to the historic beginnings of the Christian faith.

On Palm Sunday, April 2, worshippers will gather at 9:30 a.m. in the parish house, 95 Court St., to receive palm fronds to begin the service. Weather permitting, they will then process outside and enter the adjacent church for the Palm Sunday liturgy and dramatic reading of the Passion.

Tuesday, April 4, St. Margaret’s will hold a Taize’ service in the church at 7 p.m. with music.

Wednesday, April 5, St. Margaret’s will offer a 9:30 a.m. Eucharist for the “Healing of all Creation.”

Maundy Thursday, April 6, will be observed with a simple Agape supper at 6 p.m. in St. Margaret’s parish hall, 95 Court St., open to all. Participants are asked to bring one Mediterranean or Middle Eastern food item, such as hummus, olives, pita bread, dried fruit or nuts, to share. After the meal there will be traditional foot washing, symbolic of Jesus Christ’s portrayal of servanthood when he washed the feet of his disciples, and Eucharist. This will be followed by the solemn stripping of the altar in the church in preparation for Good Friday.

Good Friday liturgy will be offered April 7, at 6 p.m., with distribution of communion from the reserved sacrament.

On Saturday, April 8, St. Margaret’s will host an Easter Vigil service at 8 p.m. with participation from four other Midcoast churches: St. Thomas, Camden; St. Peter’s, Rockland; St. John the Baptist, Thomaston; and Nativity Lutheran Church, Rockport. Maine Episcopal Bishop Thomas Brown will be the celebrant. Weather permitting, the vigil will start with everyone gathering at a small outdoor fire, with that light then brought into the darkened church. The service will include an adult baptism, another tradition dating back to the earliest days of the Christian Church. A festive reception with desserts will follow in the adjoining parish house.

Easter Sunday services at St. Margaret’s will be at 8 and 9:30 a.m.