Church communities mark Holy Week and, Easter

Holy Week 2024 began with Palm Sunday, March 24, and concludes Sunday, March 31, with the celebration of Easter.

HOLY WEEK SERVICES. Jacksonville Ministerial Alliance is offering special Holy Week services, which are open to the community. Trinity Episcopal Church, 1000 S. Jackson St., is hosting noon services Monday through Thursday, with ministers from throughout the community leading a service followed by a light meal provided by churches.

Central Baptist Church will observe Maundy Thursday as part of its Holy Week celebrations at the 1909 E. Rusk St. church in Jacksonville with a 6 p.m. service in the student building.

Rusk First United Methodist Church also will celebrate Maunday Thursday, with a 6 p.m. service featuring meal and Communion. On Good Friday, the church will offer a 6 p.m. service.

First Methodist Church, Jacksonville will have a Maundy Thursday service at 6 p.m. and a Tenebrae service at 6 p.m. on Friday.

Area Catholic churches will offer special liturgies on the days just before Easter:

– Holy Thursday: 7 p.m., followed by adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at Our Lady of Sorrows; 7 p.m. Spanish, Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, New Summerfield; 7 p.m. bilingual, Sacred Heart of Jesus Church,, Rusk

– Good Friday: 3 p.m., followed by Stations of the Cross, 5 p.m., Jacksonville; noon English, 1:30 p.m. Spanish, Rusk; 3 p.m. Spanish, Venerable Antonio Margil Catholic Mission, Alto; 5 p.m. Spanish, New Summerfield

– Holy Saturday vigil: 7 p.m. Spanish, New Summerfield; 8 p.m. bilingual, Rusk

EASTER. In addition to regular Sunday services offered by many area churches, worshipers have their choice of three Easter sunrise services in Cherokee County, that are free and open to the public.

Rusk-area churches will present a portrayal of the last days of Christ during a 7 a.m. sunrise service at Texas State Railroad Park/Rusk Depot. Guests are recommended to bring lawn chairs, as available seating is limited.

In Jacksonville, a 6:45 a.m. sunrise service, sponsored by the Jacksonville Ministerial Alliance, is planned at Love's Lookout, 43822 U.S. Highway 69. Attendees are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or another type of seating for the event.

A 7 a.m. sunrise service is on tap at Mission Tejas State Park, 19343 State Highway 21 E. in Weches. Coffee, hot chocolate and pastries will be served by The Friends Group of Mission Tejas.