Compiled by The Bedford Citizen
Holy Week and Easter services in Bedford are many and varied.
There is the Town’s lay-led ecumenical service on the bank beside Fawn Lake at 6:30 on Easter morning.
Additional services are scheduled from Palm Sunday through Easter morning at Carleton-Willard Village; First Baptist Church; First Church of Christ, Congregational; First Parish, Unitarian Universalist on Bedford Common; St. Michael Parish, Roman Catholic; St. Paul’s Episcopal Church; and by Rev. Sharon Dickinson, a Roman Catholic Woman Priest.
Ecumenical Lay-led Community Service at Fawn Lake
Sunday, April 21 at 6:30 am
The 68th annual Easter Dawn Service at Fawn Lake will be held on Sunday, April 21, at 6:30 am on the shores of Fawn Lake, at the end of Sweetwater Avenue in Bedford.
Lay representatives from five of Bedford’s churches—St. Paul’s Episcopal, First Parish on the Common (UUA), First Church of Christ (UCC), First Baptist, and St. Michael’s Roman Catholic—are organizing and will lead the service early on Easter morning. Music will be provided by the Ecumenical Brass Ensemble, led by John Bridgeman.
The ecumenical Easter Dawn service began in 1951 under the inspiration and direction of Doris (“Mickey”) and Reed Webber of the First Church of Christ (UCC). For most of its history, the service has relied on lay leadership from participating Bedford congregations. This year St. Paul’s Episcopal is leading the organizational efforts.
Mickey Webber died on January 1, 2019. This year’s service will include a memorial tribute to Mickey, to recognize her efforts in creating and sustaining the Easter Dawn service.
All are welcome to the service. Attendees are also invited to an Easter breakfast following the service, from 7:15 am to 9:00 am at First Church of Christ (UCC), 25 Great Road.
In case of inclement weather, the service will be held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 100 Pine Hill Road.
CARLETON-WILLARD VILLAGE
Services for residents and families
Thursday, April 18
Maundy Thursday service at 4 pm
Friday, April 19
Good Friday service at 3 pm
Sunday, April 21
Sunrise service in the auditorium at 8:30 am and in Health Care at 9:30 am
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF BEDFORD
155 Concord Road
781-275-8151 ~ [email protected] ~ www.fbcbedford.net
Sunday, April 14
Palm Sunday ~ 10 am Worship (Sanctuary)
11:15 AM Fellowshipping Together (Connections Lower Level)
11:20 AM Growing Together for All Ages (Connections Upper and Lower Levels and Church Café)
Thursday, April 18
Maundy Thursday Passover Seder Dinner 6:00 PM Retelling of the Lord’s Supper/Passover with participation for all. Pizza and salad will be ordered following the dinner. (Connections Lower Level)
Friday, April 19
Good Friday Service 3 pm Worship Service at Carleton-Willard Village
Sunday, April 21
7:00 AM Dress warmly for the Easter Sunrise Service at Fawn Lake
8:30 AM Join us for a light continental breakfast on the lower level of the Connections building
10:00 AM Worship Resurrection Sunday Service in the Sanctuary
FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, CONGREGATIONAL
25 The Great Road
781-275-7951 ~ [email protected] ~ firstchurchbedford.wordpress.com/
Sunday, April 14
Palm/ Passion Sunday ~ Join us for a special service that starts with Jesus’ triumphal march into Jerusalem and ends with his suffering and crucifixion. The service will include the Sunday School children marching in and distributing Palms to the congregation. Pastor John will be offering a dramatic retelling of the story of Jesus’ last week in Jerusalem as recorded in the Gospel of Luke. You will not want to miss this powerful and moving service!
Thursday, April 18
Maundy Thursday ~ After a simple supper at 6:00 p.m., we will be having a 7:15 service. The first part of the service will remember Christ’s last supper with his disciples. The second part of the service will recount the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus, using eight symbols connected with his passion and death. The service will include the extinguishing of candles and the ringing of a bell 33 times, remembering the 33 years Jesus `
Friday, April 19
Good Friday ~ This year, we will be offering an innovative multi-media service in the sanctuary. We invite you to come at anytime between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. to experience this powerful service.
Sunday, April 21
Easter Sunday ~ We will begin our Easter celebration with an ecumenical Easter Service at 6:30 at Fawn Lake. Our traditional Easter Breakfast will be held at 7:15, followed by an Easter Egg Hunt. Finally, come to our 10:00 a.m. service as we joyfully celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. We hope and pray that each of you will join us, as we commemorate and remember the events of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection
FIRST PARISH, UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST
75 The Great Road, on Bedford Common
781-275-7994 ~ [email protected]~ www.uubedford.org
Friday, April 19
A Service of Tenebrae and Good Friday Communion at 7 pm
Tenebrae is Latin for shadows and tells the story of the increasing isolation of Jesus and of all those who suffer. Join us for a candle-lit night of readings, music and the rare opportunity to use our church’s communion silver, borrowed back from the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. Combining tradition with a touch of unconventionality and beautiful music, this will be a service of shadows and deep reflection.
Sunday, April 21
9 am ~ Traditional Easter Service ~ Revs. John Gibbons & Annie Gonzalez Milliken preaching, with music by our Adult Choir
11 am ~ Multigenerational Service ~ Coordinated by Deborah Weiner, with our ministers and Youth Choirs
ST. MICHAEL PARISH ~ ROMAN CATHOLIC
90 Concord Road
781-275-6318 ~ [email protected] ~ bedfordcatholic.org/
Sunday, April 14 – Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday procession from Parish Hall to Family Mass at 10 am
Monday, April 15
Eucharistic Adoration, for 24 hours, beginning at 9:30 am
Thursday, April 18
Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7 pm
Friday, April 19
Stations of the Cross at 1 pm
Liturgy, Passion of the Lord at 7 pm
Saturday, April 20
Easter Vigil at 8:30 pm
Sunday, April 21
Easter Masses at 7 and 9 am, with an Easter Egg Hunt to follow the 11 am Mass (bring a basket!)
ST. PAUL’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
100 Pine Hill Road
781-275-8262 ~ [email protected] ~ www.stpaulsbedford.org
Since at least the 4th century, the Christian church has held special commemorations in the week before Easter to remember the events of Jesus’ last days on earth. This season, called Holy Week, marks the holiest days of the year for us and invites us into deep reflection about our own lives and the faith
within us. Please consider attending several or all of these gatherings, as we remember Jesus’ last days on earth, and look forward to our celebration of his resurrection at Easter and the new life it brings for us.
Sunday, April 14
Palm Sunday Eucharist at 10:00 a.m. w/ Procession of Palms
Monday, April 15
Guided Family Labyrinth Walk, 4 pm; Quiet Labyrinth Walking Meditation, 7:30 pm; Labyrinth available for self-guided walks Tue & Wed, 9 am to 1 pm in the Parish Hall
Tuesday, April 16
Morning Prayer at 9:00 a.m. Begin the day with simple Morning Prayer in the Chapel.
Wednesday, April 17
Holy Eucharist with Incense at 7:30 p.m. in the Chapel Simple contemplative Eucharist in the Chapel, lasting 30 min.
Thursday, April 18
All-Parish “Agapé Meal” @ 6 p.m. in the Parish Hall ~ An inter-generational meal w/music, Eucharist, story-telling, & optional foot washing, followed by Procession to the Church, Stripping of the Altar, and Watch. Overnight Prayer Vigil concludes at 7:00 a.m on Friday morning
Friday, April 19:
Good Friday Liturgy @ 7:30 p.m. With Choir, Sermon, and Communion from the Reserved Sacrament.
Saturday, April 20
“Donuts & Decorating” of the Church with Easter Art at 9:00 a.m.
The Great Vigil Of Easter @ 7:30 p.m. With Choir, homily, baptism, and the first Eucharist of Easter!
Sunday, April 21
Ecumenical Easter Dawn Prayers at Fawn Lake at 6:30 a.m.
Festival Holy Eucharist for Easter Day at 10:00 a.m.
AND
Bedford resident Rev. Sharon Dickinson is a Roman Catholic Woman Priest; she will celebrate Holy Week and Easter services in Weston and Belmont
Friday, April 12
7 pm ~ Women Of The Passion, A Journey To The Cross
Congregational Church of Weston, UCC, 130 Newton St., Weston, MA
You are invited to a unique Lenten experience of the passion of Jesus Christ as witnessed by the women in the company of Jesus. Following the traditional stations of the cross, each station is narrated by a woman whose life was transformed by her encounter with Jesus, including the woman taken in adultery, the widow with the mite, the mother of James and John, and of course Mary Magdalene and the Mother of Jesus. All are welcome, we have an open table, bring a friend!
Sunday, April 14
Palm Sunday Mass at 10 am ~ Eucharist and fellowship afterward
310 Trapelo Rd., Belmont, MA. Enter via the back door.
Sunday, April 21
Easter Mass at10 am ~ Eucharist and fellowship afterward
310 Trapelo Rd., Belmont, MA. Enter via the back door.
If you have been away from the Catholic Church for a while and feel disheartened by the sexual abuse crisis and the church’s stand against women and the LGBT community, yet you are looking for an experience that is sacramental and welcoming, open and affirming, you are most welcome. If you have never, or seldom, been to Mass and you are curious, you are most welcome. If you are wondering about the Roman Catholic Womenpriest movement, you are most welcome. If you have been hurt by or felt disenfranchised by the church, you are most welcome. No strings attached. All are welcome to receive communion – we have an open table. – Rev. Sharon Dickinson
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