KIDS START HOLY WEEK WITH PALMS

With palm branches waving, area children ushered in Holy Week on Sunday with the observance of Palm Sunday.

"It's probably the most important week in the world in terms of what the church is doing," said the Rev. Barry Pfanstiel, pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.

Waving the palm branches is symbolic of Jesus Christ's triumphant entry into Jerusalem the week before his trial. By the end of that week, crowds were calling for his crucifixion and death.

"They were disappointed he wasn't the kind of king they expected, and that he didn't save them from the Romans," Pfanstiel said.

But the observances of Holy Week mark both the highs and lows in the Christian life.

It gives the curious a picture of the Christian faith, said the Rev. Bob Towner of Christ Episcopal Church.

"It really helps us rediscover who we are and who we could be as Christians. That's why it has so much power."

Towner said he'd almost always prefer that people who are interested in the Christian faith attend all of Holy Week's services instead of studying in classroom settings.

"On any given Sunday you only get a little picture," he said. "When you walk the whole path you really get the message. You get what it's all about."

Holy Week services

Holy Week observances at area churches include communion and worship on Maundy Thursday, which commemorates Jesus' Last Supper; and Good Friday services of darkness that remember the sacrifice and death of Christ.

Maundy Thursday is about both the observance of the Lord's Supper and Christ's new commandment to the disciples to love one another, Pfanstiel said.

Some churches, including Catholic churches, strip the altar of any adornments at the conclusion of Maundy Thursday worship. Others, like the Episcopal church, veil their altar in dark cloth.

"It helps us ponder what it means that he died," Towner said.

Good Friday services are often services of shadows and darkness. In a Tenebrae service, observed at some area churches, seven candles are lit to represent the seven last words of Christ. When the words are spoken, a light is extinguished until the gathering is left in darkness.

"It's a very effective service," Pfanstiel said because it signifies the death and closing of the tomb.

Other churches hold Tre-Ore services that commemorate the three hours Christ spent on the cross.

Some churches will observe an Easter vigil on Saturday that relives the Christian story through passages of Scripture.

A fire is lit, much like "God sent light in the midst of darkness and chaos," Towner said.

The service is much like gathering around a campfire and sharing a family story, Towner said. "It's like hearing family stories around the dinner table at holidays."

After the vigil comes baptism, when congregants renew their faith. The Saturday vigil is much quieter than the rejoicing on Easter, Towner said.

"Easter is proclaiming the resurrection."

HOLY WEEK SERVICES PLANNED AT AREA CHURCHES

Wednesday

The Charleston, Mo., Ministerial Alliance will sponsor a community Holy Week service at 7 p.m. Wednesday at First Assembly of God Church. Bert Ott, pastor of the First Christian Church, will be the speaker.

Maundy Thursday

First Presbyterian Church in Cape Girardeau will hold a communion service at 7 p.m.

First Christian Church will have service at 7:30 p.m.

St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson will hold Maundy Thursday services at 3:30 and 7 p.m.

St. Andrew Lutheran Church will observe communion at a 6:30 p.m.

St. John's Lutheran Church in Pocahontas will observe worship with communion at 7:30 p.m.

Grace United Methodist Church will be host to a Jewish seder meal at 7 p.m. The meal, which is celebrated as part of the Jewish Passover, is open to the public.

Trinity Lutheran Church will worship at 4 and 7 p.m. Thursday.

Christ Evangelical Presbyterian Church will have a service of shadows at 7 p.m.

Good Shepherd Lutheran Chapel will have a service at 7 p.m.

St. Mark Lutheran Church (ELCA) will observe communion at 7 p.m.

Centenary United Methodist Church will present a "Drama of the 12" an interpretation of the Lord's Last Supper at 7 p.m. Communion will be observed.

Lynwood Baptist Church will hold a seder meal at 6 p.m. Cost is $3. Call the church at 334-4600 to make reservations.

Christ Episcopal Church will hold a service at 7 p.m.

Good Friday

Good Friday service of darkness will be at 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson.

St. Andrew Lutheran Church will hold a Tenabrae worship at 6:30 p.m.

St. John's Lutheran Church in Pocahontas will hold a service at 7:30 p.m.

St. Mark Lutheran Church (ELCA) will hold a service of darkness at 7 p.m.

Trinity Lutheran Church will hold a Tre-Ore service of devotions from 11:30 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Another service is set at 7 p.m.

Good Shepherd Lutheran Chapel will hold a service at 7 p.m.

Westminster Presbyterian Church will observe a service at 7 p.m., in conjunction with the congregation of First Presbyterian Church. The drama "Pontius Pilate and the dreams of Claudia" will be presented.

Christ Episcopal Church will hold service at 7 p.m.

Easter vigil Saturday

Trinity Lutheran Church will hold a Holy Saturday service at 6 p.m.

Christian Faith Fellowship will present "The Touch from Heaven" at 7 p.m. Saturday.

First Assembly of God in Scott City will present a live passion play "The Living Lord's Supper" at 7 p.m.

Christ Episcopal Church will hold a service at 6 p.m.

St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson will hold a service at 6 p.m.

Easter vigil will begin at 8 p.m. at St. Mary's Cathedral.

Easter Sunday

The Downtown Council of Churches in Cape Girardeau will be host to a community resurrection celebration at 6:30 a.m. at Riverfront Park. Guests are encouraged to bring a lawn chair and Bible to the service. In case of rain, the service will be held at Centenary United Methodist Church.

The choir of First Free Will Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau will present its cantata "Alpha and Omega" at 10:30 a.m. There will be a sunrise service and a breakfast earlier in the morning.

First Christian Church will have a sunrise service at 6 a.m. followed by a breakfast and egg hunt at 8:30 a.m. A cantata will be performed at 9:30 a.m.

First Assembly of God in Scott City will present a live passion play "The Living Lord's Supper" at 10:30 a.m.

St. John's Lutheran Church in Pocahontas will hold a sunrise service at 6:30 a.m. and an Easter festival service at 10 a.m.

St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson will hold services at 6 a.m., 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

Livingway Foursquare Church will hold a continental breakfast at 7:30 a.m. at the church, following the community sunrise service. Worship will be at 9 a.m.

Bald Knob Cross near Alto Pass, Ill., will hold its 65th annual sunrise service at 6:30 a.m., whether rain or shine. The Rev. Clifford Heil will be the speaker. A welcome center, which serves breakfast, will open at 4 a.m.

First Presbyterian Church in Jackson will hold a community sunrise worship at 6:30 a.m. at Bent Creek Golf Course clubhouse. Coffee and refreshments will be provided. The church also will hold a pancake breakfast from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m.

First Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau will be host to a continental breakfast from 8 to 8:30 a.m. Worship service is at 10:45 a.m.

Westminster Presbyterian Church will worship at 10:45 a.m.

St. Mark Lutheran Church (ELCA) will hold an outdoor sunrise service at 6:10 at Kings Garden. A "sonrise" service will be at 7:30 a.m., with a breakfast at 8:30 a.m. Worship with communion will be at 10 a.m.

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church will hold an Easter festival at 9:30 a.m. A sunrise service is at 6:30 a.m., with a breakfast at 7:30 a.m.

Centenary United Methodist Church will hold services at 8 and 10:45 a.m.

Christ Evangelical Presbyterian Church will hold a worship celebration at 10:45 a.m.

Lynwood Baptist Church will hold a community service at 10 a.m. at the Show Me Center.

Easter Mass will be celebrated at 7, 8:30, 10 and 11:30 a.m. at St. Mary's Cathedral.

St. Andrew Lutheran Church will hold a sunrise service with communion at 6 a.m. Easter breakfast will be served from 7 to 9 a.m. Easter festival service is at 7:45 and 10:45 a.m.

Cape Bible Chapel will have a service at 9:15 a.m.

Trinity Lutheran Church will have services at 8 and 10:30 a.m.

Trinity Lutheran Church in Egypt Mills will worship at 8 and 10 a.m.

Unity Baptist Church in Benton, Mo., will hold a sunrise service at 6:30 a.m. at the Charleston Baptist Association campgrounds.

East Cape Baptist Church will present the musical "Who do you say I am?" during the 10:30 a.m. service.

Perkins Baptist Church will hold an outdoor sunrise service at 6:30 a.m. A fellowship breakfast will be served afterward. Worship will also be at 10:30 a.m. and an Easter egg hunt for children will follow.

Fairview General Baptist Church will hold a sunrise service at 6:30 a.m., followed by a breakfast.

The Cape Commandery No. 55, an order of the Masonic Lodge, will hold an Easter service at 8 a.m. at the Masonic Lodge.