Religion: Week of March 21
At Bethel Presbyterian Church, 2999 Bethel Church Road, the first event of Holy Week will be at 10:30 a.m. on Palm Sunday, March 25. A Maundy Thursday service will be held at 7 p.m. March 29, with communion and special music by the choir. A Tenebrae service will be held at 7 p.m. Good Friday, March 30. The Easter Sunday service will be at 10:30 a.m. April 1 featuring music by the choir and a brass ensemble.
At Center Presbyterian Church, McMurray, worship begins at 11 a.m. on Sundays. Sunday school for all ages begins at 9:45 a.m.
• The deacons are sponsoring a food drive for Samaritan Care at Washington City Mission. Contact the church for a list of needed food items.
• The preschool is now taking orders for Sarris candy, to be delivered in time for Easter.
For more information, call 724-941-9050.
At Christ United Methodist Church, Bethel Park, Holy Week services and events include:
• Labyrinth & Prayer Stations, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. March 28-30, in the Christian Life Center. Experience Christ through the sounds of music, the meditations of the heart, and communion with our Lord.
• Taize Service, 7 p.m. March 28, in the sanctuary. Taize is an ecumenical participatory prayer service designed to achieve a contemplative state through music, song and silence. Join us for communion, prayer and healing.
• Silent Communion, 4 to 7 p.m. March 29, in the sanctuary.
• Tenebrae Service, 7:30 p.m. Good Friday, March 30, in the sanctuary. A meditative hour of scripture, interwoven with music, in candlelight.
• Family Easter Celebration & Pancake Breakfast, 9 to 11:30 a.m. March 31, in the Christian Life Center/Community Square. The event will include the Easter Story and Easter stations, Egg hunt, crafts and games, and Rabbit Wranglers, a local bunny rescue organization that will bring rescue rabbits to the church. Come early and enjoy a pancake breakfast from 9 to 10. Individually-wrapped snack items will be collected for local hunger ministries. Cost is $2 for the egg hunt, and $2 per child for pancakes, by donation. Registration is required at christumc.net/familyeaster.
• Casual Worship, 6 p.m. March 31, in the sanctuary, featuring casual worship with baptismal renewal and communion.
• Easter Sunday Worship on April 1 includes a Sunrise Worship Service at 7 a.m. in the Worship Garden (weather permitting); Traditional Worship at 9 and 11 a.m. the sanctuary, featuring traditional worship with choirs and a brass ensemble; and Contemporary Worship, 9 and 11 a.m. in the Christian Life Center, featuring contemporary worship with praise band.
For more information, visit www.christumc.net.
At Faith Community Church Lakeside, 337 Waterdam Road, McMurray, a Walk with Jesus event will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 24. Designed for families, this free event will welcome Jesus on Palm Sunday. Sit down for the Last Supper, experience the Garden of Gethsemane, discover the sacrifice on Good Friday, and rejoice in the Resurrection. Guided tours will last about 30-40 minutes. For information, call 724-941-9035 or email faithkids@faithlakeside.com.
At Mt. Lebanon Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 255 Washington Road, Holy Week will be celebrated with the following:
• Palm Sunday, March 25 — contemporary worship service at 9 a.m.; “Everything Easter” at 10:15 a.m., featuring food, games and an Easter egg hunt; traditional worship service at 11:15 a.m.
• Maundy Thursday, March 29 – 7 p.m. worship with Holy Communion
• Good Friday, March 30 – Afternoon community service at noon at United Methodist Church (next door), featuring the MLEPC Choir; traditional Tenebrae service with Holy Communion at 7 p.m.
• Easter Sunday, April 1 – Sunrise service on the roof at 6:30 a.m.; contemporary worship service at 9 a.m.; Easter breakfast buffet from 10 to 11 a.m. (no reservations needed); traditional worship service with brass at 11:15 a.m.
At Our Lady of Grace Church, Scott, Divine Mercy Sunday will be held on April 8. A holy hour with prayers, procession with the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction will begin at 3 p.m. For more information, call Kathy at 412-276-3374.
At Peace Lutheran Church, McMurray, Holy Week services include a Maundy Thursday service at 7 p.m. March 29, a Good Friday service at 7 p.m. March 30, and an Easter Sunday service at 10:30 a.m. April 1. For more information, call 724-941-9441.
At Peters Creek Evangelical Presbyterian Church, meeting at 905 East McMurray Road, Venetia (St. David’s Episcopal Parish Hall), Pastor Brandt continues the Lent sermon series on prayer at 11 a.m. Sundays.
• Easter and Holy Week services include an 11 a.m. service on Palm Sunday, March 25; a Maundy Thursday service of Communion at 7 p.m. March 29; and an 11 a.m. Easter Sunday service on April 1. A children’s Easter egg hunt and brunch will take place at 9:45 a.m., before the Easter Sunday service.
For more information, visit www.peterscreekchurch.org.
At Ruthfred Lutheran Church, Bethel Park, Lenten services are offered at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays during Lent. Palm Sunday services are at 8:30 and 11 a.m. on March 25. Holy Week services include Maundy Thursday services at 8:30 and 11 a.m. on March 29, with communion at both services; a Good Friday service of meditations and music from 12:30 to 3 p.m. and an evening Tenebrae service at 7:30 p.m.; Easter Sunday services at 7, 8:30 and 11 a.m. on April 1, with Holy Communion served at the 8:30 and 11 a.m. services only.
At South Hills Assembly of God, Bethel Park, a new session of Grief Share will meet from 10 a.m. to noon or 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursdays, through April 12. This Bible-based support group consists of DVD teaching followed by time for discussion and sharing. Registration is $15 and includes a workbook.
• Alpha Course, 6 to 9:30 p.m. Fridays, through March 30. A free dinner is provided, with DVD teaching and small group discussion to introduce the basics of Christianity. Call to register for this 10-week class.
• Sign up now to be part of Small Group. Grow, connect, learn, laugh and pray. Different evenings and times are available.
For more information, call 412-835-8900 or visit www.southhillsag.org.
At Saint Anne Parish, Castle Shannon, all-day Eucharistic Adoration is held Tuesdays beginning at 8:30 a.m. Confessions are heard at 5:15 p.m. and Mass is at 6:30. Stations of the Cross are held at 6:30 p.m. Fridays during Lent.
At St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church, 601 Boone Avenue, Canonsburg, an Easter Bake Sale will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 24.
At Temple Emanuel of the South Hills, Mt. Lebanon, outgoing Rabbi Mark Mahler will be honored at a Retirement Celebration Gala on June 3. For tickets to the event, visit www.templeemanuelpgh.org
At Trinity United Methodist Church, McMurray, a sign language worship service is offered at 9:30 a.m. Sundays.
At Westminster Presbyterian Church, Upper St. Clair, WROC will present Bible Basics: A six-week overview of the Bible from 30,000 feet, from 10 to 11 a.m. Mondays, through April 9. Pastor Louise Rogers will facilitate this class using the book “30 Days to Understanding the Bible” by Max Anders. The event is free, but registration is required at wroc.westminster-church.org or by calling 412-835-6630 ext. 200.
• Holy Week Labyrinth Walk — The indoor labyrinth will be available during Holy Week, March 25-April 1, for meditative walking. The outdoor labyrinth, located in the south courtyard, is available to all members of the community during daylight hours.
• Westminster Book Group, noon to 1 p.m. March 28. Discuss “An Invisible Thread” by Laura Schroff and Alex Tresniowski. Bring a brown bag lunch.
• Holy Week services include a Maundy Thursday service at 7:30 p.m. March 29, and Easter Sunday services at 6:30, 8:30, 9:45 and 11 a.m. April 1.
• Grief Recovery Group, 6:45 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays, April 4-May 2, in Memorial Parlor at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Upper St. Clair. This is a faith-based grief support group that will use the grief recovery book “Beyond the Broken Heart: A Journey through Grief” by Julie Yarbrough. There is no charge to attend, but a $10 donation is suggested for the book.
For information, visit www.westminster-church.org or call 412-835-6630.