Episcopal churches across Central Florida will stay busy from Lent through Easter, holding a number of services as Christians reflect on Jesus’ sojourn in the wilderness and His crucifixion and resurrection.

The 2018 Lent season begins Wednesday, Feb. 14, with Ash Wednesday, and ends Saturday, March 31, with Holy Saturday. Holy Week runs Sunday, March 25, to Saturday, March 31, which includes Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday.

Following is a partial list of Lent and Easter activities and services in the Diocese of Central Florida. Events are subject to change, with updates available online at the Diocese of Central Florida website at: http://cfdiocese.org on the internet.

Churches listed in alphabetical order

 Cathedral Church of Saint Luke
130 Magnolia Ave.

Orlando, FL 32801

407-849-0680

http://www.ccslorlando.org

• Friday, Feb. 14, 21, 28, and March 7, 14, 21, 28, at 12:05 p.m. – Stations of the Cross during Holy Eucharist.
• Wednesday, Feb. 14 – Ash Wednesday: Holy Eucharist with Imposition of Ashes, 7:30 a.m., 12:05 p.m., and 7:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, March 21, 7 p.m. – Stations of the Cross in the Cathedral.
• Thursday, March 29, 7:30 p.m. – Maundy Thursday service.
• Friday, March 30 – Good Friday Liturgy with Holy Eucharist from the Reserved Sacrament, 7:30 a.m.; Good Friday Liturgy with preaching and silent prayer, noon-3 p.m.; children’s Stations of the Cross, 4 p.m.; Tenebrae, 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, March 31 – Holy Saturday: Morning prayer in the Armed Forces Chapel, 8:30 a.m.; The Great Vigil of Easter, 7:30 p.m.
• Sunday, April 1 – Easter Day: Holy Eucharist, confirmations, receptions, and reaffirmations, 7:30 a.m.; children’s Easter celebration in the Education Building, 9 a.m.; Festival Eucharist with brassworks and percussion, 10:15 a.m.; Holy Eucharist, 6 p.m.

 

 

Church of Our Saviour

200 N.W. Third St.

Okeechobee, FL 34972
863-763-4843

http://www.churchofoursaviourokeechobee.org

Easter Events and Holy Week Services

(Lent, Holy, Easter Theme: Come to The Table)

• Wednesday, Feb. 14 – Ash Wednesday: Distribution of Ashes, 8 a.m., noon; HE II and Distribution of Ashes, 6 p.m.
• Wednesday, Feb. 21-March 28, 5:30 p.m. – Stations of the Cross.
• Friday, March 23, noon – Community Stations of the Cross, downtown Okeechobee in Flagler Park
• Sunday, March 25 – Palm Sunday, 8 and 10:30 a.m.; Seder Meal, 6 p.m.
• Wednesday, March 28, 6 p.m. – Tenebrae.
• Thursday, March 29, 6 p.m. – Maundy Thursday and Ceremony of the Washing of Feet.
• Friday, March 30, noon – Good Friday and Stations of the Cross.
• Saturday, March 31 – Holy Saturday, noon; Great Easter Vigil, 6 p.m.
• Sunday, April 1, 8 and 10:30 a.m. – Easter services, reception following.

 

Church of the Good Shepherd

221 S. Fourth St.

Lake Wales, FL  33853

863-676-8578

https://www.goodshepherdnews.com

• Palm Sunday, March 25, 8 and 10:15 a.m. – Parishioners will gather outside the church before the 10:15 service for the blessing of the palms, followed by a procession into the church and a dramatic reading of the Passion Gospel.
• Maundy Thursday, March 29, 5:30 p.m. – A simple agape meal of bread, wine and homemade lentil soup will be served in the parish hall after the celebration of the Holy Eucharist in the church. Jesus’ final prayer for the church will be shared from John’s Gospel. The evening will conclude with the stripping of the altar.
• Good Friday, March 30, 5:30 p.m. – Our parish Good Friday service and homily will be offered.
• Easter Vigil, March 31, 8 p.m. – Following sunset, the Paschal Candle will be lit and the first celebration of Easter will be celebrated in the church.
• Easter Day, April 1, 8 and 10:15 a.m. – The adult and junior choirs will sing, and the EYC will host an Easter egg hunt for the children after the 10:15 service. We will have a cake and punch reception in the courtyard of the memorial garden.

 

Church of the Good Shepherd

331 Lake Ave.

Maitland, FL 32751

407-644-5350

www.GoodShepherdMaitland.com

• Tuesday, Feb. 13, 5 p.m. – Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper and pancake toss relay in the parish hall.
• Wednesday, Feb. 14 – Ash Wednesday: Imposition of Ashes and Holy Eucharist 7:30 a.m. and noon in the chapel.
• Saturday, March 24, 5 p.m. — Palm Sunday/Sunday of the Passion: Palm procession from the outside altar and Passion reading by the congregation in the chapel.
• Sunday, March 25, 10 a.m. – Palm Sunday/Sunday of the Passion: Palm procession from the outside altar and Passion reading by the congregation in the church.
• Thursday, March 29, 7 p.m. – Maundy Thursday: Instructed Eucharist, stripping of the altar and procession of the Sacrament to the Altar of Repose in the Church (Altar of Repose in the chapel).
• Friday, March 30 – Good Friday: Outdoor Stations of the Cross around the campus at noon. Mass of the Pre-Sanctified with Veneration of the Cross in the church, 7 p.m.
• Sunday, April 1, 6:30 a.m. – The Great Vigil of Easter Sunrise Candlelit Service: The Lighting of the New Fire and the Paschal Candle with Exsultet, Vigil Readings, renewal of baptismal vows, The First Eucharist of Easter, in the church.
• Sunday, April 1, 10 a.m. – Easter Day Holy Eucharist in the church. Children’s Easter egg hunt immediately following the service in the “Back 40.” Easter lunch in the parish hall following the Easter egg hunt.

 

Church of the Holy Spirit

601 S. Highland Ave.

Apopka, FL 32703

407-886-1740

http://www.holyspiritapopka.com

• Wednesday, Feb. 14 – Ash Wednesday: Imposition of Ashes, noon; Holy Eucharist II, 7 p.m.
• Mondays through Thursdays, Feb. 15-March 2, noon – Stations of the Cross: Follow the footsteps of Jesus on specific events of His last day, beginning with His condemnation. At each station, the individual recalls and meditates on a specific event from Christ’s last day.
• Wednesday, Feb. 21, and Thursday, 28; March 7, 14 and 21, 6 p.m. – Healing services: Anointing and laying on of hands are made available during worship for those who would like to receive them.
• Sunday, March 25 – Palm Sunday: Liturgy of the Palms, Holy Eucharists I and II, 8 and 10:30 a.m.
• Wednesday, March 28, 7 p.m. – Tenebrae (meaning “shadows” or “darkness”) is an ancient Christian service that makes use of gradually diminishing light through the extinguishing of candles to symbolize the events of that week from the triumphant Palm Sunday entry through Jesus’ burial.
• Thursday, March 29, 7 p.m. – Maundy Thursday: The word “Maundy” comes from the Latin word “mandatum,” meaning “commandment.” Maundy refers to the commands Jesus gave His disciples at the Last Supper: to love with humility by serving one another and to remember His sacrifice. Christians continue to share bread and wine as part of our worship.
• Friday, March 30 – Good Friday: Stations of the Cross, noon; The Passion, 3 p.m., fish fry, 5-7 p.m. (Please see church flyer for details).
• Saturday, March 31, 7 p.m. – Holy Saturday: The Great Vigil of Easter, also known as Vigil of Pasch, consisting of four parts: The Service of Light, The Service of Lessons, Renewal of Baptismal Vows, The Holy Eucharist.
• Sunday, April 1 – Easter Day: Celebrate Resurrection Day with Holy Eucharist Rite I, 8 a.m.; Egg hunt for the little ones, 9:30 a.m.; Holy Eucharist Rite II, 10:30 a.m.

 

Episcopal Church of St. Mary

5750 S.E. 115th St.

Belleview, FL 34420
352-347-6422

http://www.stmarysbelleview.org

• Sunday, March 25 – Palm Sunday: Services at 8 and 10:30 a.m.
• Wednesday, March 28, 10:30 a.m. – Healing service: Holy Eucharist with healing prayers.
• Thursday, March 29, 7 p.m. – Maundy Thursday: Service with foot washing.
• Thursday and Friday, March 29-30 – Easter Vigil: Begins after Maundy Thursday service and lasts through the night of midnight, Friday.
• Friday, March 30 – Good Friday: Liturgy, noon to 3 p.m.
• Sunday, April 1 – Easter Sunday: Services at 8 and 10:30 a.m. Flowering of the cross at both services, with the flowered cross being presented by our youth at the 10:30 service. In addition, after the 10:30 a.m. service, we have an Easter egg hunt for our young people.

 

Grace Episcopal Church

510 S.E. Broadway

Ocala, FL 34471

352-622-7881

http://graceocala.org

• Friday, March 23, 10 a.m. – Palm Cross Workshop: The making of these crosses as meditation on the triumphal entry that led to Jesus’ death on the cross. They are a symbol of the ultimate victory of Christ through His crucifixion.
• Saturday, March 24, 9 a.m. – Parish Quiet Day Retreat to prepare our hearts and minds and renew our spirits for Easter, in the church.
• Sunday, March 25 – Palm Sunday: Service at 8 a.m., then second service at 9:45 a.m., procession with song and waving palms we will process through the surrounding neighborhood and into the church. Coffee hour, 11:15 a.m., in the parish house.
• Thursday, March 29 – Seder Meal in recognition of our heritage and to help in understanding the significance of Passover; Maundy Thursday service with foot washing, 7 p.m.; Overnight Prayer Vigil, 8 p.m.-9 a.m.
• Friday, March 30 – Good Friday: Morning prayer, 9 a.m., church; Good Friday service, noon, church; prayer and meditation, 1-3 p.m., church; Stations of the Cross, 6 p.m., church.
• Sunday, April 1 – Easter Day: Great Vigil, 6:30 a.m., church; Festival Eucharist, 10 a.m., church, each followed by traditional hot cross buns.

 

St. Alban’s Episcopal Church

202 Pontotoc Plaza

Auburndale, FL 33823

863-967-2130

http://www.stalbansauburndale.com

• Sunday, March 25 – Palm Sunday: Services at 8 and 10:30 a.m.
• Thursday, March 29 – Maundy Thursday: Service at 6:30 p.m.
• Friday, March 30 – Good Friday: Service at noon.
• Saturday, March 31, 8 p.m. – Holy Saturday: The Great Easter Vigil.
• Sunday, April 1 – Easter Day: Services at 8 and 10:30 a.m.

 

St. Barnabas’ Episcopal Church

319 W. Wisconsin Ave.

DeLand, FL 32720

386-734-1814

http://www.stbarnabaschurchdeland.org

• Sunday, March 25 – Palm Sunday: Holy Eucharist at 7:30, 9 and 11 a.m. Services include the reading of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, according to Mark, with people sharing the parts. Processions begin in the pavilion at 7:30, and in the Canterbury Garden at 9 and 11.
• Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, March 26-28 – Daily Holy Eucharist at 12:10 p.m. in the chapel.
• Thursday, March 29 – Maundy Thursday: Holy Eucharist at 12:10 and 7 p.m. Later service Includes foot washing and stripping of the altar, and is followed by an all-night Maundy Watch in the chapel (a sign-up sheet in back of church lists hours to be covered).
• Friday, March 30 – Good Friday: Noon to 3 p.m., includes Stations of the Cross, choral music, Veneration of the Cross, and communion from reserved sacraments.
• Saturday, March 31 – The Great Easter Vigil: 7 p.m., begins outside with lighting of the Paschal Candle for the new year and procession into the church with singing of the Exsultet (Proclamation of Easter). Old Testament Scriptures are read and illustrated with drama and music as attendees leave the church and journey around the campus. The people then process back into the church for the Holy Eucharist. Large emphasis on participation of children.
• Sunday, April 1 – Easter Sunday: 7:30, 9 and 11 a.m. Festive Eucharist. Egg hunts follow the 9 and 11 services; nursery age in the Rose Garden, older kids in the Canterbury Garden. Easter party for adults and children in the Harwood Center following the 9 a.m. service.

 

St. Edward’s Episcopal Church

460 N. Grandview St.

Mount Dora, FL 32757
352-383-2832

https://www.stedwardsepiscopal.com

• Thursday, March 29 – Maundy Thursday: Liturgy and Setting of the Watch, 7 p.m.
• Friday, March 30 – Good Friday: Morning Prayer, 8 a.m.; Good Friday Service, noon-3 p.m. (Veneration of the Cross, noon; Stations of the Cross, 1:00 pm; The Seven Last Words, 2 p.m.); Stations of the Cross, 6 p.m.
• Saturday, March 31, 8 p.m. – Holy Saturday: Easter Vigil.
• Sunday, April 1 – Easter Day – Holy Eucharist Rite I, 8 a.m.; Holy Eucharist Rite II, with flowering of the cross and Easter egg hunt, 10 a.m.

 

St. James’ Episcopal Church

204 N. Lee St.

Leesburg, FL 34748

352-787-1981

http://stjames-leesburg.org

• Thursday, March 29, 7 p.m. – Maundy Thursday service: “The Last Supper,” a series of soliloquies based on Scripture, will take place in the setting of DaVinci’s painting of the same name.

 

St. Jude’s Episcopal Church

815 E. Graves Ave.

Orange City, FL

386-775-6200

stjudeschurch@embarqmail.com

• Wednesdays, 10 a.m., throughout Lent – Stations of the Cross.
• Wednesday, March 28, 6 p.m. – Seder Meal. Cost is $10, with limited seating. A Seder Meal is essentially related to a Passover meal in that Christians honor their Jewish beginnings and that Christ the Lord was a Jew. It recounts how the Jewish people read the Passover story, prayers and ceremonies from the Haggadah, which tells the story from Exodus of when Moses led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt and they walked in the desert for 40 years before coming to the Promised Land.
• Thursday, Jan. 29, 7 p.m. – Maundy Thursday service. As the Christian holy day falling on the Thursday before Easter, Maundy Thursday commemorates the washing of the feet and the Last Supper.
• Friday, March 30 – Tenebrae, noon; Stations of the Cross, 1 p.m.; Good Friday 2 and 7 p.m.
• Sunday, April 1 – Easter sunrise service, 6 a.m.; Eucharist Rite I, 8 a.m., Eucharist Rite II, 10:30 a.m., Easter egg hunt for children 10 and under, noon.

 

St. Richard’s Church

5151 Lake Howell Road

Winter Park, FL 32792

407-671-4211

http://www.strichards.org

• Tuesday, Feb. 13, 6-8 p.m. – Shrove Tuesday: Pancake dinner and Valentine’s Day party in the parish hall. Bring your sweetie (or come to meet one) at our Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper and Valentine’s Day Party! It is a unique happening that Lent starts on Valentine’s Day, so celebrate love early to be ready for the contemplative season of Lent to kick off on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 14.
• Wednesday, Feb. 14 – Ash Wednesday: Imposition of Ashes and Holy Eucharist, noon; Ashes on the Go (drive up for curbside prayer and Imposition of Ashes, 4:30-6 p.m.; Imposition of Ashes and Holy Eucharist, 7 p.m.
• Fridays, Feb. 16, 23 and March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, at 6 p.m. – Stations of the Cross, in the Memorial Garden.
• Sunday, March 25 – Palm Sunday: Holy Eucharist Rite I, 8 a.m.; Holy Eucharist Rite II, 10:30 a.m.; youth ensemble, 12:15 p.m.; Taize service in the church, 5 p.m.; youth group Seder Dinner in parish hall, 5:30 p.m.
• Thursday, March 29 – Maundy Thursday: Morning Prayer, 9 a.m.; Washing of the feet, stripping of the altar, Holy Communion, 7 p.m.
• Friday, March 30 – Good Friday: Morning Prayer, 9 a.m.; Good Friday Liturgy and Communion from the Reserve, noon; Stations of the Cross led by the Rev. Alison Harrity, 6 p.m.
• Saturday, March 31, 7-8 p.m. – Holy Saturday: Great Vigil of Easter.
• Sunday, April 1 – Easter Day: Holy Eucharist Rite I, 8 a.m.; Holy Eucharist Rite II, 10:30 a.m.