All are welcome to attend activities at Wilton Congregational Church, which will celebrate the Easter season full of hope, renewal and new life — the traditional elements of Easter’s promise. As the most important holiday among the world’s Christians, Easter at Wilton Congregational Church (70 Ridgefield Rd.) holds a special place in the church calendar. Activities will include uplifting music, moving reminders of the message of how hope overcomes despair, the joyful celebration of renewal, and — of course — an Easter Egg Hunt.
Palm Sunday, March 24, 9:30 a.m.
Worship begins with a festive palm procession into the sanctuary and a blessing of the palm branches. Traditional music, including the sounds of the organ, will provide a familiar grounding for this celebration on the first day of Holy Week.
Maundy (Holy) Thursday, March 28 — 6 p.m. Passover Seder and 7 p.m. Service of Tenebrae
As a reminder of the Jewish origin of the Last Supper, which took place at the Passover meal, and the ties between our faith traditions, Wilton Congregational Church will host an abbreviated seder and a simple supper in Pilgrim Hall at 6 p.m. The message of Passover, with its theme of liberation from oppression, is a lesson from which all faith traditions may learn. (Please register for supper in advance: 203.762.5591.)
After the supper, at 7 p.m., the Service of Tenebrae will take place in the church’s historic sanctuary. Tenebrae is the Latin word meaning “darkness,” and the service follows the dramatic arc of the Passion Story. As each Biblical portion of the story is read aloud, the choir provides musical interludes, and candles are extinguished one by one until the sanctuary is eventually draped in darkness.
Good Friday, March 29, 10 a.m.-12 p.m., Ambler Farm
Wilton Congregational Church is hosting “Do Good Friday” around the church’s Lenten mission project to support Heifer International. This activity will mark the concluding event of the project, bringing together intergenerational volunteers for a morning of service to further the work of Ambler Farm, connect participants with creation, and deepen relationships with each other.
Easter Sunday, March 31, 6:30 a.m. Sunrise Service at Hillside Cemetery and 10 a.m. Worship Service in the Church Sanctuary
Easter Sunday begins early with an outdoor worship service at Hillside Cemetery (165 Ridgefield Rd.) at 6:30 a.m. All are invited to gather at the top of the hill for a short service featuring music, scripture and a homily as the sun rises over Wilton and Easter morning.
At 10 a.m. worship in the sanctuary will feature the soaring music of a string quartet and trumpet, traditional Easter hymns accompanied by the organ, and will conclude with Handel’s glorious Hallelujah Chorus. Rev. Caroline Hughes will preach a message entitled, “This is the Day!” After the service, children of all ages are invited to participate in a giant Easter Egg hunt, featuring hundreds of colorful, treat-filled eggs.
