How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
Religion
- Details
- Written by: Editor
MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The history of ecumenical Easter sunrise services in Middletown continues this year at the Middletown Cemetery on Butts Canyon Road at 6:30 a.m. April 8.
Persons of all faiths and denominations are invited to experience the ritual that signifies the most important day for Christians, acknowledgement of the risen Christ.
Singing, scripture, meditation, prayer and praise will inspire stalwart early risers Easter morn.
A 9 a.m. showing of the film “Jesus” in the Middletown Methodist Church Sanctuary will be held after
the sunrise service before the 11 a.m. service.
All Middletown churches plan special services at their regular Sunday worship times.
Those who need more information or want to participate in Easter sunrise services please call 707-295-7174 or email
Attendees are encouraged to bring a folding chair. In the event of bad weather the service will continue at the cemetery office and portico for cover.
- Details
- Written by: Editor
LAKEPORT, Calif. – With rites that trace their origin to the fourth century, this past Sunday Christians around the world commenced what is commonly called Holy Week, commemorating the final days of Jesus Christ’s earthly life
At 5:30 p.m. on April 5, the congregation of St. John’s Church, 1190 N. Forbes St., Lakeport, will observe Maundy Thursday with a Mass to commemorate the Last Supper of Jesus and his apostles.
The name “Maundy” comes from the Latin word “mundatum” which begins the teaching of Jesus at the Last Supper: “A new commandment I give you that you love one another.”
Fr. Leo will then consecrate the bread and wine as the Body and Blood of Christ, following Jesus’ command to “Do this in remembrance of me.”
The service will conclude with the stripping of the altar, with the removal of all the altar cloths and ornaments from the sanctuary to symbolize the arrest of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane.
On Good Friday evening at 5:30 p.m., the traditional liturgy according to the Book of Common Prayer will be celebrated at St. John’s, which will begin with the reading of the Passion according to St. John, followed by the Solemn Prayers, the Veneration of the Cross, and the reception of Holy Communion.
These beautiful rites are observed very much the same as they have been since Christian antiquity.
St. John’s Holy Week observance will culminate at 5:30 p.m. Saturday with the celebration of the Easter Vigil which will be held in the chapel at Little Portion Hermitage on Diamond Dust Trail off of Highway 175, Kelseyville.
This ancient service, which dates to the first years of the Christianity, consists of nine readings from the Hebrew Scriptures of Old Testament beginning with the stories of creation and the great flood in Genesis, through the passover of the Hebrew people from the bondage of Egypt in Exodus, readings from the various prophets, culminating in St. Paul’s proclamation of Jesus’ resurrection in his epistle to the first Christians in Rome.
Then St. John’s newly appointed deacon will lead the people out to the sepulcher garden at the Hermitage to hear St. Mark’s account of Jesus’ resurrection. This will be followed by the renewal of Baptismal Vows and the celebration of Easter Eucharist.
On April 8 at 10 a.m. the Festal Mass of Easter Sunday, celebrating Christ’s resurrection from the dead will commence at St. John’s with the prelude, J. S. Bach’s “The Day has Dawned,” played by Melvin Taylor on the newly restored Allan organ.
Taylor also will play Bach’s “Glory to God,” “Lamb of God” and “Blessed Christ Is Risen,” as well as several beloved Easter hymns sung by the congregation throughout the joyous service.
The celebrant and preacher will be The Rev. Canon Stephen N. Brannon, who said: “As for my Easter sermon, I plan to emphasize the ‘Now’ meaning of Resurrection rather than relegating Easter only to what happened long ago, or what we fervently hope will happen after we die. Easter Faith, as all ‘faith,’ as a gift of grace flowing from a commitment made and lived.”
St. John’s Church, the presence and ministry of the The Episcopal Church in Lake County since 1877, is grateful to be able to offer these traditional Holy Week and Easter Services to those who are looking for a prayerful and spiritual way to participate in these transformative events that make present God’s infinite love.
All baptized Christians, who are at peace with God and their fellow human beings, are invited to receive Holy Communion at our altar, regardless of marital status, gender orientation or church affiliation.
For further information please call Fr. Leo Joseph at 707-349-6563.
- Details
- Written by: Editor
LUCERNE, Calif. – Rock of Faith Community Outreach is moving to its new location at 4555 Foothill Road in Lucerne.
This Sunday, April 1, the church will hold a dedication service at 4 p.m.
Pastor Thomas is asking all to join them as they celebrate “The Favor of God.”
For more details please contact Evangelist Glenda Thomas at 707-245-9143.
- Details
- Written by: Editor
LAKEPORT, Calif. – More than half a dozen local churches will gather on April 6 at St. Mary's Catholic Church to observe one of the holiest days of the church year, Good Friday.
Good Friday is the day that Christian commemorate the death of Jesus and the purpose of this 22nd annual service hosted by the LMA Ministerial Association (LMA) is to help participants experience the emotional aspects of the passion story: the betrayal, abandonment, and agony of Jesus.
Throughout history churches, congregations and individual Christians have sought to enhance their understanding of the events that happened on that first Good Friday in a variety of ways.
They have sought to remember the story by reading from missives, reading the Gospel narratives, recalling the last seven sentences Jesus spoke from the cross, and for a privileged few, by traveling to the Holy Land itself and seeking to follow in the footsteps of Jesus as near as one can guess the path based on the Gospel texts.
In the Middle Ages the Franciscans developed a version of the Stations of the Cross for those that could not travel to the Holy Land to walk where Christ walked.
In this practice there are 14 stations, nine of which are taken directly from the gospels and five of which are from the earliest traditions of the church.
Each seeks to share a portion of the Passion Narrative so that we might draw closer to Jesus in this time approaching the remembrance of his death.
The LMA service this year will not represent the traditional Stations of the Cross but will offer 10 meditations in the same spirit of devotion that has caused millions of Christians to seek to follow where Jesus trod this earthen sod.
Following each meditation by one of the pastors, a “soldier” from the time of Christ will share a first hand account of what it might have been like to witness the events as they unfolded that day.
Last year's LMA Good Friday service was limited to standing room only and was an amazing show of unity in our community by people from eight different religious traditions.
The community is invited to join them at noon on Friday, April 6, at St. Mary's, located at 801 N. Main St. in Lakeport.