Easter Services (MK)

Poughkeepsie United Methodist Church

Holy Week Services — 2024

2381 New Hackensack Road, Poughkeepsie, NY 12603 · (845) 452-2933

Why these services

These services arose out of a heartfelt need to deepen the experience of Holy Week by connecting with and relating to the human side of Christ’s struggle as he journeyed to the cross. Too often, the average worshiper leaves Palm Sunday to return on Resurrection Sunday with only the barest of hints of the drama of the week before. Essentially, we go from celebration to celebration, not connecting and dwelling on the full emotional and painful price God paid us during Holy Week.

These services are meditative. The music is calm and reflective. The tone of the service is subdued. The leader is not the focus. We center on the Christ candle as it makes its way through the week to finally find its resting place on the altar on Good Friday. At the end of Good Friday’s service, it is extinguished as the flame of life leaves our Savior dead in a tomb. I have found that the only way I can fully feel Easter is by trying to feel Holy Week through the scriptures fully.

Time: Every evening service starts at 7:00 PM and lasts about half an hour. There are very few elements of the traditional worship services of Sunday morning: we gather to sing, pray, read scripture, and walk with our Lord during His most painful days. It is that simple.

Services for Holy Week

Palm Sunday

March 24 · 10:00 AM

  • Mk 11:1–11
  • Ps 118:1–2, 19–29 (UMH 839)
  • Phil 2:5–11
  • Mk 14:1–15:47 or Mk 15:1–39 (40–47)

Holy Monday

March 25 · 7:00 PM

  • Exodus 1:1–22
  • Mark 11:12–19

Holy Tuesday

March 26 · 7:00 PM

  • Exodus 2:1–25
  • Mark 11:20–13:37

Holy Wednesday

March 27 · 7:00 PM

  • Exodus 3:1–22
  • Mark 14:1–11

Holy Thursday

March 28 · 7:00 PM · Worship Service (Communion)

  • Exodus 4:18–5:23
  • Mark 14:12–72

Good Friday

March 29 · 7:00 PM

  • Isa 52:13–53:12
  • Ps 22 (UMH 752)
  • Heb 10:16–25
  • Mark 15:1–47

Holy Saturday

March 30 · No services

  • Ex 14:10–31; 15:20–21
  • Rom 6:3–11
  • Mark 16:1–8

Easter Sunday

March 31 · Sunrise 6:30 AM (PUMC Outside) · 10:00 AM (PUMC Inside)

  • Acts 10:34–43
  • Ps 118:1–2, 14–24 (UMH 839)
  • 1 Cor 15:1–11
  • Jn 20:1–18 or Mk 16:1–8


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