Location: FPC Stanley

Date: Saturday, April 5

Time: 10:00 AM

• Easter Egg Hunt – Bring your baskets and get ready to find some eggs.
• Bounce Houses – Fun for all ages.
• Snacks & Refreshments – Enjoy treats while you celebrate.

This free community event is open to everyone. Bring your family, invite friends and neighbors, and experience the joy of Easter together.

We look forward to celebrating with you!

Join us for Sunday School at 9:15 am. Our Palm Sunday Worship service will follow at 10:30 am!

7:00pm - Worship and Communion

*Lord's Supper Preparation Guide

Join us for refreshments and fellowship at 9:15 am in Founders Hall. Our Easter Worship service will follow at 10:30 am!

Historically, Holy Week commemorates the last week of the life of Jesus Christ. It begins with Palm Sunday, which marks Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and ends with Easter Sunday which celebrates his resurrection from the dead.

During Holy week at FPC Stanley, we take the time to reflect on the values of love and forgiveness while also remembering Jesus' sacrifice for humanity. It is an important time to deepen our faith and renew our commitment to Christ.

What is the significance of Palm Sunday? (Matthew 21:1-11)

Palm Sunday is the Sunday before Easter. It signifies Jesus' triumphal but humble entry into Jerusalem where he was greeted by crowds waving palm branches.

What is the meaning of the Palm Branch?

Jesus rode on a donkey into Jerusalem while a large crowd of people greeted him by waving palm branches and laying them on the ground before him. This act of laying palm branches in front of a king or a hero was a common practice that symbolized submission and honor. By laying their palm branches at Jesus' feet, the people were expressing their belief that he was the long-awaited Messiah and king who would save them and bring in a new era of peace.They shouted "Hosanna!" which means "save us now" in Hebrew.

What is the significance of Holy Monday? (Matthew 21:12-13)

On Holy Monday, Jesus returned to Jerusalem and entered the temple, where he found merchants selling goods and exchanging money. In response, he overturned the tables and drove them out of the temple, declaring that it should be a house of prayer and worship, rather than a place for commerce.

This event, known as the Cleansing of the Temple, is considered an important moment in Jesus' ministry, as it represents his deep commitment to faith and his rejection of greed and corruption. It also serves as a reminder to us of the importance of prayer, reflection, and devotion to our faith.

What happened on the Wednesday before Easter? (Matthew 26)

This refers to the day that Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus' twelve disciples, made a deal with the chief priests to betray Jesus.

As the Bible recounts, Judas went to the chief priests and agreed to hand Jesus over to them in exchange for thirty pieces of silver. This act of betrayal was a turning point in the events leading up to Jesus' crucifixion, as it set in motion the events that would ultimately lead to his death.

On this day, we take time to reflect and pray on the significance of Judas' betrayal and the importance of staying true to our faith, even in the face of temptation or adversity. It is also a time to remember Jesus' sacrifice and to prepare for the events of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.

What is the significance of Maundy Thursday? (Matthew 26:17-29)

The name "Maundy" Thursday comes from the Latin word "mandatum," which means "commandment." This refers to the commandment that Jesus gave to his disciples at the Last Supper to love one another as he had loved them. Maundy Thursday is the day on which Jesus shared a meal with his disciples and established the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, also known as Holy Communion. During this Last Supper, Jesus blessed the bread and wine, which he identified as his body and blood, and instructed his disciples to do the same in remembrance of him.

In addition to the Last Supper, Maundy Thursday is also associated with the washing of feet, a ritual that symbolizes humility and service. In the Bible, Jesus washed the feet of his disciples as an example of how they should serve one another with love and compassion.

Here at FPC Stanley we commemorate Maundy Thursday with a special evening service and communion. In doing this, we remember the selfless sacrifice of Jesus and His call to love and serve one another.

What is Good Friday ? (Matthew 26:30-27:66)

Good Friday is a significant day in the Holy Week calendar. This was Jesus' last day of life on earth before His resurrection. He was betrayed by Judas, as predicted, and denied by Peter, as predicted. His disciples left him. Jesus was falsely accused, arrested, and put on trial. He was then beaten, mocked, and forced to carry His own cross to the place of execution where he was nailed to the cross and left to die.

So why then is it called "Good" Friday?

D.A. Carson wrote, "It was not nails that held Jesus to that wretched cross; it was his unqualified resolution, out of love for his Father, to do his Father’s will—and it was his love for sinners like me." It is a good day because he traded places for you and for me. It is a good day because it was the day He broke the bonds of sin and death so that we will never be apart from God on this side of heaven.  Knowing the story of Good Friday causes our hearts to cry out to God in humility and thanksgiving. Hallelujah! What a Savior!

What is the significance of Easter Sunday? (Matthew 28)

Easter Sunday is the most important and joyous day, as it marks the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. On the third day after Jesus' crucifixion on Good Friday, he rose from the dead, fulfilling the prophecy that he would overcome death and redeem humanity from sin. It is a day of celebration as we rejoice in the triumph of life over death and the promise to bring hope, love, and new beginnings to all of us.