Many Easter and Lent events planned by Ministerial Assn.

By Wanda Backus-Kelly

The Port Rowan & Area Ministerial Association has numerous Lent and Easter events to share on behalf of their member faith communities.

A number of different events and worship services are offered through the remainder of the Lenten season, Holy Week, and on the Easter weekend.

Lenten Lunches have returned this year, with a number of local churches stepping up to host. Happening on most Wednesdays throughout Lent, these events are held over the lunch hour each day, from 12 noon to 1 p.m.

The format is a short worship service followed by a simple soup lunch. A freewill donation is collected for the Mission Food Bank. March 26 will see Neal Memorial host. Each Wednesday throughout the remainder of Lent, April 2, 9 and 16, St. John’s Anglican here in Port Rowan will be the host.

Leading into the start of Holy Week, Rev. Leah Arvidsson will be offering a Palm Cross Folding session at St. John’s, beginning at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 11.

Later in the week, on Thursday, April 17, also at St. John’s, a Maundy Thursday service will be held at 7 p.m. that evening.

“It will be a traditional Maundy Thursday service,” said Rev. Arvidsson, “with the option of feet washing just as Jesus washed the feet of his disciples.”

On Good Friday, St. Williams will be offering a service at 10 a.m. lead by Rev. Dr. Richard Hollingsworth. Holy Saturday will see two opportunities for Easter Vigils, one from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at Neal Memorial, and one later lead by Rev. Arvidsson beginning at sundown at the Memorial Church in Port Ryerse.

On a lighter note that day, Rev. Doug Smith and The Fellowship of Joy congregation will be holding an Easter egg hunt at the ballpark in St. Williams. The hunt is free and is open to everyone.

Easter Sunday has a number of services to offer. Beginning at 8 a.m. at the dock in St. Williams, the St. Williams Sunday School will hold a sunrise service followed by a breakfast at St. Williams United Church.

Easter Sunday services will be held at St. John’s Anglican Church at 9:30 a.m., Neal Memorial United Church at 10 a.m., St. Williams United Church at 11:15 a.m. and at the Fellowship of Joy at 10 a.m.

Members of the public looking for a service time for a faith community that isn’t mentioned are encouraged to reach out directly to that church for confirmation and details.

Originally printed in The Good News, April 2025.