The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

Holy Week is the most important time in the church calendar year , which culminates in the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday. Our community churches will be offering different options for worship and observance during Holy Week. The community is welcome to join any of these church bodies in celebrating the holiday. The following is a summary of the various days, their meaning, and what the various churches are doing to observe the days.

On Thursday of Easter week, the Last Supper took place. This is when the disciples gathered with Jesus in the upper room and ate the Passover meal together. It is the point when Jesus instituted communion, washed the disciples feet, and went to the garden of Gethsemane to pray before he was arrested and put on trial. Grace Lutheran Church has spent the season of Lent studying the Jewish roots of the Christian Faith, in particular how Jesus fulfills the Messianic hopes of the Jewish people. On Maundy Thursday (as many Christian denominations refer to it,) they will be doing a traditional Passover Seder and meal, which provides the context for communion services. That will take place at 6 PM on Thursday. Saint Margret Mary Catholic Church will be doing mass on Holy Thursday at 6 PM. They will be doing foot-washing as a part of the service in remembrance of Jesus washing His disciples’ feet at the Last Supper. This will be the first time they have been able to do this in a few years due to concerns over Covid.

Good Friday is remembered by the church as the day Jesus was crucified, died, and was buried. The local Catholic Churches and the Church of God will be doing Good Friday services this year. Services will be offered at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church in Rocky Boy at noon. Services at Saint Anthony in Box Elder will take place at 3 PM. Finally, Saint Margaret Mary in Big Sandy will offer Good Friday services at 6PM. Big Sandy Church of God will be doing Good Friday services at 6 PM on Friday Evening.

On Saturday, the Catholic Church in Rocky Boy will be doing the Easter Vigil on Saturday Night at 8 PM. The location of this service alternates between Rocky Boy and Big Sandy from year to year.

All of the local churches will be doing Easter celebrations. Easter Sunday is the day that Jesus was resurrected from the dead. Rich Jesperson, pastor of Grace Lutheran explained their Easter Breakfast and worship service: “On Easter morning, we will break our Lenten fast with an Easter breakfast at 8:30 AM followed by our Easter festival worship at 9:30 AM. In the Jewish roots of our faith, the day after the Sabbath included in the Passover was also the Feast of First Fruits. Jesus, in His resurrection from the dead, is the first fruits of the kingdom of God. ‘But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.’ (I Corinthians 15:23)” This means that he was the first of the people who would be resurrected from the dead to spend eternity in heaven. Big Sandy Church of God will be offering two services on Easter Morning and a pancake breakfast. The 8 AM “Sonrise Service” is more worship oriented. From 9-10:30, the breakfast will be served. Regular Easter worship services will take place at 11 AM. Saint Margret Mary’s will be doing their Easter Service at their regular time, 8:30 AM. Christ Lutheran Church will be having a potluck brunch at 10:00 AM on Sunday. Their Easter Service will take place at 11 AM. They will have 12 children taking first communion that morning. The United Methodist Church will be doing Easter Services at 2 PM.

Pastor Rich added: “If you would like to join us for the Passover Seder or Easter morning for breakfast, please let us know so we know how much food to prepare. Call Pastor Rich at 406-680-7080. You will be more than welcome. The Lord bless you and be with you in this holy season.”