Local Congregations Gather Together for Ecumenical Lenten Worship Series and Annual Community Palm Processional

April 13th, 2025 - Throughout the season of Lent,  First Presbyterian Church, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Trinity United Methodist, Memorial United Methodist Church, St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Church, Prince Chapel AME, and Prince of Peace Lutheran Church joined together for weekly, combined ecumenical worship services. The services rotated between each church location with a different clergy person leading the worship each week. 

These ecumenical services have been ongoing for a few years with even more churches joining in recently. Rev. Dr. Mark Charles of Memorial United Methodist says that the reason behind the partnership is clear. “The work of bringing people together is important and prophetic. Drawing strict lines and separating ourselves from one another leads only to isolation and dead ends. But finding ways to meet together and move closer to one another creates a spirit of unity which does not demand uniformity. It’s hope-filled work that I’m proud to be a part of with these amazing colleagues.”

Christians recognize Lent as the 40 days, minus Sundays, leading up to Holy Week and Easter. Palm Sunday is the beginning of Holy Week, marking the celebratory entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem before this trial, crucifixion, and resurrection.  To mark Palm Sunday, some of the same clergy and congregations gathered again Sunday on the steps of  the courthouse downtown for prayers, liturgy, and scripture readings. In the tradition of Palm Sunday, the congregations then processed up Centre Street together, toward their churches, waving palm fronds.

This ecumenical celebration for the community has been taking place for years, with congregations from a variety of local Christian churches participating. And the clergy say this connection between people from a shared Christian faith is important, even as the congregations are of varied denominational traditions. As Rev. Dawn Hayes from First Presbyterian said, ”We are the People of Jesus Christ, one church, together”

The clergy participating in the Community Palm Sunday Processional were Rev. Dawn Hayes and Rev. Julie Higbee from First Presbyterian, Rev. Dr. Mark Charles and Rev. Rachel Williams from Memorial, Rev. Doug Hodsdon, Rev. Rachel McElwee, and Rev. Annette Sines from St. Peter’s, and Rev. Gary Hutcheson, the Director of Spiritual Care & Clinical Pastoral Education at Community Hospice.