Holy Week & Easter

Holy Week is the last week of Lent, the week of Christian observances leading to Easter Sunday. It begins with Palm Sunday (March 29th) and progresses through Holy or Maundy Thursday (April 2nd) and Good Friday (April 3rd). From the waving of palm branches while shouting “Hosanna!” to the confusion of one ritual and creation of another, to the sham trial and gathering of the mob shouting “Crucify Him!” to the slow painful journey to the cross ending with a triumphant shout and darkening skies, Holy Week captures the most important week in the history of the faith.

We remember as we worship the One who gave His life for us. Holy Week, observed in many Christian churches as a time to commemorate and enact the suffering (Passion) and death of Jesus through various observances and services of worship, culminates with the Easter Sunday celebrations.

Source:  UMC Communications

  • Good Friday Service: April 3rd

    Make plans to join us for a Good Friday service on Friday, April 3rd, beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary. Our Good Friday service will include a Passion narrative with musical reflections. It will be a contemplative service offering an opportunity for deep and personal prayer. 

    It is a wonderful service to bring a neighbor or a friend. Childcare, for ages newborn through Pre-Kindergarten, will be available in Childcare Corner during the worship service. The service will be live-streamed on the Duluth First UMC Worship channel on YouTube.

  • Celebrating Easter at Duluth First UMC: Sunday, April 5th

    Sunrise Service with Communion: 7:00 a.m. in front of the church (or in the Sanctuary in case of rain)
    Join us Easter morning at 7:00 a.m. in front of the main entrance to the Sanctuary for our Easter Sunrise Service with Communion. This service includes singing, prayers, devotion, and Holy Communion. The 7:00 a.m. Sunrise service will be live-streamed on the Duluth First UMC Worship channel on YouTube.

    PLEASE NOTE: We will not be holding our 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship service on Easter morning. Please make plans to join us at the 7:00 Sunrise Service and/or at either of the 11:00 a.m. Contemporary Worship or Traditional Worship services.


    Easter Morning Fellowship: 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. in the Dorothy L. Rainey Fellowship Hall
    Join us on Easter morning for a time of fellowship from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. in the Dorothy L. Rainey Fellowship Hall. All ages are welcome! Pastries and coffee will be available.


    Contemporary Worship Service with Communion: 11:00 a.m. in Hinton Hall
    The worship band, technical team, prayer team and pastor will be energized and ready to join with you in the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The 11:00 a.m. Contemporary Worship service in Hinton Hall, located in the Sheldon Family Life Center, will be live-streamed on the Duluth First UMC Contemporary Worship page on Facebook.

    Traditional Worship Service with Communion: 11:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary
    At the Traditional Worship service in the Sanctuary, the music will be as glorious as the day deserves with the choir lifting praises to God, ending with our annual Easter acclamation, Handel’s Hallelujah! The 11:00 a.m. Traditional Worship service will be live-streamed on the Duluth First UMC Worship channel on YouTube.

    PLEASE NOTE:  Childcare, for ages newborn through Pre-Kindergarten, will be available in Childcare Corner for all worship services, and during the 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Sunday School hour.

  • Bring Flowers for Easter Morning: April 5th

    The Worship Committee invites you to bring fresh flowers from your home to adorn the resurrection crosses that will be located outside of the Sanctuary and inside Hinton Hall on Easter morning, April 5th.

  • Share Your Easter Morning Family and Friends Photos with Us!

    One of the Easter morning traditions at Duluth First UMC is when family and friends have their pictures taken in front of the resurrection crosses outside of the Sanctuary and in Hinton Hall to remember the joy of the day. We would like you to share your best picture with us, and they will be posted at a later date as a photo album on the church’s Facebook and Instagram social media pages.


    Please select your best/favorite family and friends picture from the morning  and please email it (just one picture please) to Ken Willi, Director of Communications, by e-mail at kwilli@duluthumc.org. Please put EASTER PICTURE in the subject line of your e-mail and include your family’s name or the names of the friends in your group. Please submit your Easter picture no later than Friday, April 17th.

  • Lenten Devotional Videos

    from our Youth Ministry students

    Hello!

     

    The season of Lent is underway, and we are excited to kick off our Lenten Devotional Series as we explore what it means to draw near to God. 

     

    Every Wednesday during Lent, we will post a short devotional video by one of our students on our Youth Ministry's YouTube channel. We would love for you to journey with us by watching and sharing these videos with others! Also, please hit the subscribe button to get notifications whenever we post new content on our YouTube channel. 

     

    We hope you enjoy the videos, and thank you for journeying with us during this Lenten season!

     

    Have a blessed day!


    March 25, 2026 (week #5): Ansley Philips

    March 18, 2026 (week #4): Sarah Johnson

    Please Note: There was no video for week #3.

    March 4, 2026 (week #2): Caleb Ballantine

    February 25, 2026 (week #1): Chase Parrish

  • 2026 Lenten Calendar Available

    Please look for our 2026 Lenten calendar, 40 Days of Lent in the Name of Jesus, in the worship handouts on Sunday, February 15th. The Lenten calendar is also available for download by clicking on LENT 2026. The Lenten calendar is provided to you by the volunteer librarians of The Louise McDaniel Memorial Library.