By Renee Wood
Yarra Valley churches are welcoming the community to join an Easter Service.
Healesville Uniting Church will be hosting various services from Thursday 14 April to Sunday 17 April at both the Healesville and Yarra Glen Uniting Church.
Rev. Deacon Debrah Kottek said the services are open to all who would like to attend.
“Anyone is welcome to any of the services whether you normally go to church or not, we’re very welcoming of everybody,” Rev. Deacon Kottek said.
Last Easter saw some restrictions on churches, with density limits and mask wearing in force, but this year things are back to normal with no requirements, other than for hospitality offerings.
Rev. Deacon Kottek said Easter is a time that brings deep reflection commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
“Good Friday is a beautiful time to go to church but it is a time of deep reflection and emotion and sadness as well.
“With all the struggle people have experienced over the last couple of years with Covid – Good Friday touches people generally quite deeply.”
Rev. Deacon Kottek said the church is always there for people who need support and encourages anyone to reach out and use the resource.
“We are all spiritual beings and we do feel things in differently and finding our faith for many of us is source of strength.”
The Easter Sunday service will also be accompanied by a morning tea, with the day symbolic of a celebration for the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
“Certainly it’s about the message of hope that can be found in the gospel today and how can we live together in this world today as people of the gospel.”
Service information:
Maundy Thursday – 7pm Yarra Glen Uniting Church
Good Friday – 10am Healesville Uniting Church
Easter Sunday – 9am Yarra Glen Uniting Church and 11am Healesville Uniting Church
Catholic Parish of Healesville Easter Mass Times
14 April – Holy Thursday
7:30 pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper followed by Altar of Repose, Individual Prayer and Adoration.
15 April – Good Friday
3:00pm Passion of the Lord
16 April – Holy Saturday
7.30pm Easter Vigil Mass
17 April Easter Sunday Mass
10:30am St. Patrick’s, Lilydale
8:30am St. Brigid’s, Healesville
St Aloysius – Yarra Glen
10am Good Friday for Stations of the Cross
St John’s Anglican Church
Good Friday
10am Remembrance Service
Resurrection Sunday
9.30am Holy Communion
