One will have food trucks, while another is encouraging carpooling.
One plans a lakeside “Sonrise” service, while another will have water baptisms following its early morning services.
And those are just a few of the variations on the theme of Easter expressed through planned celebrations at area churches.
Exciting Idlewild Baptist Church has five celebrations planned this Easter, including food trucks on April 19 and special performances by the orchestra and choir the next day, on Easter morning.
The church’s website poses the question: “Hunting for something more this Easter?” And then it answers that query with an invitation to come and discover more at the Lutz megachurch at 18333 Exciting Idlewild Blvd.
The church plans “to celebrate the glorious meaning of the Resurrection” with services set for 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. on April 19, its website says. Food trucks will be there from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., that day for anyone who wants to grab a bite to eat.
On Easter morning, services are planned at 8, 9:30 and 11, with the orchestra and choir prompting worship. Breakfast treats will be available and photographers will take free family photos in the Gatheria, the church’s large gathering space, following each service.
Mike Holm, a minister who lives in Zephyrhills but who leads a church in Lutz, said Easter is a tremendously important day in the Christian calendar.
“It’s because the Resurrection of Jesus is the central event of all humanity,” said Holm, who is pastor of Calvary Chapel of Tampa in Lutz, and president of the Zephyrhills/Wesley Chapel Ministerial Association.
Jesus’ death and Resurrection means “that death has been defeated,” Holm said, allowing for “complete reconciliation” with God.
While St. Timothy Catholic Church is welcoming worshippers, it’s advising them that they may want to attend an earlier Mass or to carpool. The church, at 17512 Lakeshore Road, has fewer parking spaces because of a construction project at its campus.
Its Mass schedule includes an Easter Vigil Mass at 8 p.m. on April 19, an Easter Sunrise Mass at 7 a.m., and Easter Masses at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., and 1 p.m. on April 20.
For those who like to get up with the birds, Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church at 2348 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes, will have a 6 a.m. Easter sunrise service. The church also will have an Easter Vigil Mass at 7:30 p.m. on April 19 and Easter Sunday Masses at 7:45 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
Its Spanish Mass is at 1:30 p.m.
At First United Methodist Church in Lutz, 960 Lutz Lake Fern Road, worshippers will have plenty of choices. There’s a lakeside Easter “Sonrise” service at 7 a.m., followed by a traditional chapel service at 8 a.m., a blended service at 9:45 a.m., and a contemporary service at 11 a.m.
There’s also a pancake breakfast between services, with a donation box available for diners to make contributions.
On its website, First United Methodist encourages worshippers to bring fresh flowers to adorn the cross, signifying that new life comes through the death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Grace Family Church, at 5101 Van Dyke Road in Lutz, is inviting worshippers to Easter Sunday services at 7 a.m., 9:30 a.m., and 11:30 a.m. A water baptism will follow the 7 a.m. sunrise service.
Some of the highlights of Easter services around the area include:
• Lutz First Baptist, 18116 N. U.S. 41, April 18 at 7 p.m., and April 20 at both 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
• Northpointe Church, 2427 Old Cypress Creed Road in Land O’ Lakes: April 19 at 6:30 p.m., and April 20 at 9:15 a.m. and 11 a.m.
• Benedictine Sisters of Florida, Saint Leo University, 33201 State Road 52 in St. Leo: April 19 Easter Vigil at 8 p.m., and Easter Sunday Mass at 10:30 a.m.
• Heritage Church, 1854 Oak Grove Blvd., Lutz: Easter Sunday services at 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.
• Keystone Community Church, 21010 State Road 54 in Lutz: Easter Sunday sunrise service at 7 a.m., and late service at 10:30 a.m.
• Messiah Lutheran Church and Preschool, 14920 Hutchison Road in Tampa, Easter Sunday outdoor sunrise service at 7 a.m., and contemporary service at 9:45 a.m.
• Van Dyke Church, 17030 Lakeshore Road in Lutz: Easter services at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. on April 19, and at 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on April 20.
• St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church, 12747 Interlaken Road in New Port Richey, Easter Sunrise service at 7:30 a.m. in the church parking lot, but it will move indoors if it is raining. There also will be an Easter Vigil at 7:45 p.m. on April 19 and two Masses on Easter, at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., on April 20.
Published April 16, 2014
