Special Services of Worship

At Easley Presbyterian Church we also gather for worship at special times throughout the church year.  

The Season of Advent and Christmas

During the season of Advent we anticipate the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies of the coming of the Messiah. Advent includes the four Sundays preceding Christmas and our Sunday worship services focus on the tension between waiting for the expected Savior and the hope that Jesus brings at his birth. Special music, the lighting of an Advent Wreath, and Advent hymns enhance the Sunday Lord’s Day Services. Other special events are planned for children and the entire congregation as we prepare our hearts and minds to receive the newborn King.

Special Christmas Eve services at 5:00 pm and 8:00 pm celebrate the mystery of the incarnation and the nativity of the Christ child. Both services include preaching of the Word, special music and candlelight. Communion is served at 8:00 pm. The children’s and youth choirs sing at the 5:00 pm service and the adult choir at the 8:00 pm service.

The Season of Lent and Easter

The seasons of Lent and Easter celebrate the most important aspect of Christian life—the redemption and salvation of Christians through the death and resurrection of Christ. Beginning with an evening service of worship on Ash Wednesday, which includes the imposition of ashes, we anticipate and prepare for Christ’s victory over death. The 40 days of Lent represent the time Jesus spent in the wilderness enduring the temptation of Satan. 

Maundy Thursday, also called Holy Thursday, commemorates Jesus’ Last Supper with his disciples. We have an evening worship service which includes the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. The word ‘Maundy’ comes from the Latin mandatum, which means “commandment.” At the Last Supper Jesus gave the disciples a new commandment to love one another as he had loved them (John 13:34).

A noon service of worship on Good Friday marks a time of remembrance of Christ’s crucifixion and preparation for Easter. Historically, Christians around the world have marked the season of Lent by fasting, penitence, prayer and ultimately joy and celebration.

Easter Sunday worship is the culmination of the Holy Week observances. We celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ with heart, mind and voice. 

Service of Wholeness

We believe that God's intention for us and for our world is wholeness and healing.  Once a year we offer an evening Service of Wholeness where we seek God's healing presence for ourselves and for others. All are invited to receive the laying on of hands and anointing with oil, a sign of healing, forgiveness, and the fullness of life Christ gives.

The Christian Service of Marriage

At Easley Presbyterian Church, weddings are occasions of both joy and reverence—joy because of the gifts of love and happiness that the bride and groom have found in each other, and reverence because of the deep commitment they have made to live out their vows under the grace of God.

The Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA) says the following about marriage and weddings in the church:

Marriage is a gift God has given to all humankind for the well-being of the entire human family. Marriage is a civil contract between a woman and a man. For Christians, marriage is a covenant through which a man and a woman offer vows before God to live out together their lives of discipleship. In a service of Christian marriage, a lifelong commitment is made by a woman and a man to each other, publicly witnessed and acknowledged by the community of faith.

If you would like more information about scheduling a wedding at Easley Presbyterian Church, please contact the church office.

The Service of Witness to the Resurrection

At Easley Presbyterian Church, the Christian funeral is a service of witness to the resurrection, as outlined in the Presbyterian Book of Order. This special service of worship includes a sermon, scripture, prayers, and appropriate music.

The Book of Order states the following about services upon the occasion of death:

The resurrection is a central doctrine of the Christian faith and shapes Christians’ attitudes and responses to the event of death. Death brings loss, sorrow, and grief to all. In the face of death Christians affirm with tears and joy the hope of the gospel. Christians do not bear bereavement in isolation but are sustained by the power of the Spirit and the community of faith.

If you would like more information, please contact one of the pastors. A copy of the End of Life Planning Guide is available in the church office.