Easter Celebrations Begin Thursday in Lemon Grove

The days leading up to Easter feature a mix of religious observances and family friendly celebrations. Churches offer special services, the community will come together for a Good Friday procession, and free festivities include games, food, candy and egg hunts.

Here's what's on the calendar:

MAUNDY THURSDAY

Maundy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper, the final meal Jesus shared with the 12 apostles and the basis for the ceremony known as communion.

The Mass of the Lord's Supper will be said at 7 p.m. at . Traditions include washing the feet of adults to be baptized, blessing oil for sacraments, communion, and the distribution of freshly baked bread as a sign of service to feeding the hungry. Eucharistic Adoration until midnight. The service is bilingual.

There is a Maundy Thursday worship service at 7 p.m. at the

will hold a Maundy Thursday service with communion at 5 p.m. in the church sanctuary.

will host a Lord’s Supper at 6:45 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall at Lemon Grove United Methodist Church. A Middle Eastern-style meal featuring lamb, rice and flatbread will be served, and scriptures will be read during the dinner. Communion will be offered, as will a foot washing service for those who desire to take part in the Maundy Thursday tradition. All ages are welcome.

GOOD FRIDAY

Good Friday observes Christ's final hours, from his trial in Jerusalem to his crucifixion at Golgotha.

The annual starts at 10 a.m. at the First Baptist Church of Lemon Grove.

The community is invited to take part in the Good Friday procession leaving from the and walking a one-mile route to the . Participants will take turns carrying a cross, and there will be several stops along the way so that groups may pray for local businesses, city officials, the fire and sheriff's departments, the homeless and others.

A light lunch will be provided by the Christian Church of Lemon Grove at 11 a.m. The Good Friday service, starting at noon in the sanctuary, will feature the pastors of seven local churches reading scriptures reflecting the last words of Christ on the cross.

The Stations of the Cross will be observed at noon in English, and at 2 p.m. in Spanish at Both services are for worshipers who prefer a meditative time inside the church.

Also at St. John of the Cross Church: live Stations of the Cross, at 2 p.m., presented by the church's Hispanic community. Veneration of the cross and communion follows at 4 p.m. The Passion will be read and sung with musical accompaniment at 7 p.m., and there will be a bilingual rosary said at 9 p.m.

The film, “,” will be shown starting at 7 p.m. at the . The 2004 movie stars James Caviezel as Jesus and was directed by Mel Gibson. Free, and open to all.

HOLY SATURDAY

Many churches hold an Easter vigil service during the evening of Holy Saturday, offering communion and other sacraments traditional to the specific denominations.

Another big event is an that will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Lemon Grove Lutheran Church. This free community celebration features music, games, prizes and family activities. Lunch will be provided, as will cotton candy, popcorn and nachos. The event is co-sponsored by the and the .

An Easter vigil will start at 8 p.m. at St. John of the Cross Church. This service includes the baptism of adults joining the church, which is traditionally done at this time.

EASTER SUNDAY

Easter is observed as both a religious and secular holiday. It's the day Christians believe Christ rose from the dead, but also celebrated as a welcoming of spring that is symbolized by the Easter Bunny. A ham dinner is traditional among families all across America. There are plenty of ways to celebrate today.

starts at 5:30 a.m. at the Lemon Grove Lutheran Church, with breakfast served at 7 a.m.. The church will also have an Easter worship service at 9 a.m. There will be an Easter play performed at 3 p.m., followed by a free dinner. Co-sponsored by the Samoa Independent Full Gospel Church and the Lemon Grove Lutheran Church.

Sunrise service begins at 6:09 a.m. at the . The church will host a pancake breakfast after the sunrise service, and hold a Easter worship service at 10:30 a.m. An egg hunt will follow.

Easter Sunday Mass will be said at 7 a.m., 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. in English, and noon and 7 p.m. in Spanish at

The youth of will perform an Easter play, sing and give speeches during the regular worship service at noon. Pastor Thomas Graham Sr. will deliver the message, “The God of Peace.”

And an egg hunt for children age 11 and younger will take place at 12:30 p.m. on the grass at the Lemon Grove United Methodist Church. Little ones will get a head start on the older kids. There will be games and candy will be awarded. Presented by . Free and open to all.

This article was updated at 5:27 p.m. April 19 to include additional events.