THE CONGREGATIONS of four Linthicum churches will observe Good Friday this week with a ceremonial procession of the cross from church to church.
Members of church youth groups will carry a cross from one church to the next, where there will be a short time for prayers and hymns.
After Stations of the Cross at noon at St. Philip Neri Roman Catholic Church, 6405 S. Orchard Road, congregants will process to Linthicum Heights United Methodist Church, 200 School Lane, then St. Christopher's Episcopal Church, 118 Marydell Road, and finally to St. John Lutheran Church, 300 W. Maple Road.
Three crosses will be erected in the field across Maple Road from St. John's, symbolizing Christ and the criminals who were crucified with him.
Holy Week celebrations
The churches of Ferndale and Linthicum have announced their Holy Week schedules.
Ferndale United Methodist Church, 117 Ferndale Road, is holding a potluck supper at 6: 30 p.m. Monday followed at 7: 30 p.m. by a presentation of Christian music by Witnes-Sing, a 40-member interfaith choir. A traditional Holy Thursday sacrificial supper of soup and crackers with a 7 p.m. reading of the words of the Last Supper will be held. On Good Friday, the church will be open all day for meditation. A Tenebrae Service will be held at 7 p.m., followed by the stripping of the altar.
Easter Sunday services are scheduled at 8: 30 a.m. and 10: 30 a.m., and church members will serve a continental breakfast between services.
As part of the celebration of the church's 75th year, parishioner Robert Lyman will play gospel music on bagpipes at the 10: 30 a.m. service.
St. Philip Neri, 6405 S. Orchard Road, will celebrate a Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7: 30 p.m. Thursday. Good Friday services will begin at 7: 30 p.m. A blessing of food baskets will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, and the First Mass of Easter will be celebrated at 7: 30 p.m. Saturday. Easter Sunday Masses will be celebrated at 8 a.m., 9: 30 a.m., 11 a.m. and 12: 20 p.m.
St. John Lutheran Church, 300 W. Maple Road, has scheduled a sunrise service with Holy Communion at 6: 30 a.m.; hymns of praise service and Holy Communion at 8: 15 a.m., a contemporary service at 9: 45 a.m. Contemporary Service and a celebration with Holy Communion and music by the church youth and adult choirs at 11 a.m.
Linthicum Heights United Methodist Church, 200 School Lane, is having Holy Communion at Holy Run Chapel at 10 a.m. Thursday and a service in the sanctuary at 7: 30 p.m. Thursday.
The Sunday school is sponsoring an Easter breakfast, at 9: 30 a.m Saturday. Reservations are required.
Information: 410-859-0990.
A sunrise service will be held at 6: 30 a.m. Sunday in Benton Park, and another service is scheduled at 11 a.m. in the sanctuary.
Relay for Life meeting
The American Cancer Society has scheduled a meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday at St. John Lutheran Church to discuss the Relay for Life fund-raiser June 18 and 19 at Lindale-Brooklyn Park Middle School.
Information: 410-721-4304.
Workshop to clean up
The Friendly Thyme Herb Club meets Friday at the Ferndale-Linthicum Senior Center, 7205 Baltimore & Annapolis Blvd. A social time with refreshments will be held at 9: 30 a.m., followed by the meeting at 10 a.m.
Karen Davis, a horticulturist who is certified in herbal medicine, will discuss "Making and Marketing Herbal Soap."
Information: Sue Latini, program chairman, 410-766-1463.
AARP to meet at church
The Linthicum chapter of the American Association of Retired Persons is to meet Thursday at St. John Lutheran Church, 300 W. Maple Road. A social hour is planned at noon, and the meeting is at 1 p.m.
A representative of St. Agnes Hospital in Baltimore will present a program on osteoarthritis.
Mary Foster, chairman of the group's spring luncheon, said that tickets will be available at the meeting. The luncheon is scheduled for noon May 21 at the Rose Restaurant in Linthicum. Tickets are $14 and can be purchased from Doris Creamer and Helen Szech.
Information: 410-850-4630.
Blood drive
Linthicum Heights United Methodist Church is sponsoring a Red Cross blood drive at the church, 200 School Lane from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. April 6.
Information: 410-859-0990.