GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - Local churches will celebrate Easter and Jesus Christ’s resurrection in a variety of inspiring ways, weaving a rich fabric of faith and friendship.

The Sanctuary United Pentecostal Church is located at 200 Haskell St. in Gridley, across from Vierra Park. They are planning an Easter Sunday service at 10:00 a.m., with candy bags for all the children in attendance.

The Gridley Christian Church plans a special worship service the morning of Easter Sunday, March 31 at 10:30 a.m.  A finger-food breakfast will be served before the service, 9:15 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. Their church is located at 580 Washington St. on the corner of Hazel St.

Calvary Chapel of Gridley has prepared a dramatization of the Last Supper, featuring 13 actors recreating the scene depicted in da Vinci’s painting “The Last Supper.” It will be shared four times: March 29 and 30 at 7:00 pm, and Sunday morning March 31 at 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. They are located at 210 Park St.

The First Baptist Church of Gridley will begin Easter Sunday with a sunrise service outside the church at 6:15am, followed by breakfast.  Pastor David Henry will give the sermon, and the praise team will provide music. Their usual Sunday morning service at 10:45am will also be held. They are located at 100 Vermont St.

Local congregations of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are planning special Easter Sunday services commemorating the atonement and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Services will be held at the Liberty meetinghouse at 1259 French Ave. and at the Stake Center meetinghouse at 400 Spruce Street, both at 10:00am.

Christian Life Assembly, located at 1526 Humble Ave., will hold a free Easter egg hunt for the community after their morning services. Their service starts at 10:30 a.m., and the egg hunt will start about 12:30 p.m. and include prizes and food.

St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church plans a Palm Sunday service March 24 at 10:00 a.m. It begins in the Harris Pavilion and then progresses into the Sanctuary. This is followed on Maundy Thursday, March 28, by a service at 5:00 p.m., to commemorate the Institution of the Lord’s Supper and the Washing of the disciples’ feet. Good Friday is considered by the Episcopal Church as the principal fast day. The commemoration begins at noon March 29. Holy Saturday, worshippers gather at 10:00 a.m. to remember that Jesus was entombed in a borrowed grave. That evening at 6:00 p.m., church members gather for the Great Vigil. The Easter Sunday service celebrating the resurrection begins at 10:00 a.m. The church is located at 410 Jackson St.

Sacred Heart Catholic Church will celebrate several liturgies during the week leading up to Easter Sunday, beginning on Holy Thursday, March 28, with a Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 6:00 p.m. in English at Sacred Heart in Gridley, located at 1560 Hazel St., and 7:30 p.m. in Spanish at Our Lady of Guadalupe in Live Oak, located at 9660 Broadway. On Good Friday, March 29, an outdoor “Stations of the Cross” or “Via Crucis” will take place at noon at the parish property behind the Safeway shopping center on Bonnell Ave. in Gridley. There will also be services commemorating the Passion of the Lord that day: at 3:00 p.m. in English at Sacred Heart and at 6:00 p.m. in Spanish both at Sacred Heart and Our Lady of Guadalupe. On Saturday, March 30, the most solemn Catholic liturgy of the year takes place, known as the Easter Vigil Mass, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in English and 8:30 p.m. in Spanish, both at Sacred Heart in Gridley. Finally, on Easter Sunday, there are Masses at 10:00 a.m. in English at both Sacred Heart in Gridley and at Our Lady of Guadalupe in Live Oak, at noon in Spanish at Sacred Heart in Gridley, at 2:00 p.m. in Spanish at Our Lady of Guadalupe in Live Oak, and at 5:00 p.m. in English at Sacred Heart in Gridley.

All local churches invite and welcome visitors to their Easter services, a season of great faith and celebration.