First Holy Communion Classes for children 5 years old or older begin March 23 and continue on March 30 and April 6. These classes will prepare the children for their First Communion on Easter Sunday, April 20. 9:50-10:30am in the Children’s Chapel room (last classroom on the right in the Parish Hall). 

Sign up here

You’re invited this Lent to a special sacred music concert by our now almost-famous St. Laurence Chorale, performing Maurice Duruflé's Requiem. This music for the dead is traditionally performed during Lent in preparation for Good Friday and the crucifixion of Jesus. This is one of the most popular and intense settings of these sacred texts that is sure to give you chills. Join us for a truly wonderful experience on Sun, March 23 at 5:00pm in the Church, followed by a Wine and Cheese Reception in the Parish Hall. 

All those who are in charge of a St. Laurence ministry are asked to attend a Ministry Leader Meeting next Sun, March 23 at 6:15pm. We’ll talk about the shut down of the current Parish Hall on April 28 and the relocation of meeting spaces for the 6 months of the renovation. We want everyone to have all the information possible and to have the opportunity to ask questions. The meeting will follow the Choir Requiem Concert and the wine and cheese reception and will be held in the Church. 

Join us for Wednesdays in Lent

• 5:45pm, Dinner in the Parish Hall, hosted by various ministry groups

• 6:30pm, Stations of the Cross in the Church

• 7:05pm, Stay in the chuch for a short teaching by one of our clergy

The funeral for Shelby Dawson is Sat, March 29 at 11:00am, followed by a luncheon reception in the Parish Hall. All are welcome. May he rest in peace and rise in glory. 

Join us for Wednesdays in Lent

• 5:45pm, Dinner in the Parish Hall, hosted by various ministry groups

• 6:30pm, Stations of the Cross in the Church

• 7:05pm, Stay in the chuch for a short teaching by one of our clergy

Join us for Wednesdays in Lent

• 5:45pm, Dinner in the Parish Hall, hosted by various ministry groups

• 6:30pm, Stations of the Cross in the Church

• 7:05pm, Stay in the chuch for a short teaching by one of our clergy

All women of the Parish are invited to the April meeting of the St. Laurence Women on Thurs, April 10 from 6:30-8:30pm in the Parish Hall. Through some fun engagement activities, the women will enjoy sharing impactful pieces of advice they’ve received from older loved ones, role models or the special people who God has put in their lives. Come for dinner and a fun evening. Please bring your beverage of choice and $10 for dinner. Childcare for kids 5 and under is available.

On this day almost 2,000 years ago, our Lord entered the holy city of Jerusalem. It seemed to be His moment of triumph as the people welcomed Him in the way they welcomed their kings on great occasions, with shouts of praise and palm branches thrown in His path. But by the following Friday, the crowd’s “hosannas” had changed to “Crucify him!” and Jesus was being raised onto a cross. The Palm Sunday Mass highlights this shift from triumph to agony.

The Mass begins remembering Jesus’ “triumphant” entry into Jerusalem with the Liturgy of the Palms. This mini-liturgy will begin on our back lawn. There, the palms will be blessed and distributed to the congregation. We will then sing the traditional hymn, All Glory, Laud, and Honor and go all together in procession into the Church just as the people would have done that day in Jerusalem. 

Beginning with the readings from Holy Scripture, the mood of the Liturgy changes dramatically. The focus shifts from Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem to His passion on the cross. The reading of the Passion Gospel reminds us that we are all part of this great drama of redemption. The truth of this day is that, by our sins, we all are responsible for the passion and death of our Lord. The glory of this day is that we know the Resurrection is coming, bringing with it the promise of everlasting life. 

Truth and Glory - these are Palm Sunday’s gifts to the worshiper. Holy Week begins. 

Meet on the lawn in the back by the office. The service will start there and then the congregation will process into the Church. If walking is difficult for you, please go directly to the Church. There will be a separate palms service there and you will be joined by the congregation as they process in.  

Bring the kids and join us for a fun evening on Holy Wednesday, April 16 outside on the lawn between the Church and Parish Hall. The little ones will dye Easter eggs with the help of the God Squad. We do ask that parents stay and help as well. Please bring 1 dozen hard boiled eggs per child. The Middle and High School Youth will assemble Blessing Bags which will be handed out to the homeless on the street outside Union Gospel Mission on Good Friday. We’ll start at 5:00pm with activities, we’ll serve pizza and then end with Stations of the Cross at 6:30pm. What a great night!

This is the night Jesus gathered with His disciples in an upper room in Jerusalem for one last supper.

This is the night Jesus took a towel and washed His disciples’ feet, manifesting the life of service to which He calls His followers.

This is the night Jesus instituted the Eucharist. On this night Jesus intended for every generation of His followers, through this meal, to enter into the sacrifice He was about to make and be nourished by Him on our journey to heaven.

All these elements of the first Maundy Thursday are part of the liturgy of every Maundy Thursday. It is one of the most beautiful and deeply moving of the Church’s liturgies. During the service, our priests will wash the feet of those parishioners who wish to participate.  

We are once again heading to UGM to provide a wonderful spaghetti lunch on April 18, Good Friday! There are lots of ways to serve. Food donations, meal prep and cooking, serving drinks and the meal, singing hymns, and helping the youth hand out blessing bags to our friends on the street just to name a few!  If you are interested in signing up to help or to donate a food item, please see Trudy Baade or Gail Lindley in the Parish Hall between the services on Sundays.

Join us for Stations of the Cross on Good Friday at noon. Parishioners are invited to retrace the final journey of Jesus Christ to Calvary, moments lived in suffering for our sake. Walk the 14 stations or participate from the pews, it’s a truly personal and meaningful service.

On this day, Jesus was murdered, for us and for our salvation. It is a day to think on Christ crucified, to confess our sins, and to remember God’s incredible love for each of us. Service begins at 7:00pm

The Great Vigil of Easter on Saturday night is the most important of all Christian feasts and liturgies. It is the Church’s most ancient way of celebrating our Lord’s resurrection and is celebrated during the night which begins Easter Day.

On this most holy night our Lord Jesus Christ passed over from death to life. Thus the Church calls her children throughout the world to come together in vigil, prayer and celebration. Through the unique liturgy of this feast we celebrate not only Christ’s Victory but our share in it. 

The Vigil is comprised of four elements:

• The Service of Light: The Vigil begins outside the Church with a fire being kindled and blessed. From this fire, a very large candle, the Paschal Candle, is lit. This great candle represents the risen Christ, triumphing over darkness and death; it will burn throughout the fifty days of the Easter Season. From the light of this candle, the congregation’s candles are lit, and then all go in procession following the Pascal Candle into the Church. The Church is dark, like a tomb. Except for the flickering of the candles, the Church remains dark until the Mass of the Resurrection. As the people enter, the darkness of the Church is pushed back, the power of Christ’s resurrection to overcome death is seen, and we understand the words of St. John, “And the light shined in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it!” (John 1:5 ) The Service of Light concludes with the chanting of the Exsultet (“Rejoice!”), an ancient hymn in praise of our Lord’s Passover victory.

• The Vigil Readings: We hear the record of God’s saving deeds throughout history as we read several Old Testament Lessons.

• The Baptismal Liturgy: Easter and Holy Baptism are intimately connected. In “going down into the water” we are joined to Jesus’ death and in coming up, we are joined to His resurrection. Thus the Vigil proceeds to Baptism and the renewal of Baptismal Vows by all the faithful. For many centuries, this was the only time in the entire year when Baptism was administered.

• The Mass: The Vigil reaches its consummation in the glorious first Mass of the Resurrection. As the bells ring, the Celebrant says “Alleluia, Christ is Risen,” suddenly the darkness is dispelled as all the lights in the Church are lit. Then we hear the news of the Risen Christ.

Join us for a glorious Easter morning as we celebrate the resurrection of our Savior. The Alleluias repeated again and again throughout the Masses of Resurrection Day signal the beginning of the Church’s fifty-day celebration of the Resurrection. 

At 9:50am between the morning services, we’ll have a spectacular Easter brunch complete with mimosas and an Easter Egg Hunt for the kids.

Service Schedule:

• 8:30am

• 10:45am

Join us Easter Morning for an incredible Easter Brunch complete with bountiful food tables and mimosas! Both indoor and outdoor seating will be available. Come celebrate our Risen Lord with your St. Laurence family.

 Our Easter Egg Hunt will be held in the grass lot to the north of the Parish Hall parking lot. Please bring 12-18 plastic eggs per child (filled with individually wrapped candy, stickers or trinkets). The hunt is for all kids 5th grade and under and will be divided by age. Kids should bring a basket for their eggs and parents should be ready for some incredible photo ops! A special food table for the kids and their parents will be available so they don’t miss out on anything.

All men of the Parish are invited to Bingo Night at UGM  on Mon, April 21. Join us for a great night of fellowship with the men at Union Gospel Mission in Ft. Worth. Meet at Swift Lindley’s House at 6:00pm to car pool. Bingo starts at 7:00pm.