Special Seasons

Lent, Holy Week, and Easter

Lent

Lent begins with an Ash Wednesday service at 6:30 P.M., at which time ashes from last year's Palm Sunday will be placed on the foreheads of those attending.

Holy Week

Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday; our service at 11:00 A.M. opens with the waving of palm branches as a symbol of our Savior's entry into Jerusalem. Meet in Smoot Hall at 10:45 to receive your palm branch and join the procession!

The Maundy Thursday "Service of Remembrance" with a celebration of the Lord's Supper at 7:00 P.M. There is a dinner beforehand at 6:00 in Smoot Hall.
It is also a tradition for CPC musicians to present a Music for Holy Week concert for the Thursday Noonday Concert during this week.

On Good Friday at 7:00 P.M., we celebrate a Service of Darkness (Tenebrae) in memory of Jesus' death on the cross.

Easter

The sunrise service is held at the Zilker Clubhouse patio approximately 30 minutes before sunrise on Easter morning; most years, the service begins about 6:30 A.M. The clubhouse is located at 200 Zilker Clubhouse Road.

Easter breakfast is held at CPC at 9:00 A.M. in Smoot Hall. Please join us!

Following breakfast, at 9:30, the children have an Easter symbol hunt in the courtyard.

The "Flowering of the Cross," in which we cover a cross with beautiful flowers to symbolize our risen Christ, also begins after breakfast in the courtyard. You are encouraged to bring flowers from your yard, but we also have many flowers to share.

Easter worship service begins at 11:00 A.M. in the sanctuary. Special music is provided by our choir. Come be a part of this wonderful service, celebrating our risen Lord!

Advent and Christmas

Hanging of the Greens Service

The Hanging of the Greens is a special worship service to celebrate the coming of the Christmas season. The service includes people of all ages, from the young children who will be hanging some of the Chrismons to some of our oldest members.

In this service we will adorn our sanctuary with garlands and wreaths, light the Advent wreath and place Chrismons (ornaments made from Christian symbols, or "Christ monograms") on the Chrismon tree. We will learn what they all symbolize, from where the customs come, and why they are important to us today.

Special music during the service will include the CPC children's and adult chancel choirs, soloists, and the handbell choir.

A traditional Christmas dinner is served prior to the service, and a dessert reception follows the service. Both are served in Smoot Hall.

We invite everyone to join us for this wonderful way to bring in the Advent season!

Advent

Advent begins four Sundays before Christmas. Each year, we celebrate the coming of Christ with special music, the lighting each week of our Advent wreath, and communion each week as a reminder that this is a holy season, not a commercial one.

Christmas Eve – Carols, Communion, and Candlelight

To celebrate Christ's birth, we hold a special evening service on Christmas eve, featuring favorite Christmas music, communion, and the lighting of candles. Following the service, a reception is held in Smoot Hall. The service begins at 6:30 P.M. in the sanctuary.