Waving of palms will mark the beginning of Holy Week at the First Congregational Church of Wiscasset at the celebration of Palm Sunday on April 9 at 10 a.m. The title of Reverend Josh Fitterling’s sermon will be, “Shouts and Wonder.”

Holy Week services continue on Maundy Thursday, April 13, at 7 p.m. with a candlelight communion service commemorating the Last Supper.

This year, the church will be open from noon to 3 p.m. on Good Friday for prayer and quiet contemplation. The church bell will toll at noon and again at 3 p.m., marking the hours of darkness that fell over the land while Christ was on the cross.

St. Philip’s Episcopal Church will join the First Congregational Church for Easter by the Bay, a community sunrise service on the Wiscasset pier, beginning at 6 a.m. on Easter, April 16. Music will be provided by Dr. Jeff Grosser and Sarah Whitfield. Following the service, coffee and doughnuts will be served in the Wiscasset Yacht Club. Blankets and folding chairs are recommended for those attending but some chairs will be available. In the event of rain, the service will be held in the yacht club.

The 10 a.m. Easter service will celebrate the hope and faith of Easter with the sermon, “Tell it Again” by Rev. Fitterling. The choir under the direction of Leela Koilpillai will perform Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus from the Messiah. Easter hymns will be accompanied by Roger Whitney on the flugelhorn. Coffee hour will follow the service.

The First Congregational Church is located at 28 High Street in Wiscasset. All events are open to the public and guests are always welcome. For more information contact the office at 207-882-7544, at fccw@myfairpoint.net or view the website at www.uccwiscasset.org.