Easter 2021: Services in Westborough

WESTBOROUGH, MA — Easter celebrations across the country and in Westborough will look different from ever before in 2021 as traditional events such as egg hunts, religious services and restaurant deals will go on virtually as well as in person.

Westborough has a mix of in-person and virtual services this week. Make sure to reserve your spot (when applicable).

New Hope Chapel

30 Milk St, Westborough, MA 01581
508-836-4231

• Service at 7 p.m., in-person and virtual

• Service at 10:30 a.m., in-person and virtual

St. Luke the Evangelist

70 West Main Street Westborough, MA 01581
508-366-5502

All in-person Holy Week and Easter celebrations have already been reserved, but check back with the website for any additional availability.

• 7:30 p.m., virtual

• 7:30, p.m., virtual

• 7:30 p.m., Easter Vigil, virtual

Easter Sunday, April 4

• 7:30 a.m., virtual
• 9 a.m., virtual
• 11 a.m., virtual

Chapel of the Cross

160 Flanders Road Westborough, MA 01581

Good Friday, April 2

• Service at 6:30 p.m., Register for in-person worship or watch virtually

Easter Sunday, April 4

• 9:30 a.m. service, Register for in-person worship or watch virtually
• 11 a.m. service, Register for in-person worship or watch virtually
• Preregister for children's programming at both services

The Congregational Church of Westborough

To join the Zoom, email and ask to join the newsletter where the link will be sent.

Maundy Thursday, April 1, 7 p.m., Zoom and Facebook.

Good Friday, April 2, 12 p.m., "posted to eNews" and Facebook

• 8:30 a.m., live in the parking lot
• 10 a.m. on Zoom and Facebook

First United Methodist Church

120 West Main Street Westborough, MA 01581
Pastor John Taylor cell: 508-451-5858

Maundy Thursday, April 1, 7 p.m., register for in-person worship or watch virtually

Easter Sunday, April 4

• 6:30 a.m. sunrise service, register for in-person worship or watch virtually
• 9 a.m. worship service, register for in-person worship or watch virtually
• 10:45 a.m. worship service, register for in-person worship or watch virtually

Good Shepherd Lutheran

183 West Main Street, Westborough, MA 01581
508-366-7095

Maundy Thursday, April 1

• 5:30 p.m., meet in the parking lot for a fire, and to talk about Jesus' last night with his disciples. (Feel free to bring your own food to share communion.)
• 7 p.m., virtual service live-streamed on Facebook

• 7 p.m., virtual service live-streamed on Facebook

• 7 p.m., Easter Vigil premiering on Facebook. This service will be posted earlier in the day for those who would like to watch it earlier in the day, as it'll be longer than most other services.

• 7:45 a.m., in-person indoor service
• 9 a.m., virtual service streamed on Facebook
• 9 a.m., in-person service in the parking lot
• Around 10:15 a.m., Easter egg hunt
• 10:45 a.m., outdoor service (bring your masks and your own chairs)

Mostly religious services went virtual during the Easter season last year, when the coronavirus pandemic was still fairly new and most states remained under strict shutdown orders in mid-April. This year, there’s more of a combination of virtual and in-person services taking place with the pandemic having passed the one-year mark.

Many major American archdioceses, such as in Chicago, will continue to hold virtual services that will be streamed throughout Holy Week, which includes the Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday and Good Friday holidays leading up to Easter.

Good Friday, on April 2 this year, marks the death of Jesus Christ. Easter, two days later, celebrates the time when he was resurrected. The Sunday holiday always occurs on the Sunday after the first full moon of spring, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac.

Religious traditions on Good Friday include periods of silence and fasting for many Christians, prominently in the Catholic faith.

Fairfax United Methodist Church in Virginia is also streaming its Holy Week services, with an in-person service offered to a limited number of attendees on Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter.

Many Protestant churches will have their traditional sunrise services with social distancing in mind. The Daytona Beach Drive-In Christian Church is having its services on Easter morning, while the Colorado Council of Churches canceled its service at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre and instead will have Bishop Kym Lucas of the Episcopal Church in Colorado lead a virtual service.

One of the most celebrated Easter traditions outside of church is the Easter egg hunt, many of which were canceled last year but will return in some form in 2021. In La Grange, Kentucky, an egg hunt is planned in conjunction with a drive-in theater and movie; and St. John’s United Methodist Church in Rock Hill, South Carolina, already held its egg hunt over two sessions, with early sign-ups required.