Houses of worship celebrate Easter on Longboat Key

Five houses of worship on Longboat Key celebrated Easter weekend March 28-31. Here is an inside look at Easter around the island.

Longboat Island Chapel

Courtesy image

The chapel started its Easter celebration with a 6 p.m. Good Friday service on March 29. On Easter Sunday, the chapel had a sunrise service in its Fellowship Garden on March 31. The second service was at 10 a.m. in the sanctuary with an orchestra. 

For any children who attended the service, they received a bag of Easter treats. The Rev. Brock Patterson and Assistant Pastor Jeffery Nunes presided. 

St. Armands Key Lutheran Church 

Photo by Petra Rivera

The Maundy Thursday services started Easter weekend for St. Armands Key Lutheran Church on March 28. It had services at noon and 7 p.m. Good Friday services on March 29 were at noon and 7 p.m. as well. 

For people who couldn’t attend church on Sunday, the church had a 7 p.m. Easter Vigil service on March 30. 

Easter Sunday began at 7 a.m. in the garden. The second garden service was at 10 a.m. 

In the sanctuary, there were two services at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. These were accompanied by a full choir, festive brass and timpani. The Rev. Ken Blyth presided. 

Christ Church of Longboat Key

Photo by Petra Rivera

Christ Church of Longboat Key had a communion service at 7:30 p.m. on Maundy Thursday, March 28. 

This service was titled “As We’ve Been Done to” to remember the Last Supper. The choir sang “Hope of the World.”

On March 29, Christ Church hosted a Tenebrae service for Good Friday. It was written by the Rev. Juila Piermont’s husband, Dennis Piermont as a “Shadows of the Passion," a dramatic retelling of the drama leading to Jesus' crucifixion using narratives from scripture with musical commentary. 

The Easter Sunday service was at 10 a.m. on March 31 with the choir, organ and trumpet.

All Angels By the Sea Episcopal Church

Photo by Petra Rivera

Pastor David Marshall presided over Easter weekend services. All Angels started with their Maundy Thursday services at 4 p.m. on March 28. The Good Friday service was at noon. Easter Sunday was celebrated at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. with a full choir and trumpet. 

St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church

Photo by Petra Rivera

Holy Thursday started the Easter weekend at St. Mary Star of the Sea with a 4 p.m. Mass on March 28. 

At this “Mass of the Lord’s Supper,” St. Mary recreated the washing of the feet scene from the Bible. 

On Good Friday, the Stations of the Cross started at noon on March 29. 

The Good Friday service started at 3 p.m. with "Venerations of the Cross" liturgy. 

On Holy Saturday, parishioners brought their Easter baskets to have them blessed by Father Robert Dziedziak. 

The Easter Vigil Mass was at 6 p.m. on March 30. Easter Sunday Masses were held at 7 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. on March 31.