Easter Weekend at Gothic Churches of Chicago

Easter is coming early this year. In fact, Palm Sunday is the day before the official St. Patrick's Day celebration. The early Easter holiday has caused some communites to change the dates of their Saint Patrick's Day parades.

Churches are formed when people gather together to worship. Church buildings are erected to house and protect the worshipers. The upcoming Holy Week is an important time of worship for Christians. Christians gather to remember Palm Sunday, the Crucification of Jesus on Good Friday and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday Morning.

Easter is an especially joyous Christian holiday, for people who celebrate the true meaning or Jesus Resurrection and Eternal Life in Heaven.

Children look forward to Easter and visits from the Easter Bunny, Chocolate Candy and Easter Egg hunts. The Easter customs are ofter observed early on Easter morning, before the family goes to church.

Easter parties include chocolate bunnies, jelly beans, ham dinners and family gatherings. Easter is not an overly commercial holiday. Simple Easter observances make the Christian holiday special.

Good Friday is a time of quiet reflection for many people. Churches and chapels welcome worshipers who come to pray and meditate. Many churches hold solemn Vigils on Saturday night, which are symbolic of waiting for Christ to rise from his tomb. On Easter Sunday morning Christians are overjoyed at the renewal of spirit that comes with the realization that Christ has risen from the grave and covered our sins. The resurrection was essential to make a pathway for believers to go to heaven.

There will be Easter Services at churches throughout the world. If you are looking for a special church to observe Holy Week and Easter Sunday, consider one of the historic Gothic churches of Chicago. The historic churches have risen up from the ashes of the Great Chicago Fire of the late 1800's. Imposing Gothic structures has been places for worship for close to, or over, a century.

Discover the miracle of Easter in one of the unique historic churches in the Chicago Loop.

Historic Gothic churches of Chicago include: First United Methodist Church Chicago Temple, Fourth Presbyterian Church, The Moody Church, St James Episcopal, Holy Name Cathedral. Following are Gothic historic churches of the Windy City and their Easter weekend services.

First United Methodist Church Chicago Temple.
This historic church is distinghished as Chicago's oldest congregation, formed in 1831. The Gothic Temple, across the street from Daley Plaza, was built in 1924 and was the tallest skyscraper in Chicago for a time.
77 West Washington Street, Chicago, IL 1-312-236-4548

Maundy Thursday, March 20, Noontime Worship 12:10 pm, Holy Communion 6pm in the Sanctuary
Good Friday, March 21, "The Seven Last Words from the Cross" in 25 minute segments from noon to 3:00 pm
Saturday, March 22:Easter Vigil 5:00 pm Dixon Chapel
Easter Sunday March 23: Easter Sunrise Services 6:00 am, 6:30 am and 7:00 am Chapel in the Sky
Easter Sunday Festival Services 8:30 am and 11:00 am, Special Easter music by the Chancel Choir

Fourth Presbyterian Church
The Gothic structure, built in 1914, is on Chicago's Magnificent Mile, directly across the street from the John Hancock Center.
126 East Chestnut Street, Chicago, IL , 1-312-787-8425

Maundy Thursday, March 20: 12:10 pm Communion Service, 7:30 pm Tenebrae Communion Service
Good Friday, March 21: 12:10 pm Good Friday Services, 4:00 pm Children's Service, 5:10 pm, Silent Retreat, 7:30 pm Choral Service
Saturday, March 22: Easter Vigil 10:30 pm to midnight in the Sanctuary.

The Moody Church
Moody Bible Church was started in 1858. The current church building opened in 1876. The Moody Bible Institute Garage is at the northwest corner of Wells and Institute Streets. Take the complimentary shuttle from the garage to the church.
1630 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 1-312-943-0466

Good Friday Service 7:00 pm
Resurrection Sunday Service 9:40 am.

Saint James Cathedral, Episcopal Diocese of Chicago
Saint James Parish Episcopal congregation was founded in 1834. The gothic cathedral was built in 1874.
65 East Huron Street (corner of Wabash and Huron), Chicago, IL, 1-312-787-7360

Thursday, March 20, 6:00 pm, Maundy Thursday Service
Friday, March 21, 12:00 pm Good Friday Liturgy
Saturday, March 22, 8:00 pm, Great Easter Vigil
Easter Sunday, March 23: 8:00 am Eucharist, 9:00 am and 11:00 am Choral Eucharist, Easter 1:00 pm After Hours Easter Brunch

Holy Name Cathedral
The Holy Name Roman Catholic congregation was founded in 1849. . The historic Gothic structure was dedicated in 1875.
35 North State Street, 730 North Wabash Avenue, Chicago, IL, 1-312-787-8040

Holy Thursday, March 20, Liturgy 5:15 pm
Good Friday, March 20 and 21: Liturgy 5:15 pm
Good Friday Stations of the Cross 3:00 pm
Holy Saturday Mass 7:30 pm
Easter Sunday Mass 11:00 am

Information is subject to change. Contact the churches for additional information.

Read St. Patrick's Day in Chicago
Read St. Patrick's Day Parades in Illinois.
Read Chicago Navy Pier March Springtime Events.
Read Holy Week Services at Willow Creek Community Church.