From The Back Pew:

I have always been amazed at the breadth of services that local churches organize in the days surrounding Holy Week and preceding Easter.

Last year’s Holy Week and Easter Sunday services included choral passions and baptism by candlelight, presented by St. George’s Episcopal Church; a telling of the Passion story, presented by La Cañada United Methodist; a self-guided spiritual journey and Easter Sunday services on a hill behind Descanso Gardens presented by La Cañada Presbyterian; and six Masses at St. Bede’s, focusing on families and adults. And the Easter sunrise service on McGroarty Peak, in Tujunga, is probably one of the most beautiful services I have seen.

I have always admired churches and temples that organize activities for major religious observances. Whether for Christmas, Hanukkah, Easter or Passover, each house of worship has volunteers ready to make the holiday memorable and spiritual.

In my congregation, youth are heavily involved in the planning of the reenactment of the Passion of Christ. These kids re-create the Gospel of Luke, complete with centurion costumes, angels, fake beards, plastic swords and togas.

At St. Bede in La Cañada Flintridge last weekend, they celebrated Palm Sunday. With some churches, it is customary to begin services outside. A Gospel reading is proclaimed, palms are blessed, and the faithful walk in procession into the church. The service before the service is supposed to mimic Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem, where he was welcomed with palm fronds, then led into the city.

St. Bede’s youth helped by passing out palms to arriving parishioners. Others lined the path leading to the church’s patio, holding giant palm fronds that were at least 7 feet high.

Inside the church, more youth lined the center aisle, creating an arch of sorts over parishioners as they took their seats.

Holy Week and Easter seem to bring the best out of every religious community in our area. I hope that you take a minute to sample the buffet of services available to you.

This Sunday, the youth of La Cañada United Methodist will be providing a sunrise service at 6:30 a.m., an ungodly hour for any youth to be up, in my opinion.

But it’s Easter; the earlier you can be up to celebrate, the better!

Get in touch MICHAEL J. ARVIZU is a reporter for the La Cañada Valley Sun. He may be reached at (818) 637-3263 or by e-mail at michael.arvizu@latimes.com.