Easter Events on The Plateau

Written By: Luke Osteen | Issue: April 2023

For as long as the little communities that dot the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau have existed, Easter has been celebrated in many different fashions – sometimes in churches, sometimes in community services outdoors and sometimes in deeply personal individual rituals and commemorations.

The Village Green in Cashiers is taking the community celebration reins this year with its Stations of the Cross, set for 3:00 P.M. Good Friday, April 7, on the Commons Lawn. It’ll be led by local clergy and everyone is invited to participate. From the sublime to the silly, The Village Green will host its Easter Egg Hunt at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, April 8. It’s set for children 11 years old and younger. Hundreds of treat-filled Easter eggs will be scattered around the park for hunters who will be divided according to age. Attendees are asked to bring their own baskets and cameras to the egg hunt.

The Easter Bunny’s scheduled to lead an Easter Egg Hunt at the Highlands Rec Park at 10:00 A.M. on Saturday, April 8. “We urge our little hunters to arrive a little early, because we start promptly at 10, and everyone is charged up and ready to hunt as soon as the Easter Bunny gives the signal,” said a Rec Park spokeswoman. “We’ll make sure that the littlest basketeers get their chance to score some Easter Eggs, too.”

Highlands Churches Easter Schedules

Highlands will not be hosting community-wide Easter services, though Highlands United Methodist Church will once again present its beautiful flower-adorned Cross on the church lawn. Churches that had finalized their opportunities to worship as of press time are listed below, but all area churches are planning meaningful services, open to all.

Highlands United Methodist Church: Palm/Passion Sunday, April 2
services at 9:09 and 11:00 A.M. Service of Healing, April 5
6:00 P.M. in the Faith & Fellowship Center Holy Thursday Service, April 6
5:30 P.M. in the Sanctuary Good Friday Service, April 7
5:30 P.M. in the Sanctuary Easter Sunday, April 9
Sunrise Service at the Easter Cross on the front lawn at 7:00 A.M. Easter Worship Services
9:09 and 11:00 A.M. Potluck Easter Brunch
10:00 A.M. in the Center Easter Egg Hunt
10:00 A.M. on the front lawn

Our Lady of the Mountains
Catholic Church: Holy Thursday Mass, April 6
6:00 P.M. at St. Jude Good Friday Liturgy, April 7
3:00 P.M. at St. Jude Easter Vigil Mass, April 8
8:30 P.M. at St. Jude Easter Sunday Mass, April 9
9:00 A.M. at St. Jude; 11:00 A.M. at Our Lady of the Mountains

First Presbyterian Church

Palm Sunday, April 2
11:00 A.M. Service of Scripture & Song Maundy Thursday, April 6
6:00 P.M. Service followed by a dinner in Coleman Hall Good Friday, April 7
10:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M. Self-Guided Prayer through the Stations of the Cross Easter Sunday, April 9
11:00 A.M. Love Wins (Pastor Emily is guiding the church through a year-long examination of love in 2023, hence “Love Wins” on Easter Sunday)

Church of the Incarnation

Holy Eucharist in Historic Chapel Monday–Wednesday, April 3-5, Noon, Maundy Thursday,
April 6, 6:00 P.M., Nave Good Friday, April 7, Noon, Nave Easter Vigil, April 8, 8:00 P.M., Nave Easter Morning, April 9,
9:00 and 11:00 A.M., Nave

by Luke Osteen