Salem offers a unique environment in which to celebrate both holidays that are a part of the Christian tradition, and personal milestones.
Special Celebrations
Salem offers a unique environment in which to celebrate both holidays that are a part of the Christian tradition, and personal milestones.
Ash Wednesday
Our special services begin with our Ash Wednesday Service at 7:00pm. This service takes place on the first Wednesday of Lent and includes the imposition of ashes.
In Salem tradition, every Wednesday in Lent we have a Lenten Supper. Each Wednesday a congregation member provides a location (often the church parlor) and a big pot of soup. Other attendees provide salad, bread and dessert. Together we feast partaking of good food, great fellowship and some time together with the Word of God. It’s a wonderful tradition that really pulls our Salem family closer together.
Palm Sunday
During Holy Week, we begin our celebration with a Palm Sunday Service that includes a procession of our children waving palm branches and a palm for each worshiper to take home. Traditionally, our Bell Choir performs at this service.
Maundy Thursday
On Thursday of Holy Week, Maundy Thursday, we hold a Tenebrae Service that includes the service of Holy Communion and reading of the scriptures which tell the story of Jesus’ betrayal, crucifixion and death. This service begins with the lights of the sanctuary being up and the 12 candles, one for each of the 12 readings, lit. As each reading is read, another candle is extinguished and a few more sanctuary lights go down until only the Christ candle remains lit. By the time the last reading is finished the sanctuary is completly dark. From the darkness a voice sings "Were You There?" Our Tenebrae Maundy Thursday Service has been a favorite of our congregation for years and will hopefully be for many years to come.
Good Friday
The sanctuary is held open from 12-3 to allow people to come for a time of personal reflection. Meditative materials are provided.
Easter Sunday
Our Easter celebration begins with a church wide Easter Breakfast at 9:00am prior to the service. We bring dishes to pass and decorate the gymnasium and it is a great time to be had by all! The 10:00am worship service includes music by our Resurrection Band and Volunteer Choir. Holy Communion is served.
Salem Birthday Celebration
Salem has been around a very long time and every year in May we celebrate our birthday. The Board of Elders plan a big potluck meal following service with balloons, streamers and cake to celebrate our beginning. We drag up some old Bibles and old pictures and have our eldest members share some of their most favorite and cherished memories here. We are currently 150 years old!!! It is a fun and festive time for everyone involved.
Pancake Breakfast &
Outdoor Worship
In Rochester we don’t get to play in the sun for very long so we like to take advantage of our short (really short) summer by doing a lot of outdoor activities. In July we have an annual outdoor service. For this service we move chairs, our Bibles and hymnals, even our organist outside to the lawn to celebrate Jesus under the sun. We even start the day off with a pancake breakfast on the lawn before worship!
Worship & Picnic at the Beach
A few years back we moved our annual Salem picnic to Ontario Beach Park. We rent a shelter, pack up our handbells, choir music and keyboard and head to the beach for worship. Following the worship service, we feast on grilled burgers and hotdogs, and all the wonderful side dishes provided by our Salem members. The past few years we've been very fortunate to have one of our members provide Abbott's custard with all the fixin's for dessert!
Rally Day
Continuing with our desire to be outdoors, September brings us to Rally Day. This is the commemoration of the start of our Sunday School Year. We have an outdoor service as well as amazing picnic food for all. We also include some games for the youth and lots of goodies for the adults!
Christmas Season
The Christmas Season is a joyful time here at Salem. We begin our preparations in Advent with special worship services, music and a children’s pageant. The first Sunday in December is the time of our Advent Workshop. This is a family event in which cookies are decorated, crafts are made and laughter is shared. Our Christmas Season culminates with our Candlelight Christmas Eve Service at 11pm that brings us all to Christmas Day together. Is there a better place to start Christmas than at church?