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Easter services are formal and not
By GAIL HOLLENBECK CRYSTAL RIVER -- Special Easter services abound throughout the county. First Baptist Church of Crystal River has invited a special guest speaker for Sunday services that begin at 8:15 and 10:45 a.m. George Fridlender was born and raised behind the Iron Curtain in the old Soviet Union. Before he was born, Fridlender's father spent 17 years in a Siberian concentration camp for no other reason than that he was a Christian. "My daddy had been incarcerated in the old Stalin time," Fridlender said in a recent interview. "The Stalin times were like Saddam Hussein. People were grabbed off the streets for no reason." Things were different by the time he was growing up, Fridlender said. He had figured out how to survive under a Communist regime. He knew believing in Christ led to Siberia, so he avoided becoming a Christian, he said. "You would not have reached me if you tried," Fridlender said. "Yet I was reached." Despite his efforts to the contrary, in 1979, at age 19, Fridlender was arrested by the KGB and faced years in prison. Sunday morning Fridlender will share the story of how he became a Christian, what happened to him afterward that demonstrated the power of God, and how he was delivered to the United States. "I hope what I have to bring is inspirational," he said. "The presentation is about the Lord's power in one person's life with a tremendous hope that the same power can enter somebody else's heart if they just take a chance with the good and loving Lord, who is caring and forgiving and patient." Fridlender will sing a few songs in his rich bass voice during his presentation. A former opera singer with a successful career in Western Europe, he answered God's call in 1991 to minister full time, sharing his testimony in U.S. churches. He is often accompanied by his wife, Kimberly, an opera singer whom he met while studying at the Juilliard School of Music in New York. The church is at 700 Citrus Ave. Call 795-3367 for further information. As it has for the past two years, Seven Rivers Presbyterian Church will host a community service at Rock Crusher Canyon in Crystal River. The service begins at 9 a.m. Sunday and includes a special program and gifts for children in kindergarten through second grade. Chairs will be provided. Call 746-6200. Nature Coast Community Church will host an 8 a.m. Easter service Sunday for the community at Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park. The Rev. Brad Bresson will conduct the services overlooking the Homosassa River. Enter the Garden of the Springs through Gate 3 on West Fishbowl Drive. Seating is limited. You may bring a lawn chair. Boaters may also hear the Easter service from the Blue Waters. Refreshments will be provided. Call 628-6222. Orthodox services for Easter begin today. Saint Michael the Archangel Greek Orthodox Church in Lecanto will have a Divine Liturgy with the making of palms at 10 a.m. today. There will be a Divine Liturgy and fish luncheon at 10 a.m. Sunday. Monday and Tuesday there will be a bridegroom service at 6 p.m. Wednesday vespers include holy unction at 6 p.m. On Thursday there is a Divine Liturgy, institution of the Eucharist at 10 a.m., and vespers and the 12 Gospel readings at 6 p.m. On Friday, preparation of the Epitaphios is at 9 a.m., Matins of the Apokathilosis at 1, and Epitaphios Thrinos at 6 p.m. The Easter Resurrection service begins at 11 p.m. April 26, with an Anastasis service and Divine Liturgy at one minute past midnight. The church is at 4705 W Gulf to Lake Highway, Lecanto. Call 527-0766 or 746-1177. St. Raphael Orthodox Mission in Inverness will celebrate Palm Sunday on Sunday. Holy Week services will include a holy unction service at 4 p.m. Wednesday, vespers at 3 p.m. Friday, and Divine Liturgy with blessing of Paschal food at 10 a.m. April 27. The address is 218 N Apopka Ave. Call 527-8170 or 465-4752. A special Mass at 7 p.m. today at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Homosassa will be celebrated by the Rev. Gene O'Reilly, who has been conducting a parish mission for the church's Holy Week services. Born in Ireland, O'Reilly has a ministry in Canada and is a songwriter. There is no 4:30 p.m. Mass today. The church is at 7040 S Suncoast Blvd. Call 628-7000. The Citrus County Polish Heritage Club will host a Polish Easter Mass at noon Thursday at St. Scholastica Church, 4301 W Homosassa Trail, Lecanto. The Rev. Richard Jankowski will deliver a homily in Polish and English. A traditional Polish Easter luncheon will follow at 1:30 p.m. at Andre's of Citrus Hills. Call for cost information and reservations by Sunday at 746-6095. Two Easter musical dramas are offered this weekend. The Carpenter will be presented by the Worship and Arts Department of Inverness Church of God at 7 p.m. today and 10:30 a.m. Sunday. The church is at 416 U.S. 41 S. Call 726-4524. First Assembly of God, 4201 S Pleasant Grove Road, Inverness, will present The Day He Wore My Crown at 10:30 a.m. Sunday. Call 726-1107.
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