Anniversaries/Annuals
Barraque Street Missionary Baptist Church, 1800 W. Pullen St., will celebrate the fourth pastoral anniversary of Rev. Lloyd Holcomb Jr. and Pamela Holcomb, Sunday. At 11 a.m., the guest speaker will be Rev. George Scott, pastor of First Baptist Church at Humphrey. At 3 p.m., the guest speaker will be Rev. Marvin Wiley, pastor of Rock of Ages Baptist Church at Maywood, Ill. Words of encouragement will be by Rev. Glenn Barnes Sr., pastor of Pine Hill Missionary Baptist Church at Pine Bluff.
Christmas celebrations
Southside Singing Center, 5400 W. 15th Ave., will celebrate Christmas with singing Sunday at 7 p.m. Featured guests include the Sensational Soul Revivals, the White Family, Mighty Gospelettes, Gloriettes and Christland/Faith of Harmony.
First Trinity Church of God In Christ, 800 Catalpa St., will host “Come Worship Him,” a Christmas musical, at 10 a.m. Sunday. The drama department, youth department, Sunshine Band, Sanctuary Choir and DeWitt Hill Singers will present the program featuring Christmas speeches, monologues and Christmas carols.
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St. Luke AME Church, 9908 Princeton Pike, will present its Christmas Candlelight Concert at 6 p.m. Sunday. Special guests will be the Spiritual Wings of Joy.
Grace and Mercy Missionary Baptist Church, 817 W. Sixth Ave., will present its fourth annual Christmas concert at 6 p.m. Saturday. The guest director will be Sheila Bobo and the guest musician will be Michael Fuller.
New Community Church, 321 N. Birch St., will sponsor a “Jesus is the Reason for the Season” Christmas service at 9 a.m. Thursday.
Amos Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, 2401 Port Road, will host the annual Christmas program at 3 p.m. Sunday. The guest speaker will be Rev. Aaron Johnson, pastor of Liberty Hill Missionary Baptist Church at Pine Bluff.
First Missionary Baptist Church, 4500 Faucett Road, will host its annual Christmas program at 4 p.m. Saturday. The program will include songs, poems, speeches, praise dancing and skits.
Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church, 2507 Hill St.., will host its annual Christmas service at 10 a.m. Sunday. The drama/youth ministry will perform a skit entitled “All I Want For Christmas.” Music will be furnished by the choir and the Pilgrim Mime Ministry will also perform.
St. Andrew AME Church, 701 Franklin St., will hold a Christmas worship service, “A Worship Celebration: The Birth of Christ,” at 8 a.m. Thursday.
Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church at Gould will host Rev. Freddie Heard, pastor of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church of Grady, at 7:15 p.m. Wednesday during the Christmas Eve Service.
Ezekiel Missionary Baptist Church, 121 W. Martin St., will hold its annual Christmas program at 11 a.m. Sunday. The youth department will present a skit entitled “No Room in the Inn.”
New Salem Baptist Church at Sherrill will present its annual Christmas play at 6 p.m. Sunday. The play was written, produced and directed by the New Salem pastor, Rev. Clark E. Thomas.
Kings Highway Missionary Baptist Church, 2312 Fluker St., will celebrate its annual Christmas program at 6 p.m. Sunday.
St. John AME Church, 1117 W. Pullen St., will sponsor a Christmas Candlelight Service and concert celebration at 5:30 p.m. Sunday.
Trinity Episcopal Church, 703 W. Third Ave., will host a Christmas Eve concert at 10 p.m. Wednesday featuring the Trinity Chancel Choir and other musicians. At 10:30 p.m., the festival service will include Holy Communion and at midnight refreshments will be served. Holy Communion will also be held at 11 a.m. Thursday.
The Church of God, 7111 Shannon Road, will host a Christmas program at 5:30 p.m. Sunday with a free Christmas dinner for the community after the program. For transportation or details, call the pastor and wife, David and Tasha Terry, at 501-580-5211 or at www.facebook.com/TCOGPineBluffAR.
Special Events
Unity Christian Fellowship Church, 2712 S. Bay St., will celebrate family and friends day at 3 p.m. Sunday. Rev. Freddie Webb, pastor of Derrisaux Missionary Baptist Church in Pine Bluff, will be the guest speaker. The music will be by the Webb Singers of Pine Bluff and David Broadnax, a member of the Throwback Choir in Little Rock. Guests will also include Kim Jones Sneed, a minister and owner of Stuff in the Bluff website.
Deeper Revelation International Ministries, 507 W. Sixth Ave., has changed its service time to 6:30 a.m. Sundays. The speaker will be founder and chief apostle, D. DeWayne Rudd Sr.
Cherry Street AME Zion Church, 800 S. Cherry St., will host the citywide mission meeting at 1:30 p.m. Monday. Participants are asked to bring paper towels.
St. Andrews Missionary Baptist Church at Altheimer will hold its annual harvest drive at 3 p.m. Sunday. The guest speaker will be Rev. James Barnes of New St. James Missionary Baptist Church at Pine Bluff.
Greater Ward Chapel AME Church, 3700 W. Sixth Ave., will honor members 70 years old or older at noon Saturday, Dec. 27, during a Golden Saints Tea.
Unity Christian Fellowship Church, 2712 S. Bay St., will sponsor a musical worship event at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 27. The event is presented by Full Circle 360, a non-profit organization in Pine Bluff, aimed to help underprivileged people reach their full potential. The group will host programs, life classes, activities and a year-round employment program for the youth.
Rev. Brandon O. Watley of Mansfield, Texas, formerly of Pine Bluff, presented his first sermon Nov. 30 at Greater Friendship Missionary Baptist Church at Fort Worth, Texas. He is married to Deanna Wynne Watley and the son of Roland Watley and Annitha LaJuan Watley. He is also a graduate of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.
Youth
New Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church at Cornerstone will observe its annual youth and young adult day Sunday. At 11 a.m., the guest minister will be Rev. ScheRon Womack, associate minister at Old St. James Missionary Baptist Church at Pine Bluff. At 2:30 p.m., the guest speaker will be Rev. Joshua Pickett, pastor of Grace and Mercy Missionary Baptist Church at Pine Bluff. Also, the youth choir rehearsal will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday.