FIRST MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH, 4500 Faucett Road, will present a retirement celebration for the pastor, the Rev. Charles S. Boyd Sr., at 6 p.m. Saturday. Special guests include the Rev. Derrick Easter, pastor of New St. Hurricane Missionary Baptist Church, and New St. Hurricane’s mass choir, along with other pastors in the community.
PRAYER AND PIZZA for children will be held from 2-3 p.m. Sunday at East End Church of God and Christ, 709 S. Virginia St. The guest speaker will be Commeka Goodloe, certified therapist from the PAT (People Advocating Transition) Behavioral Center, an outpatient mental health and substance abuse center in Pine Bluff. Motivational moments will be presented by Efrem Neely, a local lawyer. Helping Hands for the Community Inc. will serve pizza and intercessors will pray. These free monthly sessions will continue at various churches including Jan. 14 — St. Peter’s Rock Missionary Baptist Church and Feb. 11 — New Community Church.
MT. NEBO MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH, 3201 W. Second Ave., invites the the community to join them in celebrating the annual Friends and Family Day at 11 a.m. Sunday. The guest preacher will be Anton C. Smith, pastor of Dominion and Power Ministries of Galveston, Texas. The Rev. Larry C. Battles is Mt. Nebo’s pastor.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF PINE BLUFF, 6501 S. Hazel St., will present the Sanctuary Choir and the Sanctuary Bells in a special musical presentation of “O Come, Messiah King” at 5 p.m. Sunday in the church sanctuary. The concert is free and open to the public and everyone is welcome to attend. Details: First Baptist Church, (870) 534-4741.
THE DESHA COUNTY CHAPTER of the Compassionate Friends invites the community to the 27th annual Worldwide Candle Lighting Remembrance at 6 p.m. Sunday at the Dumas Community Center in Dumas. The event honors the memories of children who died. A short program will include greetings, readings, poems, music and a candle-lighting ceremony. At 7 p.m., everyone will light candles in memory of children, according to the news release. A reception will follow the ceremony. The event is free. Those who would like to have their child’s name placed on the memorial roll, or picture placed on the memorial display may contact Compassionate Friends. Those planning to attend should RSVP by texting or calling (870) 866-6985, (972) 365-1930, or (870) 377-4299. Brenda Norman is the event planner.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
RAVEN’S NEST FOOD PANTRY at Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church, 2507 Hill St., will be open Saturday from 8-9:30 a.m. or until all the food has been given away. Food will be given away on a first come, first-served basis. Participants must bring a picture identification.
THE ABUNDANT LIFE MINISTRY, an online ministry of White Hall, invites the community to its Let’s Talk About It Bible Study at 7 p.m. Thursdays via Zoom. The leaders are Aaron and Kae Spencer. The Zoom link is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85223687824?pwd=VVNvckRuUml6TjdJc0NPNE9laTJlQT09 with Meeting ID: 852 2368 7824 and Passcode: 824192 or call +1 309 205 3325 US. Details: kaesspencer@gmail.com or text (703) 231-1127.
Church news is printed in The Commercial on Fridays. The deadline to submit church announcements is noon Wednesdays. Pastors, ministers or others interested in writing for the Devotional Page may also submit columns for consideration. Column writers should have connections to Southeast Arkansas. Articles are accepted by email to Sandra Hope at shope@pbcommercial.com or shope@adgnewsroom.com. Details: (870) 534-3400, ext. 5.
Commeka Goodloe