UNION HOPEWELL MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH, 1121 Persimmon St., will celebrate the 12th Pastoral Anniversary honoring the Rev. Antonio Gayden Sr. and wife, Loretta Gayden, at 2:30 p.m. Sunday. The guest speaker will be Clifton A. Conley of Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church in Little Rock. The theme is “Great is Thy Faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23.)
ST. JOHN AME CHURCH, 1117 W. Pullen St., invites the community to its Founders’ Day Celebration at 9:45 a.m. Sunday. Bishop Silvester S. Beaman, presiding bishop of the 12th Episcopal District, will be the guest preacher. “This sacred celebration honors the legacy of Richard Allen, founder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, and lifts up the enduring witness of faith, justice, and liberation that continues to shape communities today,” according to a news release. The theme is “Help Us Shift the Atmosphere.” The Rev. Charlene N. Boone, St. John’s pastor, said: “We are honored to welcome Bishop Beaman, whose prophetic voice and pastoral leadership inspire the church and community alike. This Founders’ Day is not only a remembrance of where we’ve come from, but a call to faith-filled action for where God is leading us.” There will be worship, special music, and reflections on the AME Church’s mission of spiritual empowerment and social justice, a spokesman said.
THE CITY WIDE MISSION will be held at at 1 p.m. Monday at New Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church, where the Rev. R. D. Howard is the pastor. The guest speaker will be Laetta Williams of True Vine E Missionary Baptist Church.
NEW COMMUNITY CHURCH, 321 N. Birch St., will present a Black History program at 10:30 a.m. Sunday. Everyone is invited to attend and wear African attire, if possible. The theme is Our Future, Present and Past Members. “Come join us as we celebrate our future, present and past,” a spokesman said. “As program chair, I would love for all previous members and those who have come through New Community Baptist Church to join us,” said Pamela Neal, program chair. Also, the church will feature Sam Gibson, an elder at New Community, as the speaker at 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. Feb. 22. At 6 p.m. Feb. 22, the Kingdom Builders program will feature Lynda King, a member of the church, as the speaker. The apostle/pastor is Patrick Lockett Sr.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
NEW COMMUNITY CHURCH, 321 N. Birch St., announces that the pantry will be open from 8-9:30 a.m. Feb. 14. “Come and receive your blessing,” a spokesman said. The pantry is open to the community.
NEW UNITED MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH, 5601 Cheatham St., will conduct its Black History program during worship services at 11 a.m. Feb. 22. The Rev. Woodrow Jackson Sr. is the pastor.
PILGRIM MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH, 2507 Hill St., will open its Raven’s Nest Food Pantry on 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 pantry is a U.S. Department of Agriculture distribution site and equal opportunity provider, according to a news release.
ST. JOHN AME CHURCH, 1117 W. Pullen St., will provide food boxes to those in need on Saturday from 9 a.m. until all food has been distributed. State ID’s are required to receive one box per family. Pickup will be in front of the church on Cherry Street. For safety reasons, recipients are asked to stay in their vehicles and open their trunks, according to a news release.
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@adgnewsroom.com. Details: (870) 534-3400, ext. 5.
