NEW MORNING STAR MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH in Altheimer will present its Youth and Young Adult Day at 2 p.m. Dec. 21. Words of encouragement will be from the Rev. James Rice Jr., pastor of Greater Battle Chapel Baptist Church in Pine Bluff. The choir director will be Rosetta V. Lusk of New Morning Star and the guest worship leader will be the Rev. Eric Corbin, pastor of Liberty Hill Missionary Baptist Church in Pine Bluff. Choir rehearsals will be held at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 13 and Dec. 19. New Morning Star’s pastor is the Rev. Eric Walden Jr.
BARRAQUE STREET MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH, 1800 W. Pullen St., will host the 119th Founders Day celebration of the Delta Sigma Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. The event will be held at 7:06 p.m. Dec. 4 and the community is invited to attend. The celebration will also recognize Willard Starlard as the Brother of the Year for his outstanding service throughout the years. The keynote speaker will be an Alpha Phi Alpha brother, Chancellor Anthony Graham, Ph.D., of the University or Arkansas at Pine Bluff.
THE DESHA COUNTY CHAPTER OF THE COMPASSIONATE FRIENDS will hold its 29th annual Candle Lighting Remembrance at 6 p.m. Dec. 14 at the Dumas Community Center in Dumas. The community is invited to attend. The program will honor the memories of all children who have died, but will never be forgotten, according to a news release. The event will consist of a memorial display, greetings, readings, poems, music selections and a candle lighting ceremony. “At 7 p.m. participants will light candles in memory of all our children gone too soon … that their light will always shine,” according to the release. A reception will follow the program. There is no admission fee, however, donations are appreciated. Those who would like to have a child’s name placed on the memorial roll or picture placed on the memorial display may contact The Compassionate Friends. If you plan to attend, please RSVP by Dec. 6. To RSVP or for more information, text to or call (870) 866-6985, (870) 377-4299, or (972) 365-1930. Brenda Norman is the co-leader and event planner.
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.