AMOS CHAPEL MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH, 1307 W. 16th Ave., will celebrate its 145th anniversary at 11 a.m. Sunday. The theme is Nothing but God’s Grace. The guest preacher and guest church will be the Rev. Laydell Jordan, pastor of Prayer Works Gospel Church in Pine Bluff, along with his congregation. The guest singer will be Karen Marie Mitchell. Amos Chapel’s pastor is the Rev. Robert Willis Jr. “You are welcome to join us in worship,” according to a news release.
EIGHTH AVENUE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH, 1200 W. Eighth Ave., will celebrate the 12th anniversary of the pastor and first lady, the Rev. Kirby L. Gulley and Neshia Gulley, at 2:30 p.m. Sunday. The Rev. Corey Wiley, pastor of Holy Cross Missionary Baptist Church in Little Rock, will deliver the message. “Please come and help us celebrate,” a spokesman said. There will be uplifting music, an inspiring message, and fellowship.
PILGRIM MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH, 2507 Hill St., will host its Women’s Day program at 3 p.m. Nov. 17. The guest speaker will be Dr. Marcia Elaine Smith of Grace Tabernacle Worship Center in Little Rock. Music will be provided by Women United for Christ directed by Bessie Lancelin. The theme will be Women Redeemed, Restored and Renewed for the work of Christ (Isaiah 43:1-20). The community is invited to come worship with the church. The Rev. Kevin L. Crumpton Sr. is the pastor at Pilgrim church.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 717 W. 32nd Ave., will host Craig O’Neill, who spent more than 50 years in broadcasting, as the guest presenter at 3 p.m. Nov. 17. He will read from his new book “How Randy Hankins became Craig O’Neill” or as the family calls it “It all started on Aunt Myrtie’s front porch.”
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
THE SUMMIT SOUNDZ Celebration Band will present a Thanksgiving Concert at 6 p.m. Saturday in the worship center of Summit Baptist Church, 901 Ridgway Road. “It’s always a good time when we can get together to celebrate a true American holiday,” Lewis Hinkle, Summit Soundz director, said in a news release. “The band is ready to play a lot of music that will remind us to have a grateful attitude.” The concert is free and open to the public. Contributions to the Summit Soundz Scholarship Fund are appreciated, according to the release.NEW COMMUNITY CHURCH, 321 N. Birch St., will give away Thanksgiving food boxes beginning at 8 a.m. Nov. 16. The 100 boxes will be given away on a first come, first served basis, according to a news release.
FAITH COMMUNITY CHURCH on U.S. 79 (across from McDonald’s) will hold its bazaar from 8 a.m. t0 2 p.m. Nov. 23. There will be casseroles, baked goods, soup, wreaths, wall art, jewelry, pillows, gift baskets, centerpieces and homemade items, according to a news release.
OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD shoebox gifts will be collected and packed by volunteers during National Collection Week, Nov. 18-25. More than 4,700 drop-off locations will open across the country in November, according to a news release. The project partners with local churches across the globe to collect items for shoebox gifts to deliver for children in need. Southeast Arkansas sites include: Family Church Pine Bluff, 2309 S. Poplar St., Pine Bluff; South Side Missionary Baptist Church, 905 S. Lincoln Ave., Star City; Stuttgart First Baptist Church Activity Center, 2109 S. Columbus St., Stuttgart; and True Hope Church, 707 N. Main St., Sheridan. Participants can also donate $10 per shoebox gift online through “Follow Your Box” and receive a tracking label to discover its destination. For area collection sites or details, visit https://samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/drop-off-locations/?utm_source=OCC-ToolKit&utm_campaign=m_YOCC-PRRE&utm_content=OCC-Drop-off-locations.
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.