The Jubilee Choir will present an Easter cantata “Alleluia! He’s Alive” at 4 p.m. Palm Sunday, April 5, at Jerusalem Baptist Church, located at Long Ferry Road and Long Street.
This musical work incorporates two choral compositions by Tom Fettke, “He Shall Arise” and “Calvary’s Love.” The congregation will witness the Last Supper with Jesus and his 12 disciples. The Rev. David Bracken, pastor of Jerusalem Baptist Church, portrays the role of Jesus.
Monica Green and Phyllis Partee are soloists for the selection “In Heaven’s Eyes” by Phil McHugh. The choir opens with “Hosanna” from “The Holy City” and “Ride On, King Jesus, featuring Sarah Norman, Jacquelyn Wellington, Cassandra Brown and Doris Goodman. Roy Leazer Jr. sings the role of Pilate. Narrators are the Rev. Donald Anthony, Chaplain Ethel Bamberg-Revis, Nancy Green and Mitchell Siegel.
The Jubilee Choir is under the direction of Kay Wright Norman. This is their fourth and final concert this season. The next season will begin in mid-August for the “Hymn Festival.” Membership is open to anyone who wishes to commit to for weekly rehearsals.
The program is free and open to the public. A freewill offering will be taken.
Needmore Baptist
WOODLEAF ó The Rev. Bobby Seagroves will supply the pulpit at Needmore Baptist Church during the month of April. The church is located at 162 Mount Vernon Road, Woodleaf.
Seagroves has served as a Baptist minister for 52 years in North Carolina. He has served for 30 years in Rowan County.
He served as pastor of First Baptist Church China Grove and Calvary Baptist Church at Ellis Crossroads. He served as interim pastor at Dunn’s Mountain, Franklin and First Baptist in Cleveland.
Needmore Baptist offers Sunday school at 10 a.m. and Sunday worship services at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Kannapolis Baptist
KANNAPOLIS ó A Procession of the Palms and Service of Easter Music will be presented by the children, adult choir, and instrumentalists of North Kannapolis Baptist Church at 10:50 a.m. Palm Sunday, April 5. Lunch will be served in McMurray Hall following the service.
The church is located at 312 Locust St. Call 704-933-2125 for information.
Haven Lutheran
Haven Lutheran Church will celebrate Palm Sunday at their 10:30 a.m. worship service on April 5. The service will begin at the entrance of the church with the Procession of the Palms and the reading of the Processional Gospel. The congregation will then enter the sanctuary carrying their individual palms.
The Haven Handbells and Chancel Choir will present the anthem entitled “The Liturgy Of the Palms.”
On Holy Thursday, April 9, the service of Holy Communion will begin at 7 p.m. The Chancel Choir will sing the Taize “Stay With Me” as communion is administered. At the conclusion of the service, the altar will be stripped in preparation for the Good Friday worship service.
On Good Friday, April 10, the worship service will begin at 7 p.m., and will include the reading of the Passion according to St. John, followed by the Bidding prayers, and the Procession of the Cross. The congregation will leave the church in darkness and silence.
Music for all services will be under the direction of Mrs. Franklin Merrell, organist and choir director. The Rev. Edward Harper serves as interim pastor of Haven, located at 207 W. Harrison St.
Haven will celebrate the Resurrection of Our Lord on Sunday, April 12 at their 10:30 a.m. service. Congregational members will bring flowers and greenery to decorate a cross on the front lawn of the church. The festival of Holy Communion will include anthems by the Chancel Choir and music presented by the Haven Handbell Choir. The Chancel will be enhanced with Memorial and Honorarium Easter Lilies.
Harper will preach during the service. Members of the community are welcome to attend worship at Haven.
St. Matthews LutheranSt. Matthews Lutheran Church will remember Jesus triumphantly entering Jerusalem at the beginning of Holy Week, at the 10:30 a.m. Palm Sunday service.
A Maundy Thursday service remembering Jesus eating the Last Supper with his disciples will be celebrated with communion at 7:30 p.m. April 9.
Good Friday liturgy will be used to remember Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross in a worship service in the sanctuary at 7:30 p.m. April 10. The service will end with a large cross brought into the sanctuary for reflection upon Christ’s death for forgiveness of sins.
The Rev. Gary S Coble, pastor, invites the community to these services located at 9275 Bringle Ferry Road.
St. Paul’s Episcopal
During Holy Week, St. Paul’s, 930 S. Main St. in Salisbury, will offer two special services.
The first will be offered on at 7 p.m. Maundy Thursday, and the second will be at noon, Good Friday, April 10. Both will be officiated by the Rev. Candis Burgess. The public is invited.
Living Lord’s Supper
For the fourth time, World Hope Worship Center presents The Living Lord’s Supper, a live dramatization of Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper, depicting the last meal Jesus had with his disciples before his crucifixion.
The disciples enter the scene, greeting one another, as they join Peter and John, who have prepared a feast for them all. Jesus addresses each one, saying “One of you will betray me.” The scene freezes, in the likeness of the famous painting.
For the next hour, the cast convincingly portrays what it might have been like that last evening before Jesus was arrested and later crucified. Much of the dialogue is taken from biblical accounts. The World Hope Celebration Worship Choir will weave music throughout the service.
At one point, the disciples will come out of the scene and serve communion to the congregation. Jesus will address the disciples, and then instruct everyone to partake together.
The drama will end, as Jesus, accompanied by Peter, James, and John, goes to the garden to pray.
The Living Lord’s Supper will be presented at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Palm Sunday, April 5. This service is open to the public.
For free tickets or more information, contact the church office at 704-636-9159. World Hope Worship Center is located at 2203 Mooresville Road, in Salisbury.
Sacred Heart
Holy Week at Sacred Heart Catholic Church begins with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7 p.m. on Holy Thursday and exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in Helfrich Hall after Mass.
On Good Friday, there will be no morning Mass. Via Crucis will be at 10 a.m. in the church parking lot. Stations of the Cross will be at noon and 7 p.m. Confessions will be offered 12:30-2:30 p.m., with the Passion Service at 3 p.m.
There will be no morning Mass on Holy Saturday. Confessions will be offered 11:30-1:30 p.m. Blessing of the Food Baskets will take place at 1 p.m. in Helfrich Hall. The Easter Vigil Mass begins at 8 p.m. There will be no 5:30 p.m. Mass.
Easter Sunday Mass schedule remains the same, with celebration music by Matthew Weaver and the church’s choirs.
Organ Lutheran
Organ Lutheran Church, 1515 Organ Church Road, will be holding the following Holy Week services:
– Palm Sunday, April 5, 9:30 a.m. Sunday school and 10:30 a.m., worship service with Holy Communion.
– Maundy Thursday, April 9, at 7:30 p.m., service with Holy Communion and stripping of the altar.
– Good Friday, April 10, at 7:30 p.m., Tenebrae service.
– Saturday, April 11, 2-4 p.m., Easter egg hunt.
– Easter Sunday, April 12, at 7 a.m., the sunrise service in the Old Church, including Holy Communion, will take place. There will be an 8 a.m. breakfast in the fellowship hall following the sunrise service. Sunday school will be at 9:30 a.m. and at 10:30 a.m. there will be the Easter Service with Holy Communion.
First Assembly
CONCORD ó Concord First Assembly, 150 Warren C. Coleman Blvd., will have an Eggstravaganza at 11 a.m., April 11 at the CFA high school ballfields.
There will be games for all ages, face painting, egg hunts, and inflatables.
For information, call 704-798-4740.
Concordia Lutheran
CHINA GROVE ó Concordia Evangelical Lutheran Church, 185 Concordia Church Road, is planning the following Holy Week Services:
– Sunday, April 5, Palm Sunday, Procession of Palms with Communion,
– Thursday, April 9, Maundy Thursday Communion Service in the Sanctuary
– Friday, April 10, Good Friday Service
– Saturday, April 11, children’s Easter egg hunt and party, 1-2:30 p.m. The event will include a marshmallow drop, cupcakes, games, crafts and tattoos.Visitors of all ages are welcome.
– Sunday, April 12, Easter Sunrise Eucharist at 7:30 a.m.; communion; breakfast provided by youth at 8:30 a.m. Easter Sunday Festival Service at 11 a.m.
Sunrise service
KANNAPOLIS ó A community Easter sunrise service will take place at 7 a.m. April 12 at the Village Park in Kannapolis, with a time of fellowship to follow.
The service will be hosted by Jackson Park, Memorial, Midway and Trinity United Methodist Churches.
All are welcome.
Bethel Baptist Church
ROCKWELL ó On Sunday, April 12, Bethel Baptist Church, 401 Depot St., Rockwell, will be having a special Easter Celebration. At 7 a.m. there will be a sunrise service, followed by breakfast. At 10 a.m., the Ambassador Baptist College Evangelistic Team will be sharing special music, and at 11 a.m. David Wood with the David Wood Ministries will be sharing “The Dramatized Crucifixion.”
For more information, call 704-279-5593 or contact bethel@carolina.rr.com.
Christiana Lutheran
Holy Week at Christiana Lutheran begins with The Living Last Supper at 7:30 p.m. on Maundy Thursday, April 9.
As the chancel choir gives the word in song, and reflects on Jesus’ life, betrayal, sacrifice, and death, 13 members of Christiana Lutheran Church will take the places of the 12 disciples and Jesus around the table as pictured in da Vinci’s masterpiece of art. Each disciple will stand and tell his story. The disciples and Jesus will serve communion the end of the play. The public is invited.
The Good Friday service is at 7:30 p.m. on April 10 and is the Service of Shadows, a Tenebrae service.
The Easter Sunrise Service will begin at 6:30 a.m. in the church sanctuary and will include a procession to the church cemetery. Breakfast follows the service in the church fellowship hall and is sponsored by Christiana’s Lutheran Men in Mission.
A Celebration of the Resurrection is at 10:30 a.m. and Holy Communion will be celebrated.
The church is located near East Rowan High School on U.S. 52 between Granite Quarry and Rockwell.
Calvary Lutheran
SPENCER ó Calvary Lutheran at 303 Fifth St. is celebrating Easter April 5-12. April Palm Sunday worship is at 11 a.m. with distribution of Palms, reading of the Passion and celebration of Communion.
That evening at 7 p.m., Calvary Lutheran will worship with the Spencer Council of Churches at Oakdale Baptist Church.
Monday through Friday, Calvary, along with the Spencer Council of Churches will celebrate a noon-time service with refreshments to follow. The worship schedule is as follows:
– Monday: Central United Methodist
– Tuesday: Spencer Presbyterian
– Wednesday: First Baptist Church
– Thursday: Dorsett United Church of Christ
– Friday: Calvary Lutheran. Calvary will also celebrate Maundy Thursday service at 7 p.m. with communion and footwashing, and Tenebrae Service at 7 p.m. Good Friday
– Saturday: Calvary will meet in Shelter 7 at Dan Nicholas Park between 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. for an egg hunt, cookout and Easter Vigil Celebration.
– Sunday: Easter Sunrise service will be at 7 a.m. Breakfast will follow. Easter Festive service with Communion will be celebrated at 11 a.m.
First UCC
First United Church of Christ, 207 W. Horah St., will begin the Palm Sunday celebration April 5 with breakfast in the fellowship hall. The youth, supervised by Mark Shuping, will prepare a full-course breakfast beginning at 8:30 a.m., followed by devotions at 9:30. At 10 a.m., an Easter Egg Hunt will be enjoyed by all children age 1 through grade 5.
The 11 a.m. worship service is led by the Rev. Michael Childress.
Contact the church at 704-633-2723 or firstunitedcofc@ bellsouth.net.More information is available on WSTP (AM 1490) or from 8:30-9 a.m. each Sunday morning on Time Warner Cable Channel 7.
Interdenominational Fellowship
The Interdenominational Fellowship will sponsor Passion/Holy Week services Monday, April 6 through Friday, April 10, at the Word of Life Family Worship Center, 726 E Liberty St.
Services will begin nightly at 7 p.m.
– April 6: Rev. Olen Bruner and the Trinity Presbyterian Church Choir
– April 7: Rev. Carolyn Bratton and the Moores Chapel AME Zion Church Choir
– April 8: Rev. Arthur Heggins and the St. Luke Baptist Church Choir
– April 9: Dr. Martha Starks and the Word of Life Family Worship Center Choir
The Celebration of the Lord’s Supper will be observed on Thursday, April 9. The Good Friday Service begins at 7 p.m. with meditations on The Last Words of Jesus from the Cross. Seven area pastors, along with their choirs, will provide meditations and the ministry of music.
A Resurrection Celebration Sunrise Service will be held at 6 a.m., Easter Sunday, April 12, at Gethsemane Baptist Church, 719 S. Caldwell St., where Dr. Clary L. Phelps is host Pastor. The Rev. David Bracken, Pastor of the Jerusalem Baptist Church, East Spencer, will be the messenger. Breakfast will be served immediately afterward.
For more information or transportation, contact Word of Life Family Worship Center at 704-633-2431 for Holy Week Services, and Gethsemane Baptist Church at 704-633-5057 for the Sunrise Service.
St. Luke Baptist
Rev. Arthur L. Heggins, pastor, St. Luke Baptist Church and congregation celebrates its annual Men’s Day Celebration at 3 p.m. April 5.
Dr. Michael Lee Stout, a North Rowan High School graduate, is guest speaker.
Stout is an active member of the Charlotte Dental Society where he served as a member of the board for several years and as president from 2004 to 2005. He works closely with the advisory board of the Partnership for Children’s Dental Health and has participated in many of the national “Give Kids a Smile Day.” He has been involved with “Communities In School,” treating at-risk students, pro bono.
Dr. Stout is the author of “Let’s Do It For Our Children’s Sake.”
At 7 p.m. April 10, the church will celebrate Good Friday and present “Seven Last Words.”
Various local evangelists and ministers will be our guest speakers: Rev. Tiffany Miller, youth minister, Mount Zion Baptist Church; Evangelist Linda Gibson, associate minister, New Jerusalem Holiness; Rev. Randy Hyde, associate minister, St. Luke Baptist Church; Deacon James Greene, St. Luke Baptist Church; Evangelist Donneta Watkins, New Creation Baptist Church; Rev. Dirick Leak, Macedonia Baptist, Concord and Rev. Donald Simpson, Mount Zion Baptist Church.
NorthGate Church
A special service will be held at NorthGate Church, 1400 Jake Alexander Blvd., at 7 p.m. Wednesday April 8: “The Seder: God’s plan of redemption for mankind revealed through a meal.”
Gene Duncan will be teaching on the Seder in preparation for Good Friday and the meal is a great way to understand the significance of the Passover.
For more information, call 704-633-7063
Soldiers Memorial
The Cathedral Choir of Soldiers Memorial AME Zion Church will present “The Seven Last Words of Christ” by Theodore Dubois at 3 p.m. on Palm Sunday, April 5 at the church.
Joanne Harrison, minister of music, will accompany the performance, directed by Dr. Grant Harrison, Jr., pastor. Local and guest soloists will be featured. An art display by noted artist James Donaldson will interpret the music.
Safe Harbor Baptist
There will be a homecoming revival at Safe Harbor Baptist Church April 5-10, featuring evangelist Jerry Whiteheart on Sunday, Dr. Bobby Roberson on Monday and Tuesday, and Dr. Tommy Steele on Thursday and Friday.
The public is invited to join the congregation for a covered-dish meal this Sunday after church. The church is located at 270 Dunns Mountain Church Road, Granite Quarry. First Baptist Church
First Baptist Church of Salisbury, 223 N. Fulton St., will observe Palm Sunday at both morning services, 8:30 and 11 a.m.
On Maundy Thursday there will be a meal, starting at 5:45 p.m. in the fellowship hall. Reservations are required by Monday, April 6, at 4:30 p.m. by calling the church office.
The Maundy Service will follow at 7 p.m. in the main sanctuary. The Lord’s Supper will be observed. The music program will feature Neal Wilkinson as a soloist.
Gospel sing
Pine Ridge Baptist Church will host a night of southern gospel singing starting at 6 p.m. April 5. The concert will feature The Porters, 2 Serve Him and Harmony’s Way. The church is located on Old Linn Road between Pine Ridge and Daughtery roads.
Salem Lutheran
Salem Lutheran Church on Sherrills Ford Road will sponsor a Resurrection Celebration and Egg Hunt for children and families, from 3 to 5:30 p.m. this Sunday. Illusionist Steve Templeton of Himpact Illusions will tell the story of Easter and amaze young and old with his illusions. Children should bring a basket to gather eggs. Older children are welcome to help hide eggs, and adults are welcome for the show and to watch the fun.
On Sunday morning, Salem enters Holy Week with the Procession with Palms at the 8:30 and 10:45 services.
This year at Salem, Holy Week is a drama in three acts. Act One in on Maundy Thursday, April 9. The 7 p.m. service will include special time for confession, the washing of feet, and a special Communion service to remember the last supper Jesus had with his disciples. At the close of the service, the altar is stripped and the congregation leaves in silence.
Act Two is Good Friday, April 10. The 7 p.m. service will feature Hal Hopson’s Tenebrae, a dramatic service that uses music, hymns, scripture and growing darkness to tell the story of Jesus’ death and burial. The chancel choir is accompanied by a string quartet, oboe, and organ. Alice Stephens will direct.
Act Three is the Easter celebration on Sunday, April 12, beginning in the cemetery with Sunrise Service at 7 a.m. The festive celebration of Holy Communion on Easter will be at 10:45.
Tower of Power
The Tower of Power United Holy Church family will hold its annual spring revival Wednesday, April 8 through Friday April 10.
Guest speaker will be the Rev. Monica Turner Leak of Accokeek, Md.
Turner is a 1991 graduate of Salisbury High School.
Formerly a teacher in Kings Mountain and Falls Church, Va., she now teaches in Prince George County, Maryland.
She is married to Ronald Leak, Jr., a computer engineer in Alexandria, Va..
The services will be held at 7:30 p.m., nightly; various churches will be participating in the service. The Rev. William D. Turner is host pastor, and the church is located at 601 E. Cemetery Street.
New Hope Lutheran
New Hope Lutheran Church, 1615 Brantley Road, Kannapolis, will hold its Maundy Thursday service at 7 p.m. April 9.
The Good Friday Service of Light and Darkness will be at 7 p.m. April 10.
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Sarah Hall compiles Faith briefs. Weekly deadline is noon Thursday. E-mail information to shall@salisburypost.com. For more information, call Hall at 704-797-4271.