WS Chronicle

As Lenten season ends, Christians prepare for the most glorious day in Christianity. Resurrection Day is when Jesus the Christ rose from the grave, having sacrificed His life for mankind.

Some churches mark Lent with a wooden cross draped in purple cloth on their property. One explanation of the practice is that “Colors associated with Lent are primarily purple and violet, which are the Western liturgical colors symbolizing the suffering of Jesus prior to crucifixion and the suffering of humanity and the world. They are also the colors of royalty, symbolizing the coming Resurrection on Easter Sunday.” (From http://www.presbyterian.org.nz.)

The week preceding Easter is known as Holy Week. It begins on Palm Sunday and is traditionally a week of somber reflection on the events preceding Jesus’ death: His triumphant entry into Jerusalem; His cleansing of the temple; His betrayal by Judas; His Last Supper with His 12 apostles; His arrest, crucifixion and death; and His burial in a tomb.

Holy Week ends on Holy Saturday, which is the last day of Lent.

Many churches in the Winston-Salem area will hold services to celebrate Resurrection Sunday, which also is known as Easter. The following is a list of services provided to The Chronicle:

*St. James A.M.E. Church will hold Maundy Thursday Service at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 2, during which The Last Supper will be re-enacted. The guest Preacher will be the Rev. Dr. Eric J. Greaux, Pastor of Triad Ministries Church of God located in Kernersville. Dr. Greaux has held teaching positions at Duke University, Carolina Evangelical Divinity School, Gordon-Cornwell Theological Seminary, Charlotte and Shaw University Divinity School. He presently serves as Associate Professor of Religion at Winston-Salem State University. Sunrise Service will be held Easter Sunday, April 5, at 6 a.m. The guest Preacher will be Elder W. C. Pankey, Associate in Ministry, Mt. Sinai Full Gospel Deliverance Center.  Breakfast will be served immediately after service in the Steven L. Lyons Fellowship Hall. The Rev. Steven L. Lyons is the pastor of St. James, located at 1501 N. Patterson Ave. across from the U.S. Post Office. The public is invited to attend both services.

*At Mount Zion Baptist Church, 950 File St., On Maundy Thursday, April 2, Dr. Paul Lowe and his congregation from Shiloh Baptist Church will worship at Mount Zion.  Sunrise Service will be on Sunday, April 5.  The Rev. James Cook and the St. Stephen Missionary Baptist Church Family will join Mount Zion at this time for worship and a fellowship breakfast, with service beginning at 6:30 a.m.

*On Thursday, April 2, Restoration Christian Fellowship Church will be walking two miles  from the bus station in downtown Winston-Salem at 6:30 p.m. This is in remembrance of what God the Father did at Calvary. The church is expecting souls to be saved and delivered as they take it to the streets.

*At Calvary Hill Church of Greater Deliverance Inc., 4951 Manning St., several services will be held for Holy Week. On Friday, April 3 at 6:30 p.m., Calvary 7 Last Words will be presented. Several preachers will deliver the message. On Saturday, April 4 from 9:30 a.m. to noon, the annual Easter Egg Hunt will be held. On Sunday, April 5 at 6 a.m. we will have Sunrise Service. Elder Rosetta Dennis will deliver the message, and there will be a continental breakfast served at 5:30 a.m. before the service.  Bishop Claude C. Turner is founder, pastor and teacher. For more information, contact the church 336-744-3012.

*Holy Trinity Full Gospel Fellowship Center, 5307 Peters Creek Parkway will have a Youth Celebration that will include a fun filled day for all youth on Saturday, April 4 from noon to 2 p.m. All youth are welcome to attend this event that will include an egg hunt, game activities, kite flying (bring a kite), and a delicious complementary lunch.  For more information call the church office at 336-784-9347.

*On Good Friday, April 3, Pastor Curtis Friday and The Love Church will be giving away $5,000 in free gas.  The time begins at 1:30 p.m. and the location will be revealed on 1340 AM and 103.5 FM radio stations at 1 p.m. along with social media pages of Pastor Curtis Friday & The Official Love Church. Anyone with any questions or concerns, should email to marketing@thelovecity.org or call the church at 336-525-1LOV (1568).

*Goler Metropolitan A.M.E. Zion Church, 1435 E. Fourth St., will present a cantata titled ‘The Seven Last Words of Christ’ at 6 p.m. Sunday, April 5. The Cathedral Choir and guest soloists will perform with an orchestra. Duncan Gray is the director; Marion “Pete” Thomas, the organist; and Julie Hunter, the pianist. This performance features seven movements corresponding to the seven last words of Christ as He hung on the cross; and a musical depiction of the earthquake following the crucifixion; exploring and revealing the emotional resonances inherent in the story of the crucifixion.

*Greater Tabernacle Worship Center, 1410 Attucks St., is celebrating Holy Week, Monday, March 30 – Saturday, April 4. Communion will be served every evening at 6 p.m. On Friday, April 3, Greater Tabernacle Worship Center presents “Seven Last Sayings” at 7 p.m. On Saturday, April 4, at Civitan Park in Kernersville, from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. is the annual Easter Egg Hunt. On Sunday, April 5, at 6 a.m. will be Sunrise Service and Communion. The pastor is Apostle BJ McCloud. For more information, contact Greater Tabernacle Worship Center at 336-777-1113.

*Piney Grove Baptist Church will have a weekend of Easter activities beginning with an Easter Festival on Saturday, April 4 at 10 a.m. to noon at the PGBC Family Life Center, 4633 Grove Garden Drive.   There will be an Easter Egg hunt for children of all ages and many more fun activities for all ages.  The celebration will continue on Sunday at 6 a.m. with an Easter Sunrise Service followed by an Easter Program at 8:30 a.m. and worship service at 10 a.m.  For more information about these events, call 336-744-5759.

*Communion Service will be held at New Hope A.M.E. Zion Church, 7184 Shallowford Road in Lewisville on Thursday, April 2, at 7 p.m. The speaker will be the Rev. Beverly W. McMillian and the church of Bethlehem AME Zion Church of Pfafftown. The Rev. Dairl L. Scott, Sr. is the pastor. Also, New Hope A.M.E. Zion Church will have Easter Sunrise Service on Sunday, April 5, starting at 6 a.m. Sunday morning. The Rev. Warren Nance of Hickory Grove A.M.E. Zion Church and congregation will worship with the church. Breakfast will be served. The Rev. Dairl L. Scott, Sr. is the pastor. For information, call the church at 336-945-9083 or 336-945-5618.

*Born Again Free Deliverance Tabernacle Church of God, The Apostle’s Faith Inc., 315 Spring St., Thomasville, where the pastor is Bishop Barbara G. Adams, will have its Easter Sunday service, Sunday, April 5. Sunday School will be at 10 a.m. followed by Praise & Worship Service at 11 a.m.  Pastor & Overseer Bishop Barbara G. Adams will deliver the Easter message … “He Rose! Jesus Is Alive & Doing Fine!”  For more information please call 336-251-8717.

*Mount Sinai Full Gospel Deliverance Center, 2721 Manchester St., will present “Seven Last Words in Song” on Good Friday, April 3 at 7 p.m. featuring original musical compositions with psalmists accompanied by a string quartet. The Resurrection Celebration will continue Sunday, April 5 at the 11 a.m. Easter observance. High praise and worship, music, dance and dynamic preaching will culminate the celebration. The public is invited to attend these services. For additional information, contact the church office at 336-722-2624. The Rev. Yvonne H. Hines serves as Senior Pastor.

*Rock of Ages Baptist Church, 4707 Cherry St., will have the last seven words of Jesus on Friday, April 3, beginning at noon to 3 p.m. There will be seven preachers, preaching  the word. Minister George Hodges, form First Step Kingdom Minister, Greensboro; Rev. Bulford, Solid Rock Baptist Church; Bishop Marvin Cremedy, Vessels of Honor Church Ministry; Pastor Errol Gay, United Bible-Way Worship Center; Sister Pauline Martin; the Rev. Birdie Rush; and Pastor Clara Cremedy, Vessels of Honor Church Ministry.

*Jerry C. Gilmore III, president, and the members of the Original Easter Sunrise Committee invite the public to attend the 2015 Seven Last Words of Christ Service at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 3, at New Bethel Baptist Church, 1016 North Trade St., with the Rev. Dr. Kendall D. Jones serving as the Host Pastor.  Bishop Tavaris Johnson Sr., Pastor of New Dimensions Community Christian Center of High Point, will serve as the worship leader. The First Word – Dr. Kendall Jones, Pastor of New Bethel Baptist Church; The Second Word – Rev. Dr. Sir Walter Mack, Jr., Pastor of Union Baptist Church; The Third Word – Pastor Beverly Alexander, Pastor of Open Door Community Church; The Forth Word – Bishop Sheldon McCarter, Pastor of Greater Cleveland Avenue Christian Church; Fifth Word – Bishop John Parks, Pastor of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church; The Sixth Word – Dr. Daryl Napper, Sr., Pastor of Daryl Napper Ministries; The Seventh Word – Bishop Freddie Marshall, Jr., Pastor of Christ Cathedral Church of Deliverance. Easter Sunrise Service will be held at 6 a.m. on Sunday, April 5, at Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church, 1711 North Claremont Ave., presided by the Rev. Dr. L. Dwight Hash Jr.  The Light, 1340 AM radio station, will be broadcasting live at 6 a.m.  For more information, please contact The Original Easter Sunrise Committee via phone at 336-723-5508.