Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Southern Pines has scheduled a variety of services in celebration of Holy Week. They are as follows: Monday and Tuesday, April 2 and 3, 5:30 p.m., Stations of the Cross; Wednesday, April 4, 7 p.m., Tenebrae service; Thursday, April 5, 7 p.m., Maundy Thursday service; Friday, April 6, noon to 3 p.m., Good Friday service. Speakers for the Good Friday service will be the Rev. John Tampa, Emmanuel's rector; the Rev. Dr. Randal Foster; and Meaghan Martin Kelly, who is studying for the Episcopal priesthood at Virginia Theological Seminary.

The church's Easter Sunday schedule on Sunday, April 8, will begin with a "Great Vigil of Easter" service at 6 a.m., immediately followed by breakfast and an egg hunt. Easter Festival services with Holy Communion will be held at both 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.

Emmanuel is located at the corner of Massachusetts Avenue and Ridge Street in Southern Pines.

Our Saviour Lutheran

Our Saviour Lutheran Church offers the following services during Holy Week:

- Sunday, April 1, at 8:30 and 11 a.m., Palm Sunday services with communion and processing into the sanctuary waving fresh palms. Quiet retreat is from 2 to 6 p.m.

- Wednesday, April 4, from 4 to 7 p.m., a service of Healing and Confession with prayers at the cross.

- Maundy Thursday, April 5, at 7 p.m., an observance of the "Last Supper," the institution of the Sacrament of Holy Communion.

- Good Friday, April 6, at 7 p.m.

- Saturday, April 7, from 10 a.m. to noon, the children have a sidewalk celebration including games, Easter Egg hunt, crafts for children up to 5th grade. At 6 p.m. there is an Easter Vigil to celebrate Christ's passage from death to life awaiting Christ's coming.

- Easter Sunday, April 8, there is a sunrise service and communion at 7 a.m.; worship and communion at 8:30 and 11 a.m. There will be no Sunday School.

Our Saviour Lutheran is located on Luther Way in Southern Pines near The Barn Restaurant.

Call 692-2662 for more information.

Bethesda Services

Holy Week opportunities at Bethesda Presbyterian Church include:

- Palm Sunday worship at 11 a.m. with the children carrying palm branches and offering special music. The message is "King for a Day" and the Lord's Supper will be observed.

- Maundy Thursday worship at 7 p.m. with a reflection on "The Living Last Supper," a musical drama by Elaine Schram presented by the Chancel Choir and monologues from the "Twelve at Table" modeled on the Da Vinci painting.

- Good Friday worship at noon, with a 30-minute service followed by luncheon.

- Easter Sunrise Service at 7 a.m. at Old Bethesda Cemetery, sponsored for the community by Bethesda Presbyterian, First Baptist and Page Memorial United Methodist churches of Aberdeen.

- Easter Sunday worship at 11 a.m. with special music led by the Chancel Choir and representatives of Moore Brass.

Visitors are welcome and more information is available by calling 944-1319.

St. James Lutheran

The Holy Week schedule of services at St. James Lutheran Church includes the following:

- Palm Sunday, April 1, at 11 a.m., with Procession of Palms.

- Maundy Thursday Communion Service, Thursday, April 5, at 7 p.m.

- Good Friday Service, April 6, at 7 p.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Pinehurst.

- Sunday, April 8, at 11 a.m., festival service of the Resurrection.

The Rev. Rick Schliepsiek is the pastor of both St. James and St. Paul Lutheran Churches.

St. Paul Lutheran

St. Paul Lutheran Church in Pinehurst has scheduled the following services:

- Palm Sunday, April 1, 9 a.m.

- Maundy Thursday, April 5, 7 p.m. with St. James in Southern Pines.

- Good Friday, April 6, 7 p.m.

- Easter, April 8, 9 a.m.

The Rev. Rick Schliepsiek is the pastor of both St. Paul and St. James Lutheran Churches.

West End Methodist

West End United Methodist Church, located at 4015 N.C. 73 in West End, has several events scheduled to celebrate Holy Week, the period of time between Palm Sunday and Easter.

On Palm Sunday, April 1, the church choir will present a cantata entitled "Shadows of Sacrifice" at the 11 a.m. service. In remembrance of Maundy Thursday, April 5, an informal service will be held in the church's fellowship hall at 7:30 p.m., which will combine music, scripture, and a devotional message with the service of Holy Communion.

Good Friday, April 6, will be celebrated at 7:30 p.m. in the sanctuary with a dramatic reading, "It is Finished : the passion of Christ according to the gospel of John," combined with hymns.

On Easter Sunday, April 8, a sunrise service will be held in conjunction with the West End Baptist Church at the West End Cemetery. Only an 11 a.m. worship service will be held at West End Methodist Church on Easter Sunday.

Culdee Services

On Palm Sunday, April 1, at 11 a.m., the Culdee Presbyterian Chancel Choir, under the direction of Gail Meeks, will present the Easter cantata, "Then Came the Morning."

On April 5, there will be a Maundy Thursday service. This will be a communion service.

The Easter sunrise service will be held at 7 a.m. in the Culdee Cemetery. Following the service, breakfast will be served in the fellowship hall. At the 11 a.m. service, Pastor Chris Bobo will deliver the Easter message.

"We invite the community to attend these services and activities," said a spokesman.

Choir Performs

First Baptist Church in Aberdeen will host the India Children's Choir Sunday, April 8, from 6 to 7 p.m.

The church is located at 700 Sandhills Blvd (U.S. 1) in Aberdeen.

For further information, call 944-1421.

Spring Tent Revival

A three-night tent revival will be held at the Harper's Crossroads Community Center on March 30-31 and April 1 at 7 p.m. Michael Fulp, pastor of Prosperity Friends Meeting, will be the featured speaker.

Special music will include Kim Lilly (Friday), Glory Bound Singers (Saturday) and Cross Road Singers (Sunday).

Refreshments will be served in the Community Center building immediately following services.

For further information, visit www.prosperityfriends.org or call 910-464-5388.

Usher Board

At Piney Grove Church, Windblow Community, Ellerbe, the usher board will celebrate its anniversary on April 1, at 3 p.m. Delivering the message will be Pastor Benny Kemp, accompanied by Lovely Hill Church.

Pleasant Hill

Pleasant Hill Baptist Church on Camp Easter Road will have an Easter egg hunt on Saturday, April 7, at 10:30 a.m. for the children.

On Easter morning, the annual sunrise service will be held at 7 a.m., followed by breakfast. Sunday School will be at 8:30 a.m., and regular morning worship service will begin at 9:30 a.m. The adult choir will perform a cantata, "It's Majesty."

There will be no service on Easter Sunday night. For information, call 692-0992.

Revival

Minister Eric T. Thomas, associate minister from New Direction Outreach Ministries in Vass, located at 3623 Old U.S. 1 Business across fromVass Park, will be doing a three-night revival Wednesday, March 28, through Friday, March 30, at 7:30 p.m. each evening.

Sandy Grove

Sandy Grove Bible Church of God in Vass will host Elder Lester Marshall of Polkton Sunday, April 1, at 3 p.m.

Revival will be held Wednesday, April 4, through Friday, April 6, Elder David Bullard of Aberdeen will speak.

Witherington Speaks

Monday, April 2, at 6:30 p.m., Dr. Ben Witherington, professor of New Testament Interpretation at Asbury Theological Seminary, will present a public lecture at First Baptist Church in Southern Pines. He addresses the claims of the documentary film, "The Tomb of Jesus."

On Sunday, April 1, at 6:30 p.m., Witherington's lecture is titled "Who Was the Beloved Disciple of Jesus?"

A graduate of UNC, Chapel Hill, Witherington received his doctorate from the University of Durham in England. He is now considered one of the top evangelical scholars in the world. Witherington has also taught at Vanderbilt University, Duke Divinity School, and Gordon-Conwell Seminary.

A popular lecturer, he has presented seminars for churches, colleges and biblical meetings not only in the United States but also around the world. He has appeared on the History Channel, NBC, CBS, CNN, The Discovery Channel, A&E, and the PAX Network.

The church is located at 200 East New York Avenue. These free lectures are open to the public.

Bensalem Events

Bensalem Presbyterian Church in Eagle Springs will host its annual Easter Egg Hunt Saturday, April 7, at 11 a.m., followed by a cookout. All ages are invited.

The church will celebrate Easter morning at its annual sunrise service and breakfast. The service begins at 7 a.m., with breakfast to follow. The regular morning worship service will begin at 11 a.m.

Conference

Jesus World Outreach Center, Inc. (JWOC) will hold its Sixth Annual Men of Integrity (MOI) Conference on Saturday, April 21, at 10 a.m. Intercessory prayer will begin at 9:30 a.m. prior to the conference.

This year's theme is: "Can You Handle the Truth?" JWOC pastor, host and MOI founder, Dr. Jake Williams Jr. invites men from all walks of life to attend.

"Men of Integrity's purpose is to train men how to be men, husbands and fathers of integrity by teaching them the living Word of God that they may walk upright before God at all times, in all areas, and at all cost enabling them to take back their rightful place," says a spokesman.

JWOC is located at 2727 Murchison Road in Fayetteville. There is no registration fee. Nursery care will be provided, and refreshments will be served.

For more information and to RSVP, call JWOC at 910-823-4849.

Village Chapel

The Village Chapel youth will be processing with palm branches at the 9:30 a.m. Palm Sunday Service on April 1, and special music will be provided by "A Joyful Noise" Choir. Dr. Larry Ellis will speak on "Facing the Future" at both the 9:30 and 11 a.m. services. The Chapel Choir will provide special music at the 11 a.m. service. There is also an 8:30 a.m. Communion service available.

An Easter Sunrise Service at 6:30 a.m. on the lawn of the Carolina Hotel is being offered jointly by the Carolina Hotel and The Village Chapel. The Chapel Choir, directed by John Shannon, will be singing, and Dr. Glenn Miller will present a Meditation.

Service times will be changed for Easter, April 8, as follows: 8 a.m., Communion service; 9:15 a.m., family worship service, with special music by "A Joyful Noise" and "The Chapel Chimers"; 11 a.m., traditional worship service with special music by the Chapel Choir. Dr. Glenn Miller will speak on "Why Are You Weeping?" at all three Easter services.

The Chapel building is handicapped accessible and has receivers for the hearing impaired.

For more information, call 295-6003.

Browns Chapel

Browns Chapel Christian Church in Robbins will have an Easter egg hunt for the children Saturday, March 31, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the church. The rain date will be Saturday, April 7, at 2 p.m.

An Easter Sunrise Service will be held at 6:30 a.m. Sunday, April 8. A continental breakfast will be served following the service.

For more information, call 910-948-2729.

Lenten Services

Community Congregational Church United Church of Christ in Southern Pines has presented several special events and programs during the Lenten season.

Dr. David Bowling will lead Bible study on "The Resurrection" on Wednesday, March 28. The study series will begin at 6 p.m. with a pot luck supper in the fellowship hall.

Lent will culminate with the following Holy Week services:

- Palm Sunday, April 1, at 11 a.m.

- Maundy Thursday, April 5, Service of Tenebrae with communion at 7 p.m.

- Easter Sunday, April 8, at 11 a.m.

"All are welcome to visit us at 141 North Bennett St. in Southern Pines," says a church spokesman.

For further information, call 692-8468 or visit the Web site at www.communitycongregational.org.

Lenten Lunches

Lenten lunches at Page Memorial United Methodist Church located in downtown Aberdeen will be held through April 4.

"This is a great opportunity for spiritual reflection, Christian conversation, and delicious meals," says a spokesman.

Participants will gather on Wednesdays at noon in the church fellowship hall.

The cost is $4 per person and includes a home-cooked meal, tea, coffee, rolls, dessert, and a time of ministry and fellowship.

Speakers and menus are as follows:

- March 28, the Rev. Bob Bundy, retired United Methodist minister. Menu includes beef stew with rice, buttered carrots, and green beans.

- April 4, the Rev. Janet Buffaloe, United Methodist Church. Menu includes baked chicken, scalloped potatoes, and corn with pimento.

Lenten Services

St. Paul Lutheran Church will hold Lenten services on Wednesday, March 28, at 7 p.m.

Recovery Ministry

Beaver Creek Baptist Church continues its substance abuse recovery ministry Monday through Saturday evenings at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 6 p.m.

The church has recently opened its Rescue Mission House for recovering addicts and is in need of monetary donations as well as household items.

The church is located at 2280 Nicholson Rd., Cameron. Call 919-499-9632 for information.

Breakfast

The Unitarian Universalist Breakfast Group will meet each second and fourth Sunday, at 9 a.m., at the Days Inn Restaurant on U.S. 1, Southern Pines.

For more information send e-mail to lomdjm@earthlink.net or go to www.uua.org to learn more about this progressive religion.

Donations

A church ministry is looking for donations for home-school material (pre-K, second grade, and fourth grade).

"We are also looking for volunteer home-school teachers that will also be screened," said a spokesman.

For more information, contact Tonya at 910-687-0257.

Christian Singles

Christian Singles, for adult Christian singles from 40 years of age and up, meets each Monday at 6:30 p.m., at various restaurants in the Southern Pines and Aberdeen area.

Call 692-8888 for information.