Citizen Special Section

May His Love and Sacrifice fill your heart with Peace and Joy. EASTER WORSHIP GUIDE

Worship Services and Schedules Throughout the Rockdale & Newton Communities A Supplement of the Rockdale Citizen and Newton Citizen • Sunday, March 28, 2010

www.firstbaptistcovington.com

1139 Usher Street • 770-786-9031

Join us on the square in Covington for our 2nd annual Easter service First Baptist is excited about our second annual Easter on the Square Worship service. Having three services on Sunday morning, it is always a special time for our church to worship together as one. The service will be at 10:30 AM on April fourth right in the center of the downtown square. The city will be shutting down the roads encircling the square from 10 AM to 12 noon.

There will be plenty of room and plenty of seating for all. If you do not have a church home, we would love for you to come and join us for this special celebration of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Childcare will be available in our new children’s area for infants through first graders. We will also be providing shuttle service from the parking garage and children’s area out to the square. This will be a memorable day in Covington and we hope to see you there.

There is more than just the Easter service going on at First Baptist this Easter Season.

Beginning on March 26, the members of First Baptist will be going out into the community to serve with our 10 Projects in 10 Days. This is a series of service projects where the members of First Baptist will be coming alongside our local service agencies to show the entire community the love of Christ. On April 3, or day nine of the 10 Projects in 10 Days , we will be having a very special community wide project. We are inviting the whole community and especially the kids of Covington to join us at Legion Field (located on Mill Street, behind the YMCA) for our first annual Easter Egg Drop. At 1 PM we will be dropping thousands of Easter Eggs for the boys and girls of our community to come and find.

We will be giving away bags of candy and the PAGE 2 • MARCH 28, 2010 • EASTER • THE CITIZEN

“real” Easter Bunny will be there. Please come and join us for this fun event.

Outside of the Easter Season there is always something going on at First Baptist. On Sunday mornings we have three distinct worship services. The morning begins with a more contemplative service in our main sanctuary at 8:25 AM. At 9:30 AM we have a casual, more contemporary service in our Fellowship Hall. Then at 10:55 AM we have our traditional service back in the main sanctuary. At 9:45 AM and 10:55 AM we also have Sunday School/ Small Groups for all ages. These groups consist of people from all ages and walks of life, and cover material from Bible book studies to Biblical studies of marriage and finances. On Sunday evenings we hold our church wide discipleship classes at 6 PM. There are a variety of classes covering topics such as prayer, theology and personal finance.

For our children we have Family Fusion, which is a service designed for children and their parents to worship the Lord together.

There are many fellowship groups that meet throughout the week that offer everything from quilting to low impact exercise. On Wednesday nights we have our mid-week service at 6 PM in the main sanctuary. For our children we have Missions classes that teach our children to serve the community and the world. Our youth have their mid-week service called C-Town in our new facility, the old Patrick's Feed and Seed building.

Youth from all over the city gather in our new youth facility to worship, and study the word of God. First Baptist Church loves this community and we desire to be used by God to serve and love

Pastor Jason Dees this area in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We would be honored for you to come and be a part of any or all that we have going on. We would especially love for you to come to our Easter Service on April 4 at 10:30 AM.

MARCH 28, 2010 • EASTER • THE CITIZEN • PAGE 3

Smyrna Presbyterian celebrates 183 years of praise Smyrna Presbyterian Campground and Church, located at 2920 Highway 212, SW, near the intersection of Ga. 138 and Ga. 212, will gather this year for 183 years of praise, worship, campmeeting, local and international missionary work, many youth activities and vacation bible school.

Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday services on March 28 at 8:40 a.m. with a Praise Service, followed at 9:30 a.m. with the Vietnamese Service, and at 11:00 a.m. with the Traditional Service. The children of the church will proceed into the sanctuary carrying palm leaves to start these services.

Sunday School classes begin every week at 9:40 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. for the Vietnamese Sunday School classes.

On April 1 the church will hold its Maundy Thursday Service with communion at 7:00 p.m. and on April 2 it will hold its Good Friday Service at 7:00 p.m.

The Easter Egg Hunt on April 3 is open to the public and all children ages 2 through Grade 5 are invited to participate in the campground area at 10:00 a.m.to 12:00 Noon.

Easter Sunday, April 4, will begin with Smyrna's SonRise service at 7:00 a.m. at the lakeside stone pulpit on the campgrounds. A breakfast in the dining hall will follow. The Praise Service will be at 8:40 a.m., the Vietnamese service will follow at 9:30 a.m. in the Chapel, and the traditional service will be at 11:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary. Sunday School classes are at 9:40 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. for the Vietnamese Sunday School classes.

Following Holy Week, a mission team will depart from Smyrna for Nakuru, Kenya from June 7-19. Over the past seven years people from several churches in Conyers and beyond have

helped establish a new Christian Mission Center which includes a children's home to as many as 400 orphans, primary and secondary schools, clinic and housing for staff.

There will be opportunities to help in many ways, including medical and health care, computers, construction, education and evangelism. Also, a missionary group will leave for Vietnam in the fall with two of our members remaining permanently in Vietnam to continue working with the people. A Smyrna Presbyterian Church of Vietnam has been built, a blind center renovated, a home destroyed by hurricane rebuilt, and many other activities. The team visits orphanages, a Leper colony, sponsors orphans and various families to encourage them in the walk of faith. They are currently working on building a two-story blind center that will house approximately 70 residents in Dalat. All with a heart for these missions are welcome to join the teams.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL will be held June 7-11 on the campground and is open to the public. On June 13-19 a group of youth and adults will attend Smyrna's local Mission Work

PAGE 4 • MARCH 28, 2010 • EASTER • THE CITIZEN

Camp. They will be housed on the campgrounds for the week. Last year 235 youth and adults participated, from five states and they completed 18 local projects for the elderly and disabled. Many are repeat volunteers who have expressed a desire to return to participate in this rewarding experience. It is

exciting to see an investment in the local community.

CAMP MEETING will be June 25-July 1. Rev. Larry Owens of Thornwell School and Home for Children in S.C. will give the evening services Friday through Sunday at 7:30 p.m. and Rev.Dr. Jeff Meyers of Conyers First Baptist Church

will give the evening services Monday through Thursday at 7:30 p.m.and Sunday morning message at 11:00 a.m.

Rev. Tony Elder of Rockdale Evangelical Methodist Church will conduct the daytime bible study at 11:00 a.m. HOMECOMING Sunday is observed on June 27.

Lunch and supper are served

daily in the dining hall.

HARVEST JUBILEE will be held September 18 - for the Tina George Carter Medical Benevolence Fund with a Quilt display, Classic Car Show, Holiday House, General Store, Arts & Crafts, Bake Sale, Book Store, Plant Sale, Car Wash, Children's Activities.

SMYRNA CAMPGROUND AND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 2920 Hwy. 212 SW • 770-483-8962 • Conyers, GA 30094 Rev. Michael Sorrell www.smyrnapc.com

EASTER WEEK SERVICES Palm Sunday 3/28 - 8:40 AM Praise Service, Sanctuary

9:30 AM Vietnamese Service, Chapel 9:40 AM Sunday School Classes 10:45 AM Vietnamese Sunday School Classes 11:00 AM Traditional Service, Sanctuary Maundy Thursday Service 4/1 - 7:00 PM with Communion (nursery available) Good Friday 4/2 - 7:00 PM (nursery available) Easter Egg Hunt – Saturday 4/3 - 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM (Public Invited) Easter Sunday 4/4 - 7:00 AM SonRise Service (Stone Pulpit Lakeside) (Breakfast in Dining Hall follows SonRise Service) 8:40 AM Praise Service, Sanctuary 9:30 AM Vietnamese Service, Chapel 9:40 AM Sunday School Classes 10:45 AM Vietnamese Sunday School Classes 11:00 AM Traditional Service, Sanctuary MARCH 28, 2010 • EASTER • THE CITIZEN • PAGE 5

Epiphany Lutheran Church Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

The tomb is empty… and we are blessed! Alleluia!

A mentor of mine once told me about a lady in his congregation who became quite upset about something he had said. “Jesus would roll over in his grave if he knew you had said that!”

He is doing the same things he has always been doing—healing, sustaining, and giving new life.

We see Jesus alive and active in Christian worship—as the faithful gather to offer Of course, it’s a mistake all faithful Chris- prayer and praise to God. We see Jesus alive tians might make. People do tend to die and and active in moments of mercy—as the stay that way. hungry are fed, the lonely comforted, and Yet, hard as it is for us to wrap our heads the poor are lifted up. We see Jesus alive around, we Christians know that Jesus is no and active in the common life of the longer in the grave. Four little words tell us Church—as men and women are supported this truth: The tomb is empty. He has been and strengthened to live lives of courage and raised, and is alive and active in the world. grace.

Epiphany Lutheran Church We are disciples of Christ . . .

2375 Georgia Highway 20, Conyers www.conyerselc.org

Sunday of the Passion Palm Sunday – March 28th 8:30 AM 11:00 AM

Holy Communion Service Holy Communion Service

Maundy Thursday - April 1st 7:00 PM

Holy Communion

Good Friday - April 2nd 10:30 AM -12:00 PM Prayer Vigil Our Sanctuary will be open for a quiet time of prayer for peace in our world.

Office (770) 483-6222 FAX (770) 760-9211 Good Friday Continued: 12:00 PM Tenebrae Service Join Us at 12 PM for a Soup Luncheon in the main hall followed by our Tenebrae Service at 1 PM in the Sanctuary.

7:00 PM Seven Last Words

Easter Sunday April 4th 6:30 AM 7:30-8:15 AM 8:30 AM 9:45-10:30 AM 11:00 AM

~ Nursery Care Available for all Services ~ PAGE 6 • MARCH 28, 2010 • EASTER • THE CITIZEN

Outdoor Sunrise Service 1st Seating Easter Breakfast Festive Holy Communion 2nd Seating Easter Breakfast Festive Holy Communion

Crosspoint Christian Church “Reaching Up, Reaching Near and Reaching Far” In 2007 the congregation at Crosspoint embarked on a three year plan to implement the “marching orders” of Christ in our everyday lives. Using Acts 1:8 as a foundation – “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." – we have divided Jesus’ final instructions, before His ascension, into three parts. We have been living these three parts sequentially for the past three years and are now living in the second cycle since 2010 is a "REACH UP YEAR". We are so excited about REACHING FOR CHRIST we wanted to share our vision with you in the annual report published in this Easter edition of our local newspaper.

REACH UP… The first part of our core verse (Acts 1:8) FINDS Jesus TELLING His followers, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you…” When this verse is studied, we find that Jesus is telling His followers to make sure their relationship with God comes first. All of man’s efforts on earth are fruitless unless he first begins and cultivates his relationship with God and receives the power that only the Holy Spirit can offer. We call this the REACH UP portion of our core verse. 2007 was a REACH UP year at Crosspoint and 2010 is our second REACH UP year.

REACH NEAR… Next, Jesus directs His followers to be His witnesses, and He instructs them to begin right where they stand. It’s the portion of

our core verse (Acts 1:8) that says: "…you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria…" JESUS tells them to begin right there, in Jerusalem, then take the message He gave them to all Judea and Samaria. (Notice how the circle grows continually larger.) We call this the REACH NEAR portion of this verse because it focuses our attention on winning the lost in our homes, our businesses, and our communities. The burden is to act as “witnesses” for Christ to our immediate circle of influence. 2008 was a REACH NEAR year at Crosspoint.

REACH FAR… Ultimately Jesus commissions His followers to take this lifechanging message to every corner of the globe. Our core verse (Acts 1:8) ends with: "…you will be my witnesses… …to the ends of the earth." We call this part of the verse the REACH FAR portion.

2009 was a REACH FAR year at Crosspoint. We sent more people to the mission field than any other in the 46 YEAR history of our congregation. From Albania to Germany, Mexico, Haiti, Jamaica and the inner city soup kitchens of Washington DC, volunteers gave of their time and talents to REACH FAR for Christ.

This didn’t happen by accident. We believe god blessed our efforts to follow the instructions of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ who told us to FIRST make our foundation of faith strong (REACH UP), THEN share that faith with our circle of influence (REACH NEAR), THEN take that faith and that witness around the world (REACH FAR).

HERE’S THE PLAN … part 2 It’s 2010 and the three year cycle begins anew. I pray, if you are not actively involved in another congregation that you might consider coming alongside our vision to grow modern day disciples for Christ and to ultimately send people and resources to the ends of the earth.

EASTER… So, do we want you to join us for Easter? You betcha! But even more, we want you to decide to follow God’s plan along with us.

Come to Church on Easter if you don’t have a Church home. Then, spend 2010 REACHing UP with us, growing in your relationship with God and coming to know Jesus Christ for who He truly is; Lord and Savior. THEN learn how to share your witness with others; first at home, in your community, THEN to the ends of the earth.

EASTER SERVICE TIMES & DIRECTIONS… This year we’ll have two Easter services beginning at 9:15 and 11:00. Your children are welcome to attend the worship service with you or a nursery is provided for children two and under. Our Junior Worship is offered separately for Children in 5th grade and below.

Crosspoint Christian Church, 4550 HIGHWAY 20 SOUTH, CONYERS 30013, is located 6 miles south of I-20 on Highway 20 at the intersection with Oglesby Bridge Road in South Rockdale (right next to Pippins BBQ). If you have any questions or need more information please call our Church office at 770-483-1887 or check out our website www.XPT.CC

MARCH 28, 2010 • EASTER • THE CITIZEN • PAGE 7

Celebrate Resurrection Life at Allen Memorial Come join us at Allen Memorial, where we “gather as the family of Christ, grow as disciples of Christ, and go forth to serve as the body of Christ.”

We have programs for people of all ages, and a warm inviting atmosphere that says

Gathering as the family of Christ, Growing as disciples of Christ, Going forth to serve as the body of Christ.

E. Bonnell St.

Emory St.

St.

81

Wen dwo rth D r.

Oxford

I-20

Oxford College Emory University

Haygood Ave.

W. Bonnell St.

Wesley St.

Stone St.

Haygood Ave.

W. Moore St.

Wesley St.

Ashbu ry St.

Pierce

E. Clark St.

81

PalmerstonElementary School

Emory St. Allen Memorial

W. Clark St.

W. Soule St.

Ashbury St.

803 Whatcoat St.

W. Clark St.

There’s a place for you at Allen!

Emory St.

▲

Our century-old sanctuary is a place of traditional worship, with fresh new elements added to connect with younger hearts. It is a place of celebration and reverence, healing and hope, mission and service.

E. Soule St.

“you are welcome here.”

Holy Week

There’s a place for you at...

Schedule March 28 Palm Sunday Sunday School Worship April 1

Maundy Thursday

9:45 am 11:00 am 6:00 pm

The Last Supper

ALLEN MEMORIAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Rev. Brian Dale 803 Whatcoat Street 770-786-7414 Oxford, GA 30054 allenmemorialumc.org PAGE 8 • MARCH 28, 2010 • EASTER • THE CITIZEN

April 2

Good Friday

6:00 pm

April 3

Easter Egg Hunt

2:00 pm

April 4

Easter Sunrise Service Breakfast Sunday School Worship

7:00 am 7:30 am 9:45 am 11:00 am

Celebrate Easter with us at

Presbyterian Church of the Resurrection Find us at www.pcrchurch.org

A congregation of Presbyterian Church USA

Holy Week Services SUNDAY - March 28 - 11:00 AM Palm Sunday Worship Service

THURSDAY - April 1 - 7:30 PM Maundy Thursday Service & Communion

SUNDAY - April 4 Easter Celebrations - He is Risen!

8:30 AM - Early Service in Meditation Garden

Join us as we celebrate this holiest of seasons and rejoice in the grace and love of our Lord. There is a place for you at Presbyterian Church of the Resurrection.

- Leigh Jones, Pastor

(indoors if inclement weather)

10:00 AM - Continental Breakfast 11:00 AM - Worship and Communion

3637 Highway 20 North East, Conyers - 770-922-5553

Presbyterian Church of the Resurrection 3637 Highway 20 North East, Conyers • 770-922-5553 9:45 AM Sunday School - Classes for all ages A nursery with a staff attendant is available

11:00 AM Morning Worship Children’s Church A nursery with a staff attendant is available

One of the highlights of our church year is

Bible School All ages are welcome

June 21 - 25 8:45 AM until 12:30 PM

For information and enrollment, contact the church office.

For Directions and Calendar of events, check our website:

www.pcrchurch.org

Join us in Worship and Mission u Music time for Children u Adult Choral and Bell Choirs r Men’s organization for service projects and fellowship: softball, basketball and golf r Women’s Circles for Bible study, service projects and fellowship activities r Spring & Fall Festivals featuring barbecue and baked goods with activities for children r Book Club r Stretching & Movement program for seniors r Weekly Food Pantry r Meditation Garden for quiet space to pray or study r Children’s Garden for organized programs and activities r Support for mission work in Haiti MARCH 28, 2010 • EASTER • THE CITIZEN • PAGE 9

Several weeks ago, my youngest daughter Adeline scared me half to death. It had been a long day. I had spent most of the day visiting, working on a sermon and Bible studies, and attending committee meetings.

Needless to say, when I finally arrived home I was ready to relax and take it easy. After dinner I went to the bedroom, changed, turned on the TV, and settled in. I was so exhausted; I never noticed the small lump under the covers. Addi had snuck into the room and hid under the covers. Just as I began to relax, she threw back the covers, jumped to her feet and shouted, “Ta-Da!” Needless to say, I was no longer tired, but energized, wound up, and motivated to catch an eight-year-old who jumped from the bed and ran screaming to the protective arms of her mother.

I share this because it reminded me of an old story about a Sunday

“Ta-Da”

Rev. Dr. Doug Gilreath School teacher who had just finished telling her third-graders about how Jesus was crucified and buried in a tomb, and how the tomb was sealed with a huge stone. When she finished with that portion of the story she wanted to share the excitement of the resurrection and the surprise

of Easter morning. So, she asked, “And what do you think Jesus’ first words were when He came bursting out of that tomb alive?” A hand shot up in the back of the classroom, the arm of a little girl was swinging wildly back and forth. She could hardly contain herself as she shouted excitedly, “I know, I know!”

“Good,” said the teacher. “Tell us.”

And at that the little girl crouched down and then jumped up into the air extending her arms high and shouting, “Ta-Da!” Although it’s not recorded in Scripture anywhere I think that little girl was right. Jesus may not have spoken those exact words, but that sure was their meaning, “TA-DA!” Because when Jesus stepped forth from the tomb the promise of eternal life and new life were fulfilled. The forever of life eternal began with the rising of God’s Son at Sunrise on that first Easter. No matter what

happens in our life—no matter how good things get—no matter how bad things get, the door is always open to the future. Easter proclaims: • LIFE in the midst of DEATH; • HOPE in the midst of DESPAIR; • LOVE in the midst of HATRED; • FORGIVENESS in the face of REVENGE; • VICTORY in the jaws of DEFEAT! Please make plans to join the congregation of Covington First United Methodist Church on Sunday, April 4, 2010—Easter Sunday, as we celebrate the surprise, mystery, joy and hope of the promise of Easter.

LET US REJOICE

TOGETHER

There is a special place for you and your family at Covington FUMC EASTER SERVICES: 7 PM AT SANCTUARY ANNEX MAUNDY THURSDAY SERVICE GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE 7 PM AT SANCTUARY ANNEX SUNRISE SERVICE 6:30 AM IN THE GARDEN AT FUMC 8:30 AM & 11 :00 AM WORSHIP SERVICES IN CFUMC HISTORIC SANCTUARY Community Holy Week Services are March 29th - April 2nd at 12 noon each day held at First Presbyterian Church. Rev. Dr. Douglas Gilreath, FUMC Senior Pastor will preach Thursday, April 1st and FUMC Music Dept. will provide the music.

APRIL 1 APRIL 2 APRIL 4

SUNDAY SERVICES SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICES: 8:30am and 11am • SUNDAY SCHOOL: for all ages at 9:45am

WE ALSO OFFER: • Children’s Program • Youth Program • Adult Ministry • Bible Studies • Local and Foreign Missions • Fellowship Events

SENIOR PASTOR:

Rev. Dr. Douglas Gilreath ASSOCIATE PASTOR:

Rev. E. Gail Thompson

1113 Conyers St., Covington, GA • 770-786-7305 • fumccovington.org

PAGE 10 • MARCH 28, 2010 • EASTER • THE CITIZEN

Crossroads UMC welcomes you Known around town as the little church with the big vision, Crossroads United Methodist is the place where every member is a minister.

Each person who attends Crossroads finds a place where he or she can be ministered to and in turn minister to others. There are activities for every member of the family.

Activities for every member of the family There are Sunday School classes for all ages and interests, Bible studies, youth programs, children’s programs, shut-in ministries, community outreach, senior citizens group, women’s groups, men’s club, adult choir, youth choir, children’s choir, and more.

Located on Highway 138 next door to Hightower Trail Elementary School and across from the entrance to the Georgia International Horse Park, Crossroads focuses on the five Rs – Reaching out, Relating, Renewing, Rejoicing, and Representing – as its mission statement attests.

The purpose of Crossroads United Methodist Church is to reach out in Christ’s love to our neighbors, relate to one another in genuine Christian fellowship, renew daily our relationship with the living God, rejoice together in Holy Spirit-led worship, and represent Jesus Christ in our community and in our world.

Worship Services offer variety There are two worship services on Sunday mornings. The 8:30 a.m. is a contemporary praise and worship program, while the 11 a.m. is a traditional Methodist service. Sunday School begins at 9:55 a.m. Throughout the week the church doors are open for a variety of programs and Bible studies.

Holy Week Celebration Holy Week at Crossroads is eagerly anticipated by the Crossroads membership. The 2010 Holy Week celebration begins Palm Sunday on March 28, which features the Crossroads children and youth as they prepare the way for the coming of Christ.

On Maundy Thursday, April 1, visit Crossroads at 7 p.m. to celebrate Holy Communion.

On Easter Sunday, April 4, Crossroads celebrates Christ’s resurrection. The celebration begins with a Sunrise Service at 7 a.m. followed by breakfast served by the Men’s Club. Be sure to dress warmly because – weather permitting – this service celebrating the empty tomb is held out doors.

Regular worship services on Easter Sunday are held at 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. with Sunday School at 9:55 a.m.

Everyone is welcome at Crossroads!

Salem UMC remembers Christ Salem United Methodist Church’s observance of Holy Week will feature reverent services and activities designed to bring people together in an atmosphere of remembrance.

Holy Week activities at Salem United Methodist begin on Palm Sunday, March 28, with services at 8:30 and 11 a.m. There will be an Easter Egg Hunt at 4:00 p.m.

On Thursday, April 1, Salem United Methodist will bring a Maundy Thursday service. Maundy Thursday is a solemn service designed to bring to mind Christ’s suffering in his last days and begins at 7 p.m.

During the Good Friday service on April 2, at 7 p.m. the sober recollection of Christ’s death will continue as the altar is stripped and covered with a black cloth before those in attendance leave in silence, remembering Christ’s suffering.

On Easter Sunday, three services will be held: a sunrise service at 6:55 a.m., followed by breakfast in the Family Life Center; a traditional service at 8:30 a.m.; and an 11 a.m. service with a blend of traditional and contemporary music and worship.

“We will talk about Easter as an answer to the two biggest issues in a person’s life: sin and death,” says pastor Randy Kanipe.

Other ongoing programs include Karate Kids for Christ, available for age five through senior adult. The group is registered with Black Belts of Faith International and, according to Kanipe, teaches people how not to fight. The program has helped with discipline and even kids’ grades in school, according to Kanipe.

Salem United Methodist Church is located at 3962 Salem Rd. in Covington.

Call the church office at (770) 786-6027 for more information on Holy Week activities and additional outreach ministries.

Salem United Methodist Church 3962 Salem Rd. (3 1/2 miles south of I-20) March 28 – PALM SUNDAY – 8:30 & 11:00 Services April 1 – April 2 – April 4 –

MAUNDY THURSDAY SERVICE at 7:00 pm GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE at 7:00 pm EASTER SUNRISE SERVICE at 6:55 am Breakfast in Family Life Center

EASTER SERVICES at 8:30 am & 11:00 am Ongoing Programs: • • • • •

Karate Kids for Christ Vacation Bible School: June 21 - 25; 6-8:45 PM Campmeeting: July 9 - 16 Annual Bar-B-Que: October Pumpkin Patch: Month of October

770-786-6027 www.salemumc.org

MARCH 28, 2010 • EASTER • THE CITIZEN • PAGE 11

Saint Pius celebrates Easter with full Holy Week schedule The Congregation of Saint Pius Catholic Church will gather several times during Holy Week to celebrate the great events in the life of Jesus Thursday, Friday and on Easter.

On Holy Thursday the Last Supper of the Lord is solemnly reenacted recalling the command of Jesus: “Do this in memory of me.” The relevant scriptures are read highlighting the self giving of the Master and his words: “What I have done for you, you must do for each other” (Jn 13:14). Thereafter the pastor moves through the congregation washing feet.

In prayer and petition the assembly recommits to fulfill the Lord’s first commandment: To love others in word and in deed.

Good Friday services will

be in English and in Spanish.

This is a day of strict fasting in the Catholic Church because we recall the day Jesus made the supreme sacrifice of himself on Calvary.

“By his wounds on the cross we were healed” (1 Pet 2:24). Parishioners will gather for solemn praying The Stations of the Cross. This traditional prayer exercise involves circling the sanctuary, stopping at images depicting poignant moments leading to the Crucifixion.

The evening Via Crucis will be in Spanish. Many visitors attend this inspiring prayer time.

Easter is the greatest Holy Day in the Church because it commemorates the Resurrection of Jesus from the tomb. His coming back to life fulfilled all that Jesus

said and promised. Long ago Saint Paul exclaimed: “Unless Christ is raised from the dead our faith is void” (1 Cor 15:14) Thus our Easter Masses are resplendent with joyful music and alleluias. The Easter Vigil Mass is the most glorious for at that time we induct new members and

baptize.

During the Church season of Lent members increased their overseas relief program by proclaiming: A Lent for Haiti. In worship, personal prayer and humanitarian action parishioners focused on the plight of our near neighbors. Father John Kieran, pastor, says: “The super

generous response by parishioners is in keeping with our ten year twinning association with a parish in central Haiti”.

Each year Saint Pius sends a medical team to Los Palis to deliver medical supplies and treat the sick. Over the years the Conyers parish

has funded the construction of a High School and a water delivery system there.

Father Kieran, pastor, and staff welcome all to Holy Week and Easter services at Saint Pius. For more information call the church at 770-483-3660 or visit our web site at: www.spxconyers.com.

ST. PIUS X CATHOLIC CHURCH HOLY WEEK SERVICES

Celebrating The Passion, Death and Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ PASSION (PALM) SUNDAY, March 28 Masses begin outside with the blessing and processing with palm branches.

Vigil Saturday: 5:00 pm Sunday: 8:30 am, 11:00 am 1:00 (En Español), 5:00 pm MONDAY – WEDNESDAY, March 29-31 Daily Mass: 8:30 am HOLY THURSDAY, April 1 7:30 pm MASS OF THE LORD’S SUPPER

GOOD FRIDAY, April 2 3:00 pm PRAYING THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS 6:00 pm ESTACIONES DE LA CRUZ 7:30 pm SOLEMN GOOD FRIDAY LITURGY (BILINGUAL) HOLY SATURDAY, April 3 7:30 pm EASTER VIGIL AND MASS OF THE RESURRECTION (Reception of New Catholics) EASTER DAY MASSES, April 4 7:30 am, 9:00 am, 11:00 am and 1:00 pm (En Español) (Recommitment to the Risen Christ at all Masses)

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Located 2.5 miles south of I-20 on GA 20 – Exit #82 PAGE 12 • MARCH 28, 2010 • EASTER • THE CITIZEN

Father John C. Kieran, Pastor phone: 770-483-3660