Several area churches will host events and services in conjunction with Easter Sunday on April 5.

While many churches figure to have Easter Sunday services, others plan to have other Holy Week services as well.

Clanton First United Methodist, located at 207 8th St N, Clanton is having a Maundy Thursday service on April 2, and while many might be familiar with a Good Friday service, which commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, or an Easter Sunday service, which celebrates the resurrection, the Rev. Rob West of CFUMC said the goal of a Maundy Thursday service is to recognize the service of Jesus.

“‘Maundy’ comes from ‘Mandatum ovum,’ which is Latin for ‘New Commandment,'” he said. “The main thing is, we explore the (Last Supper) scene in the Upper Room. The New Commandment was ‘to love one another as I have loved you.'”

West also said the services sometime include a foot-washing, honoring Jesus washing his disciples’ feet.

West said during the services individuals can also take Holy Communion.

“It can be various things,” he said. “Generally, several scriptures are read. We always strip the altar (at the end) of all crosses and candles and leave it bare for Good Friday. It all returns on Easter Sunday.”

While some churches may not host Maundy Thursday services, West said he felt it was important to observe the day and to understand the sacrifice Christ made.

“One of the things you see is, people may celebrate the Triumphal Entry and come back (the next Sunday) for the Resurrection,” he said. “We tend to skip the suffering and go from waving palm branches and celebrating the Resurrection.”

West also said anyone was welcome to attend the service.

“In my experience, everyone leaves the service reminded of the events of Christ’s crucifixion and glorious resurrection,”  he said.

Another church hoping to use an event to reach the community is Lomax Assembly of God, which will host a glow-in-the-dark Easter Egg hunt on April 4.

“We’ve done a large Easter egg hunt for our kids for years, but this year we wanted to do something different,” associate pastor Erron Price said.

Price said the idea for an Easter egg hunt in the dark came from a metaphorical standpoint.

“We’re playing with the idea of, ‘You’re the light of the world,'” he said. “As you find (the eggs), it all points back to Christ. You’re teaching a lesson kids can walk away with.”

The event will take place at Ollie Park at 8 p.m., and children will search for luminescent eggs that hold candy in them, Price said.

“The eggs, you put under a light to charge up and they glow for an hour,” he said. “There might be a small introduction welcoming the community, but it’s not like a service.”

Price also said he felt having the event at night allowed for families to have Easter Sunday for their own celebrations.

“It provides time for families to spend time together on Easter,” he said.

In addition to Lomax’s event, Mt. Carmel No. 1 Baptist Church will be hosting a glow-in-the-dark Easter egg hunt at the church on April 3.

Other activities at local churches include:

 

March 29

•The First Baptist Church of Clanton Celebration Choir and Orchestra, along with the Youth Praise Team and Children’s Choir will present the Easter musical “Redeemed‚ÄîThe Gospel Changes Everything” at 10:30 a.m. in the Christian Life Center. Everyone is invited to the powerful celebration of the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. For more information, call the church office at 755-3840.

•Clanton First United Methodist Church will hold Palm Sunday worship services. A traditional service will begin at 8:15 a.m., a contemporary service will begin at 9:30 a.m., a traditional service will be at 11 a.m. and the San Juan Mission service will begin at 11:30 a.m.

 

April 1

•Walnut Creek United Methodist Church in Clanton is hosting the last in a series of Lenten luncheons every Wednesday during Lent on April 1, from noon until 1 p.m. A free meal includes potato soup, vegetable soup, chili, cornbread and dessert. A different guest minister from a local church will provide a message of hope each week, in addition to a guest singer. Speaking at the April 1 luncheon will be Walnut Creek’s own the Rev. Tony Hughes, and singing will be Lisa Abbott. Everyone is invited to attend. For more information, call 755-0000.

 

April 4

•A community-wide Easter egg hunt will be held at the Helen E. Parrish Activity Center at Clanton First United Methodist Church at 10 a.m.

•An Easter egg hunt will be held at Chestnut Creek Baptist Church from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event is free for the entire family with games, food and lots of fun. The church is asking for donations to help support children’s and student ministries. For more information, contact (205) 217-8116.

•Corinth Missionary Baptist Church is hosting its annual Easter Egg Hunt and Social April 4 at 4 p.m. It will feature an egg hunt for the younger kids, scavenger hunt for the older kids/teens and adults, and also food. For more information, email corinthmissionarybaptist@gmail.com.

•The Chilton County Humane Society, in conjunction with Chilton County Physical Therapy, is holding a petting zoo at Ollie Park in Clanton on April 4. Animals will include a kangaroo, among other exotic animals from Tickled Pink Petting Zoo. Those in attendance will also be educated about the animals.

The event will also feature facepainting and raffles, with all proceeds going to the Humane Society’s shelter.

Admission is a donation from the Humane Society’s needs list (bleach, dog-kitten-puppy food, Fabuloso, dish detergent, paper towels, cat litter [clumping style preferred] or a cash donation). Cones of food will be for sale to give to the animals starting at $1.

After the petting zoo and pony ride closes, there will be an auction in the Ollie Park pavilion starting at 4 p.m. Items to be auctioned off include items donated by local businesses, such as MorLyn’s, Wright’s Drugs, Edwards Jewelers, Peaches and Brew, Hayes Drugs, Peach Park, Main Street Cafe and many others. The auction will also have items crafted by local artisans. There is no charge to attend the auction. The auctioneer is Daniel Hall, auction number 5224.

 

April 5

•Calvary Hill Church of God will hold a “Church in the Park” at 10:30 a.m. at Jemison Park. It will be a day filled with worship, singing, drama, food and an egg hunt. There will be inflatables, softball, and fun and games for the young and the young at heart.

•Providence Baptist Church No. 2 will hold an Easter Sunrise Service at 6 a.m. The event will be held rain or shine, and those planning to attend are asked to bring a lawn chair and dress warmly. If it rains, the service will be held in the church sanctuary. The event depicts a live dramatic presentation of the life of Christ from his birth to his ascension. The church is located at 6197 County Road 97 in Clanton. For more information, call (205) 755-4126.

•Easter Sunday worship services will be held at Clanton First United Methodist Church beginning at 8:15 a.m

•Calvary Independent Baptist Church in Clanton will be having an Easter Sunrise Service at 6 a.m. Easter morning. This event will be outdoors with seating provided. In the case of bad weather, the event will be held indoors. There will be coffee and pastries available afterward. The church is located in South Clanton, just past Dollar General, off U.S. 31 on Fulmer Drive. For more information, visit www.cibc-clanton.com.