Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, deadline for next week’s church news will be noon Tuesday.



Petty’s Chapel Baptist Church, 1300 Farm-to-Market Road 3041, Corsicana, is pleased to announce Pat Haba as its new music director. Haba brings a wealth of music knowledge and skill with her. Haba, along with Pat Kelly, pianist, are preparing the choir for a wonderful holiday season. Anyone interested in choir is encouraged to attend. Choir practice is held at 6:30 p.m. Mondays. Pastor Sonny Buie and members of Petty’s Chapel would love to have you worship this Sunday beginning at 8:30 a.m. Stay for Sunday school which follows at 9:30 a.m. At 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays, there is Bible study and prayer while the youth meet for their special activities. The youth are preparing for the holiday season as well; they are making plans to see the lights in Athens, so come and join in. For more information about Petty’s Chapel visit the Web site at www.pettyschapel.org.



Straight Way Missionary Baptist Church family and Pastor and Sister A.E. Smith have recently returned from a seven-day cruise to Cayman, Cozumel and Jamaica. They had fellowship with the Tri City Revival on the cruise — the Rev. Lester Gillespie, senior pastor, Greater Love Missionary Baptist Church, San Antonio; the Rev. Fred Hobbs, pastor, Mount Nebo Baptist Church, Victoria; Pastor Arthur Lane, St. Matthew Baptist Church, Corpus Christi; and Pastor Kevin Anthony, Greater Love Tabernacle Baptist Church, Mesquite. Smith was blessed to participate with the revival cruise activity.

Members of the Straight Way Church family that were a part of this cruise and revival were Pastor and Sister A.E. Smith, Minister and Sister Charles Turner, Sister Frances Kitchen, Deacon and Deaconess Willie Lusk, Brother and Sister Romanuel Watson, Sister Debra Slay, Sister Vanessa Franklin, Brother Kevin Slay, Brother Reggie Lewis, Sister Wilson, Sister Sherry and Brother Cedric.

Plans for the 2007 cruise for the Straight Way Church family is to travel to the Bahamas.

Straight Way Missionary Baptist Church is located at 400 S. 15th St. You are invited to come worship with the fellowship at Straight Way.



The Word Church, 329 S. 37th St., will have Angel Food distribution day from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Nov. 18. The church serves from one traffic line that begins on Park Row headed west, turn north to 37th St., then turn east on Eighth Avenue into the church parking lot.

December orders can be placed Nov. 18, but Lone Star Cards for December food cannot be accepted until December. The next order date will be from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 4.

If there is a church group or social organization looking for a service project please contact Pastor Bo Loftis about helping on distribution day. Without the help of people from the community, these days would not take place as efficiently as they do. Also, Loftis asks that you consider the December menu as a source for food baskets to give to those in need this Christmas season.

For more information, call (903) 872-5673, e-mail to the_wordchurch@yahoo.com or view the Web site www.angelfoodministries.com



Abundant Life Fellowship, 3900 Farm-to-Market Road 744, will have a men’s conference at 10 a.m. Nov. 18.

The topic will be “Looking at the Man from the Inside Out.” The conference will be free and a barbecue lunch will be served. Bishop Curtis Baker will be the speaker. For more information, call (903) 879-5308.



Single Believers Ministries will present a musical appreciation featuring Danny L. Phillips for 10 years of music ministry at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 25 at First Independent Baptist Church, 703 E. Fifth Ave. Master of ceremonies will be the Rev. Reginald Marshall, radio host of KNES 99.1 FM in Fairfield.

Phillips is a singer, composer, producer, musician and family man. Married to Apolonia Phillips for 12 years, Phillips has one son, Danny Dwayne Phillips, and one daughter, Lia Phillips. For more than 10 years, Phillips has shared his unique gifts with audiences around this country. He has been on several radio and TV shows and newspapers in Texas and Oklahoma.

He was born in 1969 in Houston. His mother and father, Jackie and John Wesley Phillips, currently reside in Houston.

Phillips has one sister, Carmen Phillips-Moore. His brother, Darvis Dwayne Phillips, died in 1992.

Phillips was a member of the Baby Ocean of Soul Marching Band at Booker T. Washington Sr. High School in Houston.

He was also trumpet captain, band president, and a member of the honor society. He majored in music and joined the Ocean of Soul Marching Band and the fraternity Alpha Phi Omega.

In 1991, he joined the jazz band under the direction of Benjerman J. Butler as a trumpet player. He later switched to alto sax due to being a big fan of sax man Kirk Whalum, Gerald Albright, Richard Elliot, Grover Washington Jr. and Kenny G.

Phillips is probably best known locally as “Dan Man” from the group White Chocolate or “Sax Man” Danny Phillips from the group Eternity.

Over the years, Phillips has appeared with the Rev. O.L. Holiday and Jenifer Holiday of Houston, the Rev. Earnie G. Haynes and Claude Haynes of Houston, the Rev. Paul Jones of Houston, Pastor John P. Kee of Durham, N.C., Kirk Franklin of Dallas/Fort Worth, Rocket Ismail from the Dallas Cowboys, Tim Brown from the Oakland Raiders, actor August Schellenberg, The Crabb Family, recording artist Christa Taylor of Dallas, recording artist Ricky Womack of Dallas, Waymond Tisdale professional artist/bass player Bishop Carlton Pearson, KNES 99.1 FM radio host the Rev. Reginald Marshall, KLTY 94.9 radio host Bonnie Curry, professional organist and recording artist Bobby Sparks, Greg O’Quin, professional saxophonist and recording artist Keith Anderson, recording artist Texas Boys of Dallas with Wine Blackberry Records, Communications of Palestine, Jackson Southernaires, Eternity of Corsicana, Rod-n-Staff of Houston, recording artist The Gospel Five of Corsicana, gospel recording artist Pastor Ricky Walter, gospel recording artist Vickey Winans, gospel recording artist Michael English, gospel recording artist Yolanda Adams, recording artist Kim Burrell of Houston, The House Band in Corsicana, president of the Choctaw Indian Nation in Oklahoma, Liz and Dee from California and Corsicana, and many other churches in the Houston, Austin, Corsicana and Dallas/Fort Worth areas.



Taylor Chapel Church of God in Christ in Wortham, where Elder Tas Betts is pastor, will have Elder D.R. Washington Sr. speaking at the 11 a.m. Nov. 19 service.

New Cornerstone Missionary Baptist Church, 1808 W. 10th Ave., will observe its first women’s day program at 3 p.m. Nov. 19. Special guest church will be Love Chapel Baptist Church with Pastor David Wilson bringing the message. New Cornerstone Women’s Auxiliary, having been led by the spirit of God and Pastor Watson, seek to become a driving force in this spiritual warfare and seeks to set a good example to the younger women of the church and the community. Come and be a part of this history-making event at New Cornerstone as the women’s ministry steps out on faith and embarks on a new journey as spiritual leaders, letting the world know that the women are coming out.

Leading devotional services will be Sister Lois Grays and Sister Edith Bates, inspirational poem reading by Sister Mary Parks, welcome by Sister Christie Crawford, short talk by Sister Sharon Whitehead, and presentation by Sister Paula Watson. Mistress of ceremony will be Sister Mary Taylor. Please come and support these women warriors for Christ as they give of their time and their talents on God’s program. Sister Birdie Howze is program coordinator, the Rev. D.R. Watson is pastor, and Minister M.L. Green is assistant pastor.



Faith Temple Ministries, North Highway 75, Fairfield, will be in a soul-saving revival at 7 p.m. today. The speaker will be Pastor P.A. Rischer. The public is welcome to come. For more information, call (903) 389-9030.



Bethany Baptist Church, where the Rev. Derrell Anderson is pastor, will celebrate the 57th church anniversary at 3:30 p.m. Nov. 19. Guest speaker will be the Rev. Verlon Frazier of Bible Believers Church of Dallas. You are cordially invited to come and help celebrate this joyous occasion.



Love Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, 400 N. Benton St., will observe its annual men and women day at 3 p.m. Nov. 26. The spoken word will be brought by Pastor Joe D. Hubbard Sr. and Minister Florine Hubbard of Macedonia Baptist Church of Streetman.

The theme at the Love Chapel Church is “You are welcome at the church where the door is always open and love is given.”



Greater Harvest Fellowship Church, 805 S. 15th St., where D.L. Barton is pastor, will have a bake sale from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Nov. 18. Proceeds will benefit the building fund. Pastor Barton also invites you worship Nov. 19 at 9:45 a.m. for Sunday school and 11:15 for worship for a great and new experience in the Lord. Sermon topic will be “Standing Tall.” Greater Harvest Fellowship Church will sponsor a youth program at 3 p.m. Nov. 19. Guest speaker will be Elder D.R. Washington Sr.



Johnson Memorial Church of God in Christ, 1700 S. Business 45, where Elder Joseph Johnson Sr. is pastor and Missionary Charlene Johnson is elect lady, will have its annual homecoming, family and friend day at 3 p.m. Nov. 19. The speaker will be Elder Curtis R. Johnson Sr.

Johnson is a native of Corsicana and the son of Mr. and Mrs. Fisher Johnson Sr. He has been residing in DeSoto for two and a half years. He and his wife, Mary, have three children: Brandy of Grand Prairie and Alicia and Curtis Jr., who are both serving in the U.S. Navy. Johnson is a member of Trinity Church of Cedar Hill. He is employed with the Dallas County Juvenile Department as a substance abuse officer.

Johnson is a 1976 graduate of Corsicana High School and attended Navarro College. He was ordained as an elder in the Church of God in Christ under Bishop J. Neaul Haynes, presiding bishop of Texas Northeast Jurisdiction. Johnson attended Southern Bible Institute in Dallas, is a graduate of Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science, and worked alongside his brother, Joseph Johnson Sr., at Ross and Johnson Mortuary for 14 years. He is also a graduate of Rhema Bible Training Center in Broken Arrow, Okla., where he studied pastoral ministry.

Johnson is the founder and former pastor of Family Life Church in Corpus Christi.

After serving as pastor, Johnson now travels as evangelist and teacher of the gospel throughout the country and ministers on numerous occasions in juvenile centers.

Sister Rosie M. Williams is chairman of the annual homecoming, family and friend day. Everyone is welcome to join in on this occasion. For more information, call (903) 874-3815.



Greater Wilgo Baptist Church, 621 E. First Ave., where Arthur C. Faulk serves as pastor, will celebrate its 102nd church anniversary and homecoming Nov. 26. The Rev. B.T. Barrett of Dallas will bring the 11 a.m. message. At 3 p.m., the guest church will be Freedom Fellowship and Pastor Jessie Williams will bring the message. Also, the Spiritual Disciples of Dallas will perform at the 3 p.m. service. Everyone is invited to worship with Greater Wilgo Baptist Church on this glorious occasion.



First United Methodist Church of Corsicana will have its fall harvest annual bazaar Nov. 21, sponsored by United Methodist Women. The luncheon menu will be turkey spaghetti, green beans, salad, Methodist Bread, and pumpkin cake. Tickets are on sale from UMW members and at the church office. Tickets are $6 per plate. Tickets for children under 12 may be purchased for $3. You may dine in, or call (903) 874-5657 to make arrangements for a take-out lunch. The phone line will be activated from 10 a.m. to noon on the day of the bazaar. There will also be homemade cakes, pies, breads, plus miscellaneous items and plenty of crafts for sale. The doors of the bazaar will open at 11 a.m. and lunch will be served until 1:30 p.m. Tickets are good only for the luncheon, regardless if you dine in or take it home. Also for sale will be quarts of turkey spaghetti for $7 or pints of the spaghetti will sell for $3.50. A silent auction will be open from 11 a.m. to closing. There will be services offered, lovely handcrafted articles plus surprise items. Everyone is invited to come eat, fellowship and partake of the goodies offered.

Thanksgiving lunch will be served again this year for friends and church family members. There will be socializing and good food. You don’t need to bring anything but yourselves, but call the church office at (903) 874-5656 so Ron and Tracy Watson, who are sponsoring the event, will know how much food to prepare. If you are interested in helping with this project, call (903) 874-3021.



Bethel AME Church will have its 134th church anniversary program at 3 p.m. Nov. 19. Guest speaker will be the Rev. Arthur C. Faulk and the Greater Wilgo Baptist Church family will be the guests. The anniversary committee is selling religious-theme T-shirts and caps as a fund-raiser. The shirts vary in color, logo, sizes from small to five extra-large and price from $10 to $14. To view designs and to order, contact Sister Scharmal L. Newson. The 10th District planning meeting began Nov. 15 in Richardson and will conclude Nov. 18.



Community Baptist Church, located at 125 County Road SW3040 and West State Highway 31, Corsicana, will have services and Bible study in Spanish at 7 p.m. Saturdays and at 10 and 11 a.m. Sundays. For more information, call (903) 872-7799.



Sixth Avenue Baptist Church, 125 S. Fifth St., where Bishop K.D. Davis is pastor, will have a big gospel concert at 5 p.m. Nov. 19 featuring The Session Singers from Dallas, The Zion Travelers from Dallas, Second Generation from Waco and many more. Come and be blessed. For more information, call (903) 879-0362.



Men’s Community Prayer Breakfast will meet at 6:45 a.m. Wednesday at First Christian Church, 3704 W. State Highway 22. This meeting is open to all men in the community. The main emphasis is prayer for the community with interceding for leaders, schools, institutions, government and churches in the community. For more information, call (903) 872-7299.