Please note: Holiday deadline for church news will be 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 30, for Friday, Jan. 2, publication.



Bethel AME Church, 101 N. Fourth St., invites you to celebrate the new year as the church will have a musical and “Claim What’s Mine in 2009!” at 6 p.m. Jan. 3. The theme will be from Psalm 150:6. This will be a “bring something” musical: Bring your voices to sing, and your hands to clap; bring your instruments to play, and your feet to dance; bring your ears to hear and your heart to praise; bring your soul to rejoice, and your spirit to be blessed. The Rev. R.C. Emanuel is pastor, the Rev. W.K. McDonald and the Rev. Leonard Johnson are assistant pastors, Minister Jason Forge is minister of music, and Sister Denise Freeman is president.



Bethel Seventh-day Adventist Church, 717 E. 13th Ave., honored Dr. Norman Stiggers, pastor, Dec. 20. The event was designated as “Pastor Appreciation Sabbath” and was coordinated by the church ministries leader Elder Jesse Griffin.

The theme for the day was “Far and Beyond the Call.” The event was to give recognition to Pastor Norman Stiggers, and his dear wife, Dr. Lorraine Stiggers, for their outstanding service to the community as pastor and leaders. The minister came to Corsicana in 2004, and since then has earned the respect of the community as a dedicated leader. They received a welcome key from the City of Corsicana. Several evangelist meetings were conducted by Dr. Oscar Lane from Tennessee, Dr. Olatunji from Huntsville, Ala., and Evangelist Ron Williams from Dallas in the Corsicana community as outreach ministries and family development programs. The church has offered to the community programs, workshops and seminars on building strong families, leadership, health and wellness, spiritual growth, breaking the silence of abuse, literacy, team work, character development, financial management, kingdom building strategies and much more.

The Stiggers received recognitions and were awarded a plaque for their dedication, commitment, contribution, support and continual partnership with the Boys and Girls Club of Navarro County.

The special Sabbath morning service started at 9:15 a.m. with the Sabbath school lesson theme “United to Christ,” coordinated by the Sabbath school superintendent Jessie Hill. Divine worship service began at 11 a.m. which featured an in-time message by special guest Roger Johnson, pastor of Lone Star Seventh-day Adventist Church in Athens. Church members, family, friends and community representatives expressed appreciation to the pastor. The Bethel SDA Church family honored the pastor and his wife with a healthy vegetarian banquet meal immediately following the services, coordinated and prepared by the health and temperance leader, Elaine Clark, the sister of Pastor Stiggers.

There were several musicians who came far and near to participate in the afternoon concert and view the slide presentation of a few of the many varied events, activities, programs, trainings, conferences and workshops Drs. Norman and Lorraine Stiggers were directly involved in for churches and communities. The Stiggers thank all for their acts of kindness. All in attendance were blessed of the Lord and look forward to the second annual pastor appreciation in 2009.



Crossway Pentecostal Church of God in Christ, 709 G.W. Jackson Ave., where Elder David S. Houston is pastor, will host the holiday fellowship revival at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 29-30 and at 9:30 p.m. Dec. 31. Guest speaker for these services will be Elder Robert L. Johnson.

Johnson received his call to proclaim the gospel at the very young age of 12 and has remained steadfast and unmoveable in the work of the Lord for over 25 years under the capable direction of his parents, Supt. Rayford and Ruby Johnson Chimney. Johnson is an associate minister at Mount Gilead Baptist Church in Huntsville. He is an accomplished musician and psalmist also there at the church. He and his wife Artresa have three children and reside in College Station. Everyone is invited to come and be blessed with the word of God spoken by this anointed servant of God.



Emmanuel Baptist Church, 2217 W. Seventh Ave., where Lain Teel is pastor, will have the Franz Family appearing at 6 p.m. Jan. 4. This bluegrass gospel group has a passion to proclaim Christ through music. Growing up on stage in Branson, Mo., the Franz Family learned the marks of the trade at an early age.

Holding to a firm belief in the goodness of music, the Franzes work hard to bring you gospel music in a unique fashion. With roots dipped in bluegrass, they’ve expanded their style with touches of jazzy blues and acoustic pop. In a collection of traditional and original tunes, they’ve melded the worlds of yesterday and today with agreeable taste. Their purpose is to remind the world of what has been offered them — the chance to partake of what is good and everlasting.

The Franz Family shares what God has given to them. Their music is dedicated to people who have perhaps forgotten what it was like to live in determined belief and to have hope without end. You will find this a pleasant performance indulging in the greatness of music and the depths of God’s love.

The concert will be open to everyone. There will be no admission fee; a love offering will be taken. For more information, call (903) 874-3242.



Faith Temple Ministries, North State Highway 75, Fairfield, where P.A. Rischer is pastor, will have holiday revival services at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 26, 4 p.m. Dec. 27, and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 29. The evangelist will be Pastor Carlos Daniels Sr. of Palestine. For more information, call (903) 389-9030.



Kelly’s Temple Church of God in Christ, 501 N. Third St., where Elder Billy Joe Kelly is pastor, will have a soul-saving holiday revival at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 29-31. Guest speaker will be Cassandra Berring of The Potter’s House in Dallas. Come and be blessed of the Lord and hear this woman of God. For more information, call (903) 874-4118 or (903) 872-2737.



Lone Star Cowboy Church of Navarro County, 4495 W. State Highway 22, invites you to join in at 10 a.m. each Sunday for worship. At 6:30 p.m. Dec. 28, there will be a communion service. A New Year’s Eve dance will be held from 7 to 11 p.m. Dec. 31. Weather permitting, there is roping practice at 7 p.m. Tuesdays at the arena. Bible study on the book of Romans will resume at 7 p.m. Jan. 7. For more information, contact Jarvis Smith at (903) 879-5824 or visit the Web site at www.lonestarcowboyfellowship.org.



Men’s Community Prayer Breakfast will meet at 6:45 a.m. Dec. 31 at Sixth Avenue Baptist Church, 125 S. Fifth St. 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) 874-5561.



The Word Church, 2708 W. Eighth Ave., will have its Angel Food order dates from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. Jan. 9, and from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Jan. 10 and 12. Also online ordering is available through 11 a.m. Jan. 11 on the Web site at www.angelfoodministries.com. For more information, view the Web site, e-mail to the_wordchurch@yahoo.com or call (903) 872-5673.