Immaculate Conception Church held a joyous occasion Sept. 19 as the first shovels of dirt were turned for the construction of the new annex. Contractor Wesley Betik said, “Start together, work together, finish together,” as the shovels began their work. Completion of the project is scheduled for early 2010. The Rev. Danny Ramos thanked everyone for their help with the project. Pictured, left to right, are Larry Jenkins, building committee member; Charles Bonin, building committee member; the Rev. Danny Ramos; Wesley Betik, contractor; and Deacon Lewis Palos.



Kelly’s Temple Church of God In Christ will continue in its holy convocation service at 4 p.m. Sept. 27. You are invited to hear a dynamic word from God by special guest speaker Apostle Alan D. Coleman.

Coleman is the senior pastor and founder of four churches: Faith Hope Love, Behind the Veil, Kingdom Grace, and Gates Community Church international in Athens. He is the husband of Elect Lady Ronda Coleman they have five girls and six grandchildren. As a pastor and community leader, he is also a graduate at Baylor University with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree.

Coleman is a significant voice of Christianity throughout the world. His diligent, expository teachings are based solely on the word of God. His innovative systems of illustrations and biblical categories clearly communicate the infallible truths of God’s word.

He is a man of great faith, action and a man of conviction, a compassionate and dedicated servant of God, and a fervent believer in the power of prayer and fasting. Coleman speaks for the ones who don’t have anyone to speak for them. He reaches out to the neglected and the abandoned.

Coleman has a combination of resourcefulness, inventiveness, wit, drive and an unshakable faith in God’s power mitigating many obstacles in the apostle’s path. He has an air of confidence and fearlessness as he marches in a straightforward manner towards the mark of the high calling.

In so doing, Coleman and the Gates family have built a solid, anointed and impressive foundation for what will certainly become one of the area’s leading ministries. With new thinking and new execution of new revelation, Coleman goes from the pulpit to the hospital to Wal-Mart to the streets to the highways as the mark of the high calling continues to be a major influence and leader in this community. There is not a finer example of the redeeming power of hope in Christ Jesus.

Everyone is invited to come hear this mighty man of God with other special guest House of Prayer Church of Teague with Pastor G. Owens and congregation.



Bethel AME Church, 101 N. Fourth St., will resume its bus ministry Sept. 27. Anyone desiring a ride to church services at Bethel is asked to call the church at (903) 872-6190 from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Sundays. Sunday services will begin at 10:45 a.m. Pastor is the Rev. Ray C. Emanuel, assistant pastor is the Rev. Leonard “Ted” Johnson, and the bus ministry consists of Minister Chester Bailey and Brother Elias O’Neal.



Bethlehem Baptist Church, 409 N. Third St., where Dairy Johnson Sr. is pastor, will have its mission, Sunday school, usher and youth annual at 3:30 p.m. Sept. 27. Guests will be First Independent Baptist Church and the Rev. Donald Lacey, who will be the speaker of the hour. Everyone is invited to come. Mission president is Sister Sarah Roberts, superintendent is Brother Claude Roberts, and usher president is Sister Laurena Roberts.



Calvary Full Gospel Baptist Church, 308 E. 11th Ave., where Erma J. Young serves as pastor, will have its annual prayer brunch Sept. 26. There will be intercessory prayer at 9:30 a.m. and the program beginning at 10 a.m. The messenger will be Sister Pamela Colbert of Bethel AME Church, where the Rev. R.C. Emanuel is pastor. The theme will be “We’re Taking it Back” from Matthew 11:12. Everyone is invited to come hear this mighty woman of God and be fed spiritually.

One hour of intercessory prayer is held from 5:55 to 6:55 p.m. Wednesdays (Matthew 26:40-41, James 5:16b), followed by one hour of power teaching from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays (Hosea 4:6a), and choir ministry beginning at 8 p.m. Wednesdays (Psalm 138:1-2). The first Monday of each month is imparting for the ministerial staff and from 6 to 7:30 p.m. the third Monday of each month is Women With a Purpose Ministry (Psalm 37:4). You are invited to come and worship on Sundays at 9 a.m. for Sunday school and 10:30 a.m. for worship.



Church on the Rock of Rice, 1405 S.E. McKinney St., Rice, where Chuck and Doris Barber are pastors, will have revival nights at 7 p.m. Oct. 2-3 and at 6 p.m. Oct. 4 with special services by the Rev. John and Patty Smith. Regular Sunday services will be at 10 a.m. for Bible study and 10:45 a.m. for worship. You are invited to come and enjoy the services and be blessed.



Emmanuel Baptist Church, 2217 W. Seventh Ave., (903) 874-3242, where Lain Teel is pastor, will have revival services at 10:45 a.m. and 6 p.m. Oct. 11 and at 7 p.m. Oct. 12-14.

The revival preacher will be Jimmy Davis, who has been a Christian since 1974 and began pastoring in 1975. He and his of 34 years, Nancy, live in Poynor. They have two children and two grandchildren. Davis went to high school in Pilot Point and graduated from East Texas State University. He also attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. He pastored eight churches in Texas prior to becoming a full-time evangelist, founding Middle Cross Ministries in 1998.

The music evangelist will be Gary Newman, who has been a Christian since 1968 and lives in Edgewood. He has been married to his wife Janis for 42 years and they are members of First Baptist Church of Edgewood. He graduated from Criswell College in 1979 and from Southern California Seminary in 2007 with an M.A. degree in biblical studies. He has been in the ministry for over 37 years and pastored Southern Baptist churches for over 17 years. Newman became a full-time music evangelist 11 years ago, has sung with the Calvary Singers, and has led music for such well-known evangelists as Bill Stafford, Manley Beasley, Sonny Holland, Malcolm Ellis, and Herman Cramer.

The theme of the revival will be “So Great a Salvation.” Its primary purpose will be to revive and refocus the local church and individual believers. Attendance will be open to all and the public is invited.



First United Methodist Church of Corsicana, 320 N. 15th St., will have a car wash from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 3, sponsored by the youth. The youth are also recycling old cell phones and computer ink cartridges. You can bring these items by the church anytime. There are containers near all the entrances. You can help put these items to a new use and keep them out of landfills.



First United Methodist Church of Wortham will have its annual fall festival and barbecue from 5 to 7 p.m. Sept. 26. There will be a log cabin quilt raffle with tickets $1 each or six for $5. There will also be a country store. For dine-in meals, it will be all you can eat. Advance tickets are $7 for adults, $4 for children 5 to 12, and children under five are free. Take-out meals will also be available. For more information or tickets, call (254) 765-3777.



Frost United Methodist Church will have its annual Lord’s Acre Oct. 3 at the Frost School cafeteria. Everyone is invited. Lunch will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at a cost of $7 for adults and $4 for children 12 and under. Carry-out plates will be available at 11 a.m. The menu will be barbecue brisket, sausage, chicken and ribs, potato salad, beans, slaw, homemade cake and iced tea. An auction will immediately follow the lunch. There will be baked goods, crafts and merchandise. Funds raised will go to help build a new parking lot on the west side of the church with handicapped access.



Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance will meet at 7 p.m. Sept. 27 at Second Mission Baptist Church, 909 S. Fifth St., where L.L. Polk Sr. is pastor. The speaker will be K.D. Davis Sr. of Sixth Avenue Baptist Church. Everyone is invited. IDMA president is Dairy Johnson Sr.



Kingdom Connection Fellowship will be held at 7 p.m. Sept. 27 at Straight Way Missionary Baptist Church, 400 S. 15th St., where A.E. Smith is pastor. The sermon will be by Pastor David Wilson of Love Chapel Missionary Baptist Church.



Love Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, 400 N. Benton St., where David Wilson is pastor and Sharron Wilson is minister, will have the usher ministry’s presentation of “The Shoe” at 7 p.m. Sept. 26.

Topics and speakers will be: The Tongue — Sister Janet Washington of Second Mission Baptist Church, where L. Polk is pastor; The String — Sister Joan Green of New Cornerstone Baptist Church, where D. Watson is pastor; The Toe — Sister Petrina Pipkins of Johnson Memorial Church of God in Christ, where J. Johnson is pastor; The Eye — Minister Jean Black of Calvary Full Gospel Baptist Church, where E. Young is pastor; The Heel — Sister Belinda Coleman of Hopewell Baptist Church, where M. Allen is pastor; The Sole — Sister Teresa Wilson; and The Shoe — Minister Sharron Wilson, both of Love Chapel Baptist Church.

The usher annual will be 3 p.m. Sept. 27. R. Bailey is president. The sermon will be given by Pastor Monroe Allen of Hopewell Baptist Church of Dawson.

You are invited to come to Love Chapel Missionary Baptist Church — the church where the doors are always open and love is given.



Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church will have a pre-homecoming banquet at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 26 at The Cook Center on the Navarro College campus. Donations will be $15 each. The speaker will be Pastor Lellous A. Johnson from St. Paul Baptist Church in Dallas. Music will be by Terry Thomas of The Gospel Five of Corsicana and Rudy Burnett of Arlington. Come and enjoy an evening with Mount Olive and hear this powerful speaker. See any member for tickets or call the church and leave a message. Alfred Cox Jr. is pastor.



New Bethel Baptist Church, 700 Elm Flat Road, Goodlow, where the Rev. Earnest Betts Sr. is pastor, will host The Spiritual Disciples’ first homecoming service at 3:30 p.m. Sept. 27. The Spiritual Disciples of Dallas will be featured and there will also be guest singers, choirs, musicians and more. Everyone is invited to come and receive a blessing through songs of praises to God. For more information, contact Minister Johnny Moss at (903) 879-1565.



New Cornerstone Missionary Baptist Church, 1808 W. 10th Ave., will celebrate the eighth appreciation service of Pastor D.R. Watson and his wife Paula. Service will begin at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 25 with Greater Wilgo Baptist Church and Pastor Arthur Faulk as guests. Bishop Derrick Barton of New Revelation Ministries will be the speaker at the 11 a.m. Sept. 27 service. Barton is a former associate minister at New Cornerstone, an outstanding speaker and a true man of God. Closing the service at 3:30 p.m. Sept. 27 will be Bishop K.D. Davis Sr. of Sixth Avenue Baptist Church. Davis is a powerful speaker proclaiming God’s holy word and he is a recording artist. Adding to Davis’ ministry will be the Sixth Avenue Choir with director Sister Deborah Collins and pianist Sister Sarah Washington. Mistress of ceremony will be Sister Mary Parks. The welcome will be given by Sister Vetta White, short talk about the pastor and wife by Sister Demetria Franklin, and the theme by Sister Lois Ballard. Pulpit director will be the Rev. Marcus Green, assistant pastor of New Cornerstone, and special musical tribute by Minister Corey Crawford.

Watson began his journey in this Christian race, preaching his first sermon in 1998. He served as the assistant pastor at Mount Olive Baptist Church until August 2001 under the leadership of the late Rev. S.H. Jemerson III, at which time New Cornerstone Missionary Baptist Church was organized. Watson served as the assistant pastor briefly before taking over as pastor after a few months. Watson has been a true inspiration to his congregation because he is on a mission for God. He is a great leader and a friend. He is a God called and God qualified man, a gentle giant, humble, spirit-filled and spirit-led, a praying man, a dutiful son, loving husband, strong father figure and a great pastor.

Sister Paula Watson is a working pastor’s wife in the church, in her home and on her job. She is supportive of her husband always there to boost him on. She is a doer; whatever is needed of her, she is willing to do. She has weathered the storms of life with her husband and shared his silver lining.

The Watsons are New Cornerstone’s pride and joy and the church will celebrate this relationship. The public is invited to be a part of this powerful worship service.



Praise in the Park will be held beginning at 5 p.m. Oct. 3 at Fullerton-Garitty Park, 3201 McKnight Lane. This gospel concert will feature Men of Zion from Waco, The Gospel Five from Corsicana, Communications from Palestine, Spiritual Disciples from Dallas, St. Paul praise dancers from Ennis, Little Rodi from Houston, Bryan Larremore of Ennis, Sixth Avenue Mass Choir from Corsicana, Brother Wayne Owen from Corsicana, Brother Jerome Pritchett from Dallas; and many more. In case of inclement weather, the concert will relocated to Sixth Avenue Baptist Church, 125 S. Fifth St. For more information, contact Deacon Orlando Williams at (903) 851-1630 or Bishop K.D. Davis Sr. at (903) 874-4873.



St. John’s Episcopal Church, 101 N. 14th St., will have “The Blessing of the Animals” from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Oct. 6. Events will include the blessing of pets, an original children’s play, hot dogs and lemonade, and Cathy’s Critter’s Petting Zoo. Everyone is invited. Bring your lawn chairs. All animals must be on a leash, or in a cage, tank or other secure container.



St. Luke United Methodist Church, 2308 Bowie Drive, will have its United Methodist Women annual on Sept. 27. Worship service will begin at 10:50 a.m. Guest speaker will be Evelyn Boyd Granville of St. Andrew’s UMC.

In 1949, Granville became the second African-American woman to receive the Ph.D. degree in mathematics. This achievement has inspired other African-American women to pursue advanced degrees in mathematics. In February 1999, Granville was one of three African-American women honored by the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C. Her picture hangs in a gallery at the academy along with pictures of other African-Americans honored for their achievement in science.

She taught for 30 years at the college level. She retired from California State University, Los Angeles, in 1984 after teacher there 17 years, and was visiting professor mathematics at the University of Texas at Tyler, Sam A. Lindsey chair, 1990-1997. Granville spend 17 years working as a mathematician in federal government and private industry, most notably worked with a team of mathematicians and scientists at IBM Corporation planning computer programs for NASA’s Vanguard and Mercury space missions; worked at North American Aviation Company with mathematicians and engineers implementing computer programs for NASA’s Apollo project.

Granville co-authored a college textbook covering mathematical concepts for kindergarten through sixth grade, a textbook for prospective teachers. She frequently is invited to conduct workshops for teachers to improve the teaching of mathematics and workshops for students to encourage the study of mathematics, and has been the instructor for a number of years in Eisenhower programs for the improvement of mathematics.

From 1998 to 2000, she was involved in a project sponsored by Dow Chemical Company to encourage middle school students to consider careers in science and engineering.

The UMW of the church will be in charge of the service serving as usherettes, providing special music and serving as worship leader.

A member of the UMW will be presented with a pin, honoring her for her work with the UMW. The pin is the cross and the flame — emblem of the UMC.

Sunday school will begin at 9:40 a.m. and all ages are welcome for both Sunday school and worship service.



Straight Way Missionary Baptist Church, 400 S. 15th St., where A.E. Smith is pastor, invites the public to the 9:45 a.m. Sunday school and 11 a.m. worship service on Sept. 27. The speaker for the morning will be Minister Jerry Smith, son of Pastor and First Lady Smith. Jerry Smith is a 1999 graduate of Corsicana High School. He is now serving in the U.S. Air Force stationed in Meadville, Pa. He is an associate minister and minister of music at Beacon Liberty Church of God in Christ. Smith has been invited to serve as the minister of music for the state Full Gospel Conference in Pennsylvania. Come and be blessed.



That Church of the Assemblies of God, 3640 N. Business 45, will have the second annual Rumble at the Fort motorcycle rally and car show Sept. 25-27. Friday night service will have Gospel Music Hall of Fame member and rock legend Mylon LeFevre, and Friday and Saturday night worship with Go Deep. The car show will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. There will be food, games, vendors, music and kids’ services along with fun for the whole family. For more information, visit www.rumbleatthefort.com.



Vaughan Baptist Church has announced it will celebrate the first pastoral anniversary for Pastor David and Evangelist Liz Spann at 11 a.m. Sept. 27. The Spanns have been part of the Corsicana community for about 11 years working and serving God. Pastor Spann served as associate minister at Morning Star Baptist Church for four years and St. James Baptist Church for two years in Corsicana. They were on the evangelist field when God called Spann into servanthood as pastor of Vaughan Baptist Church, Farm-to-Market Roads 310 West and 1947 South, Vaughan. For directions, call (903) 851-9190. All of their friends are welcome as they have been part of their journey.



Women of Glory monthly fellowship will meet at 6 p.m. Sept. 28 at Straight Way Missionary Baptist Church, 400 S. 15th St., where Alvin E. Smith is pastor. Food for thought will be brought by Evangelist Ora Lusk, who is a faithful member of Straight Way MBC, where she serves as an evangelist, minister of music and a deaconess. All women are cordially invited to join in this fellowship. Evangelist Frances Kitchen serves as president. Pastor Erma Young is founder and Pastors David E. Wilson and Alvin E. Smith serve as advisors.