Richland United Methodist Church has had a continuing congregation since 1847. It started just 11 years after the Alamo fell in 1836 and is the oldest continuing church in the Methodist Central Conference. It has survived renegades, outlaws, Civil War, two World Wars, conflicts, the Depression, and several major recessions, yet it continues to survive.
A cross ceremony and dedication took place Sept. 6 at the church. The cross’ total length is 50 feet with 10 feet in the ground, surrounded by 6 yards of concrete, leaving it with a total height of 40 feet above ground. The cross is lighted and is landscaped with personalized paver bricks. Members believe the cross is the tallest in Navarro County, and maybe in the surrounding counties.
The cross is a tribute to all the previous, current, and future pastors, members, and friends who have been and will be a part of the church’s rich history.
Moreover, the cross is presented and consecrated to the glory of Almighty God, and for service in this church and community.
Richland UMC is very grateful to the following generous Corsicana merchants who helped with this project: Brad Haynie of Haynie Drilling, who sent his crew out two times at minimum charge to dig the large hole. A sudden rain caved in the first hole and he sent his crew back again to re-dig. Joe Walter and Robb Watkins of Corsicana Sign and Crane gave good advice on welding the structure, sent the equipment to raise the 50-foot long cross and place it in the hole at a discount rate. Mike at Transit Mix accommodated the schedule on delivery of 6 yards of concrete. Gregg Estrada, manager at Sherwin Williams, along with Clark and Neely, gave good advice and discounted prices. Darwin Myers of TxDOT personally inspected the proposed cross location, made suggestions, and approved the final location near State Highway 14 just off Interstate 45. Without the help of the above people, the cross would have been an even more difficult struggle financially.
All are invited to worship with Richland UMC on Sunday. Sunday School will start at 9:45 a.m. and worship service will begin at 10:45 a.m.
Kelly’s Temple Church of God in Christ, 501 N. Third St., thanks everyone for attending the month-long services of the Church of God in Christ holy convocation. The service began with great speakers as Superintendent Beauchem and congregation from Temple and Elder Eric Grant Sr. of Greater Love Church, Apostle Allen Coleman of Gates Community Church in Athens, and Evangelist Jesse Mitchell of Greater Mount Calvary Church of God in Christ of Denton. Souls have been delivered from the streets, and set free from all the wrong issues that life has offered. Members thank God for a wonderful month of services unto Him. They ask that you pray for them so they remain faithful unto His word.
Kelly’s Temple COGIC will have a pre-anniversary service for its pastor and wife, Elder Billy Joe Kelly and Sister Ruthie Nell Kelly, at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 21-23. Missionary/Minister Ann Perry will be the speaker.
Perry is a member of St. Hill Church of God in Christ in Fairfield, where Anthony Taylor is pastor. She is founder of Victory Through the Word Ministries Inc., a ministry that seeks to empower believers through the word of God and to reach the lost with the saving message of Jesus Christ. She is writer and publisher of “Victory Through the Word” newsletter, a publication designed to convict, encourage, inspire and to build the temple within.
She was supervisor of women for the Corsicana District COGIC for 11 years. Instructions of learning include East Texas State University, Navarro College, and International Seminary. She is married to her best friend, Deacon Czar Elusker Perry Jr.
Above all, Perry loves the Lord with all her heart. Come and be blessed by this woman of God. Everyone is invited.
Kingdom Connection Fellowship will present “Praise and Worship Summit 2009, Part II” at 8:30 a.m. Oct. 10 at Calvary Full Gospel Church, 308 E. 11th Ave. The purpose will be to equip the saints by enforcing, enhancing strategic warfare through praise and worship. The summit will be conducted by Elder Cliff Young Jr., psalmist, praise and worship leader from REAP Ministries in Grand Prairie, where Alaric Henderson is pastor.
Young is an anointed psalmist, but God has raised him up for such a time as this to lead His people into His presence. God has taken him to a new dimension and understanding of the power of “praise and worship,” and empowered him to teach His people. If the devil has kept any truth from the church, it is the secret of the power of praise and worship. Through this summit, Kingdom Connection Fellowship prays that God will open the eyes of their understanding even the more for strategic warfare plans against the enemy. Sponsoring pastors are Apostle A.E. Smith, Pastor David E. Wilson and Pastor Erma Young. For more information, call (903) 874-8375 or (903) 872-5988.
New Birth Sanctuary Church of God in Christ, 805 S. 15th St., where D.R. Washington Sr. is pastor and Sister Sonji Washington is first lady, will have its women’s day (mother’s) appreciation at 3 p.m. Oct. 11. Mistress of ceremony will be Sister Tomaco McAdams. Occasion will be given by Missionary Francis Jones and welcome by Sister Washington. Announcements and information about Mother Margaret Reffitt will be given by Kasey Beaird. Information about Mother Margaret Ricard will be given by Sister Tomaco McAdams. A solo will be given by Sister Joyce Daniels and songs of praise will be by New Birth Sanctuary COGIC. Guests will be Faith Temple and Pastor Joe and Paula Vasquez. The speaker will be Pastor David Thompson from Open Door COGIC.
Blooming Grove United Methodist Church will have its Lord’s Acre dinner and sale Oct. 10. The country store will open at 9 a.m. There will be baked goods, homemade canned goods, white elephant items, etc. The barbecue lunch will start at 11:30 a.m. with take-out meals available beginning at 11 a.m. Call (903) 695-2334 for delivery. Menu will include brisket, potato salad, coleslaw, pinto beans, tea and dessert. Cost will be $8 for adults and $6 for children 10 and under. A live auction will begin at 1 p.m. with auctioneer John Paul Ross. There will be a handmade quilt and many other items. For more information, contact chairman Suzanne Plyer at (903) 695-4344.
Community Baptist Church, located at 125 County Road SW3040 and State Highway 31, will have its 58th homecoming services Nov. 1. Robert Easterling, former pastor, will be preaching. Lunch will be served and there will be singing after lunch. All former members and friends are invited to come join in.
Eastside Church of Christ, 906 E. 13th Ave., has a food and clothing ministry open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursdays. Non-perishable food, clothing, shoes and some household items will be given to those in need. To donate items to the ministry, call (903) 874-8943, (903) 872-3590 or (903) 229-0039, or bring any donations from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursdays. For more information or if you are in need, call (903) 872-4504.
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 Independent Baptist Church, will celebrate its 141st church anniversary beginning at 7 p.m. Oct. 16 with The Season Saints in concert. There will be a picnic on the grounds at noon Oct. 17. The anniversary service will begin at 3:30 p.m. Oct. 18. Guests will be Pastor Nathan Carter and Mount B. Zion Baptist Church. Everyone is invited to fellowship and celebrate the blessings of God with First Independent Baptist Church on these three occasions as the church is “Going Back to the Basics: Laying the Right Foundations.”
First United Methodist Church of Hubbard, 208 N.W. Second Ave., will have its 31st annual Lord’s Acre on Oct. 24 in fellowship hall. The country store will be open from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and will feature baked goods and other specialty items. Visitors will have an opportunity to preview the handmade quilts made by Quilters for Christ and other items that will be in the auction which will begin at 2 p.m. Following the auction, a turkey and dressing meal will be served in the Haralson Center, adjacent to the church. Cost of the meal will be $7 for adults and $4 for children 12 and under. Take-out meals will also be available. For more information, call the church office at (254) 576-2313.
Greater Haynes Memorial Church of God in Christ, 601 N. Denton St., Mexia, will observe the 21st appreciation celebration for its pastor and wife, Elder and Mrs. C.D. Washington Sr. of Corsicana. Pulpit conductor will be Pastor L. Brown. The emcee will be Evangelist S. High. The couple has served 22 years and the church family plans to make this service one to remember.
The service will begin with an explosive musical with talents from around the state at 5 p.m. Oct. 10 with Scharea Washington and Pastor P.A. Rischer of Faith Temple Ministries and company as directors.
The official service will convene at 3 p.m. Oct. 11. Guests will be St. Paul COGIC, Teague, Pastor V. Jessie; Sandy COGIC, Sandy, Pastor S. Thomas; New Home Baptist, Mexia, Pastor L. Brown; Canaan Baptist, Springfield, Pastor L. Henry; New Birth Christian Center, Butler, Bishop T. Gatson; New Birth COGIC, Corsicana, Pastor D. Washington Sr.; Evans Chapel COGIC and Wilson Chapel COGIC, Centerville, and Superintendent C.D. Evans, who will bring the official message; and Hemphill Temple COGIC, Fairfield, Pastor J. Rischer.
You are invited to come and help celebrate. For more information, call (254) 562-0177 or (903) 874-1970.
House of Refuge Church of God in Christ, 413 Farm-to-Market Road 709 East, Dawson, where Elder Paul E. Puckett is pastor, invites you to worship at the fourth annual family and friends day at 4 p.m. Oct. 24. For more information, call Sister D. Puckett at (254) 582-0890.
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church parishioners will conduct their second annual “Rosary Rally” in Community Park, at the corner of Oaklawn and North 13th Street, at 10 a.m. Oct. 10. The main theme of the rally will be to “Pray for America.” The leader at the event will be Deacon Lewis Palos. All members of the Catholic community, as well as all residents of Corsicana, Navarro County, and the surrounding area are invited to participate.
“Our Lady has made it very clear that the rosary is the supernatural solution to our earthly problems,” Palos said. The Rev. Petrus Pavlicek also saw this as a solution and promoted a national rosary crusade that saved Austria from communism. Just like in Austria, the rosary can save America.
Last year, over 3,445 rosary rallies were held across the nation. In 2009, there are more than 4,000 rallies planned for Oct. 10 — the Saturday closest to Oct. 13 — the day God worked the miracle of the sun at Fatima, Portugal, in 1917. America needs a monumental miracle of conversion, and it can happen.
Landmark Baptist Church, 4429 W. State Highway 31, will have its second annual pumpkin patch. Pumpkins will arrive on Oct. 17, and will be available from noon to dark Oct. 19-31 (or until they are gone). You are invited to come see the selection. There will also be a special spot for pictures. Services are on Sunday at 9:45 a.m. for Sunday school and 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. for worship; and Wednesday at 7 p.m.
Lighthouse of Praise, 200 E. Collin St., will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the church at 7 p.m. Oct. 9. Guests will be Larry and Kathy Burden from Kingdom Life Christian Center in Frisco, former pastors of Faith Christian Fellowship of Kerens, along with their son Brandon and wife Willy Burden. They will be the speakers and provide music. The community is invited to celebrate with Lighthouse of Praise. At 10:30 a.m. Oct. 11, the public is also invited to the worship service. The speaker will be Langston Layne. Lunch will follow. For more information, call (903) 872-7379.
Love Chapel Baptist Church, 400 N. Benton St., where David E. Wilson serves as pastor and Sharron D. Wilson serves as minister, will observe its Sunday school annual at 3 p.m. Oct. 11. The theme for this occasion will be “Matters of the Heart” from Romans 10: 8-10. Guest church will be New Cornerstone Baptist Church and the spoken word will be brought by Pastor Donné Watson. The public is cordially invited to come and praise the Lord in this service.
Men’s Community Prayer Breakfast will meet at 6:45 a.m. Wednesday at the Lone Star Room of the Walker Dining Hall on the Navarro College campus. 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.
Open Bible study and gospel singing is held every Thursday at the Senior Activity Center, 919 W. Park Ave., Corsicana. There is no cost to attend. Singing with Patrick and Nancy McCurrin on guitars and Virginia Terry on piano is held from 10 to 10:30 a.m. Bible study is held from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. with Peggy Smith as the teacher of this class. For more information, call activity director Fred Biltz at (903) 654-4980.
Open Door Church of God in Christ, 1201 E. Eighth Ave., where David Thompson is pastor, invites you to revival services at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 14-16 and at 11 a.m. Oct. 18. The speaker will be the Rev. Curtis R. Johnson Sr. Everyone is welcome to attend.
Johnson, a native of Corsicana, has resided in DeSoto for over five years. He is married to wife Mary and has three children: Brandy, Alicia and Curtis Jr.
Johnson is a member of Pathway of Life Church in Mesquite under the leadership of Pastor Danny Wegman. Johnson is employed with Dallas County Juvenile Department as a juvenile residential officer in the substance abuse unit.
He is a 1976 Corsicana High School graduate and attended Navarro College. He was called in 1981 to pastor Crossway Pentecostal Church in Rice and was appointed as an ordained elder in the Church of God in Christ in 1984 under Bishop J. Neaul Haynes, presiding bishop of the Texas Northeast Jurisdiction.
Johnson attended Southern Bible Institute in Dallas. He is a graduate of Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science and worked with his brother, Pastor Joseph Johnson Sr. at Ross and Johnson Mortuary for 14 years in Corsicana. Johnson is also a graduate of Rhema Bible Training Center in Broken Arrow, Okla., where he studied pastoral ministry.
He is the founder and former pastor of Family Life Church in Corpus Christi. He ministers as an evangelist and teacher throughout the country and also conducts marriage seminars in local churches.
Johnson’s calling is to minister to the body of Christ, how to live successfully by applying the word of God to every aspect of their lives, and to fight the good fight of faith, because good fights are the fights that you win.
The Word Church, 2708 W. Eighth Ave., will have its Angel Food order days from 3:30 to 7 p.m. Oct. 9 and from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Oct. 10 and 12. Online ordering is available through 5 p.m. Oct. 15 for the month. October distribution day will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Oct. 24. Ordering for Thanksgiving boxes only will be 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Oct. 26. Online ordering deadline for Thanksgiving boxes will be 5 p.m. Oct. 18. For more information, visit www.angelfoodministries.com, e-mail the_wordchurch@yahoo.com or call (903) 872-5673 or (903) 851-6818.
Unity Baptist Church, 406 S. 34th St., where Brother Chad Owens is pastor, invites you to services: Sunday — Sunday school for all ages at 9:45 a.m., worship and children’s church at 11 a.m., Bible study classes at 5 p.m., and worship at 6 p.m.; Tuesday — visitation to shut-ins at 10 a.m., and Bible study at Northwest Apartments Community Center at 7 p.m.; and Wednesday — prayer meeting at 7 p.m. King’s Kids Club meets the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month. You are welcome to attend any of the services. The nursery is open for all services. For transportation to services, call the church at (903) 872-2861 and leave your name, phone number, address, and how many people need a ride.
XYZ (Xtra Years of Zest) will meet at 11:45 a.m. Oct. 20 in fellowship hall of Westminster Presbyterian Church, 312 N. 13th St. The program will be given by Marta Hiegel of Fort Worth, benefits counselor of the governmental agency on aging of North Central Texas. This agency educates seniors who are on Medicare or about to reach that age. Hiegel will provide information on Social Security and the prescription program. She will answer questions and bring handouts. This will be an informative program you don’t want to miss. Gaylord and Dorothy Edling, co-moderators, invite everyone to attend the luncheon. Men and women of all ages and faiths are encouraged to attend. A meat dish and beverages will be provided. Bring a salad, vegetable dish or a dessert and your friends. Come for warm fellowship, good food and a super program.
