Everyone is invited to attend the Community Easter Sunrise Service on April 24th, 7:00 AM at Central Middle Stadium. There will be special music, choir and congregational singing, and a special Easter message. In case of inclement weather, the service will be held at Zoar Baptist Church. An additional Easter service is scheduled for 10:00 am at the church.

What Season?

    Ah, Christmas!  According to many songs it is the most wonderful time of the year!  All the parties, the shopping, special musicals, and everyone saying, “Be of good cheer!” creates such a special atmosphere.  The coming of Christmas morning causes many to be filled with joyous anticipation.  In many homes activity will start early as youngsters rush to open presents under the tree!  Many businesses, stores, and agencies will close just for this day of celebration!  Oh what joy, excitement and enthusiasm surrounds this day that never seems to grow old or mundane.  Oops!  It’s not December, its April!

    Can you imagine hearing this?  Ah Passover!  According to many songs it is the most blessed time of the year!  All the gatherings, special musicals, and everyone saying, “Rejoice in the Good News!” creates such a special atmosphere.  The soon coming of Resurrection Morning causes many to be filled with joyous anticipation.  In many homes activity will start early as youngsters and adults rush to gather together to celebrate the risen King of Kings!  Many businesses, stores, and agencies will close just for this day of celebration!  Oh what joy, excitement and enthusiasm surrounds this day that never seems to grow old or mundane. 

    Sound silly?  Are we still excited to hear that God so loved the world that gave His only Son? Do we still find joy in serving Jesus Christ, who laid down His life so that we could live?   This Sunday, as you gather with others for a sunrise or special service, allow your heart to be filled with the joy, excitement and enthusiasm of celebrating and serving the risen Lord!

Luke 24:5&6
Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen!NKJV 

-Ron Erickson
Future Hope Ministries

Submited by Deacon Ronnie Hebert

                  March 9, Ash Wednesday, a media campaign began in this area inviting Catholics who have been away from the sacraments to “come home.” St. Alphonsus Liguori Catholic Church, along with the rest of the Diocese of Baton Rouge, the Archdiocese of New Orleans, and the dioceses of Houma-Thibodaux and Lafayette are participating in this evangelization program to invite those who are interested in knowing more about how they can participate as full members of the Catholic Church to come and experience what the Catholic church provides.
                During this Lenten season, there will be commercials that invite people to seek Jesus Christ. They will invite Catholics to come home and anyone else who wants to experience a relationship with Jesus Christ and his Church.
                The advertisements for “Catholics Come Home” that will appear in the Diocese of Baton Rouge, direct those responding to the ads to go to the website catholicscomehome.org. This website contains answers to the most commonly asked questions and concerns people would have about being active members of the Catholic Church. You could describe the Catholic Church as historic, unwavering and now, cutting edge. Through the Catholics Come Home campaign, the church has embraced television advertising and the internet to bring non-practicing Catholics back into the embrace of the church.
                 Here in the City of Central, St. Alphonsus would like to welcome our brothers and sisters in faith back home to the Catholic Church. If they have been away for a little while for any reason, we want to invite them to have another look and give us an opportunity to welcome them back. We miss them, and our faith community isn’t complete without them.

    This coming Sunday is known as Palm Sunday. The day marks Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem one week before His crucifixion. That day many of the citizens of Jerusalem and His disciples had expectations of Jesus leading a triumphal overthrow of Roman occupation. Instead Jesus overthrew money-changing tables and venders. He called out for reform and the removal of corruption in the religious system.

    Often Jesus acted unexpectedly. He was conceived within a virgin. He was a King born in a barn. He hung out with ill reputable people. He didn’t strike back when hit by soldiers. And – He didn’t stay dead!

    Today Jesus still acts in many ways we don’t expect. He meets us in the most unlikely circumstances. He gifts us with joy on the gloomiest of days. He provides us strength when we are at our weakest.

Jeff Stanfill
Covenant Community Church

The Magnolia United Methodist Church will celebrate special services during Holy Week.  On Thursday, April 21, the drama, "The Chosen Twelve" will be held beginning at 7 p.m.  Holy Communion will be served during the service.  On Good Friday at 7 p.m. the church will present a liturgy/drama, "The Way to the Cross."  A Service of the Resurrection will be celebrated Easter Sunday at 10:30 a.m.  The public is invited to join us for these celebrations.

The Bethany Baptist youth will be performing the drama "Too Late" this weekend, April 16th and 17th.  Saturday's performance will be at 6:00 p.m., and Sunday's will be at 10:30 a.m.  Bethany Baptist Church us located at 40963 Greenwell Springs Road.  For more information, call the church at 654-9208.

It Is Better To Give Than To Receive

We were in a small village called Jamaraquá in the Amazon Basin with some Central High School students.  As we invited people to services we came upon a thatch roofed house where a young teenage girl answered the door.  We asked her where she went to school and she said “In the next village.”  We found out they even had an internet tower and computer classes at her school.

We felt impressed to give her a laptop. The next day, with the laptop wrapped in a bath towel, we returned. We told Kátia that God had asked us to give her a present.  When we removed that towel …well I have never seen such an expression of gratitude as the tears of joy came streaming down her face.  We will all never forget that moment. 

The Lord Jesus himself said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Donnie Shaffer
Central Church

An Ever Present Help in Trouble!

     One of my friends commented recently:   “After reading the newspaper this morning – all the bad news – I thought to myself, there is no hope!”  The crisis in Japan , unrest in the Middle East , tumbling stock market, price of gas, high rate of crime, and abounding budget woes.  Sometimes the bad news continues as we survey our own circumstances – health, finances, relationships, family issues, work challenges, time pressures!

    A “GOD” thought in the middle of our crazy, too busy world:
“God is our refuge and strength,
An ever present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear
Though the earth give way
And the mountains fall in the heart of the sea!”
Psalm 46:1-2

     God doesn’t promise to deliver us from our troubles, but He does promise to be an ever present help in the middle of them!  Call upon Him! He Cares! He hears!

Dick and Jackay Metz
Cornerstone Fellowship

     In 1987 a young German teenager named Mathias Rust made a daring flight with a small single-engine airplane from Helsinki to of all places Moscow. He landed the plane right in Red Square after flying through some of the most heavily guarded air space in the world! The Soviet Union with her strong and determined military considered it an impossible task to slip in their air-space undetected yet the actions of this teenager clearly showed otherwise.

    Are we as arrogant? Assuming that our spiritual-lives are as well protected as this Russian air space? Careful! Our adversary is determined and continuously seeks to penetrate our defenses! How do we repel such a single-minded opponent? “ Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes…” God provides ample protection, but we must act with purpose by suiting up. Read more about it in Ephesians six.

Dale Phillips
Comite Baptist Church

    St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Greenwell Springs celebrated it's 19th annual St. Joseph's Altar this past weekend. On Saturday the Altar was blessed by Father Mike Moroney after the 4:00 p.m. Mass. On Sunday, The Holy family, portraded this year by Jim and Shirley Lawless as Joseph and Mary and Grant Rembrent as Jesus, sampled food from the altar and then the public was fed. The meatless meal included, Spagetti with boiled eggs, Shrimp Jambalya, Red Beans and rice, and many different casseroles, fried Vegetables and Desserts. Pictured are a few of the Volunteers who helped organize the altar.