Anniversaries

St. John's United Methodist Church,: Rand, will celebrate 100 years of faithful worship and service to the community of Rand on April 15. Planned activities include a special worship service with guest speaker at 11:15 a.m. Dinner will follow the service and special singing begins at 2 p.m.

Easter/Lenten programs

The Music and Drama Ministries: at Elk River Church of the Nazarene will present the dramatic Easter musical, "The Borrowed Tomb" at 7 p.m. Friday and March 31 and at 10:45 a.m. Palm Sunday at the church, 143 Dutch Road in Mink Shoals. The presentations are free. For directions or more information, call 304-342-6052 or visit the website at www.elkrivernaz.com.

 Abundant Life Ministries: will host a free Easter Celebration at 11 a.m. April 8 at the Clay Center. Musical guests will be Grammy award winner and gospel music legend Dr. Bobby Jones and the Nashville Super Choir. Dr. Bobby Jones is the host of the longest continuously running original series on cable television on BET's flagship gospel program, "Bobby Jones Gospel." In 1980, Jones received The Gabriel Award and an International Film Festival Award for writing and performing Make A Joyful Noise. In 1984, he received the Gospel Music Association's (GMA) Dove Award for "Black Contemporary Album of the Year," a Grammy Award for "Best Vocal Duo for a Soul/Gospel Performance" for the single: "I'm So Glad I'm Standing Here Today" performed with country music star Barbara Mandrell. In 1990, he received the Gospel Music Association's Commonwealth Award for Outstanding Contribution to Gospel Music. In 1994, Jones was nominated for the Cable ACE Award. He resides in Nashville, Tenn. For more information about the event hosted by Abundant Life Ministries, contact Pastor Crozier at 304-342-0058 or pastorcroz...@aol.com.

Southridge Church: will sponsor an Easter egg hunt from 1 to 3 p.m. March 31 on Laidley Field. Health Net will drop 40,000 eggs. Free food, prizes, carnival and admission will be featured.

Scott Depot Christ Fellowship: will sponsor The Great Egg Hunt from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., April 7 at Hurricane Valley Park (Wave Pool Park). There will be 23,000 candy-filled Easter eggs. There is no charge. Food, drinks, inflatable games will be featured, including appearances by the Easter Bunny, Dora, Swiper and SpongeBob.

The Charleston Baptist Temple Music and Arts Ministry: will present the Easter cantata, "Come Touch the Robe," at 5 p.m. April 1 at the church, located at the corner of Morris and Quarrier streets. The cantata will feature interpretive dance and dramatic portrayals, directed by Edward L. Bucklen. A reception will follow. For information, call the church office at 304-346-9627.

Thorofare Community Church,: in honor of its celebration of Easter, will present the play, "Heaven," at 7 p.m. on Sunday at the church located on Thorofare Road in Clendenin. For more information or directions to the church, contact Pastor Holley at PastorHol...@suddenlink.net or call 304-965-0600.

The Jackson-Kanawha Community Choir: will present the East cantata "Oh, What A Savior," with narration and drama at 7 p.m. on Friday at Fisher Memorial Church. Ten churches are represented in the cantata, which is directed by Joyce Good-Pitchford. The church is located 1/2 mile on Dudden Fork Road off Goldtown Exit of Interstate 77.

Twenty-Sixth Street Baptist Church,: 2510 10th Ave., Huntington, will open The Pathway to the Cross presentation from noon to 3 p.m. April 1 and 8 and from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, April 2-7 at the church. The Pathway focuses on the events of Holy Week -- from Christ's entry into Jerusalem to His resurrection and ascension. Some earlier Old and New Testament events have also been added. For information, call the church at 304-522-4125.

Miscellaneous

The Shums 'IL Bir Club of St. George Church: will host a benefit spaghetti dinner from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday in the St. George Conference Center Ballroom, located on Court Street. Proceeds will benefit the Highland Hospital Building Fund. Tickets for the dinner are $10 for adults and $6 for children. Meat and meatless dinners are available. Take-outs are welcome. Tickets can be purchased at the door.

Music

A gospel sing: will be held at 6 p.m. March 31 at Belle Town Hall. Singers will be the Lordsmen, the Humphreys and a "special appearance" by the Songsmen and Linda. The gospel sing is to pay tribute to Jack Carte, Jim Humphrey, and E.L. "Dude" Wood.

The Jay Humphreys Trio: will sing at 11 a.m. Sunday at The Cathedral of Prayer. They also will sing at 7 p.m. Sunday at Cobbs Creek Baptist Church, Sod.

The first in a series of gospel sings,: honoring singers and musicians that have paved the way in West Virginia gospel music will be held at 6 p.m. March 31 in the Belle Town Hall. Those being honored at this sing are the late Jack Carte, the late Jim Humphreys and Eldion "Dude" Wood. Groups featured will be the Lordsmen, the Humphreys, the Jay Humphreys Trio and the Songsmen and Linda. All gospel singers and musicians in attendance are invited to join the groups on stage for the grand finale. Concessions will be available and door prizes will be awarded.

A gospel sing: will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday at Fisher Memorial Church, located 1/2 mile on Dudden Road off the Goldtown Exit of Interstate 77. The Lordsmen, The New Life Singers, Young Adults, Freeman Newhouse and choir will sing. Refreshments will be served in the Family Center following the sing.

Forgiven: will sing at 7 p.m. Monday at Lucy Wilson Baptist Church, Wills Creek, Elkview.

John Phillips: will sing at 6 p.m. Sunday at Parsons Chapel, Sixth Avenue.

Paid in Full: will be guest singers at 7 p.m. Sunday at Old Path Baptist Church, Sissonville.

First Baptist Church of Vandalia,: 1500 Mountain Road, will have the choir's Fourth Annual Gospel Festival at 6 p.m. Saturday at the church. Featured singers will be Antioch Baptist Church Male Chorus of Huntington, Alvin Smith and the King of Glory International Ministries Praise Team, New Covenant Spiritual Steppers, and Lesi Gibson. Singers at 3 p.m. Sunday will be St. Paul Baptist Male Chorus, Metropolitan Baptist Male Chorus, Viz N Heirs, Spiritual Harmonizers, and Kathy Pulley. For information, call 304-766-8254.

Red Oak Christian Community Church,: Red Oak Drive, Nitro, will have a song and prayer service at 7 p.m. Saturday at the church. Randy Wood will sing. Pastors are Victor Keathley and Roy Jarrell.

Dan Hensley: will sing at 6 p.m. Sunday at The Rumble Community Baptist Church.

The Greens and Ann Taylor: will sing at 7 p.m. Sunday at Silas Tabernacle Church, located 2 1/2 miles on Tuppers Creek Road, Sissonville.

Brighterside Quartet: will sing at 6 p.m. Sunday at West Virginia Home Mission, Nitro.

Teays Valley Church of the Nazarene,: will present the Whisnants on Sunday at a Re-Connect with The Church service at 10:45 a.m. at the church, Teays Valley Road. Nursery and children's church is available. Sunday school for all ages will begin at 9:45 a.m. For information, call 304-757-8400 or visit www.teaysvalleynazarene.com.

Revivals:

Metropolitan Baptist Church,: 205 Donnally St., will have their Holy Week Revival at 7 p.m. nightly April 2-4. Guest revivalist will be the Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright of Trinity United Church of Christ, Chicago, Ill. For more information, call Pastor Freeman at 304-342-4766.

Special services

Greater Emmanuel,: 1546 Third Ave., will have a special service at 5 p.m. Saturday with guest speaker, Pastor Robert J. Dudley, congregation and choir from Jehovah Shammah Pentecostal Ministries from Columbus, Ohio.

The Upper Kanawha Valley Minister and Deacons Fellowship: will hold its Fourth Sunday Fellowship Service at 7 p.m. on Sunday at First Missionary Baptist Church, Hansford. Speaker will be the Rev. Henry Gravely, pastor of First Baptist Church.

Good Shepherd Free Will Baptist Church,: 5470 West Pea Ridge Road, Huntington, will have Sunday school at 10 a.m. and the morning worship at 11 a.m. Sunday. The Rev. Jason C. Black will preach. Evening worship will be held at 6 p.m. with the church singers/choir singing and the Rev. Jackie Walker preaching. Prayer meeting and Youth Group meetings start at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

King of Glory International Ministries: is meeting at a new location on April 1 at 302 Delaware Ave. Equipping school begins at 10 a.m. and worship service is 11 a.m. Pastors are Tina and Ron Beatty. For information, call 304-720-5994.