Churches mark holiday with first Advent service
By Linda Luck
Published in News on December 1, 2005 1:47 PM
Wayne County residents officially welcomed the Christmas season with the first of four community Advent services Wednesday at Mount Calvary Baptist Church on Denmark Street.
About a hundred people gathered for the noon service, which was led by the Revs. Art Evans, Nicholas Williams and Bill Ordelt.
Voices of Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians and Lutherans joined with those from the First Christian Church and other denominations in the singing of "Holy, Holy, Holy" and "O Come, All Ye Faithful."
A highlight of the service was the inspirational selection by the Mount Calvary Choir. The title of the song was not printed in the program, so it was a surprise when "Amazing Grace" was sung to the tune of "Joy to the Word."
Evans used Mark 1:1 as the text for a short sermon. He said that Mark "raised the hope of humanity" in the verse that states, "The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God."
"This is the reason we celebrate Christmas," Evans said. He challenged those attending to "affirm that Jesus Christ is the Son of God" during this Christmas season.
At the close of the service an offering was taken and the money will go to Goldsboro Aids Interfaith Network.
The 30-minute program was followed by a meal of vegetable soup, ham sandwiches and fruit, served by members of Mount Calvary in the fellowship hall.
Next week's message will be delivered by Suzanne Franklin, chaplain at Wayne Memorial Hospital. Bishop Alton Smith, pastor of St. Mark Church of Christ, will serve as liturgist and his church will provide the meal, which costs $3.
Ordelt told those attending to bring one or two people with them next week, with the goal of filling the church by the final service on Dec. 21.