A super Sunday

Members of the congregation of First Baptist Church of Jackson can look forward to experiencing not only the glory of God but also the glory of the gridiron when they attend church Feb. 7.

The church will hold a special service named "Super Worship and Fellowship" in its fellowship hall on Super Bowl Sunday, church administrator Sam McVay said.

The church's regular Sunday evening service will begin an hour early at 5 p.m. During the service, McVay said churchgoers will experience music testimonies and can also keep up with what's happening in the game. Food will be served, including chili, soups, finger foods and desserts.

"We're going to have some worship time and a lot of food, maybe some folks playing board games," McVay said.

He said the objective of the event is to bring people together and give them a chance to have a rich fellowship time together, to show the Super Bowl for those who care to watch and to draw people in from the community who would like to be a part of the event.

The idea of doing something extra for the big game came from the church's new pastor, Tommy Weems, and is a first-time event for the church.

"It's something to bring people in who might not attend because they would have stayed home for the Super Bowl," McVay said.

Elsewhere in Jackson, Super Bowl Sunday is being used as a platform in an effort to feed the hungry by stocking a food pantry. New McKendree United Methodist Church is holding its annual food drive, which is part of a national effort called Souper Bowl of Caring.

The church has collection stations at both its locations on High and South Hope streets. The goal of the drive is to collect canned foods and boxed goods along with cash donations by the weekend of Feb. 7 to stock the Food Pantry Ministry, which is overseen by the Jackson Ministerial Alliance.

The Rev. John Rice, senior pastor of the church, said his congregation has participated in the event for about 20 years.

Rice said the needs of the community food pantry are significant and growing, so congregation members are trying to do their part to contribute along with other churches, civic organizations and the United Way in Jackson. The congregation was able to collect 1,000 items during last year's campaign and have set a goal of 1,500 items for this year.

Rice said the Ministerial Alliance keeps a close inventory on the food that is distributed, and about 160 families per month supplement their table through the food pantry.

"We do things all year-round, but this is a big push," Rice said of the Super Bowl weekend activity.