AREA CHURCHES TO OBSERVE COMMUNITY THANKSGIVING SERVICES THIS WEEK

Community Thanksgiving services will be held this week in Cape Girardeau and Jackson. The services are sponsored by the respective Ministerial Alliance organizations.

The Jackson service will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at the First Baptist Church at 212 S. High Street. The Rev. John Rice, pastor of New McKendree United Methodist Church, will speak. Special music provided the Jackson Senior High School Chorus, under the direction of Jean Schwain. Other ministers from the Jackson churches will participate as well.

The public is invited. An offering will be received to support the Alliance's benevolence fund and food pantry.

The Cape Girardeau service will be held at the Evangelical United Church of Christ at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Several ministers from the community will lead the service, with a sermon by the Rev. Robert Klein of St. Mark Lutheran Church. The offering collection will benefit the Safe House for Women.

Other Thanksgiving services planned include a special service at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Wesley Methodist Church. It is sponsored by the North County church neighbors. The Delta community Thanksgiving service will be Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Community Center. All churches and denominations are invited to attend.

On Thanksgiving Day, Trinity Lutheran Church in Shawneetown will worship at 8:30 a.m., St. John's Lutheran Church in Pocahontas at 9 a.m., and Zion Lutheran Church in Pocahontas at 10:15 a.m.

The Scott City Ministerial Alliance will hold its Community Thanksgiving Songfest at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Broadway United Methodist Church. Everyone is invited for an evening of community singing, special music, choirs and skits from youth and children. Refreshments and fellowship will follow the program.