Churches celebrate Easter, 'people working together'
Apr. 9—Thousands of local residents spent much of Sunday focusing on "the most stunning news in all the world," as articulated from the pulpit by the Rev. John Carroll, senior pastor of Aiken's First Baptist Church.
This year's calendar has one of the world's top golf tournaments coinciding with Holy Week, as observed by many Christians, and the Masters logo was a part of Sunday's wardrobe for some churchgoers. At least one church had a TV monitor in place in a fellowship hall, so participants in a brunch could keep an eye on Jon Rahm, Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka and their compatriots in pursuit of a green jacket and top honors in their sport.
Sunrise services were largely scrapped this year, due to a weather situation that included heavy rain on Saturday and the likelihood of heavy clouds Sunday morning.
One parishioner at St. Mary Help of Christians Church noted that it was pleasant to attend Mass in an atmosphere without abundant visual reminders of COVID-19, as were present for many gatherings from early 2020 into 2022. He said the parish's Easter vigil, running from about 8:30 p.m. to midnight, included four new members being welcomed — baptism, first communion and confirmation.
The situation at First Baptist Church of North Augusta included "great music, preaching and full house in attendance," as noted by one member on the scene.
Charlie Tyler, with Wagener United Methodist Church, expressed thanks for an ongoing cooperative effort between his congregation, led by the Rev. Jessica Kight, and Clinton United Methodist Church, led by the Rev. Fred Andrea.
Holy Week, Tyler said, included interaction between the two congregations, with activities at both sites. Attendance was encouraging, in his assessment.
"People are just realizing they have a lot to be thankful for and ... it's a very good feeling. I just see a change in people, in their faces, and ... people want to be here. For a while, I thought, 'They're just going to sit at home and watch TV,"" he said, acknowledging that the past few years included some huge challenges.
The past week's efforts between the two churches represent "people working together," Tyler said. "That's a very positive thing."
Sunday morning included a dramatic presentation at Grace United Methodist Church, in North Augusta, where the Rev. Cathy Jamieson, the senior pastor, and the Rev. Daniel Eplee, associate pastor, pooled their efforts in portraying Mary Magdalene and Jesus.
Jamieson said, "It's always fun to do something different, to kind of surprise people by ... doing a drama, because Easter was a surprise — Mary coming to an empty tomb and finding the body not there, and the disciples finding it not there. The whole thing was a surprise, even though Jesus predicted it."
The weekend also included a festive gathering at 3960 Richland Ave., the former home of Jordan's Signature Automotive, where Tabernacle Baptist Church, an Augusta-based congregation, is proceeding with plans to establish an Aiken facility.
Tabernacle, with its center of operations at 1223 Laney Walker Blvd., in Augusta, also has a base in Evans, Georgia, and plans are in place for the Aiken site to be in service this summer.
Saturday afternoon's assembly had the Rev. Charles Goodman Jr., Tabernacle's senior pastor, expressing thanks for growth and encouragement in the midst of the congregation's expansion. The gathering included music, a worship service, baptisms and baby dedications, along with an update on plans for the new site, to be known as "Tab North."
