Local churches are in the middle of Holy Week in Atmore. Several of them have planned special services leading up to Easter services on Sunday, April 24.

McCullough Christian will hold a live outdoor Good Friday service in the empty lot south of Oak Hill Cemetery off Hwy. 21 in Atmore. There will be three crosses raised depicting the crucifixion of Jesus and the two thieves. Jesus will be removed at 3 p.m.

Trinity Episcopal Church, with the Rev. Mark McDonald officiating, had Palm Sunday services on Sunday and will have continue Eucharist services with Maundy Thursday, April 21, at 5 p.m.; Good Friday Holy Eucharist Service, April 22 at noon and Easter Sunday, April 24 at 9 a.m.

The Episcopal Church welcomes any baptized person to receive the sacrament of Holy Communion. Believed to be the oldest public building in continuous use in Atmore since 1900, historic Trinity Church is located on the corner of South Carney and Church Streets, directly behind Bondurant.

First Baptist Church of Atmore will present part two of its special program, The Crucifixion, at 11 a.m. on Sunday, April 24. The program will be performed by the Sanctuary Choir, Sanctuary Hand Bell Choir and the Children’s Choir.

A community Easter service will be held in the Patterson Chapel of First Baptist Church with Gene King of Grace Fellowship Church bringing the message.

First United Methodist Church will have Lenten Lunch on Wednesday from 11:45 a.m. until 12:45 p.m. with lunch, devotional and the Rev. Arnold Hendrix of First Baptist Church as the speaker.

There will be a Maundy Thursday program at 7 p.m. featuring the adult choir, the hand bell choir (Cunning Bells), communion and a worship service.

On Friday there will be a Tenebrae service at 7 p.m. where scriptures will be read for the service, which will end with the congregation in darkness.

On Sunday, Easter service will be earlier, at 10:30 a.m. with the Easter Cantata. There will be no Sunday school.

First Presbyterian Church will have a special Tenebrae worship service on Friday, April 22, at 6:30 p.m. Derived from the Latin word for ‘shadows,’ tenebrae refers to a worship service designed to recreate the emotional and spiritual aspects of the passion story. The church choir will perform ‘We Remember Calvary,’ a choral work that uses both contemporary and traditional hymns, worships songs, congregational singing, scripture reading and narration to paint a vivid and moving picture of Christ’s last days and his journey to the cross. The Lord’s Supper will also be observed at this special program.

Presley Street Baptist Church will have Sun Rise services in Presley Park at 7 a.m. on Sunday, April 24.

St. Anna’s in Poarch will celebrate Maundy Thursday, April 21 at 6 p.m. with the Holy Eucharist, washing of feet and the stripping of the altar.

Good Friday liturgy will be offered on Friday, April 22 at 6 p.m.

The Great Vigil of Easter or Holy Saturday will begin April 23, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. when the church will be open for private prayers meditations.

The Sunday of the Resurrection (Easter Day) will begin with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist April 24 at 9 a.m.  The service will be followed by dinner at noon and an Easter Egg Hunt with prizes at 1:30 p.m. and games throughout the afternoon.

St. Anna’s is located in Poarch at the corner of Jack Springs Road and Lynn McGhee Drive.

The Perdido Methodist Church, located on Hwy. 47 will host a Sunrise Service at 7 a.m. on Easter, April 24. Breakfast will follow the service, regular Sunday school at 9 a.m. and worship service will be at 10 a.m. Pastor, Brother Robert Klotz invites everyone to these special services.

Easter in the Park will be held at Heritage Park from 9:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. There will be free refreshments, arts and crafts, and fun things for the kids. There will also be an Easter Egg Race for different age groups. The Easter Bunny will arrive in a parade around 9:30 a.m. and Clay Lisenby will be there to take photographs.