Driftwood UMC, Baptist Church join for Easter

Driftwood UMC celebrated the resurrection of the Christ April 16 at both a 7 a.m. “Son Rise” worship service and an 11 a.m. traditional Easter Sunday worship service.
More than 140 unduplicated worshipers attended the two Easter worship services.
A community breakfast was prepared and served by Driftwood UMC immediately following the 7 a.m. service.
The “Son Rise” worship service enabled many of the older members of Driftwood UMC to recall the joint Methodist/Baptist services conducted between 1911 and 2001, when Methodists and their Baptist brethren alternated Sundays in conducting worship in the church sanctuary built by the Methodists in 1884.
This year the Driftwood UMC was again joined by the congregation of the Baptist Church of Driftwood in the early service.
The early service was conducted jointly by Carl Clark, pastor of Driftwood UMC, and Terry Colley of the Baptist Church of Driftwood.
Colley read the Easter story as related in John 20:1-18, and Clark delivered the sermon, entitled “What Christians Believe,” based on 1 Corinthians 15:1-11.
Special music at the two services was provided by the Driftwood UMC choir, directed by Donna Burns; Laurie and Kenny Carleton; and Robin Melanson and Kent Liming.
As part of the two worship services, Driftwood UMC continued an Easter tradition known as the “Living Cross,” begun three years ago.
A large rough wooden cross used during Lent as a sign of Christ’s passion was returned to the sanctuary for Easter decorated with living greenery. During each service, worshipers who chose to participate placed white carnations, provided for the service, on the cross in memory of loved ones who have gone on to reside with our Lord and Savior.
Knowing from the past that many early service worshipers and the Driftwood UMC choir members would attend both worship services, Clark chose to offer Holy Communion at 11 a.m. and use Mark 16:1-8 as his sermon text.
Burns selected, and the choir performed, all new music in an effort to provide everyone with a meaningful worship experience even though they may have attended both worship services.