Chorus will sing Messiah for Easter

The Columbia County Choral Society's performance this week kicks off a number of Easter services and programs around the county.

The society's rendition of Handel's The Messiah will take place on Friday at 7:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Evans, at Washington and Belair roads.

Tickets, which will be available at the door, cost $8 for adults and $6 for seniors and students.

"The work is written in three parts," said the choral society's artistic director, Isaac Holmes. "The first section deals with the birth of Jesus. The third section retells his resurrection and his victory over sin and death. The second part, the Easter portion of The Messiah, musically illustrates what is known as the Passion of Christ."

The Columbia County Choral Society, formed in 1997, annually presents a spring concert. The society's membership, which has doubled in recent years, performs two to three concerts each season.

"Our Easter concert will present a pretty, classical sound," said Susan Osborne, executive director of the society. "It is what people traditionally hear at church. It has really, really come together beautifully."

Ruth Brannen will be the guest organist for the performance.

The Columbia County Choral Society continues to seek new members. The group is particularly interested in involving more teens in the society.

"You do not have to be a resident of Columbia County to sing with us," Osborne said. "We welcome all CSRA residents. After singing with us for three rehearsals, if you are interested in joining us, we ask that you participate in a painless audition. Using a familiar hymn, you will sing your voice part while others sing their voice part."

Rehearsals are held each Tuesday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of Evans' Fellowship Hall. The choral society plans a guest night on April 13 so others can see what it's like to sing with members. The group will be rehearsing for their May 14 concert, which will consist of spirituals and American folk hymns.

Easter performance

The Columbia County Choral Society will present the Easter portion of Handel's The Messiah at 7:30 p.m. Friday at First Baptist Church of Evans, Washington and Belair roads. Tickets are $8, or $6 for students and seniors. For information go to choralsociety.org, or call 650-8901.

Y Easter event

The Family Y Easter Egg-stravaganza will be 10 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. Monday-Friday and March 29-April 2 at Camp Lakeside on Lake Thurmond, for children in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. For information, call (706) 359-2153.

Passion play

Tickets are now available for Abilene Baptist Church's Passion story, Bow the Knee, which will be presented at 7 p.m. April 1 and 2. The story portrays the life, death and resurrection of Christ from the perspective of the centurion who was instrumental in the crucifixion. For information, call 869-1774.

The Good Shepherd Baptist Church will presents He Reigneth Forevermore, a Passion Play and Musical that tells the story of the creation, the birth, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Performances are scheduled for April 3 at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. and April 4 at 5 p.m. There is no admission cost, but complimentary tickets are required and an offering will be taken.

Tickets are available at the church, 1714 Olive Road, Augusta; The Medicine Shoppe, 2416 Windsor Spring Road at Rosier Road, Augusta and Salon Lynnique, 125 Davis Road, Martinez.

Call 733-0341 for more information.

Good Friday

First Baptist Church of Evans will hold a Good Friday service 7 p.m. April 9 at the church, Washington Road at Belair. The church will hold an Easter sunrise service 7:30 a.m. April 11, followed by breakfast in the fellowship hall. For information, call 863-1228.

Carrying the cross

Members of Old Union Baptist Church will carry a cross April 10 for three miles from downtown Harlem to the church, at 6095 Old Union Road. The cross will be erected at the church and used during the Easter sunrise service. Participants will meet at 10 a.m. at the traffic signal in Harlem, and members of the community are invited to join. for information, call 556-9055.

Passion and Easter

Marvin United Methodist Church, Belair at Wheeler Road, will present its Passion Scene April 10 on the lawn facing Belair Road. A sunrise Easter service will be 7 a.m. April 11, with Easter services at 9:45 a.m. and 11 a.m. An Easter-egg hunt will be 11 a.m. April 11, with a visit from the Easter bunny.

Easter service

Bible Cathedral, 1116 Furys Ferry Road in Evans, will hold an Easter sunrise service at 7 a.m. April 11. For information, call 863-7090.