Area churches will celebrate Holy Week with guest speakers, traditional and contemporary services, and special outreach and evangelism.

The members and leadership of Saint Philip AME Church in Atlanta will hold Palm Sunday worship services at 7:30 and 11 a.m. on April 1.

Rev. Matthew Watley, executive minister at Reid Temple AME Church in Glenn Dale, Md., will be the guest speaker at the April 5 Maundy Thursday service at 7 p.m.

Watley oversees Reid Temple’s seven corporations, its 50-member staff, and 80 ministries.  In 2009, he was selected as the Impact Leader of the year for his political, civic and economic leadership throughout the Washington, D.C., metropolitan region. 

The April 6 Good Friday service features the “Last Seven Words” and begins at noon. A fish fry follows the service.

There will be two Easter Sunday worship services, at 7:30 and 11 a.m., on April 8.

Saint Philip AME is at the corner of Candler Road and Memorial Drive at 240 Candler Road. For more information, call 404-371-0749.

Greenforest Easter

At Greenforest Community Baptist Church in Decatur, Palm Sunday services will be celebrated during the regular 7:45 and 10:45 a.m. worship services on April 1. The Drama Ministry will line the entrance of the church driveway prior to each service, welcoming worshippers and shouting “Hosanna, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”

The Good Friday worship service will be held in the main sanctuary on April 6 at 7 p.m. This worship service is a reminder of the Crucifixion and to celebrate the coming Resurrection.

On April 7, Greenforest will sponsor an “Eggstravaganza” for children 2 to 11 years of age. Children should bring their own baskets to collect eggs and candy that will be distributed.

Members and church leaders will conduct an outreach program on April 7 beginning at noon at the Gallery at South DeKalb. They will celebrate “One Great Day of Evangelism” and personally invite shoppers at the mall to worship at Greenforest. The congregation will serve hot dogs and offer prayers for anyone requesting prayer.

On Resurrection Sunday, April 8, the celebration will begin with the Sunrise Service at 6:30 a.m. This service signifies Jesus’ early resurrection from the grave. It will be followed by breakfast in the Family Life Center at 8:30.

The Resurrection Day Fulfillment Hour (Sunday school) Program will begin in the main sanctuary at 9:30, and the Resurrection Morning Service starts at 10:45 a.m.

Greenforest Community Baptist is at 3250 Rainbow Drive. For more information, call 404-486-1120.

St. Paul AME Church

“Following Jesus Through Holy Week” is the theme of the Easter celebration at Saint Paul AME Church in Stone Mountain.

On Palm Sunday, members and church leaders will wave palms to re-create the Procession Into Jerusalem. The April 1 service begins at 10 a.m.

On April 2 at 7 p.m., the Rev. Kevin Moore of Mount Zion Network AME will speak. The Rev. James Hardaway of Greater Mount Carmel AME in Doraville will preach at the April 3 service at 7 p.m., and the Rev. Vivian Green of Cagle Chapel AME in Social Circle speaks at 7 p.m. on April 4.

A Passover meal, Seder, will be offered on Maundy Thursday – April 5 – at 7 p.m. There is limited seating and a donation of $7 is requested. For reservations, call Ruth Moon-Davis at 770-235-1014.

Good Friday events include a fish fry at 5 p.m. with a $5 donation requested and a 7 p.m. service featuring the Rev. James Alexander of St. Paul AME in Columbus.

Holy Saturday will be observed as a time to rest and reflect.

Easter Sunday begins with Sunday school at 9 a.m. and a worship service at 10 a.m., immediately followed by the Youth Easter Program.

Saint Paul AME is at 821 Third Street. For more information, call 770-469-4995.