Easter and Good Friday services, Easter egg hunts, and musical presentations abound in Jones County for this holiday weekend.

Holy Week services began at Gray United Methodist at noon Monday and will continue through Friday. The services are conducted by a different local pastor each day and are followed by lunch. A Maundy service will be held at the church Wednesday, April 4, following supper.

Holy Week services are also being conducted at New Damascus Baptist Church April 4-6 at 7 nightly.

St. Paul A.M.E. is hosting a Maundy Thursday service at 7 p.m. and a Good Friday service April 6, also at 7. Good Friday services will be held at White Chapel A.M.E. at 6 p.m. presenting the Seven Last Words of Christ.

The Seven Last Words of Christ is also being presented at Haddock Baptist Church April 6 at 7 p.m., and Sunshine Methodist will have a Good Friday service at 7 p.m.

The music ministry of First Baptist Church of Gray is presenting the Easter musical ‘Eyes of Faith’ Good Friday at 7 p.m. The musical will feature the Celebration Choir and Orchestra, various soloists, trios, and other special music with over 50 musicians. The presentation will also feature dramatic readings of Peter, Mary Magdalene, Simeon, and Judas.

Saturday is the day for egg hunts, which are happening throughout the day at many local churches and at the Jones County Sheriff’s Department, sponsored by the sheriff, Ingles, the Gray Rattlers Men’s Club, and Chevy’s Café.

In addition to the Easter egg hunt at New Salem Baptist Church, festivities include hamburgers and hot dogs, a 16-foot inflatable slide and moonwalk for children.

Easter sunrise services are being held at Elam Baptist, Christ Community, Plentitude Baptist, Bradley Baptist, First Baptist of Gray, Greater Jordan Chapel A.M.E., Northridge Baptist, St. Paul A.M.E., Turner Chapel A.M.E., New Hope Baptist, Sunshine Methodist, and Haddock Baptist churches.

A community ‘Sonrise’ service will be held at Cedar Ridge Cemetery on Greene Settlement Road at 7 a.m. with guest speaker Rev. John Haney and special music by Rev. Creston Groover. In case of rain, the service will be held at Clinton United Methodist Church.

Real Life Church will host its Easter worship celebration Sunday at 10:30 a.m. with Grammy-award winner Jason Crabb, the Real Life Mass Choir and the Real Kidz Life Choir, and Turner Chapel A.M.E. is having an Easter program at 6 p.m.

A list of local services, events, and times as gathered by the News can be found on pages C6-7.