On the West Highway 25 Bypass two Columbiana churches sit across from each other that are blessed this Easter season with new preachers. One is new to our community and one has grown up here.

Gary Tankersley and his wife Diana came to the Columbiana Church of the Nazarene last June when he received the call to become the church’s pastor. The Church of the Nazarene offers two special programs on Palm Sunday, April 5 and Easter morning, April 12.

The Palm Sunday service will begin at 10:45 a.m. in the church’s parking lot where Jesus, enacted by church member Brandon Sinquefield, will arrive on a mule, with his disciples following, as the congregation and visitors will wave Palm branches to symbolize Jesus entry to Jerusalem during his last days. All will proceed into the sanctuary for the worship service, led by Brother Gary.

The Easter service will be a musical drama of 10 vignettes created by Nazarene member Terri Sinquefield, which will begin at 9:45 a.m. This special program will feature the narration of Mary knowing her time with her son Jesus will soon be over and end with the song, El Shaddai. Other scenes accompanied by song will feature Jesus on the shore of Galilee with his disciples, the re-enactments of miracles, the last supper and the crucifixion ending with Jesus’ resurrection.

The Columbiana Church of Christ was established in 1976 and its preacher, Nic Weymouth, grew up attending the congregation since he was 4. After graduating from the University of Alabama, Weymouth received his masters of ministry from Freed-Hardeman University in 2004. He and his wife Liz were married in November 2006 just after he began preaching part time at the church. Weymouth became the full time preacher in August 2008. He grew up in this warm and devoted congregation, which he says is a close–knit family of believers whose aim is to “be simply Christians, to serve God in simplicity and truth.”

The congregation meets every week at 10 a.m. for Bible class for adults and children, followed by a worship service at 11 a.m. The service begins with prayer and acappella singing by the congregation like the Christians of the first century and ends with the partaking of the Lord’s Supper in communion. Evening worship services are at 5 p.m.

The fourth Sunday of every month is a very special day for this congregation. After the 11 a.m. service, the congregation enjoys the fellowship of a covered dish luncheon and then goes to the Columbiana Health and Rehabilitation Center for singing from 1:30-2 p.m. with the residents of the nursing home. The congregation comes back to the church for its Sunday afternoon service, which begins at 2:30 p.m.