RICHMOND — Who hath believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?

For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

He is despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief, and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows, yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed.

All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way, and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth, he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

He was taken from prison and from judgment, and who shall declare his generation? For he was cut off out of the land of the living, for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him, he hath put him to grief, when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many, for he shall bear their iniquities.

Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Isaiah 53:1-12

Concord annual Friends Day

Sunday, March 17, at 3 p.m., the Concord Predestinarian Baptist Church will host its annial friends day. Their special guests will be Elder Virgil Gardner, choir and congregation of Pleasant Green Predestinarian Baptist Church. Everyone is invited to come and worship with us, said Elder Anthony Phelps Sr., the host pastor. Dinner will be served.

Spring revival at First Baptist

March 18-22, the Rev. David Peoples of Centerville Missionary Baptist Church in Bourbon County will be the guest preacher for the spring revival, 7 p.m. nightly, at  the First Baptist Church, 302 Francis St., Richmond. Music will be provided by First Baptist choirs. The Rev. Robert R. Blythe is host pastor. For more details, call the church  at 624-2045.

Palm Sunday service

The Palm Sunday service for the Eastern Star and Masons will be conducted 4 p.m. Sunday, March 24 at Pleasant Green Predestinarian Baptist Church with Elder Anthony Phelps bringing the message.The host pastor is Elder Virgil Gardner. Everyone is invited to come out and worship.

NAACP meeting

The Richmond/Madison County Branch of the NAACP meets on the first Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. in the First Baptist Church, 302 Francis St., Richmond.

Pathway to Wholeness session

Pathway to Wholeness, “A God-centered, Bible study recovery program based on the 12-step principles, meets 6 p.m. every Thursday at  Saint Paul AME Church, 437 Francis St., Richmond.

“Please come and join us in learning about the healing power of Christ,” said the Rev. Junann Johnson, the leader. The Rev. William R.T. Hale is the pastor.

Free-lunch ministry

Every Thursday, from noon to 3 p.m., Saint Paul AME Church, 437 Francis St., Richmond, serves a free lunch to all who come. “This is an ongoing, weekly ministry to serve the hungry, the homeless and feed anyone who walks in our doors,” says Pastor William Hale.

Upward Bound Ministries

“Teen Turning Point” is an intervention and prevention program for teens identified as “At Risk” for academic failure, substance abuse issues and potential judicial interaction.

• Is your teen experiencing trouble at school? (suspension, truancy, grades)

• Does your teen display defiant or rebellious behavior?

• Has your teen had problems with the law?

Register your child online at www.upwardboundministries.org

Teens with defiant and rebellious behaviors, substance abuse, or potential judicial interaction issues needs this program. Our goal is to improve the health and well-being of teens in Madison and the surrounding counties, specifically addressing physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

Other Ministry Components:

Turning Point: An intervention program for adults with addictions and compulsive behaviors issues.

Cope: Supports parents, spouses, grandparents or family members who are affected by the addictions and compulsive behaviors of family members or friends.

Lifeline: Is drug awareness and prevention that is telecast once a week to Time Warner Cable’s viewing audience in Richmond and Berea.

For more details about Teen Turning Point, call Darnell Hill, executive director/founder, at 986-1650 or TTP Coordinator Brad Reynolds, 200-1632. We are located at Church on the Rock 1049 Richmond Road in Berea.

Special note

To all churches and civic organizations: To place your church or civic activity in this column, please send all information at least one week in advance via the U.S Postal Service. The new address is: Church & Community Focus, 715 Bonanza Rd Richmond, KY 40475. E-mailed announcements should be sent to: anthonyphelps45@yahoo.com and all announcements must be received by 6 p.m. on the Tuesday of the week you wish your announcement to appear in the newspaper.

Until next week

May the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus stay fresh in your minds, and in all thy heart. Until we meet again God bless you.