Local practices include activities across denominations
Except on special occasions, most religious denominations keep to themselves, but in Alexander City, Lent is one of those rare times when Christian churchgoers mingle worship services and practices.
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm{6?E :D 2 E:>6 @7 2?E:4:A2E:@?] |@C6 @3D6CG65 E92? 46=63C2E65[ :E :D AC24E:465 >@DE=J :? =:EFC8:42= r9C:DE:2? 4@?8C682E:@?D 2C@F?5 E96 H@C=5[ :?4=F5:?8 #@>2? r2E9@=:4 2?5 >2:?=:?6 !C@E6DE2?E 4@?8C682E:@?D[ 2D 2 >62?D @7 DA:C:EF2==J AC6A2C:?8 7@C 2?5 82:?:?8 8C62E6C 2AAC64:2E:@? @7 r9C:DE’D C6DFCC64E:@? 7C@> E96 5625]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmu@C E96 c_ 52JD AC6465:?8 t2DE6C W?@E 4@F?E:?8 $F?52JDX[ @3D6CG6CD @7 {6?E C6>6>36C r9C:DE’D E6>AE2E:@? :? E96 56D6CE 367@C6 9:D >:?:DECJ @? t2CE9 3682? 2D E96J AC6A2C6 7@C E96 t2DE6C $F?52J 46=63C2E:@? @7 9:D C6DFCC64E:@?] %96J AC6A2C6 :? 2 ?F>36C @7 H2JD E92E >:89E :?4=F56 7@C>D @7 72DE:?8[ 4@?76DD:@?[ 492C:E23=6 6?562G@CD[ 52:=J |2DD[ >65:E2E:@?[ DEF5J 2?5 AC2J6C]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm!C2J6C :D 2 3:8 A2CE @7 {6?E[ 2?5 H9@=6 3@@<D 92G6 366? HC:EE6? E@ 6IA=@C6 E96 >2?J 5:776C6?E DEJ=6D[ >6E9@5D 2?5 2G6?F6D @7 {6?E6? AC2J6CD[ 7C@> q6?65:4E:?6 >65:E2E:@?D E@ G:8:=D 2?5 H2=<:?8 E96 $E2E:@?D @7 E96 rC@DD] %96 $E2E:@?D[ 2=D@ <?@H? 2D E96 (2J @7 E96 rC@DD[ E96 (2J @7 $@CC@H @C E96 (2J @7 $F776C:?8[ 2C6 AC2J6CD >@56=65 @? y6DFD’ H2=< E@ 9:D 4CF4:7:I:@?]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`QmuC@> E96 4@?56>?2E:@? E@ E96 3FC:2=[ E96 A6?:E6?E:2= AC24E:46 @7 H2=<:?8 E96 $E2E:@?D 4@?D:DED @7 `c AC2J6CD 2?5 >65:E2E:@?D E92E C642== r9C:DE’D ;@FC?6J 2=@?8 y6CFD2=6>’D ':2 s@=@C@D2[ 2D 96 42CC:65 9:D 4C@DD E@ 9:D 562E9] %96 (2J @7 E96 rC@DD EC25:E:@?2==J :?4=F56D r9C:DE’D >66E:?8 @7 9:D >@E96C @? E96 C@25j 9:D 72==:?8 E9C66 E:>6Dj E96 6?=:DE>6?E @7 $:>@? @7 rJC6?6 H9@ H2D @C56C65 E@ 42CCJ E96 4C@DD 7@C 9:>j r9C:DE’D 4@?G6CD2E:@? H:E9 E96 EH@ E9:6G6D H9@ H6C6 4CF4:7:65 H:E9 9:>j 9:D 7:?2= H@C5D 2?5 @E96C D:8?:7:42?E 6G6?ED 2=@?8 E96 H2J E@ E96 C6DFCC64E:@?]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmp?5 E9@F89 E96 AC2J6CD 4@F=5 36 C64:E65 H:E9@FE 24EF2==J H2=<:?8 7C@> @?6 A9JD:42= DE2E:@? E@ 2?@E96C[ >2?J >@56C? 49FC496D 9@FD6 4FDE@>\>256 DE2E:@?D E@ 724:=:E2E6 E96 AC2J6CD]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`QmpE $E] y@9? E96 pA@DE=6 #@>2? r2E9@=:4 r9FC49 :? p=6I2?56C r:EJ[ E96 DE2E:@?D 2C6 4C27E65 C6=:67D :? 4=2J] uC2>65 :? 42E965C2= H:?5@HD 2?5 E@AA65 H:E9 2? @C?2E6 4C@DD[ E96 DE2E:@?D 2C6 A2:?E65 E@ 2 8=@DDJ H9:E6 D9:?6 2?5 =:?6 E96 H2==D @7 E96 D2?4EF2CJ]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm#6G] !6E6C #655J[ E96 C64E@C 2E $E] y@9?[ D2:5 9:D 4@?8C682E:@? 46=63C2E6D |2DD 2?5 E96? H2=<D E96 $E2E:@?D @7 E96 rC@DD 6G6CJ uC:52J 6G6?:?8 5FC:?8 {6?E] %96 r9FC49 42==D 7@C 2 72DE 7C@> >62E @? uC:52JD[ DF3DE:EFE:?8 7:D9 2E >62=D :?DE625] %96 r9FC49 2=D@ 46=63C2E6D 52:=J |2DD[ 2?5 :?5:G:5F2= >6>36CD 7@==@H A6CD@?2= A=2?D 7@C 52:=J AC2J6C]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qms@H? E96 DEC66E 2E $E] y2>6D tA:D4@A2= r9FC49[ E96 DE:AA=6\BF:=E65 32??6C DE2E:@?D E92E 92?8 @? E96 H2==D @7 E96 ?2G6 H6C6 >256 3J p??6 {@F:D6 (2=5@ v:==:=2?[ 2 AC@76DD:@?2= 56D:8?6C @7 644=6D:2DE:42= G6DE>6?ED 2?5 2=E2C 92?8:?8D[ H9@ 92D 2 A6CD@?2= 4@??64E:@? H:E9 E96 =@42= 49FC49] %96D6 7C2>65\F?56C\8=2DD 32??6CD 56A:4E E96 D2>6 D46?6D 2D E9@D6 @? E96 H2==D 2E $E] y@9?[ 3FE E9:D 2CE:DE FD65 8@=5 >6E2==:4 E9C625 @? 8C2J H@@= 2D 96C >65:F>]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmw:==2366 r2>A8C@F?5 &?:E65 |6E9@5:DE r9FC49 :? w24<?6JG:==6 C646?E=J 4@>A=6E65 E96 7:CDE A92D6 @7 2? @FE5@@C[ 92?5:42A\2446DD:3=6 $E2E:@?D @7 E96 rC@DD A2E9H2J E92E H2D 56D:8?65 2?5 3F:=E 3J >6>36CD @7 E96 4@?8C682E:@?] %96 4@?4C6E6 A2E9 H:?5D E9C@F89 E96 H@@5D 25;246?E E@ E96 9:DE@C:4 CFC2= 49FC49[ 2?5 E96 AF3=:4 :D :?G:E65 E@ 6?E6C E96 8C@F?5D 2E 2?J E:>6 @7 E96 J62C – ?@E ;FDE :? {6?E – E@ >2<6 E9:D AC2J6C7F= H2=< @C A:=8C:>286]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96 A2G65 EC2:= :D ;FDE D9J @7 c__ 766E =@?8[ 2?5 E96 7:CDE D6G6? DE2E:@?D @7 E96 AC6D4C:365 `c 6249 @776CD 2 36?49 H96C6 H2=<6CD 42? C6DE 2?5 AC2J 367@C6 4@?E:?F:?8 E@ E96 ?6IE DE2E:@?] x? 2 >2:=3@I 2E E96 368:??:?8 @7 E96 A2E9[ H2=<6CD H:== 7:?5 8F:563@@<D[ H9:49 42? 36 3@CC@H65 2?5 C6EFC?65 7@==@H:?8 E96 6I6C4:D6 @C AFC492D65 7@C S`_ 6249] %96 3@@< :?4=F56D 2 AC24E:42= 9@H\E@ 8F:56 7@C E96 C:EF2=[ 2D H6== 2D AC2J6CD E@ 36 C625 2E 6249 DE2E:@? 2=@?8 E96 H2J]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm#6G] $4@EE #2:=6J[ E96 A2DE@C 2E w:==2366 r2>A8C@F?5 &|r[ D2:5 >6>36CD @7 E96 49FC49 925 5:D4FDD65 E96 AC@;64E 7@C E9C66 J62CD 367@C6 E96J 3C@<6 8C@F?5 @? :E =2DE pF8FDE] %96J =23@C65 2E E96 EC2:=’D 4@?DECF4E:@? 7@C 6:89E H66<D[ 4@>A=6E:?8 D6G6? 4@AA6C\E@AA65 <:@D<D[ 6249 9@FD:?8 2? xE2=:2? 46C2>:4 E:=6 56A:4E:@? @7 2 D46?6 @? E96 ':2 s@=@C@D2] %96 C6>2:?:?8 D6G6? DE2E:@?D H:== 36 4@>A=6E65 =2E6C E9:D J62C[ 96 D2:5]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“xE’D 2 362FE:7F= D6EE:?8 7@C 4@?E6>A=2E:?8 2== E92E r9C:DE H6?E E9C@F89 7@C FD[” #2:=6J 6IA=2:?65] “tG6CJE9:?8 :D 46?E6C65 2C@F?5 E96 5:D>@F?E:?8 C@4<[ H9:49 92D D:8?:7:42?E 9:DE@C:42= G2=F6 E@ E96 4@>>F?:EJ]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm!92D6 @?6 @7 E96 $E2E:@?D AC@;64E 6?5D 2E 2 A2G:=:@? 2?5 2 =@?8[ 7=2E 3@F=56C @7 8C2?:E6 E92E 92D H:E?6DD65 E96 4@>:?8D 2?5 8@:?8D @7 E9:D 49FC49 4@>>F?:EJ 7@C ?62C=J a__ J62CD]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm“$6EE=6CD H@F=5 4@>6 96C6 2?5 42>A 7@C E9C66 @C 7@FC 52JD @7 D6CG:46D[ 2?5 E96J H@F=5 5:D>@F?E 7C@> E96:C H28@?D 2?5 9@CD6D 2E E9:D C@4<[” #2:=6J D2:5] “xE’D E96 A6C764E A=246 E@ 6?5 E96 $E2E:@?D H2=<]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm#2:=6J D2:5 E96 r9FC49 :?G:E6D E96 AF3=:4 E@ H2=< E96 $E2E:@?D 2E E96 9F>3=6 w24<?6JG:==6 49FC49 2=@?6 @C H:E9 72>:=J >6>36CD[ q:3=6 DEF5J 76==@HD @C AC2J6C 8C@FAD] %96 A2G:=:@? 2E E96 6?5 @7 E96 A2E9 :D @A6? 7@C FD6 2D H6==] qC:?8 2 A:4?:4[ 9@=5 2 5:D4FDD:@? @C AC2J E@86E96C E96C6 2E E96 6?5 @7 E96 (2J @7 $@CC@H[ 96 DF886DE65]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmu2DE:?8 @C ‘8:G:?8 FA’ D@>6E9:?8 :D 2?@E96C A@AF=2C {6?E6? 5:D4:A=:?6 E92E :D AC24E:465 =@42==J H:E9 E96 :?E6?E E@ 56?J @?6D6=7 E96 6I46DD6D @7 =:76 E@ DEC6?8E96? @?6’D 42A24:EJ E@ C6D:DE E6>AE2E:@?D 2?5 E@ A2CE:4:A2E6[ :? D@>6 D>2== H2J[ :? r9C:DE’D @H? 62CE9=J DF776C:?8] $@>6 A6@A=6 D66 E9:D 8:G:?8\FA 2D 2? @AA@CEF?:EJ 7@C D6=7\:>AC@G6>6?E @C 3C62<:?8 325 923:ED] u@C 6I2>A=6[ 23DE2:?:?8 7C@> E96 4@?DF>AE:@? @7 2=4@9@=:4 36G6C286D @C 49@4@=2E6 :D ?@E 2? F?4@>>@? {6?E6? D24C:7:46]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm{6?E 368:?D @? pD9 (65?6D52J H96? 4=6C8J 2E D6G6C2= =@42= 49FC496D EC246 2 4C@DD @7 2D96D @? E96 7@C69625 @7 6249 4@?8C682?E @C 56G@E66] %96 2D96? 4C@DD :D 2 DJ>3@= 56D:8?65 E@ C6>:?5 C646:G6CD @7 r9C:DE’D – 2?5 E96:C @H? – 562E9] pD9 (65?6D52J :D 2 42== E@ 2 9@=J @3D6CG2?46 @7 {6?E[ 2?5 E96 2D96D D:8?:7J 2 4@?8C682?E’D 6?EC2?46 :?E@ 2 A6?:E6?E:2= DE2E6 @7 >:?5]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`QmpD9 (65?6D52J D6CG:46D 2C6 A=2??65 2E %C:?:EJ &?:E65 |6E9@5:DE r9FC49[ $E] y2>6D tA:D4@A2=[ $E] y@9? r2E9@=:4 2?5 @E96C =@42= 49FC496D[ 3FE E9@D6 H9@ 42?’E >2<6 :E E@ 2 D6CG:46 42? E2<6 25G2?E286 @7 E96 =@42= 5C:G6\E9CF @AE:@?]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%C:?:EJ 2?5 u=:?E w:== &?:E65 |6E9@5:DE 49FC496D =2DE J62C @776C65 E96 x>A@D:E:@? @7 pD96D 2E EH@ =@42E:@?D 5FC:?8 E96 >@C?:?8 4@>>FE6 9@FCD] x? 255:E:@? E@ E96 2D96D[ A2CE:4:A2?ED C646:G65 4@7766[ 5@F89?FED 2?5 3:D4F:ED H:E9 E96:C 5C:G6\E9CF 56G@E:@?D 2E 2 FD65 42C =@E @? r96C@<66 #@25 2?5 2 8C@46CJ DE@C6 A2C<:?8 =@E @? w:89H2J ag_] #6G] |:<6 s6?D>@C6 2E %C:?:EJ D2:5 A=2?D 2C6 F?56C H2J E@ C6A62E E96 5C:G6\E9CF @AE:@? E9:D J62C]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%C:?:EJ 2=D@ H:== @776C 2 H66<=J {6?E6? DEF5J AC@8C2>[ E9@F89 56E2:=D 925 ?@E 366? 56E6C>:?65 2E k6>m{2<6 |2CE:? {:G:?8’Dk^6>m AC6DDE:>6]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmp?@E96C =@42= 64F>6?:42= AC24E:46 :D {6?E6? {F?496D[ 9@DE65 3J E96 >6>36CD @7 $E] y2>6D tA:D4@A2= r9FC49 @? $] r6?EC2= pG6?F6 5FC:?8 w@=J (66<[ E96 H66< 367@C6 t2DE6C $F?52J] u@C D@>6 b_ J62CD[ E96 49FC49 92D :?G:E65 A2DE@CD 7C@> @E96C 56?@>:?2E:@?D E@ 8:G6 E96 9@>:=:6D 2E D9@CE ?@@? D6CG:46D E92E 2C6 7@==@H65 3J 2 D@FA\2?5\D2?5H:49 =F?49 :? E96 49FC49’D A2C:D9 92==] |:?:DE6CD 7C@> |6E9@5:DE[ !C6D3JE6C:2?[ #@>2? r2E9@=:4[ q2AE:DE 2?5 |:DD:@?2CJ q2AE:DE 49FC496D E9C@F89@FE E96 4:EJ 92G6 366? :?G:E65 E@ 8F6DE\AC6249 2E E9:D EC25:E:@?2= D6CG:46 D6C:6D 2E E96 6?5 @7 {6?E]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm~? t2DE6C $F?52J[ H@CD9:AA6CD EJA:42==J C6EFC? E@ E96:C 9@>6 49FC496D 7@C D6CG:46 EC25:E:@?D E92E @7E6? :?4=F56 G:D:E:?8 7C:6?5D 2?5 72>:=J[ 3FE E9@D6 H9@ 92G6 @3D6CG65 2 AC2J6C7F=[ E9@F89E7F= {6?E[ @7E6? 7:?5 E96:C 46=63C2E:@?D @7 E96 C6DFCC64E:@? 6?92?465 3J E96 64F>6?:42= @776C:?8D @7 E96 4@>>F?:EJ’D 49FC496D]k^DA2?mk^Am