Good Friday is March 29, just two days prior to Easter Sunday 2024.

Two cross-centered events will take place that day, open to the public.

At 11 a.m., anyone who can is invited to attend the dedication service for the Haven Cross, recently installed on the Hwy. 84 property of Easthaven Baptist Church. The upper portion of the 150-foot-tall metal cross was installed Tuesday, Feb. 27, by Mike Rozier Construction. The installation was attended by hundreds of people, who cheered and clapped when workers signaled the structure was attached.

Since then, the lower portion of the cross was installed and a concrete pad poured. Work will continue to create an access road, parking lot, sidewalk and prayer garden in coming weeks.

The Good Friday dedication service will include a testimony from Dr. Jim Phillips on the impact The Delta Cross in northwest Mississippi has made, a brief message from former Mississippi Baptist Convention Executive Director Dr. Jim Futral, and a song by Halie Kitchings Crane, daughter of Easthaven pastor Dr. Hal Kitchings.

At noon, following the dedication, the men of CenterPoint Church will carry a cross from Easthaven to CenterPoint on West Congress Street, approximately 3.5 miles away. They are expected to arrive at the church by 2:30 p.m.

A celebration will take place at the church with refreshments at that time, followed by a viewing of the film “The Passion of the Christ” at 4 p.m. No childcare will be provided, and parents are cautioned to use discretion as to whether their children can watch the movie.

Anyone who would like to attend the celebration and movie is invited to do so, and men who want to participate in the cross walk are asked to contact worship pastor Topher Brown at 601-329-9224.

Many churches throughout the city and county have planned special services for Easter Sunday, as well as some on Good Friday or Maundy Thursday. Check with your local church for changes to service times, or special events such as Easter egg hunts for children.