For those of you who say there’s nothing to do in Brookhaven you only had to witness the events of this week to see just what was available for you and your family.

It started last Saturday afternoon with Friends of the Library hosting a fundraiser that included noted Mississippi author, Neil White,discussing his book In the Sanctuary of Outcasts.

The book is a memoir of his time spent in a federal penitentiary / national leprosarium located in Carville, La. An evening reception and discussion of the book was held at Ole Town Church. Participants were entertained and informed while Friends of the Library raised needed funds for the upgrades for the children’s library.

Sunday morning began Holy Week services at all Brookhaven area churches. As usual, churches offered something for everyone and helped deliver a better understanding of the meaning of Easter. Easter services are typically some of the best of the year music at most churches. My experience has been that the Easter message combined with inspired music will leave you with a wonderful feeling of compassion and hope.

In case you may have missed last Sunday, or one of the services during the week, you certainly don’t want to miss today’s services. Attend the church of your choice, but please attend.

If you read all of the editions of The Daily Leader this week, you saw lots of activities reported that exhibited that the rewards of helping others is great. Several groups worked hard on projects that helped us all enjoy the nicer things that spring brings.

An example is Girl Scout Troop 3706 volunteering to shovel mulch in the flowerbeds at Loyd Star Elementary School. The Girl Scouts spent part of the nearly $1,000 they raised from cookie sales to pay for flowers and mulch. Troop leaders, Jennifer Foster and Danielle Steckler are to be commended for leading these Girl Scouts in this community service effort.

Boy Scout Troop 450 members Tre Chapman, Eli Marbury,  and Wesley Blazier helped place retired U.S. flags into a new flag depository box. The box is located in the first floor lobby of the Brookhaven-Lincoln County Government Complex. The box, donated by Woodmen of the Worldwill allow Lincoln County residents a place to deposit worn flags for proper disposal.

An area gospel group, Soul Fire Acappella Gospel Singers are releasing their new CD, “Oh! Lord Jesus It’s A Fire.” Group member Larry Brown says the CD is not just singing but he like to call it “Gospel Entertainment.” Kermit Sartin Sr. at 1055 Music Studio recorded the CD and served as master mixer.

If you know City Clerk Michael Jinks, offer him your congratulations. The city board of aldermen honored Jinks for obtaining his Master Clerk designation, an award he’s been working on since June 2008.

Habitat for Humanity is preparing to build a 1,200 square-foot home for a Lincoln County resident and needs your help. If you’d like to participate in their next build, contact Emilee Cutler, Lincoln County Habitat for Humanity Executive Director. Ms. Cutler says this build “isn’t a handout, it is a hand up.”

These reports and reflections of our community were included in the pages of The Daily Leader this week. As always, if your have news you’d like to share with our readers both in print or online, please email them or bring them by the office.

If your church has a flowering of the cross ceremony Sunday morning, please take a photo and email that to news@dailyleader.com so it can be included in Tuesday’s newspaper. Help us make it possible for all of our readers to enjoy the beauty of your church cross. Please include the name of the church and the names of those pictured from left to right.

Happy Easter to you and your family!

Otis Raybon is the publisher of The Daily Leader. Contact him at otis.raybon@dailyleader.com or (601) 833-6961.