Church Briefs

First United Church of Christ, 207 W. Horah St., is the host church for worship during Catawba College's annual homecoming weekend celebration. The worship service, led by the Rev. Michael W. Childress, is scheduled for 11 a.m. Sunday.

A highlight will be a performance by the Catawba Singers, a group of 65 talented students who will bring the scripture in song. They are directed by Dr. Paul Oakley, director of choral, vocal and sacred music studies at the college.

The public is invited to the service.

First United MethodistLANDIS — First United Methodist Church, Landis, is holding a children's outreach and hot dog sale today 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Hot dogs, drinks, desserts and homemade ice cream will be served. Kids' meals are free, and there will be many activities for the children.

First United Methodist is located on 209 E. Mill St.

Jerusalem Baptist

Jerusalem Baptist Church will observe Women's Day Sunday at the regular 11 a.m. worship service.

The Rev. Juanita Allen, associate minister of First Calvary Baptist Church, will be the speaker. Music will be provided by an all-female choir composed of the Women of Jerusalem.

All females in attendance are asked to wear white.

Betty Hutchins is chairperson of the event, and the Rev. David L. Bracken is the senior pastor of Jerusalem, located at 1570 N. Long St. Ext. in Spencer.

New Zion Baptist

The New Zion Baptist Church usher board will be celebrating its 76th anniversary Sunday at 3 p.m.

The speaker will be Pastor Gillespie of Tabernacle of Joy Ministries, Mooresville. His choir and congregation will accompany him.

The host pastor is the Rev. Paul Jones Sr. Assistant pastor is the Rev. Patrick Jones.

Soldiers Memorial

Soldiers Memorial AME Zion Church, 306 N. Church St., will hold annual fall revival services beginning Monday and continuing through Wednesday.

The revival has a community outreach effort that includes evangelizing the families living in Zion Hill Apartments located at 1614 Standish St. in Salisbury.

Prayer and Praise Service begins at 6:45 p.m., and the revival service immediately follows.

The evangelist for Monday is the Rev. Carolyn Bratton, pastor of Moore's Chapel AME Zion Church. Tuesday, the evangelist is the Rev. Maurice Harden, pastor of New Hope AME Zion Church. Wednesday, the evangelist is the Rev. Gwendolyn Hampton, pastor of St. John AME. Zion Church, Mocksville.

The congregation and choir will accompany each pastor. Members of Moore's Chapel, New Hope and St. John will join members from Soldiers in making home visitations at Zion Hill Apartments. The board of evangelism planned the revival. The Rev. Zacharias E. Allen Sr., is chairperson and the Rev. Dr. Grant Harrison Jr., is the pastor.

Miller's Chapel

The 133rd church anniversary of Miller's Chapel AME Zion Church will be Sunday, with services at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

The morning message will be given by the pastor, the Rev. Hezekiah Lawson. Lunch will be served at 1:30 p.m.

The afternoon message will be by the Rev. Dr. Grant Harrison Jr., pastor of Soldier's Memorial AME Zion Church in Salisbury. He will be accompanied by his congregation, choir and ushers.

Pine Ridge Baptist

CHINA GROVE — Pine Ridge Baptist Church will be honoring its pastor, George Bradshaw, and his wife, Peggy, Sunday during the morning worship service. Following the service, lunch will be served in the fellowship hall.

A native of Salisbury, Bradshaw has been faithfully serving in the ministry since 1968. His first pastorate was at White Crest Baptist Church in Montgomery County from 1968-1980. He then accepted the call to Lake View Baptist Church in Albemarle, where he served until retiring in 1995.

In March 1996, Bradshaw came to Pine Ridge as interim pastor for what he thought would be a few months. Twelve years later, he is still serving that congregation.

Friends, family, community and former members of the Bradshaws are cordially invited to attend Sunday.

'Faith and Politics'

The public is invited to the presentation, "Faith and Politics," Wednesday in the St. John's Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall.

The event will be held at 6 p.m. after the Wednesday night meal. Those who would like to attend the meal at 5:30 are asked to call 704-636-3431 to make a reservation. The meal is $3. The presentation is free.

St. John's is located at 200 W.Innes St. The Fellowship Hall is in the basement of the main church building and is handicap accessible.

The keynote speaker will be the Rev. Judy Klusman, who oversees Congregational Health and Development for the N.C. Synod, ELCA and Lutheran Family Services in the Carolinas.

She is a second-career pastor, who spent most of her life on her family's dairy farm near Oshkosh, Wis. During that time, she was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly and served 12 years, one term as assistant majority leader.

After graduating from Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa, she served Fountain and Trinity Lutheran Parish in Hustler, Wis., and an interim call at Christus Victor Lutheran Church in Ocean Springs, Miss., before answering the call to North Carolina.

Klusman and her husband, Tim, have two sons. They are members of St. John's.

Kimball Memorial

KANNAPOLIS — Kimball Memorial Lutheran Church, 101 Vance St., Kannapolis, invites the public to Trunk or Treat, on Saturday from 4-6 p.m.

Everyone is welcome to attend in costume to trick-or-treat from car to car. There will be games, crafts, food and fun. Admission is free. For additional information, call or e-mail Shirley Miller at 704-933-0850 or millershirley@ctc.net.

Trinity UMC

KANNAPOLIS — Trinity United Methodist Church is hosting its fourth annual Fall Festival on Oct. 26.

The festival will be held on the front lawn of the church at 416 E. First St., Kannapolis (across from A.L. Brown High School.) The festival will be from 3-5:30 p.m., with game booths, relay games, inflated slide, face painting, 3-on-3 basketball, pumpkin painting, cake walk, pie throwing and trunk or treat. Children are encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes if they wish.

The public is invited. For more information, call 704-933-1127.

Memorial UMCKANNAPOLIS — There will be a special service of music and dramatic pieces at Memorial United Methodist Church, 1100 West "C" St., Kannapolis, Sunday, Oct. 26. The service begins at 10:30 a.m.

The service will feature a program of music and dramatic readings presented by Teresa Moore-Mitchell and Daniel Dickens.

A classically trained soprano, Moore-Mitchell began her operatic studies as an undergraduate at Pfeiffer University in Misenheimer. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in music and earned her master of music degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

From 1997 to 2003, Moore-Mitchell served as adjunct vocal instructor at Pfeiffer and currently teaches at Winston-Salem State University.

She has performed throughout the United States (including Carnegie Hall), Greece, Germany, France and Italy. Her varied repertoire includes contemporary art songs, operatic arias and spirituals.

Moore-Mitchell will perform at the Salisbury Cathedral in Salisbury, England, this year.

Dickens is a 2003 graduate of Pfeiffer University and is currently an elementary school teacher in Stanly County. But his real passion is his music and drama ministry. He has visited many churches in Rowan and Cabarrus Counties and surrounding areas with portrayals of biblical characters: Joseph of Nazareth, Judas and the Roman Centurion.

The program will include "Lord's Prayer," a variety of spirituals and the dramatic pieces, "The Creation," "Judgement Day" and "The Crucifixion" from James Weldon Johnson's "God's Trombones," a collection of old African-American sermons laid out in poetic form and influenced by spirituals.

The public is welcome to attend the service.

Sandy Ridge

LANDIS — Sandy Ridge AME Zion Church, Landis, will be celebrating its 38th annual homecoming and revival services Sunday through Wednesday.

The guest speaker for the Sunday, 11 a.m. service will be the Rev. Dr. Calvin L. Miller, who currently serves as the presiding elder of the Winston-Salem District of the AME Zion Church. Miller is a native of Salisbury. He is a graduate of Livingstone College and Hood Theological Seminary. He has served as the pastor of several churches throughout the Western North Carolina Conference.

Music for the morning service will be performed by the Victory Choir directed by Janet Murdock and C. Eugene Caldwell.

The special guest speaker for the afternoon service will be the Rev. Ellison Bowman, Pastor of Myers Tabernacle AME Zion Church, Charlotte. The service will begin at 3:30 p.m. His choir and congregation will join him for this service.

The annual revival services will run for three nights during the week. On Monday night, the Rev. Dr. Patricia Tyson, the pastor of Cedar Grove AME Zion Church, Cleveland, will bring the message.

The Thursday service will feature Elder Bryan J. Pierce Sr., pastor of Bethel Baptist Church Ministries, Kannapolis, and Wednesday, the Rev. Alexander Porter, pastor of Bethpage Presbyterian Church, USA, Concord, will bring the message. Choirs and congregations from these respective churches will join their pastors for these services of praise.

The Rev. Anthony J. Freeman is the pastor of Sandy Ridge.

White Rock AME Zion

GRANITE QUARRY — White Rock AME Zion Church will celebrate its 47th annual Women's Day Sunday.

The theme this year is "Calling All Women to Higher Service: Are You Prepared and Ready to Serve?"

The Rev. Nadine Smith Hudson will deliver the 11 a.m. message. She is associate minister of New Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Salisbury. She is a graduate of J.C. Price High School, La Mae Beauty College, Salisbury Business College and Shaw University. She was ordained by the Rowan Baptist Association in 1998. She retired from Rowan Regional Medical Center in 2007 after working 31 years as a CNA, accounting clerk and certified pharmacy technician.

The Rev. Carolyn Bratton, pastor of Moore's Chapel AME Zion Church, will deliver the 3 p.m. message. Her choir and congregation will accompany her.

She graduated from Gardner Webb College and delivered her trial sermon in 1995. Since then, she has served as pastor of Youngs Chapel AME Church, Shiloh AME Zion and Mount Olive AME Zion Church. She is the wife of Nathan Bratton, and they have four children and four grandchildren.

She is a member of the conference Christian education department and serves as conference secretary.

Area churches have been invited to attend. White Rock has chosen to use white and gold as its Women's Day colors. Nancy Krider is the Women's Day chairperson. The Rev. William Gullick is host pastor.

New Hope AME Zion

The Women of New Hope AME Zion Church, 1470 North Long St. Ext., will host a prayer vigil lifting up breast cancer awareness Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the church.

This event is open to the community.

The church's women are also hosting a ladies' fellowship and breast cancer education on Friday at 6 p.m. If you are battling cancer or are a survivor of cancer, you are encouraged to come and share your story. October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Education is knowledge. Dinner will be served.

The Rev. M. Alexander Harden is the pastor at New Hope.

Lutheran Area Musician and PastorsThe annual LAMP Reformation Service, (Lutheran Area Musicians and Pastors), will be Sunday, Oct. 26, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Salisbury. Many of the Lutheran Churches in Rowan County will participate in this event.

A reception will follow in the fellowship hall. A prelude of festive brass music by the Appalachian State University Brass Quintet and organ music will begin at 3:45 p.m., with the service beginning at 4 p.m. Pastor Tim Canniff-Kuhn, program director at Lutheridge, will preach at the service. Pastor Tim is well known among campers who visit Lutheridge each summer.

The Reformation service of Holy Communion will include a massed choir formed from members of all Lutheran churches in Rowan County.

Church of God

CHINA GROVE — South China Grove Church of God will celebrate 45 years of continuous ministry in its annual homecoming this Sunday.

Sunday school will begin at 10 a.m., Celebration of Ministry at 11 a.m., and an old-fashioned covered-dish lunch following the service. There will be no evening service.

The theme for the homecoming service will be "The Fruit of the Spirit." Visiting speakers and singers from the rich history of the church will be presenting the different aspects of the Fruit of the Spirit as follows: Jennifer Joyner — Love; Darin Robinson — Joy; Phillip Robinson — Peace; Wayne Newton — Patience; Janet Moore — Gentleness; Irvin Burris — Goodness; Jeri Beck — Faith; Ruth Burris — Meekness; and Wanda Robinson — Self-Control.

The church will receive a special harvest offering for the general operational fund. Donors will plant a seed for future harvest to reap blessings in their specific area of need.

Past members and friends of the church are invited to attend the homecoming. The church is located at 163 Third Ave.

For more information, call the Rev. Joyce Miles, pastor, at 704-467-4555.

Knox Chapel

Knox Chapel United Methodist Church, 3520 Amity Hill Road, will be holding its annual barbecue on Saturday, Oct. 25, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. This will mark the 35th year for the event.

Pork barbecue, a special barbecue slaw and homemade desserts will be served. Large and small trays and sandwiches will be available to eat in or take out. Meat will also be sold by the pound.

For orders of 10 or more large trays, call 704-636-6906, 704-929-8281 or 704-682-5204.

Profits are used to help needy people in the community, flood victims nationwide and needs in the church.

Shady Grove Baptist

EAST SPENCER — Shady Grove Baptist Church, 600 S. Long St., East Spencer, will celebrate the memory of the Rev. John G. Gaston, who served as pastor of Shady Grove Baptist Church for 46 years, with a musical program Sunday at 3 p.m. It will feature various groups and choirs.Proceeds will benefit the John G. Gaston Scholarship Fund, established by his late wife, Carrie Gaston.

The fund offers a one-time gift to high school graduates who are members of Shady Grove Baptist Church. Upon entering college, those students may apply for additional funds.

Christmas in October

KANNAPOLIS — First Presbyterian Church in Kannapolis will get into the holiday spirit a little early this year, as members celebrate "Christmas in October" Wednesday.

A turkey dinner will be served at 5:45 p.m. in the fellowship hall. At 6:30 p.m., the Kidz Khoir and Adult Chancel Choir will present previews of their upcoming Christmas musicals.

The evening will be a special variation of the ongoing Wonderful Wednesdays program. Supper is served from 5:45-6:15 p.m., with a suggested donation of $5 per person or $15 maximum per family.The Kidz Khoir, made up of children in grades K-8, will sing a number from its musical, "An Island Christmas," by Wayne and Shelby Haun. The children will present the full musical during the church's Advent celebration the evening of Sunday, Dec. 7.

The Chancel Choir will preview its Christmas cantata, "And Glory Shone Around," by Lloyd Larson and Douglas E. Wagner. The cantata will be presented during the 10:55 a.m. worship service Sunday, Dec. 14.

The church welcomes the community to join them in this Christmas preview. Call 704-983-4623 or visit www.FirstPresb.org for more information.

New Shepherd BaptistCOOLEEMEE — New Shepherd Baptist Church, 108 Wall St., Cooleemee, will be celebrating its annual homecoming Sunday at 3 p.m.

Lunch will be served at 1:30 p.m. The Rev. Dr. J.C. Harris, First Baptist Church, Statesville, will be the speaker for the occasion.

Annual revival services will begin on Monday through Wednesday at 7 p.m. nightly. The Rev. Clarence Marlin of Fairview Heights Baptist Church in Salisbury will speak on Monday night; the Rev. Dr. Tyson of Cedar Grove AME Zion Church, on Tuesday night; and the Rev. Hannah of Erwin Temple CME Church, on Wednesday night.

The public is invited.

The host pastor is the Rev. Melvin E. Kesler,

Mount Zion Baptist

The congregation of Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church of Salisbury will celebrate the 16th Pastoral Appreciation of the Rev. Dr. Nilous M. Avery II Sunday at 11 a.m. in the Worship and Ministry Center at 1920 Shirley Ave.

The Music Ministry, Creative Expression Ministry and GGEO Word, Worship, and Ministry Disciples of Mount Zion will lead the worship and praise celebration. A fellowship love feast will be held afterward in the Worship and Ministry Center.

The Rev. Dr. J. Vincent Terry Sr., pastor of the Mount Peace Missionary Baptist Church of Raleigh, will be the guest messenger for the 11 a.m. service. Terry and his wife, Faye, have three children and coordinate numerous ministries throughout Raleigh and Wake County.

Terry led Mount Peace through the completion of phase one in its multi-phased building campaign. This phase included a multi-purpose building for church and community use and a state accredited child-care facility. They are currently engaged in phase two, a 2,000-seat sanctuary, ministry and office complex.

Terry served as vice-moderator of the Johnston District Baptist Association in Wake and Johnston Counties. He presently serves as fourth vice-president of the General Baptist State Convention of N.C. Inc., the executive committee and general board of the General Baptist State Convention and the board of directors of the Central Children's Home in Oxford.