John Calvin

The Rev. Dr. Timothy Carriker, a Presbyterian missionary to Brazil, will lead the 11 a.m. worship service Sunday at John Calvin Presbyterian Church.

Carriker and his wife, Marta, are Presbyterian Church USA mission co-workers seconded to the Independent Presbyterian Church of Brazil and live in Florianopolis, in the southern state of Santa Catarina.

They serve in the Missionary Training Center in Florianopolis, where he is professor of mission and evangelism and she teaches linguistics.

Tim Carriker also works as a missiological consultant. He is at work on several projects, including the production of an international encyclopedia featuring biographical information on Christianity in Latin America and a book titled “Paul’s Apocalyptic Gospel and Ministry.”

The Carrikers were Presbyterian Church USA mission workers from 1977 until 1998, when they resigned for Tim Carriker to serve as director of World Mission Initiative at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and director of the New Wilmington Missionary Conference. They are now readjusting to life in Brazil, since Tim Carriker realized how much he missed teaching and answered the call to use his teaching gifts at the service of the Independent Presbyterian Church of Brazil.

After their brief interlude in the U.S., the Carriker family moved back to Brazil in September 1999.

Tim Carriker holds a bachelor’s degree in religion from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and a master’s of divinity from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He earned a master’s of theology in missiology and his Ph.D. in intercultural studies at the School of World Mission at Fuller Theological Seminary.

Tim Carriker will speak on “Finishing the Story,” based on Acts 28: 14-31. John Calvin Presbyterian is located at the corner of Brenner and Overman avenues, across from the Hefner VA Medical Center.

More information is available on the Internet at www.carriker.org.

Concordia Lutheran

CHINA GROVE — Concordia Evangelical Lutheran Church, 185 Concordia Church Road, will celebrate the coming of the new year and kick off the church’s 125th anniversary on Sunday night.

The festivities will begin at 8 p.m. and last until midnight.

At the 11 a.m. service, the pastor, the Rev. Kenneth Reed, will speak on, “Luke II.” Worship will include a festival of hymns.

Shiloh Reformed

FAITH — Shiloh Reformed Church of Faith will have special services on Sunday for New Year’s Eve. The message will be “Taking Inventory for the New Year.” The Chancel Choir anthem will be “Unto Us a Child is Born.”

Haven Lutheran

The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols will be conducted during the morning worship on Sunday at Haven Lutheran Church.

During the service, the story of the fall of humanity, the promise of the Messiah and the birth of Jesus is told in nine short Bible readings, interspersed with the singing of Christmas carols and hymns.

The Chancel Choir anthem will be “Gentle Mary Laid her Child.”

The Rev. Dr. Marcus Hovis is the pastor on the church on Harrison Street.

Church of God

CHINA GROVE — On Sunday, Charles Moore will be the featured speaker at the 10 a.m. School of Prayer at South China Grove Church of God, 163 Third Ave. Worship starts at 11 a.m.

A New Year’s Eve Watch Night Service will begin at 6:30 p.m. and continue until after midnight. The Rev. Joyce Miles will deliver the message. The Mustard Seed Moving Company will offer a puppet show.

The service also will include original poetry, recitations, testimonies and gospel music.

The service will begin with fellowship and finger foods. A soup break will be held later in the evening, and a country breakfast will be served after midnight.

For more information, call 704-467-4555.

Fairview Heights

Fairview Heights Baptist Church will have a 10:30 p.m. New Year’s Eve service Sunday.

The Rev. Melvin Kesler, the guess speaker, will speak about “Crossing into the Promise.” The congregation of Kesler’s church, New Shepard Baptist Church in Cooleemee, will attend.

The Rev. Clarence Marlin is the host pastor.

Community Baptist

Community Baptist Church, on Carolina Street just off Klumac Road in Salisbury, will sponsor a gospel songfest Sunday evening at 6.

Five singing groups are scheduled: New Testimony, From the Heart, Surrendered, Gold’s Child and Sounds of Praise.

The event lasts through midnight, and refreshments will be available. The Rev. Christopher O’Guin is the pastor. For information, call 704-636-0984.