Dorsett Chapel

SPENCER — Dorsett Chapel United Church of Christ will observe Deacon and Deaconess Day with a service at 4 p.m. Sunday.

The speaker will be the Rev. James I. Smith of Oak Grove Baptist Church, China Grove. He will be accompanied by his choir and congregation.

Dorsett Chapel United Church of Christ is at 1280 Hollywood Drive.

Liberty AME Zion

COOLEEMEE — Liberty AME Zion Church, 271 Gladstone Road, will celebrate its 128th church anniversary on Sunday.

The speaker for the 11 a.m. worship will be the Rev Dr. Michael Ellis, a former pastor of Liberty and presiding elder of the Greensboro District. Lunch will be served in the fellowship hall at 1:30 p.m. The Rev. George W.C. Walker, presiding prelate of the Piedmont Episcopal District, will speak at the 3 p.m. service.

Ellis, the son of Gwendolyn Turner Ellis and the late George Henry Ellis, graduated from Salisbury High School and Livingstone College. He received a master of divinity degree from Hood Theological Seminary and is an ordained elder in the AME Zion Church

Ellis and his wife, the former Sarlene Reneé Randolph, have two children.

A native of Montgomery, Ala., Walker is the son of the Rev. Roosevelt Leon and Lemon Louise Walker. He attended Clinton Junior College, Rock Hill, S.C., Livingstone College, Salisbury, and Hood Theological Seminary, where he earned a master’s of divinity degree.

He received an honorary doctorate of divinity degree from Livingstone College .

Walker pastored several churches in South Carolina from 1960 until 1988 before becoming the pastor of a church in Chicago and later at Little Rock AME Zion Church in Charlotte.

Walker was elected the 81st bishop in succession of the AME Zion Church. During the 47th Quadrennial Session of the General Conference, held in Greensboro, he was assigned to the Piedmont Episcopal District, which comprises the Western North Carolina Conference, Blue Ridge and the Jamaican Conferences. He is the senior bishop of the AME Zion Church.

Walker and his wife, the former Geraldine Jackson, have four children and 11 grandchildren.

The Rev. Dr. Bertha Pittman is the pastor of Liberty AME Zion.

First Baptist

KANNAPOLIS — Beginning Sunday, First Baptist Church on North Main Street will offer a number of Discipleship Development group studies from 5:30-6:45 p.m.

Studies offered:

* Fatherhood — Fathers will spend six weeks discovering what it means to be a godly father to daughters and six weeks discovering what it means to be a godly father to sons. Led by the Rev. Tom Cabaniss.

* Motherhood — Mothers will spend six weeks discovering what it means to be a godly mother to daughters and six weeks discovering what it means to be a godly mother to sons. Led by Julie Henderson and Julie Ward.

* Empty Nesters — A study designed for couples who find themselves together again without children. What can God do with husbands and wives at this stage in life and marriage? Led by Mark and Janet Hill.

* Financial Peace University — Dave Ramsey teaches practical and biblical principles for managing money, getting out of debt and learning to live like no one else. Facilitated by Brian Yorke.

* The Power of Praying Parents — A study centered upon a powerful and transforming book by Stormie Omartian. Parents are called to serve their children’s greatest needs by praying faithfully for them. Led by Tana Hartsell and Jo Barringer.

* Cure for the Common Life — Max Lucado’s book, “Cure for the Common Life,” forms the basis for this group study. Led by Pam Bailey.

* Thin Within — A scripture-saturated weight loss program. Led by Patti Miller.

The church is across from Gem Theater. For more information, call the church office at 704-938-4697.

Open Mic

St. John’s Center Celebration Worship Team will present a Spiritual Music Open Mic Night beginning 5:30 p.m. Sunday at Las Palmas, 122 E. Fisher St.

The Center Celebration musicians will perform between 5:30-7 p.m. After that, other musicians are invited to perform gospel, contemporary or traditional Christian music. Some sound equipment is provided.

Those interested in performing may call Las Palmas at 704-636-9475 to sign up or just show up Sunday night to fill any slots still available.

New Hope AME Zion

New Hope AME Zion Church, 1470 N. Long St. Ext., will have a workshop, “African-American Heritage of U.S. Postage Stamps,” at 1:30 p.m. Sunday.

The interactive workshop, led by Dr. Mary A Love, editor, Department of Church School Literature of the AME Zion Church, will identify Zionites and other African-Americans on United States postage stamps.

The workshop is sponsored by the Class Leaders Board. The Rev. Retoy Gaston is the pastor.

For more information call Andrea Kirk at 704 633-7548.

Women’s conference

Joy for the Journey Women’s Conference, will be held 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, March 10, at Christ Community Church, Huntersville.

The conference will feature keynote speaker Mary Southerland, the author of “Escaping the Stress Trap,” “Sandpaper People” and “Coming out of the Dark.” Christian comedian Kim Coleman will also speak at the conference.

Three breakout sessions will be offered on women’s topics. Lunch and snacks provided. To register, or for more information, call 980-721-4898 or visit the Web site: www.christcommunity.cc.

North Kannapolis

KANNAPOLIS — Baptist Men’s Day will be observed Sunday at North Kannapolis Baptist Church, 312 Locust St.

Activities will begin with a men’s prayer breakfast at 7:30 a.m. in McMurray Hall. Call 704-933-2125 for reservations.

A men’s choir will sing at the 11 a.m. service. The guest speaker for the breakfast and service will be N.C. Sen. Fred Smith of Johnson County, an active Baptist layman.

Smith, a native of Wake County, grew up in a Methodist orphanage in Raleigh where his father was a teacher and football coach, and his mother was a house parent and teacher.

After graduating from Raleigh’s Needham Broughton High School, he received a football scholarship to Wake Forest University. He went on to graduate with honors from Wake Forest School of Law.

Following a four-year tour of active duty with the U.S. Army, he became an attorney, entrepreneur, farmer/cattleman and home builder. In 1982, he served as the North Carolina Cattleman’s Association president, and in 1989, he was president of the Commercial Law League of America. Today, his businesses provide more than 600 jobs in Wake and Johnston counties.

As an active Baptist layman, Smith has served as a trustee at Meredith College and is now a trustee at Campbell University. He has also served his church as chairman of the deacons, superintendent of the Sunday school, and as a long-time teacher of the adult men’s Bible class.

In 2001, he was elected to the Johnston County Board of Commissioners, and now serves in the North Carolina Senate.

He is married to the former Ginny Reid, who will sing at the morning worship. The couple have four children and six grandchildren.

Erwin Temple

COOLEEMEE — The annual Usher’s Day observance will be held at Erwin Temple CME Church during the morning worship.

The Rev. Ervin L. Hannah, pastor, will bring the message. Music will be presented by the Mass Choir with accompaniment by musician Stanley Dove.

At 3 p.m., the ushers will present a Fruit of the Spirit service. Guest speakers from area churches will speak on each fruit. Special music will be presented.

Resurrection Life

Resurrection Life Church, 216 S. Main St., will conduct a service of healing and prayer at 6 p.m. Sunday.

The service will minister to those with physical and emotional needs through prayer and the reading of Holy Scriptures. Worship will be led by the pastor, the Rev. Jerry L. Snipes.

Casual dress is welcomed.

For more information, call 704-638-0002.

Precept Bible study

A Precept Upon Precept Bible study, “A Divided Heart, A Divided Nation,” begins Tuesday at Maranatha Bible Church, 2320 Statesville Blvd. The study is from 7-9 p.m.

Used throughout the United States and in over 100 foreign countries, the Precept Upon Precept study method is acclaimed for their practical, personal approach to Bible study. The study includes homework, discussion and lecture time.

The study is designed for the serious student with seminary experience as well as individuals who have never studied the Bible. It is written by Kay Arthur, a speaker, broadcaster and author.

For more information, contact Carolyn Hopler at 704-638-0499 or 704-798-5583; or Maranatha Bible Church, at 704-637-1995.

Gethsemane Baptist

Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church will offer a church training institute, “Developing a Passion for the Kingdom,” on Wednesday through Friday.

Each evening will begin with devotions at 6:45 followed by the call to worship at 7. The closing and benediction will be at 8:30 nightly.

The facilitator will be the Rev. Dr. Sir Walter Mack Jr., the pastor of the 3,000 membership of Union Missionary Baptist Church, Winston-Salem.

Mack, a native of Winston-Salem, is the son of Frances Mack and the late Rev. Sir Walter L. Mack. He received a bachelor of arts degree in mass communication from Elon College, Elon; a master of divinity degree from Duke University, Durham; and a doctor of ministry from United Theological Seminary, Dayton, Ohio.

Mack created a conference for drug dealers to enhance their knowledge of God, self and society. He has appeared on Trinity Broadcast Network on numerous occasions and is the author of “Passion for Your Kingdom Purpose.”

There will be a question-and-answer period and special music each night. The Gethsemane Men’s Choir will sing on Wednesday; the First Baptist Church Choir performs on Thursday; and the Gethsemane Mass Choir will be the musical guests on Friday.

The Rev. Dr. Clary L. Phelps is the pastor and the Rev. James L. Stowe is pastor emeritus at Gethsemane Baptist.

The church is at 719 S. Caldwell St.

Trinity Oaks

Learn how to assist Lutheran Services in America Feb. 2, 3 to 4 p.m., at Trinity Oaks Retirement Community.

Trading Graces, an annual eBay online auction benefiting Lutheran health and human services organizations across America and in the Caribbean, raises awareness for Lutheran social ministries and helps them raise funds for a variety of programs.

Trinity Oaks, a continuing care retirement community, is part of the Salisbury-based Lutheran Services for the Aging.

Charles Hoffmire, director of development for Lutheran Services for the Aging, will provide the one hour introduction to Trading Graces and ebay. The focus will be on use of the auction site as well as opportunities for contributing to Lutheran Services In America development initiatives.

Use of ebay as a means of “downsizing” prior to a move is gaining popularity with older adults and the Realtors who serve them. The seminar will take place in one of Trinity Oak’s cottage homes at 310 Majestic Heights Drive.

For more information about the seminar or to make a reservation, call Diane Hundley, director of marketing and sales, 704-633-1002, ext. 477, or go to www.trinityoaks.net.