Published 12:00 am Friday, February 29, 2008

First Presbyterian
Dr. Anna Case-Winters is the guest speaker for the annual Lewis Preaching Series at First Presbyterian Church Sunday and Monday.
The topic for the 8:30 and 11 a.m. services in the sanctuary and the 8:50 a.m. Life Center Worship in Lewis Hall is “Transformed and Transforming.”
At the 6 p.m. Sunday program in Lewis Hall, the topic is “Believing in God in the 21st Century.” Child-care is being provided for children age 4 and under. A special program is provided for ages 5 through grade five. Middle and high schoolers are encouraged to attend with their families.
In a 10 a.m.-noon Monday session titled “Reclaiming Reformed Tradition,” Case-Winters will speak about what it means to be reformed and the distinctive insights and gifts that Reformed tradition brings to the Christian community.
Case-Winters has been a faculty member at McCormick Theological Seminary since 1986 and is co-chair of the International Commission for Lutheran and Reformed Relations. She has also served on the General Assembly Committee on Ecumenical Relations of the Presbyterian Church USA.
She is author of “Divine Power: Traditional Under-standings and Contemporary Challenges” and “Down to Earth: A Christian Theology of Nature.”
She and her husband, also a pastor, and their two sons live in Oak Park, Ill.
The Lewis Preaching Series was created in 2003 to honor the 24 years of pastoral ministry of Dr. Robert M. Lewis to First Presbyterian.
For more information call 704-636-1321 or visit www. salisburyfirstpres.org.
Christ in Passover
What do the Jewish Passover and Jesus’ Last Supper have in common? Ze’ev Nevo, speaking on behalf of Jews for Jesus, will answer that question in a presentation called “Christ in the Passover” at Calvary Baptist Church, 2255 E. Ridge Road Sunday at 11 a.m.
Using a display of traditional Passover accouterments, the presentation enhances the Christian’s understanding of the Jewish background of the Christian Communion. Ancient and modern Jewish customs are discussed and described with an emphasis on the aspect of redemption which Christ accomplished at Calvary.
Jews for Jesus has presented this demonstration in more than 5,000 churches. It was written by founder Moishe Rosen in 1956, and abstracted from writings of the late Rabbi Leopold Cohn who came to faith in Jesus in 1894 and died in 1936.
The program is open to the public. Nevo will be available to answer questions.
Dr. Rick Cockerham is pastor of Calvary Baptist.
A nursery is provided during the service.
For additional information call 704-633-2567.
ASU Gospel Choir
SPENCER ó The Appalachian State University Gospel Choir will perform at Central United Methodist Church in Spencer Sunday at 4 p.m.
The ASU Gospel Choir was started as a Bible study for the Black Student Association. It is now an official music school ensemble and is one of the most dynamic musical groups in the Southeastern United States.
This group, comprised of ASU students, is both a popular class and an active ministry, performing for prisons, churches and schools. They have toured in several major cities including Atlanta, Nashville, Washington, D.C., Orlando and Chicago. This spring the choir will be touring in New York.
The choir has 150 singers and a band consisting of drums, pianos and saxophone. The ASU Gospel Choir performs a variety of sacred music including spirituals, black gospel and contemporary praise and worship.
Lyerly Evangelical
Lyerly Evangelical Church will recognize two members this Sunday for 75 years of faithful participation in the church. Edith Patterson and Clarence Pickler will receive plaques during the morning worship at 10:30 a.m.
Clarence was born into the church family and Edith joined the Sunday school at an early age.
The church is located at 1320 Crescent Road, Rockwell. W.C. “Junior” Gaither is the pastor. The Rev. Paul Lee Pickler, son of Clarence and the late Lois Pickler, will assist with the service.
Open Door Outreach
Open Door Outreach Ministries will sponsor a fundraiser Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. They are offering chitterling plates for $8 and chicken plates for $7 with two sides, roll, drink and dessert. Orders of $15 or more will be delivered by calling 704-433-3006.
On Sunday, a revival will take place at 211 Correll St. in East Spencer. Pastor Reggie McConneughey of God’s Tabernacle, Rockwell, will be the guest speaker. The service starts at 3:30 p.m.
For more information or a ride, call pastor Karen Foxx or minister Billy Foxx at 704-433-3006.
Erwin Temple
COOLEEMEE ó The Missionary Society of Erwin Temple CME Church will present its annual Rainbow Tea Sunday at 3 p.m.
The Missionaries will work in groups, serving as table hostesses for the occasion.
A variety talent program will be presented with gospel singing, poems, inspirational readings and more provided by members and invited guests. Dinner will be served.
Ethel Collins-Trimiar is president of the Missionary Society, and the pastor is the Rev. Ervin L. Hannah Jr.
Love Christian Center
EAST SPENCER ó Love Christian Center will celebrate the 16th pastoral anniversary for Bishop W. Ronald Hash and Mother Lotis B. Hash this Sunday.
The speaker for the 5 p.m. service will be the Rev. Thomas Wyatt, pastor of Dorsett Chapel in Spencer.
Ronald Hash is the founder of Love Christian Center. He operates eight homes for the homeless and a food outreach ministry.
The public is invited to the anniversary celebration.
For more information call 704-433-1474.
Pastor’s Aid Crusade
The Salisbury-Rowan County Pastor’s Aid Union will sponsor its 16th annual Crusade for Christ Monday through Friday at Fairview Heights Missionary Baptist Church, 704 Old Concord Road.
The Rev. Clarence Marlin is host pastor. Services begin nightly at 7 p.m.
The following pastors will lead worship each night: Monday ó the Rev. Clarence Marlin of Fairview Heights; Tuesday ó the Rev. Nilous Avery II of Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church; Wednesday ó Elder Richard Johnson of Hall’s Chapel Primitive Baptist Church; Thursday ó the Rev. Paul Jones Sr. of New Zion Missionary Baptist Church; Friday ó the Rev. Rickey Johnson of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church.
Each pastor will be accompanied by his congregation, choir and ushers. Members from each church will combine to lead the devotional praise each night.
Deacon Melvin Chalk is president of the Salisbury-Rowan County Pastor’s Aid Union.
Word of Life
The Word of Life Family Worship Center invites everyone to attend its annual Spring Revival.
The revival will be held Wednesday through Friday at 7 p.m. nightly. The theme for the revival is “Turning The World Upside Down For Christ.”
On Wednesday the speaker will be minister Lawson Garrison of Word of Life Family Center. Garrison lives in East Spencer with his wife, Deaconess Carnell Garrison.
Thursday and Friday the Rev. Glen Usry, pastor of Christian Outreach of The Carolinas in Statesville, will be the speaker. He will be accompanied by his congregation. Local churches and choirs are invited to attend.
Dr. Martha and Elder Clinton Starks are the host pastors. The church is located at 726 E. Liberty St. in Salisbury, and everyone is invited to attend.
For additional information or transportation, call 704-633-2431.
New Zion Baptist
The senior choir of New Zion Baptist Church, 2645 Dunns Mountain Road, will present the annual “Twelve Tribes of Israel” program Sunday at 3 p.m..
The Rev. Paul Jones Sr. will be the presenter. The public is invited to attend and march with any tribe.
School of Prayer
CHINA GROVE ó First Baptist of China Grove, 302 Patterson St., is hosting an E.M. Bounds School of Prayer on Saturday, March 8, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Pastor Steve Wilson will be leading the sessions.
The school is open to the public. The cost is $10 to cover the expense of materials. Each participant is asked to bring his or her own lunch. The church will provide refreshments and drinks.
Nursery and child care for up to age 5 will be provided.
Although walk-ins are welcome, it is best to make reservations to guarantee the written material.
For reservations, call the church at 704-857-5415 by March 5.
Apple butter sale
Rock Grove United Methodist Church is selling apple butter made with North Carolina apples and spices over an open fire in copper kettles. They have both sugar and sugar-free versions in one- pint jars.
The cost is $3.50 per pint. It is delivered to Salisbury once a week. The money goes to Rock Grove United Methodist Church.
To order the number is 704-209-3208.