St. John’s Lutheran Church will host a series of Wednesday meetings entitled “Great Christians.”
The class, led by Roger Hull, will follow the Wednesday meal each week from Jan. 7 through Feb. 18. Those interested are also invited to share the meal (cost is $3 per person) in the fellowship hall at 5:30 p.m. Meeting participants will meet in the senior high room following the Fellowship dinner.
Also, St. John’s will host “A Life Worth Living” developed by Nicky Gumbal of ALPHA and based on Paul’s Letter to the Philippians. These classes will also be held each Wednesday from Jan. 7 through Feb. 18 following the Wednesday meal. Participants will share the meal together, then adjourn to the Education Building for the video presentation and small group interaction.
Evening sessions, which will end at 8 p.m., will explore how to live the Christian life positively, practically and joyfully. During the Lenten season, class members are invited to attend Lenten services in the church sanctuary and then meet with the Philippians group.
“Your Spiritual GPS” class will be held beginning Jan. 29 and running through March 19 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. The class, originally entitled Leadership St. John’s, is geared for those who wish to find their personal “Gifts, Purpose, and Style.”
This dynamic class is led by members of the Leadership Development Team at St. John’s.
St. John’s will be introducing a candidate for pastor. Today from 5:30 to 8 p.m. in the fellowship hall, members will have an opportunity to meet the primary candidate for senior pastor. A light meal will be served. Although there is not a specific cost for the meal, contributions will be accepted.
On Sunday Jan. 11, at 10:30 a.m., a congregational meeting will be held. There will be a single unity service following the meeting. There will not be an 8:30 a.m. chapel service or a 9 a.m. Center Celebration service.
Sunday school will be held, and will end in time for the 10:30 a.m. meeting in the sanctuary.
For more information, call 704-636-3431.
Gospel program
WOODLEAF ó The Pilgrimaires of Salisbury will be having their annual Gospel New Year program Sunday at 4 p.m. at Freedom United Church of God, 1555 Hart Rd. Woodleaf.
The program will feature the Anointed Vessels of the Carolinas, The Messengers for Christ of Cleveland, The Voices of Morning Star of Charlotte, and special guest recording artist D’termanation of Gastonia.
Food will be sold. This program is free to the public and everyone is invited to attend.
LAMP service
An Epiphany service, sponsored by Lutheran Area Pastors and Musicians (LAMP), will be held at Christiana Lutheran Church on the Day of Epiphany, Jan. 6, at 7 p.m.
Pastors and choirs from Wittenberg Lutheran Church and Christiana will lead worship. Pastor Michael Comer of Ebenezer Lutheran Church will be the preacher.
Holy Communion will be celebrated and Dawn Merrell will present award checks to the winners of the Lutheridge Music Week scholarships. The evening offering will go to the NC Synod’s 20/20 program to help mission congregations purchase property.
A time of fellowship in the church basement will follow the worship service.
Christiana is located at 6190 US Hwy 52 across from Old Stone Winery, near East Rowan High School. Carl Haynes is pastor of Christiana.
Trading Ford Baptist
In order to meet not only their own needs, but to reach out to the community as well, Trading Ford Baptist Church recently completed construction of a Worship Center that will seat over 650, and a full size gymnasium.
The dedication for these buildings will occur during this Sunday’s morning service at 10 a.m. This is an open house event with the whole community invited. The project’s general contractor, Jarrell Construction, and other folks who were key in the project will be there also.
During the service, thanks will be expressed to the many volunteers and supporters that made the project possible.
NorthGate Church
NorthGate Church, 1400 Jake Alexander Blvd W., is starting a series on Salvation this Sunday at 10:30 a.m. with a sermon on “Adam and the Fall.”
The church will host prophet Doug Roberts Friday Jan. 9 at 7 p.m., Saturday Jan. 10 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Jan. 11 at 10:30 a.m.
For more information, call 704-633-7063.
Macedonia Baptist
Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church will sponsor a fellowship service Sunday beginning at 7 p.m.
The residing speaker will be the Rev. Thomas Austin. The Rev. Dr. W. T. Jackson is the host pastor.
The church is located at 2865 Enon Church Road.
Centennial celebrated
KANNAPOLIS ó First Presbyterian Church in Kannapolis will kick off its Centennial Year Celebration this Sunday.
The church will host a breakfast with Judge Clarence E. Horton Jr., and then will conduct a dedication service during the morning worship service. The breakfast will begin at 9 a.m. in the fellowship hall.
Following the meal, Horton will address the adults and youth, surveying the history of First Presbyterian.
There will be regular children’s Sunday school classes beginning at 9:40 a.m., and a nursery will be provided. There is no set charge for the breakfast, but donations will be welcome.
During the 10:55 a.m. worship service, Horton again will speak, briefly looking at the more recent history of the church. Larry Efird will bring a meditation on the theme and symbol for First Presbyterian’s centennial year. At the conclusion of the service, a tree will be planted to commemorate the occasion.
When the new mill town of Kannapolis was established by J. W. Cannon, the pastor of nearby Bethpage Presbyterian Church began to work with the Presbyterians in the infant community. In 1908, a Sunday school was organized, and on June 27, 1909, the First Presbyterian Church of Kannapolis was organized with 25 charter members.
For 100 years the church has ministered in the heart of Kannapolis, meeting first over a drug store and then at the YMCA. Later the church moved into its own building on Main Street, then built a larger sanctuary on the corner of West Avenue and West C Street.
First Presbyterian has chosen as its symbol for the year a tree, based on several scriptures, including Romans 11:16: “If the root is holy, so are the branches.” The theme for the year is “Rooted in Faith . . . Growing in Grace.”
Even as the church reflects on its rich heritage, it desires to build on that foundation as it ministers to a changing community.
The church has planned a whole year of activities as it celebrates a century of ministry. The high point will be a homecoming celebration on June 21.
Other events include a Mission Emphasis Month in February, a dinner for all those who have been members for 50 years or longer in March, “The Last Supper” dramatic presentation in April, a Children’s 100th Birthday Party in May, and a “Centennial V.B.S.” in July.
In addition, service goals have been established for each month, with challenges such as contributing 100 cans of food to local food pantries, donating 100 pints of blood during the year, and contributing 100 hours of volunteer work in one month.
The church greatly appreciates Judge Horton coming and sharing of his wisdom and insight as the year begins. He is a native and lifelong resident of Kannapolis. He has served as a judge since being appointed to the District Court in 1981, filling a variety of positions on the district and state level. Currently he is serving as an emergency Superior Court Judge.
Horton also is a well-known local historian. He has written and edited a number of books on local history, including the recently published “Pictorial History of Kannapolis.” He also has written and appeared in a series of award-winning historical videos.
Larry Efird is a former Presbyterian minister who currently teaches English at A. L. Brown High School.
The church welcomes the community to join it in its celebration activities. For more information, call 704-938-4623, or visit www.FirstPresb.org.