First Presbyterian Church invites all children to go to the edge this summer for vacation Bible school. Camp E.D.G.E.: Experience + Discover God Everywhere is an extreme adventure camp taking kids on Bible treks to experience and discover God everywhere, every day.
VBS runs 9 a.m.-noon June 22-26 at First Presbyterian Church, 308 W. Fisher St.
Each Bible trek is supported with activities, crafts, games and snacks.
VBS is open to children who will be 4 years old by Aug. 31, 2009, through those who have completed the fifth grade.
The deadline to register is June 7.
Contact the church office at 704-636-1321 or visit the church’s Web site at salisburyfirstpres.org.
Organ Lutheran
Old-Fashioned Sunday at Zion Organ Lutheran Church was held May 17 in the old church that was built and finished in 1794. The event was sponsored by the church’s youth group.
The congregation was asked to dress in clothing from the 1700s and 1800s period. The youth led the 10:30 a.m. service with an old-fashioned hymn singing.
Kaye Brown Hirst from Rowan Museum held the children’s sermon, where she described life in the 1700s, types of chores that children performed and the history of the old church.
The old council building which stands beside the old church, has been renovated and was dedicated at the service.
After the service, the youth served an old-fashioned chicken and noodle lunch to the congregation.
A contest was held for the best dressed persons, couples and youth. Winners were: couples, Tim and Netra Bollinger; persons, Ruth Sifford, Perry Austin, and Kaye Brown Hirst; family and youth, Tammy, Alden and Baron Wright.
The youth had been working for several months on three quilts. A raffle was held and tickets sold for a chance to win a quilt. The winners of the quilts were Judy Parker, Max Agner and Dianne Artz.
The youth have planned many events and fundraisers to help raise money for their summer youth retreat at the Spring Maid Beach Resort in South Myrtle Beach July 21- 24.
Other events planned by the youth of Organ Church include a service project on May 25 to help the Goodman family of the church during an extensive medical crisis. On June 26, Family Night will be sponsored by the youth. Bingo will be played with a chance to win one of several gift baskets. Hotdogs with all the trimmings will also be served.
Zion Organ Lutheran Church was founded in 1745 and celebrates it 264 years as an organized church. Early service with casual dress is offered in the summer time in the old church starting on June 7 at 8:30 a.m. Early service will run through August.
The Rev. Terrell Long is pastor of Organ Lutheran Church and both he and his wife, Myra, are very active with the youth group. The Rev. Robert Yount is the church’s visitation pastor.
Other youth advisers are Jimmy and Denene Brown, Terri Brown, Wendy Eidson and Dianne Artz.
First Calvary Baptist
First Calvary Baptist Church will host a “Fruit of the Spirit” program and luncheon today at 11 a.m. The public is invited to attend.
The program will feature speakers and musical entertainment. The program theme is based on the biblical verses from Galatians 5:22-23: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
Speakers will include Lynn Rivens, Deborah Bamby, Clivetta Doleman, Tim Whisonant, Janet Jackson, Mary Bradshaw, Glenda Morris and Edith Saulters.
A skit before the speakers will feature William Peoples, Earnestine Krider, Albert Doleman and Jonathan Hall.
Guest musicians Joe Ponds, Kathy Smyre, Earnestine Ingram and James “Humpy” Stout will provide musical interludes between speakers.
The Rev. Leamon E. Brown is pastor of the church, located at 400 S. Long St.
For additional information, call 704-633-2818.
Gospel benefit
Salem Lutheran Church will host a Southern gospel and country music benefit concert beginning at 6 p.m. Saturday.
The Chapeleers Gospel Quartet, D.C. and the Chosen Few, and the Salem Men’s Chorus will perform. Food will be available in the fellowship hall beginning at 5 p.m.
The Chapeleers Quartet sings Southern gospel music and is well known in the area. They have been performing for more than 10 years in and around Salisbury. With roots in the eastern part of the county and St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, they are also known for their singing at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church’s camper service on High Rock Lake.
D.C. and the Chosen Few plays the best of beach, country, rock and roll, bluegrass, and gospel. A country legends back-up band, they have played with George Hamilton IV and the late Don Helms, who played with Hank Williams. “D.C.” (Darrell Connor) has been guest on the Grand Ole’ Opry.
They play a full schedule around the area (and will be at St. Peter’s Lutheran’s Cowboy Church on Sunday).
Rounding out the program will be the Salem Lutheran Men’s Chorus under the direction of Sue Petrea. They are accompanied by Alice Stephens on piano and Garland Briggs on bass.
The Men’s Chorus is best known for their busy schedule performing at area nursing homes, where they sing old favorite hymns for the residents. The Men’s Chorus is working with Salem’s Love-in-Action Sunday school class which is sponsoring the event.
Proceeds from the concert and the food sales will benefit Carolyn Fesperman, who was recently released from the hospital following surgery. She and her husband, Billy Joe, are members of the Sunday school class and he is a member of the Men’s Chorus.
Pfeiffer minister
The Rev. Dana McKim has recently been appointed to serve as the minister to the university at Pfeiffer. He replaces the Rev. Dr. Chris Hughes, who was reappointed within the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church (UMC). McKim will begin his duties on July 1.
A senior pastor with 24 years of ministerial experience, McKim will provide pastoral conversation and counseling to constituents of The Village Church of Pfeiffer, and leadership for vocational discernment, particularly for students, with an interest in church-related vocations.
Before coming to Pfeiffer, McKim served as senior pastor of Archdale UMC in Archdale. His appointment opportunities have included multiple-point, new church start, station and multiple staff settings in small, medium and large congregations. He has gained experience at each level in staff management and development, program development, teaching, preaching and stewardship development.
McKim has been involved with the Western North Carolina Conference of the UMC’s Volunteers In Mission Building Teams program since 1987. Annually, the program sends about 600 volunteers on 40 trips to 14 different countries. He is also coordinator of the High Point District UMC Disaster Response Committee.
The 1982 Pfeiffer University graduate is a N.C. certified firefighter, who also serves as chaplain for the National Disaster Medical System: North Carolina 1 Disaster Medical Assistance Team and National Medical Response Team East.
He earned an undergraduate degree in Christian education at Pfeiffer and a master’s degree in divinity from Duke University.
‘Left Behind’
“Left Behind: the Movie” will be shown in the auditorium of Calvary Baptist Church Sunday at 6:30 p.m.
The movie, stars Kirk Cameron and Brad Johnson It is rated PG-13.
Pastor Rick Cockerham invites the public to attend this showing of this film.
Calvary Baptist Church is located at 2255 E. Ridge Road, just beyond Ellis crossroads.
Jerusalem Baptist
SPENCER ó Jerusalem Baptist Church will host a two-day celebration in honor of the Rev. David Bracken’s eighth year as their pastor today at 5:30 p.m.
The Jerusalem family will provide an evening of food, fun and entertainment. A musical skit, tribute and presentations will highlight the evening. Cynthia Stoner, production specialist, is also chairperson.
On Sunday at 11 a.m., the speaker will be the Rev. Phyllis Jones, associate district attorney in Cumberland County. Lunch will be served at 1:30 p.m.
At 3 p.m., the Rev. Alonzo Williams of Shady Grove Baptist Church and his congregation will be in charge of the service.
Jerusalem Baptist Church is located at 1570 N. Long St.
Erwin Temple
COOLEEMEE ó The morning worship service this Sunday at Erwin Temple CME Church will begin with devotions and praise starting at 11 a.m. The morning message will be given by the pastor, the Rev. Ervin L. Hannah Jr.
The Mass Choir will sing during worship, accompanied by musician Travis Williams.
Afternoon worship will begin at 3 p.m. with a presentation of “The Twelve Tribes of Israel.” Each of the 12 Tribes of the Bible will be represented with leaders and followers.
Gospel singing will be rendered by each Tribe group. Various area churches are invited to participate.
This program is sponsored by the Pastor’s Aide of Erwin Temple Church.
Halls Chapel Baptist
The Hall’s Chapel Primitive Baptist Church family will honor their pastor, Elder Richard L. Johnson on his 19th appreciation day at 4 p.m. Sunday.
The Rev. Samuel Thompson of The New Beginning Baptist Church, Clover S.C., will be the speaker. His officers, choir and congregation will accompany him.
Gospel Fest
The Salisbury Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. announces the upcoming annual Gospel Fest.
This event is open to all church choirs, singing groups and praise dancers to participate in an afternoon of praise.
The event will start promptly at 3 p.m. Sunday. The location is Mount Zion Church, 1920 Shirley Ave., where Dr. Nilous Avery II is the pastor.
Singing in the park
Living Large Ministries presents “Singing in the Park,” a free concert Saturday, May 30 at Rockwell Park. At 4 p.m., various singers will perform and at 6 p.m., The Knotts Family Band will sing.
Concessions will be available including grilled hot dogs, chips, candy and drinks.
For more information or questions, www.LivingLargeMinistries.org.
Community crusade
The Interdenominational Fellowship of more than 25 area churches will sponsor the 3rd Annual Community-Wide Crusade Monday, May 25, through Friday, May 29.
The crusade will be held at the Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 1920 Shirley Ave., where the Rev. Dr. Nilous Avery II is host pastor.
Music will be rendered each night by the Interdenominational Fellowship Mass Choir, a collaboration from area churches, musicians and directors.
Friday night is youth night, with music by the Interdenominational Fellowship Youth Mass Choir, a combination of youth from area churches.
Workshops will be held each night from 6 to 7 p.m. for all ages.
The adult workshop is entitled “Show Me the Money: The Church’s Response to the Economic Crisis.” The facilitator will be Alice Bennett of St. Paul Baptist Church, Charlotte.
The youth workshops for ages 9-17 are “Instant Messaging,” “Self-Esteem/ Peer Pressure,” “Hip Hop, On and Poppin,” “Etiquette/Self-Appearance,” “Aim High: Overcoming Obstacles and Being a Success” and “Technology and The Church.”
The children’s workshop, for ages 4-8 will be arts and crafts.
Area pastors, lay persons and community leaders will serve as youth and children’s facilitators.
Dress is come-as-you-are.
Worship begins at 7 p.m. with creative expression ministries from area churches, following the workshops.
Evangelists for the week will include the Rev. Dr. Diane Givens-Moffett, pastor of the St. James Presbyterian Church, Greensboro, and the Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II, pastor of the Greenleaf Christian Church, Goldsboro, and president of the North Carolina NAACP State Conference of Branches.
For more information or transportation, call 704-633-5057 or 704-637-0954.
St. Luke’s Church
St. Luke’s Reformed Church, 1775 St. Luke’s Church Road, will be having a dedication service for their new shelter this Sunday.
The contemporary service will be at 8:15 a.m. and the traditional morning service at 10:30 a.m. will be held as usual.
A barbecue and hot dog lunch with all the trimmings will be served at noon, followed by the dedication service.
The shelter was built and donated to the church by David and Traci Eller and family and will be named in memory of the Rev. Charles W. Sigler who was in the ministry for 52 years.
He served as interim pastor at St. Luke’s for about 16 months, becoming part of the church family and showing his compassion and concern to the members.
He was loved and an inspiration to everyone who knew him.
The Rev. Johnny Boggs, St. Lukes’ pastor, will be in charge of the dedication service.
House of Prayer
The United House of Prayer for All People will be celebrating their annual memorial services in Washington, D.C., at the national headquarters, 601 M Street N.W., featuring a general assembly session on Friday.
A memorial parade on Saturday and a memorial service honoring the three leaders: Bishop C.M. Grace, Bishop W. McCollough and Bishop S.C. Madison.
Apostle A.M. Oakley is the pastor of the local sanctuary.
The local sanctuary will be closed for this Sunday.
Love Christian Center
EAST SPENCER ó Love Christian Center, 102 N. Long St., East Spencer, will have its annual Women’s Day this Sunday, beginning at 5 pm.
The speaker will be First Lady Stacy Rhinehart from Yadkin Grove Baptist Church. She has been the ministry partner to her husband, Pastor Paul S. Rhinehart Sr. for the past 22 years and is the mother of three children.
The first lady is the founder of “Struggles Revealed Ministries,” which focuses on the hurts and secrets that cause women, young and old, to become enslaved to sin, sickness and disease.
The president of the Love Christian Center Women is Angela Feaster. The pastor is Bishop Ronald Hash.
For additional information call 704-267-8222 or 704-433-1474.
Ready for Answers
LANDIS ó The “Ready for Answers” Apologetics Conference will be held 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday, May 30, at First Reformed Church, 210 N. Central Ave., Landis.
The cost is $15 at the door.
The conference is sponsored by Rowan County YCI (Youth Commission International).
Featured speakers are Doug Beaumont, speaking on “The Message Behind the Movies” in the morning; Frank Turek speaking on “I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist” in the afternoon.
There will be a question and answer session in the afternoon and three breakout sessions with speakers from TEAM at Southern Evangelical Seminary (www.ses.edu).
For more information, visit www.readyforanswers.com.