Faith briefs

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Southern CitySouthern City AME Zion Church will host its annual Four Seasons Dinner Theater at the Civic Center at 6 p.m. today.The fundraiser is noted for its array of food representing the four seasons of the year.
The program will include praise dancing by the children’s department under the direction of Nicole Walker French, and a dance by Walker.The highlight of the evening will be a one-act religious comedy, “The Glory Train,” performed by ladies of the church.
Anita Hayes is the chairman of the event. The Rev. Thomas D. Lee is the pastor.
Limited tickets are still available and may be purchased by calling 704-633-7428.
Soldiers MemorialSoldiers Memorial AME Zion Church, 306 N. Church St., will present L.V. Williams and The Williams Family of Charlotte in concert today at 3 p.m. in the sanctuary.
Local gospel singer Virginia Williams Rush will be a featured vocalist. She, along with her husband Melvin Rush II, a local musician and native of Salisbury, won the 2008 Salisbury Has Talent contest.
The program will also commemorate Black History Month and feature the Rev. Marius L. Rush, who will orate “Moments of Black History.” He resides in Nashville, Tenn., and serves as assistant pastor of Greater Mount Zion Baptist Church and is employed by Tennessee State University as director of finance. The Soldiers Deaconess Board sponsors the program. The public is invited and can contribute to a freewill offering. The Rev. Dr. Grant Harrison Jr. is pastor.
For more information call 704-636-7566 or 704-536-1386.
Missions EmphasisKANNAPOLIS ó First Presbyterian Church in Kannapolis will culminate a month-long emphasis on missions by hosting Ken and Marilyn Sides, mission workers with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) and Samaritan’s Purse.The couple will speak at several events, telling their story and encouraging the congregation to continue and grow in their involvement in missions.
Marilyn will speak at a Women’s Missions Lunch today at noon in the church’s fellowship hall. She also will address a joint adult Sunday School in the fellowship hall Sunday at 9:40 a.m. Ken will be the guest speaker at a Men’s Missions Breakfast Sunday at 8 a.m., also in the fellowship hall, and he will bring the message during the 10:55 a.m. worship service.
During the worship service, the congregation will donate to its annual Mission Offering, which will be used this year to help finance a mission work team going to Merida, Mexico in July.
All events are open to the public and the admission is free at all events.
For more information, call 704-938-4623 or visit www.FirstPresb.org.
Movie night at Lyerly
ROCKWELL ó Lyerly Evangelical Church, 1320 Crescent Road., Rockwell, will show the film, “Fireproof” at 6 p.m. today.
The 2008 film features Kirk Cameron and Erin Bethea as a couple who save their marriage, which is on the brink of divorce.
A refreshment time will be held after the movie. There is no charge for the event.
W. C. “Junior” Gaither is the host pastor.
St. John’s Lutheran
The Rev. Jennifer Ginn will preach Sunday at the 11 a.m. service as members of St. John’s Lutheran Church invite family and Rowan/Salisbury community friends to meet and greet newly called pastor, the Rev. Rhodes Woolly. Woolly will officially begin his ministry to the church on Sunday, and will be installed as pastor at 4 p.m. March 29. A reception will be held afterward in the fellowship hall.
St. John’s is handicap accessible. Audio sermons are available live on channel 1490 WSTP or 1490WSTP.com and archived online at www.stjohns-salisbury.org.
Church Women UnitedThe Salisbury-Rowan Unit of Church Women United in North Carolina will hold its annual prayer breakfast at 9 a.m. Saturday, March 7, in the fellowship hall of First United Methodist Church, 217 S. Church St., Salisbury.
SRCWU Prayer Breakfast Chair, Phyllis Thomside, and her committee members, Jean Lowery, Catherine Rivens, Virginia Shuford and Brenda Venning, have planned the program choosing “Building a World Through Prayer” as the 2009 theme.
Catherine Rivens will be the speaker this year.
An offering will be received and used to help meet the local budgeted agencies of Habitat for Humanity, Rowan Helping Ministries and Family Crisis Council.
Reid’s Catering is providing the $6 (tax included) country style breakfast. The public can obtain a tickets in advance from their church representative or call 704-636-8499 by Sunday, March 1.
Montrella Davis, Ecumenical Action chair, has asked people to bring new children’s underwear or socks, which will be given to the clothing closet of Rowan Helping Ministries.
Crossroads Church
KANNAPOLIS ó On Sunday at 10:30 a.m., there will be a Mega Kids Worship Service for Crossroads Kannapolis Campus, at the Kannapolis YMCA.
There will be a puppet show, youth praise band and more. This event is open to public.
For more information, call Debi Vecchio at 704-795-0423.
First UCC
Beginning March 1, First United Church of Christ at 207 W. Horah St., begins its annual evening Lenten supper and dialogue series entitled “Windows into the Lenten Journey.”
Each Sunday, through March 29, supper, $6 per person, will be served at 5:30 p.m., followed by a brief devotional from one of the church’s women’s circles and First UCC youth.
After the devotional, each program presenter will give a personal reflection based on a scripture text that will be followed by a brief discussion. Each program will conclude by 7 p.m.
This event is open to public , but meal reservations are required, no later then each Wednesday by noon. Call the church office at 704-633-2723 for reservations.
The speaker schedule includes:
March 1: Dr. Andre Resner, professor of homiletics and church worship, Hood Theological Seminary.
March 8: Dr. Albert Aymer, president and professor of New Testament, Hood Theological Seminary.
March 15: Dr. Nancy Allison, pastor, Holy Covenant UCC, Charlotte.
March 22: First UCC Youth.
March 29: The Rev. Mike Childress, Pastor of First UCC.
Zion Wesley
TROUTMAN ó Zion Wesley AME Zion Church will celebrate its annual Women’s Day program this Sunday.
The theme for the program is “Hat-a-tude.” Everyone is invited to attend wearing their most elegant and prettiest hat.
Admission is $5. Hats will be available for sale. Entertainment will be provided. The program will be in the fellowship hall.
The Rev. Rudolph Cornelius is pastor.
‘Roman Centurion’
KANNAPOLIS ó On Sunday, March 8, at 10:30 a.m., Memorial United Methodist Church, located at 1100 W. C St., will have Daniel Dickens presenting “The Roman Centurion,” a one-man drama that tells the story of Jesus’ execution from his executioner’s point of view.
Daniel Dickens is a 2003 graduate of Pfeiffer University and is currently an elementary school teacher in Stanly County. However, his real passion is ministry. He has visited many churches in Stanly County and surrounding areas with portrayals of biblical characters: Joseph of Nazareth, Judas and the Roman Centurion.
For more information call 704-932-6711.
Erwin Temple
COOLEEMEE ó Erwin Temple CME Church, Cooleemee, will hold their annual Missionary Rainbow Tea beginning at 3 p.m. Sunday.
There will be groups sponsoring six tables with each table decorated in a different color of the rainbow. The young adults will be responsible for the Blue Table.
A program of gospel singing by invited guest singers will be presented. After the program, dinner will be served in the fellowship hall.
Nellie P. Hargrove is president of the Missionary Society and the pastor is the Rev. Ervin L. Hannah Jr.
First Presbyterian
The Catawba Choirs will join in worship during all three services at Salisbury’s First Presbyterian Church this Sunday.
Holy Communion will be served at all services, in the sanctuary at 8:30 and 11:30 a.m., and Lewis Hall at 8:50 a.m.
Sunday School is at 10 a.m.
Hall’s Chapel
The Matrons of Hall’s Chapel Primitive Baptist Church Stewardship Program will hold a program Sunday, at 4 p.m.
Minister Gloria Walker of On the Wing of a Dove Interdenominational Church, Lexington, will be the speaker.
Elder Richard L. Johnson is pastor.
Safe Harbor
GRANITE QUARRY ó On Sunday, at 11 a.m. the Reggie Saddler Family will be appearing at Safe Harbor Baptist Church, 270 Dunns Mountain Rd, Granite Quarry.
The public is invited.
For more information, call 704-279-0411.
Center BanquetTim DeTellis of Orlando, Fla., will be the featured speaker at this year’s annual fund-raising banquet sponsored by the Pregnancy Support Center of Salisbury.
The banquet will be Thursday, March 26, from 6:30 to 8:45 p.m., at the Holiday Inn in Salisbury.
DeTellis is an author, worship leader, and responsible for overseeing a mission work that reaches more than 9,000 children on the island of Hispaniola. He will be emphasizing the theme, “The Power of One,” in his presentation. Those attending will also enjoy dinner, an update on the Pregnancy Support Center’s ministry, special music and a client testimony.
For additional information go to www.RowanFriendsForLife.org.
Seating at the banquet is limited, and reservations are required. There is no cost to attend, but there will be an appeal for funds at the end of the evening.
Reservations can be made by calling the Pregnancy Support Center at 704-633-7695.
Hillcreek Worship
ROCKWELL ó Hillcreek Worship Center, 8484 Hwy. 52, Rockwell, at the new NAPA Building, will present a drama for the month of March starting this Sunday, “Heaven’s Gates and Hell’s Flames,” under the direction and copyright ownership of Reality Outreach Ministries Inc.
Admission is free. The program will be presented Sundays, March 1, 8, 15 and 22 at 6 p.m.
A cast of approximately 40 people (volunteers from Hillcreek Worship Center), act out a series of vignettes about people who live life, make their choices, die and find themselves outside of heaven asking the question, “Angel, is my name in your book?”
For more information, call 704-637-0842.
Trinity LutheranLANDIS ó Trinity Lutheran Church, Landis, will host the Appalachian State University Gospel Choir this Sunday.
The choir, under the direction of Jason Thompson, will present “Mustard Seed Faith … Mountain Size Praise.” Gospel choir members from surrounding areas are Najia Twiggs, Roshanni Perez, Joseph Brown, Jami Holland, Whitney Hall, Jenna McDaniel, Everette Nichols, Jessica Mayela, all of Charlotte; Kelly Stage, Katie Henry, Kristen Henry all of Huntersville; Marcie Trivette, Jashada Bailey, Philip Bennett, all of Concord; Elizabeth Kirk and Laura Buckley of Kannapolis; Amy Hipp and Cidney Tiggett, both of Salisbury, and David Nantz and Sara Babcock, both of Mooresville.
The performance will begin at 5 p.m. Admission is free but seating is limited. Doors open at 4:30 p.m..
Trinity is located at 108 W. Rice St., behind Landis Town Hall.
St. Paul’s EpiscopalOn Wednesday, March 4, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church will be offering the first of five Lenten programs.
The first will be a presentation by Dianne Scott, director of Rowan Helping Ministries, to explain the services that this organization provides for the community.
The public is invited to attend these programs beginning at 6:45 p.m.
Sunday, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church welcomes the Rev. Candis Burgess as guest celebrant for the 11 a.m. Holy Eucharist service. Refreshments will be served in the parish hall following the service.
St. Paul’s is located at 930 S. Main St. in Salisbury.
Luther’s blood driveLuther’s Lutheran Church will hold an American Red Cross Blood Drive at the church Sunday from 1 to 5:30 p.m.
There is a real need for all blood types right now. The weather in past weeks forced the cancellation of several blood drives in our area. As a result, about 875 units were not able to be collected.
Luther’s Lutheran Church is located at the intersection of Stokes Ferry Road and Richfield Road in eastern Rowan County.
Questions can be directed to the Rev. Carol Yeager at 704-754-6287.
Pastor’s Aid Union The Salisbury-Rowan County Pastor’s Aid Union will sponsor its 17th annual Crusade for Christ March 2-6, at the Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church Worship and Ministry Center, 1920 Shirley Ave., Salisbury.
Dr. Nilous M. Avery II is host pastor. Services begin nightly at 7 p.m.
Messengers for each night will be:
Monday ó Dr. Nilous Avery II of Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church;
Tuesday ó Elder Richard Johnson of Hall’s Chapel Primitive Baptist Church;
Wednesday ó The Rev. Paul Jones Sr. of New Zion Missionary Baptist Church;
Thursday ó The Rev. Rickey Johnson of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church;
Friday ó The Rev. Clarence Marlin of Fairview Heights Missionary Baptist Church.
Special music will be provided each night by the music ministry of each participating church.
Devotional praise teams will open the worship throughout the week.
For more information or transportation, call 704-637-0954.
Wittenberg Lutheran
GRANITE QUARRY ó Wittenburg Lutheran Church will have a Lenten family journey and meal 5:30 p.m. on Sundays during March.
The services will be conducted by Pastor Tom Hogan with assistance from Pastor Ed Harper.
Day of Prayer
ROCKWELL ó Rockwell United Methodist Church will host the World Day of Prayer on at 7 p.m. Friday, March 6.
Participating churches are Ursinus UCC, St. James Lutheran, Immanuel Lutheran, Organ Lutheran, Lowerstone UCC and St. Peter’s Lutheran.
Refreshments will be served following the service.
True Holiness
True Holiness Church of God will be hosting Women’s Crusade 2009 March 9-11 at 7 p.m. nightly.
Speakers: Monday ó Pastor Martha Starks, Word of Life Family Worship Center; Tuesday ó Overseer Patricia Colston, Deliverance Crusade Center; Wednesday ó Pastor Wytosha McNeil, East First Baptist Church.
Salem Lutheran
Salem Lutheran Church on Sherrills Ford Road will observe the season of Lent on Sunday mornings and on Wednesday evenings.
The Wednesday evening gatherings will include a meal at 6 p.m., followed by a worship service and an original drama that will reveal a “Snapshot from the Life of Jesus.” The worship service will begin each Wednesday at 6:45 p.m. and will end around 7:30.
Sunday morning will also have a Lenten theme as each service will highlight a mark of discipleship, including prayer, worship, Bible reading, service, relationships that encourage spiritual growth, and giving. The theme will be presented at both the contemporary “Salem Spirit” service at 8:30 a.m. and at the traditional worship service at 10:45 a.m.