St. Luke Baptist
St. Luke Baptist Church will celebrate their annual homecoming this Sunday.
The 11 a.m. speaker will be the Rev. Arthur L. Heggins. The guest pastor for the 3 p.m. service is the Rev. Leamon E. Brown of First Calvary Baptist Church, Salisbury.
The revival will start on Monday July 20, and continue through Friday July 24, beginning at 7 p.m. nightly. The guest speaker for the week will be Bishop Derick Kelly of New Faith Full Gospel Fellowship Center, Lexington.
St. Luke Baptist Church is located at 410 Hawkinstown Road in Salisbury.
Solid Rock
Vacation Bible school will be held at Solid Rock Church of God, 1004 Locke St., 6-8 p.m. July 27-31. There will be classes for youth and adults. Director is Deacon E. Douglas Tucker, Sunday school superintendent. The Rev. Samuel A. Washington is pastor.
Blessing of God
Appreciation services are being held 7 p.m. July 16-17 for Apostle Vanessa Taplah at the Blessing of God Ministry, 510 S. Main St.
On July 18, there will be a brunch at 10 a.m., followed by morning service. The public is welcome. For more information, call 704-245-2213.
Grace Lower Stone
ROCKWELL ó Grace Lower Stone Church has changed its hours of worship for the summer. Sunday school begins at 9 a.m. and the worship service begins at 10 a.m.
Grace Lower Stone is located at 2405 Lower Stone Church Road in Rockwell.
New Shepherd Baptist
COOLEEMEE ó New Shepherd Baptist Church, 108 Wall St., will have its annual pastor’s aid program at 3 p.m. Sunday.
Bishop Willie Joe Gray and his congregation from Freedom United Church in Woodleaf will be in charge of the services.
First Presbyterian VBSKANNAPOLIS ó First Presbyterian Church will have its Centennial Edition Vacation Bible School July 19-22 from 5:45-8:15 p.m.
The theme is “Crocodile Dock: Where Fearless Kids Shine God’s Light.”
Each evening will begin with a church-wide supper in the fellowship hall beginning at 5:45.
Children, age 2 through grade eight, will learn how God is at work all around them through Bible stories, crafts, games and songs.
Older teens and adults will meet in the sanctuary for a class about Psalms. The session will be led by the Rev. Brant Poper, Presbyterian minister and counselor with the Presbyterian Samaritan Counseling Center.
The community is invited. For more information or to register, call 704-938-4623, or visit www.FirstPresb.org.
Hospitality award
MISENHEIMER ó Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church has been recognized by the United Methodist Communications as an official “Welcoming Congregation.”
“Welcoming Congregations” are a select group of United Methodist congregations nationwide that meets criteria including embracing newcomers and providing opportunities in discipleship.
“Our visitors often tell us that we are the friendliest church they have ever visited” said Julie Kluttz, Welcoming Committee chair.
“Open hearts, open minds, open doors” is the theme of the denominational effort. The overall aim is to invite people, particularly between the ages of 18 and 34, to the Christian community as they seek meaning and purpose in their lives.
The ministry is also planning multimedia worship services and is hoping to revise their children’s and older adult ministry. They soon will begin to offer Sunday School classes for college-age adults.
Wesley Chapel is located at 46963 Wesley Chapel Road in Misenheimer. More information is available from the agency’s website at www.rethinkchurch.org or by calling 877-281-6535.
North Kannapolis
KANNAPOLIS ó This Sunday at 6 p.m., North Kannapolis Baptist Church will host a concert featuring The Dosses, a southern gospel trio from Denton.
A watermelon social will follow the concert.
North Kannapolis is located at 312 Locust St. For more information, call 704-933-2125.
Boxwood Baptist
MOCKSVILLE ó At 2 p.m. Sunday, July 19, the pastor’s aid committee of Boxwood Baptist Church in Mocksville will celebrate its annual anniversary, with Elder Assistant Pastor Sharon Smoot and choir of Ambassadors for Jesus Christ of Cleveland.
Cooperative Baptist
Kip Mobley, a Salisbury resident, participated in the 19th annual Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Assembly in Houston, Texas July 2-3.
Mobley is a member of Enon Baptist Church in Salisbury.
Themed “Embrace the World: Welcome to your Neighborhood,” more than 1,500 Fellowship Baptists attended the event, which featured opportunities for worship, fellowship, networking and discussion on various social and religious issues.
CBF is a fellowship of more that 1,800 Baptist churches who share a passion for the Great Commission and a commitment to Baptist principles of faith and practice.
Based in Atlanta, the Fellowship’s mission is to serve Christians and churches as they discover and fulfill their God-given missions.
The 2010 General Assembly will be June 24-25 in Charlotte.
St. Paul’s Episcopal
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church announces that the Rev. Candis Burgess of Clemmons is their new Vicar.
Holy Eucharist is offered every Sunday at 11 a.m. followed by fellowship and refreshments in the parish hall.
St. Paul’s is located at 930 S. Main St.
For more information, visit www.stpaulsepiscopalsalisburync.org/Index.html.
Concordia Lutheran
CHINA GROVE ó Concordia Lutheran Church will hold it’s vacation Bible school July 19-23 from 5:30-8 p.m.
The theme is “The Discovery Canyon.” Registration begins Sunday at 6 p.m. There will be homemade ice cream and storytelling for the children.
Monday through Wednesday, dinner will be served from 5:30-6:15 p.m.
Classes, ages nursery through adult, will begin at 6:20 p.m.
“Family night” will be Thursday, July 23. Families are invited for supper and special presentations by the children.
Concordia is located six miles west of China Grove just off N.C 152, behind Atwell Fire Department.
Mt. Zion Baptist
Mt. Zion Baptist Church Boyden Quarters’ youth choir will celebrate its anniversary at 2:30 p.m. Sunday.
All youth choirs and praise dancers are invited to help celebrate.
Calvary Baptist
Calvary Baptist Tabernacle will hold its vacation Bible school July 27-31.
The theme is “The Ticket to Adventure ó From Deserts to Dungeons.”
Registration will start Monday, 6-6:30 p.m.
Beginning Tuesday, classes will run from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Ages range from first grade to adults.
Children in first through sixth grade will travel through Damascus, Joppi, Philipi, Malta and Rome, learning that God cares for them in all their circumstances. Every child will receive souvenirs from each city.
Classes from seventh grade through adults will also be provided. Crafts, music and refreshments will round out the evening.
There will be a nursery for younger children.
For more information, call 704-645-9328.
Calvary Baptist is located at 3760 Stokes Ferry Road.
Faith Lutheran
FAITH ó Faith Lutheran Church will commission 11 individuals from the church to attend the ELCA youth gathering to be held in New Orleans July 21-26. Some 37,000 youth and their advisors will invade the city of New Orleans with the attitude of a servant.
The week will be based on Philippians 2:1-8. A rotation called “the three days” will cycle through 12,000 participants each day beginning Thursday through Saturday. The three-day rotation will include Bible study and learning about the people and difficulties of the people of New Orleans since Hurricanes Rita and Katrina ravaged their city, activities in the interaction center, and a servant day to include one of six areas-Art and Culture, Health and Wellness, Literacy, Housing, Environment and Wealth and Poverty.
Faith Lutheran will be in the Art and Culture group and will help to rebuild a flood ravaged historic theater. Other Lutheran groups will be helping with Habitat homes, repairing schools and parks, helping in medical clinics, etc.
Each evening, a worship celebration will be held in the Louisiana Superdome with worship and praise bands and inspirational speakers. Devotions will be held each evening in small groups all across the city at 10:15 wherever the group might be, called “the Final 15.”
More than 1,000 Lutherans from across North Carolina will be participating in the triennial event.
A special commissioning litany will be held at the FaithWorks 9 a.m. and the 11 a.m. traditional service for the group. Those participating are Julie Bruce, Dylan Overcash, Ethan Overcash, Kayla Overcash, Colby Smith, Hannah Thompson, Marisa Williams, Lisa Overcash, Dee Thompson, Ginger Smith and Tim Williams.
Faith Lutheran is located at 205 S. Main St., Faith. The Rev. Clarence Sifford is interim pastor.
Central UMC
Denton’s Wing and a Prayer will be appearing at Central United Methodist Church, singing for the 11 a.m. service on July 26.
They recently completed a CD, “Walking in my Shoes.” Like their other CDs, “Part of the Plan” and “Bridge of Grace” most of the songs were written by the group’s leader, Phil Giallombardo.
With this project, he had the inspired lyrics of Charlanne Tippett to work with. Tippett has been singing alto with the group for the last four years.
The group, which also includes Neil Snider and Addie Nopanen, decided to introduce this new CD at Central United Methodist Church, where they rehearse and where the Giallombardo and Nopanen attend.
If you’d like Wing and a Prayer to sing at their church, or would like to order a CD, call Jocelyn Kearns at 859-5713 or visit the group’s Web site at www.wingandaprayerministry.com.
United Ministerial
The United Ministerial Alliance will have its Third Sunday Evening Fellowship service July 19 at 7 p.m.
It will be held at Fairview Heights Baptist Church, located in Salisbury. The speaker will be Bishop Everett Hackett, pastor of Mighty Miracle Temple in Spencer.
The Rev. Clarance Marlin is pastor.
Trinity Presbyterian
Trinity Presbyterian Church USA will celebrate its 142nd church anniversary Sunday, beginning at 11 a.m.
The speaker for the morning service will be the Rev. Albert Moses, pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Kannapolis.
The membership of Trinity invites the community to share in the celebration.
Elder Shirley Frost is the chairperson of the anniversary committee and the Rev. Olen Bruner is pastor of Trinity.Trinity Presbyterian is located at 300 S. Caldwell St.
Soldiers Memorial VBS
Soldiers Memorial AME Zion Church and Moores Chapel AME Zion Church will hold a joint Vacation Bible School 6-8 p.m. Aug. 3-7.
The theme is “Paul and the Underground Church.” Classes range from ages 4 through adult.
Registration will be held from 1 to 2 p.m. July 19 and 26 at both churches.
The Bible school will be held at Soldiers Memorial, 306 N. Church St.
Moores Chapel is located at 500 Partee St. in Salisbury.
For more information, call Soldiers Memorial at 704-636-7391 or Moores Chapel at 704-637-7995.
E-mail faith briefs to Sarah Hall at shall@salisburypost. com.