Luther’s Lutheran Church will celebrate 178 years of ministry this Sunday.
Luther’s has a long history of proclaiming the gospel in words and deeds to the people of eastern Rowan and western Stanly counties.
The guest preacher will be the Rev. Ed Harper, who served as an interim minister at Luther’s.
A covered-dish potluck will follow the service in the education wing. The public is welcome to attend both the worship and the meal. Sunday school classes are held at 10 a.m. and worship is at 11 a.m.
The church is located at the corner of Stokes Ferry Road and High Rock Road. For directions or questions, please contact Pastor Carol Yeager at 704-754-6287.
Jerusalem Baptist
SPENCER ó The Pastor’s Aide Society of Jerusalem Baptist Church will host a Gospel Fest today at 5 p.m.
Local groups participating include Voices of Hope from New Hope AME Zion; D.C. Spirituals of Dorsett Chapel; Triple Dipp, recording artists featuring Mitchell Huntley; Fairview Heights Gospel Choir; Fairview Heights Praise Dancers; St. Luke Gospel Choir; Church of the Word of God Spiritual Singers; Yadkin Grove Praise Team; Jerusalem’s Mass Choir; and Jerusalem’s Praise Dancers.
A highlight of the program, free to the public, will be the Summer Tote Bag Give-Away, filled with items for the entire family. There will be door prizes, homemade cakes and beverages.
Linda Stoner is president of the Pastor’s Aide Society and chairperson of the Gospel Fest.
David L. Bracken is the senior pastor of Jerusalem, which is located at 1570 N. Long St. Ext., Spencer.
Lyerly Evangelical
ROCKWELL ó The Rev. Don Lyerly will preach the homecoming message at Lyerly Evangelical Church, Crescent Road, Rockwell, on Aug. 17 at the 10:30 a.m. service.
A son of the congregation, Rev. Lyerly pastored churches in Gibsonville and Winston-Salem before returning to Rowan County to organize Rockwell Christian Church, and later, Grace Bible Church.
Lyerly is the son of the late Virgil and Juanita Lyerly, and the grandson of Dr. J.M.L. Lyerly, who organized Bethany Reformed Church in 1891. In 1954, a new church building was dedicated and the name of the church was changed to Lyerly Memorial in recognition of Dr. Lyerly.
He also founded a private school, Crescent Academy, and Nazareth Orphans’ Home, both located on Crescent Road within a half mile of the current church.
Lyerly Church’s current pastor, W. C. “Junior” Gaither, will teach a combined adult Sunday School class at 9:30 a.m. Sunday. Ten-year-old Lindsay Pope will sing during the 10:30 a.m. service.
Miller’s Chapel
Homecoming will be observed at Miller’s Chapel AME Zion Church Sunday at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Lunch will be served at 1:30 p.m.
The morning message will be delivered by the pastor, the Rev. H.R. Lawson.
The 3 p.m. speaker will be the Rev. Dr. Patricia Tyson, pastor of Cedar Grove AME Zion church, Cleveland. She will be accompanied by her congregation, ushers and choir.
Oakdale Baptist
SPENCER ó Oakdale Baptist Church of Spencer will host a morning worship service this Sunday at 11 a.m. in the Outdoor Theater at Dan Nicholas Park
The service will feature contemporary music solos, traditional hymns, Southern gospel choir anthems and the music of the Dillard Taffer bluegrass band.
The band will also appear in concert at 2 p.m. in the outdoor theater, presenting gospel and classic bluegrass selections.
All are invited to the service and the concert.
Richard Gross is pastor of Oakdale.
Grant workshop
Grant Writing Training will take place both today and Aug. 23 at Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church, 719 S. Caldwell St.
Facilitator Donnie Jefferson will show participants how to prepare and write grants. The cost is $50 per individual, or $40 per individual for a group of two or more from the same organization.
C. L. Phelps is Gethsemane’s pastor
For information, call 704-633-5057.
Mount Zion Baptist
The congregation of Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church will hold its annual Open-Air Worship at Dan Nicholas Park’s Jaycee Shelter at 10 a.m. Sunday. The shelter is the first on the left upon entrance into the park, located on Bringle Ferry Road.
Worship will include Sunday school emphasis, devotional praise, special recognition of new members, largest family in attendance, youth ministry and a message of empowerment by the Rev. Dr. Nilous M. Avery II, pastor.
A covered-dish fellowship meal will follow the service. Games and other activities will also take place, which will focus on the church’s mandate: “GGEO-Glorify God and Edify Others.
Worshippers are asked to dress comfortably and bring a Bible, food and beverages.
For more information or transportation, contact the church at 704-637-0954.
Cedar Grove AME Zion
Cedar Grove AME Zion Church will be celebrating with its annual picnic Saturday, Aug.23, beginning at 10 a.m. There will be a car and bike show with trophies awarded to the winners, bingo, games, amusement for the children, hot food, drinks, homemade ice cream and snow balls by Shirley Cuthbertson.
The annual homecoming will be on Sunday, Aug. 24, beginning with the pastor of the church, the Rev. Dr. Patricia A. Tyson bringing the morning message at 11 a.m.
Lunch will be served at 1:30 p.m. The afternoon messenger will be Evangelist Alice Houston Perry, accompanied by the congregation of Mount Zion Baptist Church Boyden Quarters and the Rev. David Houston.
Cedar Grove will hold its revival Aug. 25-27 with services at 7:30 p.m.
Nightly, the revivalist will be the Rev. Gwendolyn Hampton, accompanied by her choir and ushers from St. John AME Zion Church in Mocksville.
Union Lutheran
Union Lutheran Church, 4770 Bringle Ferry Road, is sponsoring Church and Community Day 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Aug. 23.
The day will include a car show with antique cars, classics, customs, muscle cars, hot rods, motorcycles and trucks.
There will also be games, hot dogs and drinks and live entertainment, including DC and the Chosen Few.
The event is sponsored by the evangelism committee, and proceeds go to church projects.
Flockstock Festival
MOCKSVILLE ó The Flockstock Music Festival is Aug. 23 at Cornatzer United Methodist Church, 1244 Cornatzer Road in Mocksville, beginning at noon.
Concessions will be available, and there’s a jumping castle for the kids.
Music will include bluegrass, gospel, “holy blues,” Christian rock and contemporary Christian. Featured performers are Chris McCall at 4 p.m. and Bethany Crooks at 6 p.m.
Admission is free. Bring a lawn chair or blanket.
For more information call 336-998-0687.
Unity Presbyterian
WOODLEAF ó Unity Presbyterian Church will sponsor a two-day women’s retreat, “Personally Yours: How Your Story Intersects with God’s Story,” for women in the community.
The event will be held at the Catawba College Environmental Center on Friday, Sept. 5, from 5-8 p.m. and on Saturday, Sept. 6, from 9 a.m.- 4 p.m.
The retreat will be led by the Rev. Jennie Hedrick, interim pastor of Unity Church. She has led similar retreats for Jamestown Presbyterian Church, Jamestown, and Guilford Park Presbyterian Church, Greensboro.
The retreat is open to women of all ages and denominations, women who are churched or un-churched, women who are searching for their own unique stories and women who seek insight and courage.
It is based on Psalm 39:14: “I will praise you, because I have been remarkably and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, and I know this very well.”
Dinner will be provided Friday evening and lunch, on Saturday.
Registration forms are available by calling Unity Church, 704-278-4248, on weekdays between the hours of 9 a.m. and noon. Registration is $20 and is due at the church by Saturday, Aug. 23.
Registration is limited to the first 100 applicants.
St. Matthews LutheranSt. Matthews will celebrate homecoming on Aug. 24 at 10:30 a.m with the Rev. Derek Boggs as guest speaker.
Boggs came to First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lexington Aug. 3, 2003, following his internship in North Dakota and graduation from the Lutheran Seminary in Gettysburg, Pa. He is the son of the late Air Force Chaplain Col. Jay Boggs and Jane Boggs, a member of St. Matthews Lutheran Church. Prior to seminary, he worked for North Carolina Wildlife.
Everyone is invited to bring a picnic basket and lawn chairs for a picnic lunch on the parsonage lawn immediately following the worship service.
The church’s 8:30 a.m. informal camper service will not be held on Aug. 24 . Sunday school is 9:30 a.m.
The Rev. Gary Coble is pastor of St. Matthews Lutheran Church, located at 9275 Bringle Ferry Road.
For more information, call 704-633-3770.
LifeSupport groups
First Baptist Church of Salisbury is hosting its fall semester of LifeSupport groups for those who are going through a life transition.
Most of the groups are video-based experiences that allow participants to view a nationally acclaimed leader in a particular field on a series of topics that will help people move through a crisis in a healthy and purposeful way. Group discussion follows, allowing members a confidential time to share their own stories.
The following groups are open to the community and scholarships are available if needed:
– First Place: Celebrate Victory ó Facilitator: Charlotte Corriher, Mondays, 6:30- 8 p.m. beginning Aug. 25. $21 for the book.
Discover ways to celebrate life’s milestones and victories in a way that glorifies God, affirms life, respects others, promotes unity, remembers the past and looks to the future. Find out how putting Christ first will lead you to weight-loss victory and make every day a day for celebration.
– Wired That Way: For Singles and Single-Again ó Facilitator: Rod Kerr, Mondays, 6:30-8:30 p.m. beginning Sept. 8. $10.
Do you have trouble getting along with certain family members, friends or work associates? Why are people so different? Learn how understanding your own personality type can help you turn difficult relationships into delightful relationships. Learn how to pick up cues about the personality of others from their body language, communication styles, even their jokes.
– DivorceCare ó Facilitators: Wayne and Anganetta Dover, Mondays, 6:30-8 p.m., Sept. 8-Dec. 8. Cost is $13 for the workbook. Helps you to face challenges and move toward rebuilding your life after separation and divorce.
– DivorceCare for Kids (DC4K) ó Facilitator: Carlene Davis, Mondays, 6:30-8 p.m., Sept. 8-Dec. 8. Cost is $13 for the workbook. A biblically based, Christ-centered ministry designed to bring healing to children ages 5-12 who are struggling with the hurt and pain of divorce and separation.- GriefShare: Your Journey from Mourning to Joy ó Facilitator: Brenda Wheeler, Mondays 6:30-8 p.m., Sept. 8-Dec. 8. Cost is $13 for the workbook. A special weekly seminar and support group for people who are grieving the death of someone close to them.- Hurts, Habits and Hang-Ups: Celebrate Recovery ó Facilitator: Brian Nix, Mondays 6:30-8 p.m., Sept. 8-Dec. 8. Cost is $19 for the workbook. Past hurts, current destructive habits, and relational hang-ups are all issues that seriously affect families in our church and community. This group is open to individuals with addictive, compulsive and dysfunctional behavior and their loved ones.
Contact Rod Kerr at 704-633-0431 or e-mail rod@fbcsalisbury.org for registration and information.
John Calvin
The Rev. Marvin Lindsay, pastor of Salisbury’s John Calvin Presbyterian Church, has resigned, and he and his family will move to Richmond, Va., where Lindsay has enrolled in Union Theological Seminary and the Presbyterian School of Christian Education’s master of theology program. This one-year, advanced degree is in preparation for doctoral studies in medieval church history.
Lindsay was pastor of John Calvin from Dec. 1, 1997 to Aug. 15, 2008.