Salem Lutheran Church – Sunday, October 7, at 4 p.m. in the picnic shelter. The service includes music, scripture reading, a thanksgiving for animals litany, and a message. The offering will go to Faithful Friends Animal Sanctuary in Rowan County and a speaker from Faithful Friends will talk. Pastor Doug Hefner, Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church, 5080 Sherrills Ford Road, 704-636-.0352, www.SalemLutheranSalisbury.org

Mt. Zion Lutheran Church, Richfield – Mt. Zion’s Blessing of the Animals is Sunday, Oct. 7 at 4 p.m. Each pet should be on a leash or in an appropriate carrier. Call the church at 704-463-7280 or visit www.mtzionrichfield.org for more information. Pastor Ruth Ann Sipe, Mt. Zion Lutheran Church, 111 E. Church St., Richfield.

Kannapolis Village Park (by the refreshment stand) – Kimball Lutheran Church’s service of the Blessing of the Animals on Sunday, Oct. 7 at 4 p.m. Animals must be on a leash or in a cage. Bring your lawn chair. We will bless the animals and pray for the well-being of the pets and their people. Kimball Lutheran Church, Rev. Richard Graf, interim pastor, 101 Vance St. Kannapolis, 704- 933-4101.World of Faith Outreach Ministries hosts an old school gospel singing today at 5 p.m., at 2600 Cottage St.CLEVELAND – The first anniversary celebration of The Spiritual Sons of God is today at 6 p.m. at Cedar Grove AME Zion Church. In and out of town groups will appear. Rev. Dr. Bertha Pittman is pastor.Marantha Bible Church celebrates its 39th homecoming beginning at 10 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 7, with guest speaker, Bruce Woodman, Executive Director of Impact International, Inc. In 1959 this overseas ministry was launched in Argentina, and team members now serve in South America, Central America, North America, the Caribbean and Europe.
Impact International’s Radio Impacto program is aired 10,110 times per month, 333 times per day, in 22 countries on 310 stations. See www.impactinternational.org
After the Sunday morning homecoming service is the traditional dinner on the grounds. Interim pastor Peter Newell will speak at the 6 p.m. service. Maranatha is located at 2320 Statesville Blvd., 704-637-1995.Outreach Christian Ministries celebrates Pastor Bradley Taylor’s birthday on Sunday, Oct. 7 at 4:30 p.m. with speaker and guest church Bishop Reginald Sellers and Rhema Family Worship Center of Charlotte. There will be other musical guests, presentations and reflections from friends and family. 336-682-7550.STATESVILLE – A gospel concert with The Spiritual Voices of Mt. Zion Boyden Quarters Mt. Ulla, and the group Sacred, of Charlotte, is 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7, at St. Joseph Missionary Baptist Church. Also on the program is the gospel group, Sacred, of Charlotte. There is no admission charge.
413 Trinity Road, pastor Rev. Ira McCulloh, 704-252-0914.St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, founded in 1887 by the Rev. Francis Murdoch of St Luke’s Episcopal Church, celebrates its 125th anniversary on Sunday, Oct. 7 at 4 p.m. The Rt. Rev. Michael Curry, Bishop of North Carolina, will preach and celebrate the Eucharist. 4401 Statesville Blvd.Hear Dr. Dan Goldberg of Chosen People Ministries speak on the Fall Feasts of Israel at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 7 at North Main Baptist Church, located at 1501 N. Main St. in Salisbury , 704-637-2929.At the 11 a.m. service tomorrow, Sunday, Oct. 7, Calvary Baptist Church will honor Nina Koontz for 40 years of faithful service as she prepares to retire. In addition to being the church pianist, she has taught Sunday School and been involved in many other ministries. After the service, there will be a reception in her honor in the fellowship hall.
Calvary Baptist is located on East Ridge Road, just beyond Ellis crossroads, 704-633-2567.The senior choir of New Zion Baptist of Salisbury observes their 82nd anniversary on Sunday, Oct. 7 at 3 p.m. Out of town groups will appear. Rev. Paul Jones is host pastor.MOCKSVILLE – St. John AME Zion Church’s homecoming and revival begins with services on Sunday, Oct. 7 at 3 p.m. with speaker Rev Dr. Grant Harrison Jr. of Soldiers Memorial AME Zion Church. Dinner is at 1:30 p.m. in the fellowship Hall. Revival services are Oct. 8-10 at 7 p.m. with speakers:
Monday, Rev. Jimmy Griffin of Center Grove AME Zion Church, Tobaccoville.
Tuesday, Rev. Tamica Robinson of Liberty AME Zion Church, Cooleemee.
Wednesday, Rev. Rudolph Cornelius of Zion Wesley AME Zion Church, Troutman.
Rev. Gwendolyn Hampton is pastor,. The church is at 145 Campbell Road.EAST SPENCER – Love Christian Center celebrates Bishop W. Ronald and Mother Lotis Hash’s 20th anniversary Oct. 10-12 at 7:30 p.m. with speakers:
Wednesday, Dr. Martha Starks of World of Life Family Worship Center.
Thursday, Dr. David Bracken of Jerusalem Baptist Church.
Friday, Reverend Leamon Brown of First Calvary Baptist Church.
Sunday, 4 p.m. Overseer Barbara Walser of Lexington Deliverance Tabernacle is the closing speaker.
LCC is at 102 N. Long St., Cedrick Hash pastor, 704-886-7043.GOLD HILL – Liberty Methodist Church holds revival services Sunday-Wednesday, Oct. 7-10 at 7 p.m. with speaker Chuck Marbry from Liberty, NC. Special music is scheduled each night.
The church is located at 3940 Liberty Road, Gold Hill.Sunday morning worship returns to 11 a.m. beginning Sunday, Oct. 7, with Sunday School starting at 9:45 a.m.On Sunday, Oct. 7 is the annual Silent Prayer Chain for the Unborn, taking place at the Square at Innes and Main from 2-3 p.m. Anyone may participate. Information: Barbara Causey Franklin, Rowan Pro Life Committee, 704 636-2117.Henderson Grove Missionary Baptist Church celebrates Women’s Day on Sunday, Oct. 7 at 3 p.m. Rev. Kenza Maxwell of Westminster Reform Presbyterian Church in Concord, will speak. Rev. Perry Dye is host pastor.Salisbury First Church of the Nazarene will have homecoming on Sunday, Oct. 7, at 10:30 a.m.
Special guest singers will be Hollow Oak Project, and guest speaker is Rev. Kyle DeLong, who will also sing. A covered dish dinner follows the service.Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church celebrates fall revival Tuesday-Thursday, Oct. 9-11 at 7 p.m. nightly with Rev. Dr. Larry Whitley of Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church of Matthews.
Dr. Whitley is a graduate of NC A&T, Greensboro and received basic training for the NC Highway Patrol from UNC-Chapel Hill, and Administrative Officer training from NC State. He attended Columbia Bible College. He has received the Legion of Honor Award by the Chapel of Four Chaplains, the honorary Doctor of Divinity and Doctor of Humane Letters degrees from Bethlehem Bible College, Va.
He was employed with the NC Highway Patrol Department for 30 years.
Mt. Zion is located at 1920 Shirley Ave., with Rev. Dr. Nilous Avery II, pastor. For information, transportation, directions: 704-637-0954.East Gate Worship Center, 704B Jake Alexander Blvd. West (behind Burger King), hosts a city wide crusade featuring Apostle Harold Wilson on Friday and Saturday Oct. 12-13 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 14 at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., on the topic Revelation, The End Time.
Host pastor is Bishop Richard Chambers. Call 704-213-6038 for details.The Grace Lutheran Church Men in Mission’s fourth annual fish fry, to benefit Kenzey Smith, is next Saturday, Oct. 13 from 5-8:30 p.m. with live music by Wayward Reason, big ticket raffles including a John Deere lawn mower, auction, basket raffles, bounce house, playground, corn hole toss, more. Auction begins 7 p.m.
The church is at 3020 Grace Lutheran Church Road, 704-213-1262. Supplemental funds by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.”The Church Bizness Meeting” is a hilarious gospel comedy written and directed by Tonya Vines of Washington, DC. It is being presented and sponsored by Dorsett Chapel United Church of Christ of Spencer, next Saturday, Oct. 13 at 5 p.m., at Livingstone College’s Tubman Little Theater. Tickets are available at the door, by calling 704-637-6759 or visiting dorsettchapel@yahoo.comOn Saturday, Oct. 13, at 7 p.m., Stallings Memorial Baptist Church will host an outdoor concert featuring Dove award winner Ricky Traywick, older brother to country music legend Randy Travis.
Pre-concert music/ activities will begin at 6 p.m. Hotdogs, popcorn and drinks will be available. There is no admission charge.
How to submit a Faith Brief
Free Faith Briefs are for special events (not the regular order of services), and run in the Faith Section every Saturday. Send submissions to: faith@salisburypost.com, subject line: Church News, Deadline: 1 p.m. Thursday.