Maranatha Bible Church has called Pastor Peter Newell, from Lexington, S.C., to minister as senior pastor.
He received his Masters of Divinity from Columbia International University, Columbia, S.C., in 2005 and was ordained in 2006 at New Testament Bible Church.
Pastor Newell has ministered to congregations in both South Carolina and Georgia. His passion is studying and proclaiming God’s Word, and reaching out to those feeling lost and alone and bringing them into fellowship with God’s Children.
Newell is a retired U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. having served our country for 28 years in the military. He has served as:
• Commanding Officer, Marine Aviation Training Support Squadron 901
• Executive Officer, Marine Corps Air Station, Beaufort, S.C.
• Operations Officer Marine Corps Air Station, Beaufort, S.C.
• NATO Liaison Officer, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Joint Task Force Provide Promise (Forward)
• A6 Mission Commander

• Amphibious Planner for Commander-in-Chief, Southern Region NATO
• Instructor, Marine Aviation training Squadron VMA (AW) 202
Pastor Newell is married to the former Vicki Witham. They have two daughters and seven grandchildren.
They enjoy playing music, sports and outdoor activities.
The public is cordially invited to attend the installation service at 10 a.m. Sunday at Maranatha Bible Church, 2320 Statesville Blvd.
LANDIS — Calvary Fundamental Baptist Church will be hosting a spaghetti dinner sponsored by the youth of the church to be held in the fellowship hall from 5 to 7 p.m. today.
Youth Sunday at Calvary Fundamental Baptist will be observed Sunday, with 11-year-old Bailey Wagner bringing the evening worship message at 6 p.m. The youth of the church will be assisting in all phases of the evening service.
The church is located at 414 Upright St.; the Rev. Allen Merrington, pastor.

GRANITE QUARRY — White Rock AME Zion will celebrate Men’s Day during the 11 a.m. worship service Sunday.
The Rev. Thomas Lee, pastor, will speak on the theme of “Men Anchored in Christ.”
Dinner will be served immediately after the service. Thomas Turner is the Men’s Day chair.
The Deacon, Deaconess and Trustee program will be held. at 3 p.m. Sunday at Fairview Heights Baptist Church.
The Rev. Patrick Tate is the guest speaker, from Southern City AME Zion Church of East Spencer.
Fairview Heights is located on Old Concord Road; Rev. Clarence Marlin, pastor.

COOLEEMEE — The Mass Choir of Erwin Temple CME Church will observe their 17th anniversary on Sunday with a special program of celebration at 3 p.m.
Area church choirs have been invited to participate.
The mass choir will be in concert for the first part of the program and the second part will consist of the guest choirs rendering two selections each.
Travis Williams serves as minister of music, Curtis Pompey is president of the Mass Choir and the Rev. Ervin L. Hannah Jr. is pastor.
GRANITE QUARRY — Antioch Missionary Baptist Church will celebrate pastor Rickey Johnson, first lady Peggy Johnson and the family’s ninth pastoral anniversary Sunday.
The 11 a.m. speaker will be Dr. Nura Matthews of Friendship Baptist Church in Newberry, S.C. Dinner will be served at 1:30 p.m.
Antioch is located at 602 S. Salisbury Ave.

Providence AME Zion Church will hold its annual Men’s Day celebration at 3:30 p.m., Sunday.
Dinner will be served at 1:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall.
The Rev. William Jordan, pastor of Sills Creek AME Zion Church in Mooresville, will preach. The Rev. Zacharias Allen Sr., pastor of Providence, will host the service.
Providence is located at 2415 Providence Church Road.

St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church is preparing for Lent with Sunday school and morning worship at the regular times, and a Lenten service including a soup and sandwich supper that evening beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the family life center. Holy Communion will be celebrated during this service.
St. Matthew’s is located at 9275 Bringle Ferry Road; the Rev. Gary Coble, pastor.

GRANITE QUARRY — Lifeline Triumphant Pentecostal Church’s young adults will sponsor a concert at the Legion Building in Granite Quarry at 3 p.m. Sunday.
The Legion building is located at 300 Legion St.

CHINA GROVE — Lenten observances will begin at Mt. Zion United Church of Christ in the 10 a.m. young adults’ Sunday school class with a study based on Adam Hamilton’s DVD, “The Way—Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus.”
During the 11 a.m. worship service on this First Sunday of Lent, Natalie Whicker will light the candle of hospitality as the 40-day journey begins.
Mount Zion is located at 1415 S. Main St., 704-857-1169, mtzionchinagrove.com

CONCORD — Spirit of Life Ministries No. 2 will hold revival services Sunday through Saturday.
Pastor Johnny Morgan of Grateful Heart Ministries will speak at 3 p.m. Sunday.
Guest speakers for the rest of the week include:
• Monday, Bishop Eugene Johnson of Spirit of Life Ministries No. 2
• Tuesday, Pastor Antwone Jordan of Blessed Assurance of Concord
• Wednesday, Apostle Clark of Living for God Deliverance Ministries
• Thursday, Pastor Clara Miller of Victory Temple
• Friday, Evangelist Mary Montgomery of Living for God Deliverance Ministries
• Saturday, Co-pastor Carliss Longmire of Breath of Life Ministries
Services will begin at 7 p.m. each night.
Spirit of Life Ministries is located at 123 Melba St., Corner of Melba and Crowell, pastors Hugh and Etta Banks.

The UMA will host its joint fellowship service at 7 p.m., Sunday, at Hall’s Temple Church, 1129 Bryce Ave.
The Rev. Elder Bruce is the host pastor. Rev. Odessa McCoy, pastor of Gray’s Chapel Fire Baptized Holiness Church of God of the Americas, Salisbury, will bring the message.

CHINA GROVE — Concordia Evangelical Lutheran Church is planning Lenten mid-week activities to be held for five Wednesday nights in Lent, beginning Wednesday.
Supper will be served at 6 p.m. each Wednesday, provided by Concordia women, men and Sunday school classes.
At 7 p.m. pastor Ken Reed will lead Bible study and prayer.
This year’s series is titled “Forgiveness – The Boundary Breaking News of God’s Grace.” There will be special music each night.
Concordia Evangelical Lutheran Church is located at 185 Concordia Church Road; the Rev. Kenneth W. Reed Jr., pastor; the Rev. Dr. Larry Bost, visitation pastor.

SPENCER — Calvary Lutheran Church continues Lenten services Wednesday with dinner at 6 p.m. and services at 7 p.m.
Calvary Lutheran Church is located at 303 5th St., 704-636-2152.

Lenten services will begin at Grace Lutheran Church at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, preceded by a light meal at 6 p.m. Services will be each Wednesday through March 20.
Grace Lutheran is located at 3020 Grace Church Road, Rev. Jerome Cloninger, pastor.

CONCORD — The Piedmont Singing Men will be in concert at New Gilead Reformed Church at 6 p.m. Sunday.
The church is located at 2400 Old Concord Salisbury Road. This is a free concert and all are invited.

Southern gospel singer Keith Plott is coming to Community Baptist Church at 6 p.m. Sunday. .
The church is located at 18 Carolina St., 704-636-0984; Keith Mason, pastor.

The Gospel Plowboys will be singing at 6 p.m. Sunday at New Hope Baptist Church.
The church is located at 830 Choate Road.

ROCKWELL — Rockwell United Methodist Church is hosting an alternative medicine educational program on 7 p.m. Tuesday. with guest speaker Dr. Scheer of CMC-NE Internal & Integrative Medicine.
The church is located at 430 E. Main St., 704-279-3235, rockwellumc@yahoo.com

Scottsing’s annual Cystic Fibrosis benefit concert will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23.
The band Three Bridges will be in concert with Scottssing performing a skit to one of their songs.
There will be door prizes. Advance tickets are $10 (children under the age 13 are free with an adult ticket), available at Country Christian Books of Granite Quarry, Christian Supply of Kannapolis,Yard Stuff of Rockwell and Me and Mommy Consignment of Concord.
Information on advance tickets is available at 704-239-6134 and www.scottssing.com
The concert will be held in the East Rowan High School Auditorium, 175 St. Luke’s Church Road.

Judge Wanda G. Bryant will speak at Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church in honor of Black History month at 3 p.m. Sunday.
The North Rowan Connection Family and Friends Choir, directed by Milton Griffin, will provide music. The theme for the program is “Passing the Torch – The Next Generation.”
Judge Bryant was appointed by Governor Michael Easley in February 2001 to the N.C. Court of Appeals.
She was elected to serve in November 2004 and 2012.
Judge Bryant received her BA degree from Duke University and her law degree from North Carolina Central University.
Serving as the first female and first African-American prosecutor in the 13th Prosecutorial district in eastern North Carolina, and then became the first attorney for the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) in Washington D.C.
Gethsemane is located at 719 S. Caldwell St.; Dr. Clary Phelps, pastor.

GRANITE QUARRY — Music groups, choirs, and individuals are invited to render gospel selections from the 70s, 80s and 90s and a combined choir will perform music from 2000.
Youth from various churches are asked to provide a black history fact or quote.
Spoken word and praise dancers are also invited to participate in this celebration of Black History through Gospel Music.
The event is sponsored by: A.T.C. (At The Cross) Ministries, Inc. and will be held at 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 24 at the Granite Quarry American Legion Hall, 300 Legion St.
Refreshments will be served. Call 704-433-6662 or 704-640-7992 for further details.

KANNAPOLIS — Hospice & Palliative Care of Cabarrus County is offering a vocal and instrumental workshop, “Songs of Peace and Joy: Music in Hospice Care,” from 8:30 to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 2 at McKinnon Hospice Center, 5003 Hospice Lane, Kannapolis.
This workshop, which is open to the public, will cover the science, philosophies, ethics and practicum of live music at the bedside for patients in hospitals and hospices.
Deadline for registration is Friday. Credit is five contact hours.
The cost is $25 per participant, which includes continental breakfast, snacks, lunch and materials.
For more inforamtion, contact Kathleen Blackwell-Plank at 704-935-9434 or Kathleen.Blackwell-Plank@hpccc.org

The Refuge Church of God in Christ is seeking walkers and supporters for its Walk for the Cure fundraiser for breast cancer awareness from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 16 at Sloan Park in Mt. Ulla.
The church will provide T-shirts, food, drinks and literature.
There will be music, plus activities for the children.
Those who are interested in participating, call 704-245-5204.
The Refuge Church of God in Christ is located at 1133 Short St.; Stanley Wright is pastor. refugecogicsalisbury@yahoo.com

Guest presenter Brother Randy Leggette will give a Black History Presentation next at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23.
Brother Leggette is a graduate of North Carolina Central University and has toured Africa on several occasions. His presentation will cover the identity of the Black race from Egypt, to Europe, to America.
Rose of Sharon is located at 255 Camp Road.

EAST SPENCER — The Guiding Light Missionary Baptist Association will present an art show featuring the work of local artist Paulette Rice-Mangham on Saturday, Feb. 23.
The show will feature more than 50 pieces of original art work including acrylic paintings and metal sculptures.
The association is sponsoring this event as a fundraiser to assist with the completion of the Guiding Light Convention Center, which, when completed, will provide spiritual and community services as well as outreach programs.
There is a $5 admission charge. Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance by calling Brenda Rice-McNeely at 704-636-2096 or Esther Mobley at 704-636-7506. The Rev. John E. Jones will be the Guiding Light Association moderator. Light refreshments will be served.
The Guiding Light Missionary Baptist Association Convention Center located at 308 Boundary St.
HICKORY — Celebrated concert pianist Valarie Valois will give a free concert at 4 p.m. Sunday in the sanctuary of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church of Hickory.
She will be accompanied by a local flutist. The program includes works from Rameau, Debussy, Couperin, and Ravel. Poulenc’s The Story of Babar will intrigue children and adults alike.
Following the concert, St. Luke’s monthly Service of Healing and Wholeness will be held in the Chapel.
St. Luke’s United Methodist Church is located at 52 16th Avenue NW, across the street from Viewmont Elementary School.

Salisbury-Rowan Unit of CWU in NC is accepting reservations for its prayer breakfast to be held from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 2 at Milford Hills United Methodist Church,1630 Statesville Boulevard.
The theme is “Strengthening our Prayers with Joy,” with guest speaker the Rev. Juanita Allen, assistant pastor at First Calvary Missionary Baptist Church and SRCWU ministerial representative.
An offering will be received to support the local work and outreach of SRCWU.
The action project will help the Family Crisis Council of Rowan County, which is in need of zip up twin mattress covers, paper towels, laundry detergent and kleenex for the women’s shelter.
Reservations must be made by Friday. Purchase $7 tickets in advance from a church representative or call 704-640-0173 before Friday.