Women from 17 area churches gathered on March 2 at Milford Hills United Methodist for the annual prayer breakfast. Dorothy Gill-Smith was chair and Lynn Bolick, president of the SRCWU unit, presided.
Those participating in the program were Phyllis Thomside of St Luke Missionary Baptist Church, Gwendolyn Ellis of Moore’s Chapel AME Zion, Doris Plummer of Milford Hills UMC and Brenda Venning, immediate past president.
The 109 guests were welcomed by Rev. Steve Combs, pastor of Milford Hills UMC and Diane James, president of Milford Hills United Methodist Women.
The featured speaker was Rev. Juanita Allen, associate minister of First Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, who spoke of the Church Women United organization which was founded in 1941 with the goals of crossing racial and religious lines to bring greater harmony.
Linda Copeland, coordinator of Community Outreach with Family Crisis Center, received supplies brought in to support the Salisbury battered Women’s Shelter. The next celebration will be May Friendship Day on May 3 at Christ United Methodist Church.

Local students participate in district piano festival
Twenty-two students participated in the 2013 Albemarle District Piano Contest-Festival of the North Carolina Music Teachers Association on March 9 at Pfeiffer University.
Each student performed three memorized works selected from the official state contest music list for judge Akiko Yamazaki of Chapel Hill. The repertoire is chosen from Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Contemporary music periods.
Students earning a “superior” rating at Junior Level B and Senior Levels A and B may advance to the State Contest on April 13 at Queens University in Charlotte.
Two MTA teachers from our area had students participate in the contest, Tina Brown of Rockwell and Marsha Carter of China Grove.
Brown’s students were Kevin Agner, Marian Hough and Laura Agner.
Carter’s students were Caitlin Harrison, Nate Cobb, Paul Faggart, Andrew Poe and David Freeze.

Salisbury women hear about mission during monthly meeting
During the March meeting of the Salisbury Woman’s Club, Brenda Zimmerman, activities director at Trinity Oaks health and rehab, shared her experiences on a mission trip to Nicaragua.
She screened pictures of some of the activities accomplished at Hogares, where her team trained activity directors on the trip sponsored by Jessie F. Richardson Foundation.
In addition, Zimmerman displayed arts and crafts she bought in Nicaragua.
Ann Bingham focused the devotional on the disciples of Christ.
Angelia Bates, president, presided at the business session where club projects were planned for the coming months.
The luncheon tables were decorated with beautiful tulips and spring flowers by hostesses Barbara Lloyd and Margaret Owen for the meal catered by Trinity Oaks.