Providence United Methodist Church and Providence AME Zion are hosting a Stop Hunger Now event today beginning at 2 p.m. at Providence UMC, 6450 Bringle Ferry Road. Volunteers will be packaging 10,000 meals to be shipped around the world to school feeding programs and crisis relief. More volunteers are welcome to join in.
The Vineyard Worship Center, 2655 Dunns Mountain Road, will present a “Soap Network” program this evening at 6 p.m. featuring speakers from area churches on subjects such as “As the World Turns,” “General Hospital” and “All My Children.” Proceeds will go to the building fund.
Appearing on the program will be Barbara Robertson, Marie Norman, Brenda McNeely, Veronica Rankin, Cornelia Bush, Marsha Pruitt, Bonita Bryant, Harold Williams, Shemar Smith and Daniel Vaughn Jr. Host pastor is the Rev. Alice Perry.
East Spencer — The youth department of the Southern City Tabernacle AME Zion Church, 940 S. Long St., hosts Movie Under the Stars tonight at 8 p.m. Concessions will be sold. Bring lawn chairs. Proceeds will benefit youth activities.
On Sunday, the 4th annual Women in White concert will be held at 3 p.m. Women of the community participate in the choir which is under the direction of Pastor Patrick Tate. Tim Jones will provide the music. For details call Deloris Foxx, chairperson, at 704-630-0922.
The church will recognize Elmira P. Henderson for her years of dedicated support to the women’s activities.
All women attending the concert are asked to wear white.
The church is also sponsoring the inaugural golf tournament called The City Classic at McCanless Golf Course on Oct. 4 at 2 p.m., at $200 per team. For information, call 704-637-9043.
China Grove — Homecoming Sunday at Mount Zion UCC, 1415 S. Main St., begins at the 10 a.m. Sunday school hour with combined classes to hear about Main Street Missions Bridge Builders program with Anne Corriher and Hope Oliphant.
At the 11 a.m. service will be a sharing of Mount Zion stories. Joining Rev. Mark Burns will be Brenda Bassinger, Donnie Deal, Laura Holshouser, Evans Leinbach and Madison Rawlings in the telling of their lives at Mount Zion UCC.
Afterward will be a covered-dish dinner. Visit mtzionchinagrove.com or call 704-857-1169 for details.
China Grove — Pine Ridge Baptist Church, 880 Old Linn Road, celebrates its 66th homecoming on Sunday with Pastor Ken McRae from White Crest Baptist Church of Mt. Gilead. Special music will be provided by members of White Crest.
The church schedule will be different for this special day. The service will begin at 10 a.m. instead of 10:45. There will be no Sunday school or evening worship.
Following the morning worship service lunch will be served.
Salem Lutheran Church, 5080 Sherrills Ford Road, will observe its 164th anniversary at the homecoming service on Sunday at 10 a.m. followed by a covered dish luncheon in the shelter. Salem was organized Aug. 18, 1850.
Guest preacher is the Rev. George Rhyne. He has served 37 years in the ministry. Rhyne was a member at Salem during his years of serving as assistant to the Bishop of the NC Synod. He is currently serving Antioch Lutheran Church in Dallas, NC.
Call Pastor Doug Hefner at 704-636-0352 for details.
Kannapolis — Centerview Baptist Church, 412 Walter St., is hosting Youth in Action (6th-12th grade), Children in Action (K-5th grade) and Mission Friends (age 3-Pre-K) Wednesday evenings 6:30-8 p.m. through May 2015. For more information, call 704-933-2331.
CLEVELAND — Lebanon Lutheran Church, 1200 Thompson Road, will celebrate homecoming on Sunday. The Rev. Clarence Sifford will lead the service, with former pastor the Rev. Buddy Beaver as guest speaker. The service will begin at 10:30 a.m.
A covered dish meal will be served afterward.
Sherrills Ford Road Baptist Church, 6455 Sherrills Ford Road, will celebrate homecoming on Sunday at a special 10:30 a.m. service.
Elijah’s Rain will provide music for the service and the Rev. Dale Tanner will deliver the message, followed by a covered dish luncheon.
Bethel Evangelical Lutheran Church, 355 East Ridge Road, will hold homecoming services on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. with the Rev. Dr. David R. Keck Sr. as guest minister. A covered dish luncheon will follow the service.
Pastor Keck is a retired pastor of the ELCA (presently serving as interim pastor at Salem, Lincolnton). He is a graduate of Lenoir-Rhyne University with an honorary D.D., and the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary.
Full-time congregations served were Our Father in Greensboro, Grace in Boone (and Lutheran Campus Pastor at Appalachian State University), Kimball Memorial in Kannapolis, and Our Saviour in Southern Pines.
ENOCHVILLE — St. Enoch Lutheran Church will be celebrating its 179th homecoming on Sunday at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Wesley C. Smith as guest preacher. Smith is a graduate of South Rowan High School. In 2002 he received his master of divinity degree from Candler School of Theology at Emory University. and now serves as co-pastor of Harrisburg United Methodist Church in Harrisburg.
A covered dish lunch will follow the worship service.
The Rev. John Merck is interim pastor at St. Enoch.
China Grove — Homecoming at Genesis Baptist Church, 9710 Old Concord-Salisbury Road, is Sunday at 11 a.m. Guest speaker will be the Rev. Roger Steadman. Dinner will follow the morning service. Gene Edwards is host pastor.
First Calvary Baptist Church, 400 S. Long St., will observe Men’s Day during the 11 a.m. service on Sunday with guest speaker The Rev. Anthony Smith.
Smith serves on the ministry team of New Zion Missionary Baptist Church and on the leadership team of Mission House, a parish-based ministry in Salisbury, where he is engaged in faith-rooted organizing and civic innovation. He also serves on the core team of Rowan Concerned Citizens, a civic engagement group in Rowan County and the leadership team of Transform, an international, trans-denominational missional community formation network. He and his wife, Toni, co-minister at New Zion and Mission House.
Rev. Smith is a blogger (blog name: Musings of a Postmodern Negro) and a published author whose ministry work has been featured in several books. He is also collaborating with the local community group ‘The Chamber’ on an after school literacy program called the Tsunami Development Literacy Program.
The Rev. Leamon E. Brown is host pastor.
KANNAPOLIS — Lane Street Baptist Church observes homecoming at its 11 a.m. service Sunday. The Rev. Shannon Hampton of the Camino del Rey Church will be the guest speaker. A fellowship dinner will be served immediately following the morning service.
Spencer — Dr. Barry Sang, professor of religion at Catawba College, will be the guest preacher at Spencer Presbyterian Church Sunday at 11 a.m. service. The church is located on First Street across Salisbury Avenue from the entrance to the NC Transportation Museum.
This week First Presbyterian Church of Salisbury welcomes Dr. Albert Aymer as guest speaker at all three services: in the sanctuary at 8:30 and 11 a.m. and in Life Center at 8:50 a.m.
The St. Luke Baptist’s Hallie Hawkins annual missionary program is Sunday at 3 p.m. at St. Luke Baptist Church, 410 Hawkinstown Road. The speaker is Elder Katie Crockett of Mt. Calvary Holiness Church.
The Rev. Harvey Rice is pastor of Mt. Calvary. The Rev. Arthur Heggins is pastor of St. Luke. Light refreshments will be served.
Cleveland — Antioch Baptist Church, 968 Triplett Road, hosts the Antioch Spiritual Singers 40th choir anniversary on Sunday at 2:30 p.m.
Antioch’s anniversary is being celebrated the third Sunday of September this year, but will return to its regular fourth Sunday date in 2015.
Call the pastor, the Rev. David Leave, at 704-528-3123 for more information.
Men’s Day will be observed at Henderson Grove Missionary Baptist Church on Sunday at 3 p.m. The guest speaker will be the Rev. William Turner, pastor of Tower of Power United Holy Church in Salisbury. The Rev. Perry Dye is host pastor.
Hall’s Chapel Primitive Baptist Church is hosting its 69th homecoming and revival on Sunday at 3 p.m. The theme is “Power of a Praying Church.”
Elder Clifton Griffa of Zion Primitive Baptist Church in Charlotte is the guest speaker. Lunch will be served at 1:30 p.m.
Elder Dr. T.W. Samuels, emeritus pastor of Mount Moriah Primitive Baptist Church, Charlotte, is the 11 a.m. speaker and will preside throughout the day.
Revival services will be Sept. 22-24 at 7 p.m. each evening. Elder Timothy L. Lyons of Saint John’s Primitive Baptist Church, Charlotte, is the evangelist.
Elder Richard L. Johnson is host pastor.
Rhema Praise and Worship Church Choir will have a Fall’s Family and Friends Fellowship program on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. on the theme of “Worshipping our Awesome God!” Associate Minister the Rev. Cathy Henderson of Charlotte will speak.
Kannapolis — Homecoming will be held at United Baptist Church, 3001 Clermont Ave. on Sunday at 3 p.m. The Rev. Burrell Brooks, pastor of St. John Baptist Church, Statesville, will be the guest speaker.
Revival services will be held Monday through Friday at 7 p.m. The Rev. Patrick Tate of Southern City Tabernacle AME Zion Church of East Spencer is the evangelist for the week of services.
The Rev. John E. Jones is host pastor.
The U.M.A. will host its joint fellowship service at 7 p.m. Sunday at Lilly’s Chapel Church of God, 618 West Thomas St. Elder Thomas Clawson is the host pastor. He will also deliver the message.
Finale Music & Entertainment Group is presenting cast call auditions for the stage play “Karma.” They will be auditioning for actors, singers, musicians and production crew. Auditions are Monday, Sept. 22, 6-8 p.m. at The Father’s House of Glory, 2218 Statesville Blvd. Bring a head shot and bio if available. For information, call 704-705-0431 or email LOJCM2014@gmail.com
Dr. John Wear, executive director of the Center for the Environment at Catawba College, will be the guest speaker at Hood Seminary during chapel time on Tuesday at 12:15 p.m. He will present a program focusing on creation care and sustainability. The public is welcome.
St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 5202 Mooresville Road, will be hosting a congregational workshop on Saturday, Sept. 27 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
In this workshop, the Rev. Mark Vander Tuig, service coordinator for Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ, will present some Biblical concepts to challenge, inspire and encourage. This workshop is designed to help local churches make the paradigm shift from membership to discipleship, the beginning of a process and may take a generation to complete.
This free workshop is open to the public. Lunch and snacks will be provided. A love offering will be collected to support Rowan Helping Ministries.
Email stmarksinchrist@gmail.com or call 704-633-1576 to RSVP for the event by Tuesday.
In My Father’s House Outreach, led by the Rev. Roosevelt Jenkins, will hold a study group on Thursday, Oct. 3 in the Hurley Room at Rowan Public Library, from noon until 4 p.m. (not sponsored by RPL).
Maranatha Bible Church will celebrate its 41st homecoming on Sunday. Former pastor John McKee will preach at 10 a.m. Dinner on the grounds will follow the morning service. There will not be an evening service.
McKee is a graduate of the US Naval Academy and Dallas Theological Seminary. He was Maranatha Bible Church’s second pastor, serving from 1983 until 1986. He went on to become senior pastor of Jacksonville Bible Church in Jacksonville, serving from 1986 until he retired in 2009 — 22 years. He is now the Pastor Emeritus.
Throughout his time as a pastor, he also served in the Naval Reserves as a chaplain. Since retiring from the pastorate, he has been teaching at Coastal Carolina Community College. He and his wife, Tama, have four grown children and eleven grandchildren. Tama’s brother is author and former US Senator James Webb, and John’s Academy roommate.
Cornerstone Church will host international speaker and author Rick Hawkins on Oct. 4 and 5.
Saturday will be a men’s only session from 10 a.m. to noon as Hawkins discusses his latest book, “The Wall – Disaster or Destiny? Lessons from Life’s Crossroads.”
Bishop Hawkins states; “I am here to tell you that no matter what your experience is, you can recover! You can regain your balance! You can renew your vision! You can rebuild your life! I know. I have been there.”
There is a $5 registration fee for this event. For information or to register, contact Glenwood Oats at glenwood@cornerstone-church.net or 704-855-1218 x. 113.
Hawkins will also minister in the Sunday service at 10 a.m. on Oct. 5.
All activities will take place at the Cornerstone Campus, 315 Webb Road. For more information, visit cornerstone-church.net
Lilly’s Chapel Church of God, 618 W. Thomas St., is hosting its 101st annual General Assembly of the Church of God Founded by Jesus Christ Inc. at the church Wednesday to Sunday. Services are at 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. daily.
For more information, contact the church at 704-637-6788.
The Salisbury Rowan Ministerial Association welcomes all Rowan County chaplains, pastors, clergy, and ministers to the first meeting of the year on Wednesday at Novant Health Rowan Regional Medical Center. Registration and fellowship starts at 11:30 a.m. and the program will begin at noon with lunch provided by RRMC and the program.
Dr. Dari Caldwell, president of RRMC, will be sharing things that are happening with the hospital in providing care to the community. The meeting is on the lower level of Tower B.
Pastor Doug Hefner is president of SRMA. Contact him at dhefner@salemlutheransalisbury.org for more information.