St. Matthews Lutheran Church is sponsoring a camper service kick-off with gospel music on the church lawn Sunday at 3 p.m.
The public is invited to bring yard chairs and enjoy gospel music performed by The Chapeleers, southern gospel, and Leon Long and Boys, bluegrass gospel. Desserts and refreshments will be furnished by the congregation.
There is no admission fee, and dress is informal.
St. Matthews camper services begin May 27 at 8:30 a.m. and extend through Sept. 2, 2007. The informal services are held in the fellowship hall with informal attire as the dress code.
Formal services follow with Sunday School, 9:30 a.m. and morning worship 10:30 a.m.
St. Matthews Lutheran Church is located at 9275 Bringle Ferry Road. Gary Coble is the pastor.
Service at park
The congregations of John Calvin and Franklin Presbyterian Churches will worship together at the outdoor amphitheater at Dan Nicholas Park tomorrow at 11 a.m.
Pastor Larry Summey of Franklin will preach the sermon, and Pastor Marvin Lindsay of John Calvin will celebrate the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. Musicians from both congregations will lead the assembly in song.
After worship, both congregations will enjoy a covered dish lunch together at Shelter Number One.
Due to this special worship service, there will be no Sunday school or morning worship at John Calvin Presbyterian on Brenner Avenue or Franklin Presbyterian on Franklin Church Drive. Services will resume at both churches on May 27.
Dan Nicholas Park is located at 6800 Bringle Ferry Road, east of Salisbury. The public is invited to this worship service.
Dorsett Chapel
Dorsett Chapel United Church of Christ will observe Mens Day tomorrow at the 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. services.
The morning speaker will be the Rev. Henry Diggs, associate pastor of First Calvary Baptist Church in Salisbury.
The Rev. Paul Jones, pastor of Salisburys New Zion Baptist Church, will speak in the afternoon
Dorsett Chapel is located at 1280 Hollywood Drive in Spencer.
Catholic Daughters
Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court 1759 held their annual dinner in honor of the clergy and religious serving Sacred Heart Church and School on May 7, 2007 in Helfrich Hall at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
Among those honored for their exceptional dedication to the church and school were Father John Putnam, pastor; Father Alejandro Ayala, parochial vicar; Sister Mary Robert Williams, pastoral associate; and Sister Seldita Tiorosio, principal.
Also recognized for their contributions to the parish were Father James Ebright, Sister Joan Pearson, Sister Elizabeth Arquelles, Sister Enriqueta Arnaiz and Deacon James Mazur.
Local winners of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas National Education Contest read their essays and poetry and were awarded prizes for local and state levels.
Scholarship Day
Scholarship Day is being held for the George B. Stowe scholarship fund of Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church at 10:45 a.m. tomorrow.
The speaker will be Yvonne A. Tracey, vice-president of Student Affairs at Livingstone College. She is a member of Soldiers Memorial AME Zion Church where she is the director of Christian Education and a youth Sunday School teacher.
At 4 p.m., the All Male Community Choir of Statesville, will be in concert to close out the day.
The Rev. Dr. C. L. Phelps is pastor of Gethsemane.
Ardis Chapel
Ardis Chapel AME Zion Church, 1940 Old Mocksville Road, will celebrate Women’s Day tomorrow with two services. The theme is Vessels Fit for the Master’s Use, based on 2 Timothy 2:21b.
Sunday morning worship will begin 11 a.m. and be conducted by the Rev. Dr. Karen Roberts Miller, associate pastor of Greater Gethsemane AME Zion Church of Charlotte. Miller is a native of Salisbury. She received a Bachelor of Sociology degree from Livingstone College, a Master of Divinity from Hood Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Christian Counseling Psychology degree from the Carolina University of Theology in Manassas, Va.
Women’s Day activities will continue with a 3 p.m. service, conducted by the Rev. Mary Denise Metcalfe from Fayette, Ala. She began ministry 12 years ago and became one of the youngest female pastors in the North Alabama conference at the age of 27 years. Metcalfe graduated from Hood Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree. Presently, she is the pastor of Smyres Chapel AME Zion church in Catawba.
Missionary Day
First Calvary Baptist Church will observe Missionary Day Sunday at 4 p.m. The annual program is sponsored by the General Missionary Society and will feature 100+ Women in White from churches throughout the county. Minister Jennifer Saulters Watkins of Columbia, S.C. will be the speaker.
Prior to moving to South Carolina, Watkins was an active member of First Calvary and pianist for several groups there. Her mother, Edith Saulters, is president of the General Missionary Society. Watkins is a 2001 graduate of East Rowan High School.
Watkins serves as youth minister at Across All Boundaries Christian Church in Ridgeway.
The Rev. Leamon E. Brown is pastor of First Calvary which is located at 400 S. Long St.
Community Baptist
Community Baptist Church, 18 Carolina St. in Salisbury, is having a Super-Homecoming tomorrow at 10:20 a.m. The public is invited
Musical guests will be Sounds of Praise and The Whitakers from Florida.
There will be a mystery testimony from the past and recognition of founding members. A covered dish dinner will follow the service.
Sesquicentennial
MOORESVILLE At tomorrows 10 a.m. service, Saint James Episcopal Church, 851 Shinnville Road, Mooresville, will celebrate the sesquicentennial (150th) anniversary of its consecration.
In the morning of May 17, 1857, North Carolina Bishop Thomas Atkinson consecrated the building, which continues today as a place of worship. Funds to construct the church were raised in 1855, and the building was completed in the fall of 1856. St. James Episcopal is one of the oldest churches in the Mooresville community.
All are invited to celebrate with the congregation. Current and former parishioners are encouraged to bring memorabilia to display in the parish hall during the refreshment hour following this special service. The Rev. Edward Scott will preach and administer Holy Communion.
Activities for this celebration include a historical presentation about the consecration of 1857, a display of 19th century church records as well as an original altar cross, numerous photographs, and old prayer books.
Also on display will be the first church Bible and a pair of early 19th century Windsor chairs donated by the churchs founder, Charles Nathaniel Mills. Readings during the church service will be from the churchs first Bible, published in 1855.
Pine Ridge Baptist
CHINA GROVE Pine Ridge Baptist Church, 880 Old Linn Rd., will celebrate Homecoming tomorrow.
There will be no Sunday School. Morning worship will be gin at 10 a.m. instead of the usual time.
Special music will be provided by the Testimonians from Stanly County. Guest speaker will be the Rev. George Jeffries who has retired after serving churches in Rockwell, Archdale and Stanly County.
Everyone is invited to bring a lunch and enjoy fellowship following the service.
There will be no Evening service.
For more information, call Pastor George Bradshaw, 704-279-0574.
Secretary recognized
KANNAPOLIS On May 31, Sarah Cleary will retire as the church secretary for First Presbyterian Church in Kannapolis after 30 years of service.
The church will recognize Cleary during the 10:55 a.m. worship service tomorrow. A reception for Sarah and her husband, Vern Cleary, will immediately follow the service in the church’s fellowship hall.
Cleary began working at First Presbyterian on May 16, 1977.
Graduates recognized
Salem Lutheran Church, 5080 Sherrills Ford Road, will be recognizing 10 graduates from their congregation during tomorrows morning worship service.
Graduates are: Weston Church, Hannah Garrison, Rachel Graham, William Hurst, Shawn Lloyd, Brandon Garrison, Justin Graham, Natalie Jones Morgan and Kathryn Phillips Thill.
Each graduate will receive a gift and prayers and blessings of the gathered community. The public is invited.
Doug Hefner is pastor of Salem Lutheran.
Cedar Grove AME Zion
CLEVELAND The Cedar Grove AME Zion Church of Clevelands Steward Board program will be held at 4 p.m. tomorrow.
The Rev. Henrico White and his congregation from Marvin AME Zion Church in Waxhaw will be guests.
White grew up in Walls Memorial AME Zion Church in Charlotte, where his father served as pastor. It was there that his ability to play the piano and organ developed, equipping him to assist with the childrens choir there.
White accepted his call to the preaching ministry in 1988, and has served Marvin AME Zion since 1991.
The pastor of Cedar Grove is the Rev. Dr. Patricia A. Tyson.
Love Christian Center
Bishop Randy Borders will speak at Love Christian Center, 102 N. Long St., East Spencer, at 5 p.m. tomorrow.
Borders is senior pastor of Faith Harvest Church in Shelby and founder and presiding prelate of Harvest Ministries International Inc., a network of local churches with a primary apostolic vision of church planting and strengthening.
Author of the critically-acclaimed book, Stay Focused, Borders travels extensively throughout the United States as a speaker.
The pastor of Love Christian Center is Bishop W. Ronald Hash.
For information call 704-433-1474.
Mens Chorus
The St. Johns Mens Chorus will present a free concert at 5 p.m. Sunday at St. Johns Lutheran Church, 200 W. Innes St.
The Mens Chorus, formed in 1994, is composed of men from the Salisbury-Rowan area who enjoy singing all styles of music. Rosemary C. Kinard is director of the group, whose membership is from many area churches, including St. Johns, First Presbyterian, First Methodist, First UCC, Sacred Heart, Organ Lutheran, Central United Methodist (Spencer) and others. They range in age from college students to retirees.
The group rehearses on Sunday afternoons in the fall and spring, and performs for many local events, including the Catawba College Service of Lessons and Carols in December.
Sundays concert will be accompanied on the piano by Janie Rollins. Rob Durocher is the director of music at St. Johns. The group will perform favorites such as Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah, Shall We Gather at the River, Every Time I Feel the Spirit, and Soon and Very Soon. Soloists include Jared Gordon, Ralph Hair, Gordon Senter, Norman Sloop and Mike Weddington.
Sandy Ridge
LANDIS Sandy Ridge AME Zion Church will celebrate its 141st anniversary tomorrow. Founded in 1866 by a group of former slaves of Rowan County, the church has a continuous line of descendants that is still evident in the majority of the families of the current membership.
Guest speaker for the 11 a.m. service will be the Rev. Terrence J. Jones. A graduate of Livingstone College and Hood Theological Seminary, Jones serves as a general officer in the AME Zion Church as the secretary-treasurer of the Department of Church Extension and Home Missions. He has served on the executive board for the United Way of America.
The morning service will also feature a tribute to the life and ministry of the Rev.John H. Partee, a life-long member of Sandy Ridge who has served as pastor to a number of churches, including Sills Creek and New Hope in Rowan County.
The afternoon service will begin at 3:30 p.m. and will feature the Rev. Derrick R. Anderson as guest speaker. He pastored Sandy Ridge 1982-1986, and the current sanctuary was built during his pastorate. He is currently pastor of St. Paul AME Zion Church in Detroit, Mich. He is a 1969 graduate of Boyden High School. After receiving degrees from Hampton University and University of Louisville, he received a Masters of Divinity from Hood Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Asbury Theology Seminary.
A major component of the afternoon service will be the climax of phase one of a capital campaign building fund that was initiated in January at Sandy Ridge.
The annual Hall of Fame induction will include the following members: Mrs. Onie Inez Bradley, Mrs. Marian W. Harris, Mrs. Earle Lyons Smith and Mr. Milton Taylor. This honor is bestowed on members upon reaching their 70th birthday.
Special guests for the afternoon service will be the Rev. Michael McLean and the choir and congregation of East Stonewall AME Zion Church of Charlotte.
The Rev. Anthony J. Freeman is completing his second year as the pastor of Sandy Ridge.
St. Lukes choir
The St. Lukes Episcopal Parish Choir traveled to Williamsburg, Va. and presented a concert on May 11 at Bruton Parish Church.
The 33 members of the choir, led by choirmaster Phillip Burgess, Ph.D., were invited to sing a program that was part of the churchs Candlelight Concerts series. The concert took place in conjunction with the Parishs celebration of the 400th anniversary of the founding of the settlement at Jamestown.
The 8 p.m. concert started in the venerable 1715 church with a Hal Hopson arrangement of G.F. Handels Praise the Lord. This was followed by Mozarts Ave Verum Corpus. The program featured two pieces in the American Shape Note style, Hark I Hear the Harps Eternal and Down in the Valley to Pray.
Two African American spiritual pieces, Ezekiel Saw the Wheel, and Poor Man Lazrus, were presented. The historically inclusive program included C.H.H. Parrys Jerusalem and finished with two John Rutter works, an arrangement of Amazing Grace and The Lord Bless You and Keep You.