This Sunday, St. Matthew Baptist Church will have a special homecoming service followed by an evening celebration where they will honor the Rev. David S. Houston, retiring after 45 years as pastor.
Lunch will be served following the morning service.
The evening service will be a celebration with tributes and songs to honor Rev. and Mrs. Houston.
Revival services will begin Wednesday, Aug. 6 and continue through Friday, Aug. 8, with services at 7:30 p.m. nightly. The Rev. Clarence Marlin, pastor of Fairview Baptist Church, will open the revival on Wednesday.
The speaker for Thursday will be the Rev. Paul Jones, pastor of New Zion Baptist Church.
The Friday night speaker will be the Rev. Matthew Vaughters, pastor of New Ressurection Life Christian Center, Mocksville.
Macedonia Baptist
Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church will hold its annual homecoming service Sunday at 3:30 p.m. The speaker will be the Rev. Melvin Kesler, pastor of New Shepherd Baptist Church, Cooleemee. He will be accompanied by his choir and members of his congregation.
A dinner will be served at 1:30 p.m.
Revival services will be held Tuesday-Friday at 7:30 each evening. The speaker will be the Rev. John Leazer, pastor of Macedonia Baptist Church in Concord.
Dr. W. T. Jackson is the church pastor.
Oak Grove Baptist
CHINA GROVE ó Oak Grove Baptist Church will observe its homecoming this Sunday. The Rev. James I. Smith will bring the message for the 11 a.m. service.
The Rev. Harold Jordan, pastor of Providence AME Zion Church, will bring the message at 3 p.m. He will be accompanied by his choir and congregation. Dinner will be served at 1:30 p.m.
The annual revival will be held Monday through Friday. Elder Richard Johnson, pastor of Hall’s Chapel Primitive Baptist, will be the evangelist for the week. Services begin nightly at 7 p.m.
Yadkin Grove
Yadkin Grove Baptist Church, 325 Leonard Road, is holding a Family and Friends Picnic today, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. with rides and games for all ages to enjoy.
On Sunday at 11 a.m., the morning church service will have as guest speaker Pastor Troy Russell of Grace Worship Center International.
After dinner, there will be an afternoon church service, 3:30 p.m., with guest speaker, Pastor David L. Bracken of Jerusalem Baptist Church, Salisbury.
For more information please contact the church at 704-637-1311 or Exhorter Monique Tolbert at 704-968-8658.
Dorsett Chapel
SPENCER ó Dorsett Chapel United Church of Christ’s homecoming will be held this Sunday.
The Rev. Thomas Wyatt, pastor of Dorsett Chapel, will deliver the 11 a.m. message, and the Rev. Leamon Brown of First Calvary Baptist Church will be the speaker for the 3 p.m. service.
Revival will be held Aug. 4-8 at 7:30 p.m. nightly. Bishop Derek Kelly of New Faith Full Gospel Fellowship Center will be the guest speaker for the week.
Grace Lower Stone
ROCKWELL ó Grace Lower Stone Church will be celebrating homecoming this Sunday.
The speaker for the Sunday school hour will be Dr. Jeff Cook beginning at 9:30 am. The speaker for the worship service will be the Rev. George Fidler beginning at 10:30 am.
A covered dish luncheon will follow at noon.
Grace Lower Stone is located at 2405 Lower Stone Church Road in Rockwell. Everyone is invited to attend.
Joint VBS
GRANITE QUARRY ó Shiloh United Methodist and Wittenberg Lutheran Churches in Granite Quarry are jointly offering a Beach Party vacation Bible school, Aug. 3-7, beginning at 5:15 each evening with supper.
The vacation Bible school will be held at Shiloh United Methodist Church, 234 S. Main St. in Granite Quarry.
For more info call Shiloh at 704-279-2112 or Wittenberg at 704-279-4505.
Woodleaf VBS
Woodleaf United Methodist Church, located behind Woodleaf Elementary School, will be having a Rainforest Adventure Vacation Bible School Aug. 4-7.
At Rainforest Adventure kids will hear stories about Jesus, make crafts, learn rainforest rhythms, play games, eat snacks and make new friends.
Children between age 3 years and 6th grade are invited to participate 6:30ń8:30 nightly. The whole family is invited to family night on Thursday.
Victory Baptist VBS
CHINA GROVE ó Victory Baptist Church in China Grove will have vacation Bible school 6:30-8:30 p.m., Aug. 4-8.
The church is located at 118 W. Centerview St. Dr. Nelson Wright is church pastor.
For transportation, call 980-622-3328.
Bible camp
LANDIS ó First United Methodist Church of Landis is holding Back to School Bible Camp Aug. 11-13, 6-8:15 p.m. for ages 5 through 5th grade.
The theme is: “The Adventures of Jonah-A Tale of Obedience.”
Drop off will take place at the fellowship building each evening, and pick up takes place at the sanctuary.
The closing program will be held during the worship service on Sunday, Aug. 17. The public is invited to a free luncheon immediately following the service.
For more information, call 704-857-5041.
Immanuel VBS
ROCKWELL ó Immanuel Lutheran Church’s vacation Bible school will be held during the coming week, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Sunday. This year’s theme is “Rainforest Adventure.”
Each evening, the students will gather in the fellowship building for supper before going to classrooms. Classes will be held for nursery age through high school.
The students in the middle and high school classes will take a field trip every evening related to the VBS theme. Sites to be visited are Air, Land and Sea pet shop, Salisbury Animal Hospital, McKenzie Taxidermy Supply, Blue Blazes Miniature Horse Farm, and Tiger World.
On Friday, parents and family members will gather with students for a closing program. Before the program, they will gather in the fellowship building for hamburgers and hot dogs. Each class will give a brief summary of their learning experiences from the week, and together all classes will give a musical program.
This year’s director is Rhonda Stirewalt.
Immanuel is located two miles southeast of Rockwell on Immanuel Church Road.
Media ministry
KANNAPOLIS ó A media ministry informational seminar will be held Aug. 5 at 7 p.m. in the sanctuary of Marable Memorial AME Zion Church, 400 Huron St., Kannapolis.
William Matthews, church media consultant and owner of “On Location Media” in Salisbury will lead this free seminar for interested youth, adults and seniors.
Topics will include current trends, wireless microphone systems, video systems, CD/DVD production and radio broadcasting.
For more information, call 704-932-6211.
Ask the Experts
CHINA GROVE ó First Baptist Church of China Grove, 302 Patterson St., is hosting three special Sunday night services, Aug. 3, 10 and 17, for members and guests to receive information on important topics.
The free services begin at 6 p.m. and conclude around 7:15 p.m. There will be activities for youth and children and a nursery will be available.
The schedule is as follows:
– Aug. 3- “Online Safety and PC Awareness” by Chad Lewis, director of Technical and Instructional Support at Catawba College.]
– Aug. 10ń “Advance Care Directives: Health Care Power of Attorney, Declaration for a Natural Death, and Do Not Resuscitate” by Terry Barringer, director of Resident and Family Services at Aldersgate, a continuing care retirement community.
– Aug. 17ń “The Need for Professional Counseling” by Dr. Sharon Barnette, Director of Living Water Counseling Associates.
For more information, call the church office at 704-857-5415.
Second Blessings
CONCORD ó Forest Hill United Methodist Church is holding their “Second Blessings” consignment sale Friday, Aug. 8, from 6-8 p.m. and Saturday, Aug. 9, 8 a.m.-noon.
The church is located at 265 Union St. N. in Concord.
For information, contact foresthillsale@ctc.net.
Synergy United
Synergy United of Salisbury will host “Extreme Makeover-God’s Edition” Aug. 15-16.
Friday Night Glory will feature Prophetess Vivian Humphrey of Word Afire Ministry in Fayetteville as the guest minister. The service begins at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday Empowerment is for ladies only, age 15 and over. Gospel comedian, Rev. Clee, will close out the day.
There is no fee for either service, but pre-registration is required due to limited space. The registration deadline is Aug. 9 for the Saturday, Aug.16 event.
For more information please contact Synergy United, 704-213-8896, or synergy.united @yahoo.com.