Three Dixonville area churches will host Sunday School in the Park at Towne Creek Park Sunday morning, beginning at 8 a.m.
Fairview Heights Baptist, First Calvary Baptist and Hall’s Chapel Primitive Baptist Churches will partner in sponsoring the program. The event is being held to extend outreach services to the community at large. The general public is invited to attend.
Activities will begin with a continental breakfast from 8 to 8:30 a.m., followed by the lessons. Regular morning services will be held at each church. For more information, contact these coordinators: Fairview, Minister Jerome Allison at 704-223-1310; First Calvary, Deanna Martin at 704-639-1252 or Hall’s Chapel, Yolanda Woods at 704-636-8486.
Pastors of the churches are the Rev. Clarence Marlin, Fairview Heights Baptist; Elder Richard Johnson, Hall’s Chapel Primitive Baptist and the Rev. Leamon E. Brown, First Calvary Baptist.
Towne Creek Park is adjacent to the Civic Center off Martin L. King Jr. Ave. and Old Concord Road.
The Women’s Ministry of Solid Rock will host a prayer breakfast today at 9 a.m. Evangelist Ramona Lynn Streeter of Living Water Ministry, Troutman, will speak. Solid Rock is located at 1004 Locke St. Rev. Samuel A. Washington is the pastor.
LANDIS — This evening at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 6 p.m. four churches are coming together for a community worship musical titled “Great I Am.” The performances will be at First Reformed Church. This is a musical that will focus on worship and there is no charge for admission.
Participating churches will be Grace Baptist Church of China Grove, Dayspring Community Church of China Grove, Blackwelder Park Baptist Church of Kannapolis and First Reformed Church in Landis. The choir will be under the direction of Beth Steedley of China Grove.
RICHFIELD — Mt. Zion Lutheran Church, 111 E. Church St., will host a family movie night this evening, rain or shine. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and come for a free, family-friendly movie beginning at 8 p.m. Call the church at 704-463-7280 or visit www.mtzionrichfield.org for more information.
Mt. Zion’s pastor is Ruth Ann Sipe.
On Sunday First Presbyterian Church will recognize all of their teachers and leaders who have given them their time and talents this past year in adult Sunday school, children’s discipleship, 1st Kids, confirmation, middle school youth, and high school youth.
In addition, Dr. Randy Kirby will preach at all three worship services on “Encouragement for Dilbert.” Services are in the sanctuary at 8:30 and 11 a.m. and in Lewis Hall at 8:50 a.m.
LANDIS — Sandy Ridge AME Zion Church will celebrate its 148th anniversary on Sunday.
This year’s theme is “Celebrating Our Triumphs Through These Many Years.” A thematic component will include a memorial tribute to John B. Long. During the afternoon service, tributes will include reflections on Mr. Long’s contributions to the church, community and to his family. Tributes will be presented by Bennett Hester Sr., by James Wilkie and by one of his grandsons, Stephen Long.
Dr. Anthony J. Freeman, pastor of Sandy Ridge, will bring the message during the 10 a.m. service. The Sandy Ridge Gospel Choir and Fresh Anointed Voices will provide the music ministry. A special recognition during this service will be to remember several members of the congregation who passed away since May of 2013.
The afternoon service begins at 3:30 p.m. and will feature Dr. Donald Gray, pastor of Mt. Sinai Baptist Church of Catawba, with music by the Mt. Sinai Baptist Church Choir.
The annual Hall of Fame induction will include Rosalind Lindsay, Pearl Melchor, Jeffrie Ann Sheely and Jennie R. Wright. This honor is bestowed upon members upon reaching their 70th birthday.
Dr. Anthony J. Freeman is pastor of Sandy Ridge.
John Calvin Presbyterian Church, 1620 Brenner Ave., will host guest minister the Rev. Tim TenClay at the 11 a.m. service on Sunday.
He and his wife J.J. plan to accept a call to Italy from the Waldensian-Methodist Churches of Italy this summer to coordinate the resources for the estimated 500,000 migrants living in Naples, Italy. The immigrants are coming from northern Africa and eastern Europe to start a new life.
TenClay will speak about the growing problem in Italy in dealing with the flood of immigrants coming into the country.
The Reformed Church of American and the Presbyterian Church USA denominations are partners with the Waldensian Church in Italy and South America in the American Waldensian Society.
Rev. TenClay is an ordained minister in the Reformed Church in America and has been the pastor of Dunningville Reformed Church in New York. He is in North Carolina for the board meeting of the American Waldensian Society in Valdese.
Ardis Chapel AME Zion Church’s annual Women’s Day is Sunday at 11 a.m. The preacher for the occasion will be Sister Donna Cuthbertson of Sill’s Creek AME Zion Church. Ardis Chapel is located at 1920 Old Mocksville Road.
China Grove — Concordia Lutheran Church will celebrate Confirmation Sunday at the 11 a.m. service. Six young people will affirm their baptism after two years of instruction from Luther’s Small Catechism. Pastor Ken Reed will lead worship. Concordia is located on NC Hwy.. 152, west of downtown China Grove.

SPENCER — Spencer Presbyterian Church will host a strawberry festival Sunday from 1-3 p.m. on the grounds and in the fellowship hall. There will be free servings of strawberry dessert for guests. Musical entertainment will include “Elvis Presley,” “The McGuire Sisters,” North Rowan Middle School cheerleaders and drill team, principal Alexis Cowan, Natalie Wittich and other local performers. The church is located at 113 1st Street across from the entrance to the NC Transportation Museum.
Liberty United Methodist Church, 3885 Liberty Road, will celebrate Old Fashion Sunday tomorrow. Each member is encouraged to dress in their old-fashioned attire and join in the festivities.
There will be old-time preaching by the Rev. Charlie Curtis and special music will be provided by Darrell Connor and the Country Legends Band. Darrell was featured in the Salisbury Post in April and has been a friend to the Liberty Church community for many years. He is now heading up a project for the church to raise money for a new sound system to honor the late Paul Hill.
The service will begin at 11 a.m. A covered dish lunch will be served at the Liberty Ball Park after the worship service.
White Rock AME Zion Church celebrates its 108th church anniversary on Sunday at 11 a.m. The Rev. Thomas Lee, pastor, will deliver the morning message followed by an old timey covered dish meal immediately following the morning worship service. The 3 p.m. message will be delivered by Rev. Enrico White, pastor of St. Stephen AME Zion Church of High Point.
Mooresville — The Rev. Arthur Heggins of St. Luke Baptist Church on Hawkinstown Road will be the guest speaker on Sunday at Campbell Missionary Baptist Church in Mooresville on the occasion of the pastor’s anniversary. The service will begin at 3 p.m.. The Rev. Dell Wilson is the host pastor.
Fairview Heights Baptist Church, 704 Old Concord Road, will be celebrating their annual Women’s Day on Sunday at 3 p.m.
The speaker will be the Rev. Paula Cheeks, associate minister of At the Cross Ministries Inc.
The women of the church will present songs and liturgical dance.
Host pastor is the Rev. Clarence Martin.
MOCKSVILLE — Family and Friends Day will be held at New Bethel Baptist Church on Sunday at 3 p.m. On the program will be The New Shepard Baptist Church Male Chorus, New Bethel Youth Praise Team, Disciples of Joy, The Chosen to Praise Dance Team along with others.
The church is located at 3727 US Highway 601 S. The Rev. William Cowan is host pastor.
Hall’s Temple will hold its annual Women’s Day service tomorrow at 3:30 p.m.
The guest speaker for the occasion will be Elder Doris Clawson, first lady of Lilly’s Chapel, along with other invited churches. Host pastor is E. Bruce Jr.
EAST SPENCER — Love Christian Center will be having its Women’s Day Sunday at 4 p.m. Guest speaker will be Sandy Johnson, pastor of Harvest Place Worship Center in Lexington. For more information contact 704-925-9423. Bishop W. Ronald and Mother Lotis Hash are the senior pastors. LCC is located at 102 N. Long St.
The 42nd pastoral anniversary celebration for Bishop Harvey L. Rice will be held on Sunday at 5 p.m. at Mt. Calvary Holy Church, 1400 Standish St. The guest speaker will be Dr. Harvey (Chip) Rice Jr., of Maranatha (COGIC), High Point.
The United Ministerial Alliance will hold its joint fellowship service at 7 p.m. on Sunday at Mt. Zion CME Church, 124 Lloyd St. The Rev. Dr. Beverly Gaines Rose is the host pastor. The Rev. Patrick Vincent Jones, pastor of New Zion Baptist Church of Salisbury, will bring the message.
SPENCER — The Interdenominational Minster’s Fellowship of Rowan Inc. presents the 2014 Community Wide Crusade May 19 through 23. It will be held at Jerusalem Baptist Church, 1570 N. Long St. Ext.
The speaker will be Bishop Mildred B. Hines, 98th Bishop in succession of the AME Zion Church. Music will be brought by the IDF youth and adult mass choirs and Creative Expression.
Workshops for adults and youth begin each night at 6 p.m. Friday is youth night as well as the third annual Treasure Feamster memorial scholarship awards. Services begin at 7 p.m.
For more information, contact deelady01@gmail,com or 704-782-0072 weekdays.
The bell choir of St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church and Belles and Beaus of Union Lutheran Church will combine their efforts in a concert held Sunday at 7 p.m. in the Union Lutheran Church sanctuary, 4770 Bringle Ferry Road.
The program will include the use of hand bells, tone chimes, percussive elements, and singing sticks. Familiar hymn arrangements constitute the majority of the program.
Soloist Kaitlyn Burgess, trumpeter Jim Graczyk, pianist Dawn Merrell and organist Pat Miller will also add their talents to the program. Beverly Ludwig and Tonya Brittain serve as music directors.
The concert is family friendly, and a love offering in support of both church music programs will be collected.
CONCORD — The Gospel Traveliers of the Carolinas are celebrating their 32nd anniversary with a two-part musical program that will also feature various other local groups.
Part one of the program is next Saturday, May 24 at 7 p.m., and part two is on Sunday, May 25 at 3 p.m.
Host church is New Beginning Church of God, 5717 Alexander Road. For more information, contact Bishop Gene Roseman at 704-630-0126.
The 2014 Biggest Loser Challenge concluded with 11 participating churches losing a total of 860 pounds. Congratulations to Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church and Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church of Salisbury, the top two churches with the most weight lost and total percent weight lost.
The Health and Wellness ministries will receive $200 for health and wellness activities.
There were others with weight lost of 15 pounds or more as well. There will be a special recognition on May 18, Sunday during the 11 a.m. service for those who participated and completed the Eat Smart Move More classes and the 2014 Biggest Loser Challenge.
The Fit, Faithful and Active Exercise classes of the Mt. Zion Health and Wellness Ministry continue to meet on Mondays at 6 p.m. at the church, and are open to the community. Contact Linda Beaty for additional information at 704-798- 8559.
Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church is located at 1920 Shirley Ave.