SPENCER — The Ushers Ministry of Whosoever Will Let Them Come Ministries (WWLTC) will host a Parade of Hats program celebrating the history of hats in the church, our culture and our lives.
The community is invited to join in. The “parade” will be this afternoon at 4 p.m. at WWLTC, which is located at 318 8th St. and is under the leadership of Bishop Chris and Pastor Patricia Brown.
For more information, call 704-633-3876 or visit ministrycorrespondence@wwltcministry.org
Kannapolis — The Founder’s Day and 30th year anniversary of the leadership and ministry of senior pastor Jeff and Renee Upright continues today at God’s Church of Faith, 811 Elm St.
At the 7 p.m. service this evening, associate pastor Mike Tickle will speak. On Sunday May 25 at 11 a.m. service the speaker will be pastor Evrett Mills, followed by lunch in the fellowship hall. At 2 p.m., associate pastor Tim Brown will bring the message.
Mocksville — The annual Women’s Day program at Clement Grove Church of God Seventh Day, will be celebrated today at noon. The speaker will be Prophetess Beverly Leach of Joy Delight Seventh Day in Troutman where her husband, Elder Walter Leach serves as pastor. Clement Grove Church is located at 159 Parker Road. Raymond Robinson Jr. is host pastor.
May 25 is Scholarship Sunday at Gethsemane Baptist Missionary Church, 719 S. Caldwell St. This marks the 20th anniversary of the George B. Stowe Memorial Scholarship fund.
The Rev. Marcus Fairley will be the speaker for the 11 a.m. service.
Rev. Fairley is an associate minister at Mount Zion Baptist in Albemarle. He is currently pursuing his master of divinity at Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, Ga.
St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church on Hawkinstown Road will be celebrating Family and Friends Day Sunday, at Dan Nicholas Park.
The morning service will begin at 11 a.m. in the theatre and lunch will be served afterward at shelter 4. Friends and family of the congregation are encouraged to attend. The Rev. Arthur Heggins is pastor of St. Luke.
Union Lutheran Church is hosting the group Captive Free, a relational music ministry team sponsored by Youth Encounter, as they present an evening of worship and praise next Friday, May 30 at 7:30 p.m. The evening will include a program of music, games, skits and personal sharing.
Union Lutheran Church is located at 4770 Bringle Ferry Road. For more information, call 704-636-5092.
SPENCER — Jerusalem Baptist Church, 1570 N. Long St. Ext, will celebrate the 13th anniversary of their pastor Dr. David L. Bracken. The program and special recognitions will take place during the 11 a.m. service on Sunday.
Guest speaker will be the Rev. Phyllis Jones, associate minister at Lewis Chapel Missionary Baptist Church of Fayetteville.
Dr. Benny L. Vickrey of Lexington will be the guest speaker at the 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. services on Sunday at Emmanuel Baptist Church, 2300 Bringle Ferry Road. The choir under the direction of Crystal Cornelison will sing “I’m Bound for that City”.
Gene Sides is host pastor.
Mocksville — St. John AME Zion Church, 145 Campbell Road, will celebrate its 117th anniversary on Sunday at 3 p.m. The afternoon guest and preacher will be the Rev. Thomas Lee, pastor of White Rock AMEZ in Granite Quarry. Host pastor is the Rev. Tamica L. Robinson.
Lilly’s Chapel Church of God, 618 W. Thomas St., will celebrate its 99th church anniversary on Sunday at 3 p.m. The speaker will be the Rev. Edward Holloway, pastor of First Congregational United Church of Christ in Concord.
Cooleemee — The Pastor’s Aide Ministry of Erwin Temple Church will host the annual presentation of the Twelve Tribes of Israel Sunday at 3 p.m. Area churches are invited to participate in representing the different Tribes. Each Tribe group will provide gospel singing during the presentation.
Rev. Ervin L. Hannah Jr. is pastor of Erwin Temple.
Gold Hill — Liberty United Methodist Church, 3885 Liberty Road, will host the Gospel Voices at the 11 a.m. service on Sunday.
The Gospel Voices have ministered through music over the Southeast United States for more than 40 years with a blend of Southern gospel, country gospel and Appalachian old time gospel.
Clay Lunsford is one of the original founders of the group and now serves as president of the North Carolina Thumb Pickers and Finger Style Guitar Players Association. The group has produced numerous recordings and many of the CDs will be available for purchase. Dress is casual.
Father Samuel F. Weber, O.S.B., will be in residence at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on May 27 through June 3. His visit will offer sacred music instruction, communal singing of the Liturgia Horarum and participation in Mass. He will direct a chant seminar at Sacred Heart Saturday, May 31, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., which is free and open to the public. Registration begins at 9 in Brincefield Hall with coffee, juice and muffins being served.
Father Weber is the founder and first director of the Benedict XVI Institute for Sacred Music and the Sacred Liturgy, Archdiocese of San Francisco, with teaching duties in liturgy, sacred music, Latin and spirituality at Saint Patrick Seminary and University, Menlo Park, Ca.
He founded and served as first director, from 2008-11, of the Institute of Sacred Music, Archdiocese of Saint Louis, Mo.
Prior to his appointment in Saint Louis, in 1999 Father Weber was a founding member of the Wake Forest University Divinity School, where he also held the position of associate professor of early Christianity and spiritual formation. This appointment marked the first time a Roman Catholic priest was appointed to the faculty of a Baptist institution.
The M.C. Ensemble of Moore’s Chapel AME Zion Church, 500 Partee St., will present “Ministers of Comedy” on Friday, May 30 at 6:30 p.m. The program will feature local pastors and ministers.
Those participating are:
The Rev. Rudolph Cornelius, pastor of Zion Wesley AME Zion Church, Troutman; The Rev. Thomas Lee, pastor of White Rock AME Zion Church, Granite Quarry; Pastor Timothy Bates, Calvary and Cameron Presbyterian Churches, Statesville; “Lady Gufu” (Elder Willette Johnson of Dorsett Chapel United Church of Christ), Spencer; and The Rev. Clayton Ruggs, associate minister at Fairview Heights Baptist Church. Stacey Cornelius will serve as master of ceremonies.
Special musical guests will be the “Just Sangin’ Ensemble” of Tobaccoville, under the direction of. Shipps L. Washington. A free will offering will be appreciated.
Mooresville — In celebration of its partnership with Shepherd Elementary School, Saint James Episcopal Church, 851 Shinnville Road, will host a hot dog lunch fund-raiser for the school next Saturday, May 31 from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. The cost is $5 for adults and $3 for children under 12. Door prizes and a 50/50 drawing are also planned. For more information, contact the church office at 704-664-7115.
Gay’s Chapel United Methodist Church, 5545 Woodleaf Road, continues its 175th anniversary celebration with Heritage Day on Saturday May 31.
The day begins at 10 a.m. with a history presentation in the picnic shelter on the true story of the American Revolution.
This event ends at 11:30 a.m. and will be followed by a hot dog lunch in the fellowship hall. At 12:30 p.m., two folks who are regulars at the Old Stone House, Stephanie Muff and Sgt. Bob Price of the Sheriff’s Department, will be demonstrating spinning of yarn and demonstrating antique guns. An old musket will be fired every 15 minutes.
Old timey games will be played which include marbles, jump rope, arm wrestling, horseshoes, sack races, corn hole, hopscotch and bean bag toss. The event closes at 3 p.m.
On Saturday, May 31, Stallings Memorial Baptist Church, 817 South Main St., is hosting the second annual HillTop Community Carnival from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m..
There will be entertainment, food, games and a concert starting at 7 p.m. featuring Ricky Traywick, older brother of Randy Travis.
This event is offered free to the community.
Charlotte — Victory Christian Center School plans an evening of praise with urban and contemporary gospel music plus standup comedy.
On Saturday, May 31 from 6 until 10 p.m. in the Victory Christian Center Dome, the “Continuing the Excellence” Benefit Concert will feature Grammy-nominee and three-time Dove Award-winner Canton Jones; comedian Akintunde; and Stellar Award-nominee, Charlotte’s own Travis Greene.
All proceeds benefit Victory Christian Center School. General admission is $10. Tickets are available at www.vccs25years.org
STATESVILLE — Horizon Church, 316 Signal Hill Drive, will be hosting the Women of Worship Conference on May 31, from 9 a.m. until 8:30 p.m. This conference, presented by Purpose and Life Christian Center, is being offered free of charge, however registration is required.
For more information, visit www.purposeandlifechristiancenter.com
Horizon Church is a non-denominational church. Find details at www.horizonchurch.net
HICKORY — Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) North Carolina Synod will gather May 30-31 for their annual synod assembly. Over 520 members and guests of the synod will meet on the campus of Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory. They represent over 200 ELCA congregations across North Carolina.
The theme of the 2014 synod assembly is “Forward Together. In Christ. In Community.” One of the highlights of the assembly will be four brief addresses on the respective parts of the theme by the Rev. Dr. Marcus Miller, synod initiative coordinator.
During the assembly, synod agencies and institutions will offer video reports of their ministries. elections of members for NC Synod-related ministries and agencies will be conducted, new members for NC Synod Council chosen and a 2015 ministry spending plan will be adopted.
Visitors are welcome to the assembly. The agenda, the list and locations of educational forums, directions, and additional information are posted at http://www.nclutheran.org/about/assembly.php.
A pre-assembly event, “Moving into the neighborhood,” will be held May 29 on the university campus, beginning at 9 a.m. Walk-in registration is $20, food and housing not included.
The North Carolina Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America serves over 200 congregations across the state. It is one of 65 synods of the ELCA, which has more than 10,000 congregations. To learn more, see www.nclutheran.org or www.elca.org