St. Luke Baptist Church on Hawkinstown Road is sponsoring a community outreach picnic today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be activities for all age groups. The event is geared to reach new community members and fellowship in the Hawkinstown community.
Gay’s Chapel United Methodist Church will have a special back to school service on Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
Prayers will be made on behalf of educators, school personnel and all students. School supplies gathered by church members will be blessed before being distributed to the schools.
Afterward, a picnic style meal will be served in the fellowship hall. The church is located at 5545 Woodleaf Road. The Rev. Frank and Mary Gordon are co-pastors.
Homecoming will be celebrated at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, 9275 Bringle Ferry Road, on Sunday at the 10:30 a.m. service.
Note that Sunday school will be at 9:30 a.m. and Camper Service will not be held on this date. The last Camper Service for the summer will be held Aug. 31.
The guest speaker will be the Rev. Randall Cauble, who grew up in Rowan County and graduated from East Rowan High School and the UNC-C. He also graduated from the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary and was ordained in 1986 at Christiana Lutheran church. His first call was to Calvary Lutheran Church in Spencer from 1986 to 1991. Upon leaving Calvary, he became pastor of New Jerusalem Lutheran church in Hickory where he has served for the past 23 years. A covered dish luncheon follows the 10:30 a.m. service.
CHINA GROVE — During the 9 a.m. Sunday school hour, the topic will be the ever-growing Mount Zion UCC preschool. Present will be the new preschool director, Emily Bancroft, and 4-year-old-teacher, Barbara Corriher.
The 10 a.m. worship service includes a Blessing of the Bookbags service. The morning begins at 8:30 a.m. with a continental breakfast in the new building.
Mount Zion UCC is located at 1415 S. Main St. For more information visit mtzionchinagrove.com or call 704-857-1169. The Rev. Mark L. Burns serves at pastor.
On Sunday at Mt. Calvary Holy Church, 1400 Standish St., the guest speaker at the 10 a.m. service will be Evangelist Cathye Marlin of Fairview Heights Baptist Church of Salisbury, where the pastor is Clarence Marlin. At the 5 p.m. service, the guest speaker will be Evangelist Ramona Lynn Streeter of Living Water Ministry of Troutman, where the pastor is Jeffrey Wallace.
Rockwell — Lyerly Evangelical Church, 1320 Crescent Road, will celebrate its 123rd anniversary on Sunday at the 10:30 a.m. service. The Rev. David L. Jones will preach the homecoming service.
Pastor Jones was interim pastor at Lyerly Church 1977-1979. He taught at East Rowan High School, chairing the Bible History Department and was a graduate English teacher at Zhongshan University, Guangzhou, China. He has been pastor of Wyatt’s Grove Baptist Church since 1988.
Lyerly Church was organized in 1891 by Dr. J.M.L. Lyerly, the same person who founded Nazareth Children’s Home in 1906. Dr. W.C. Gaither, Jr., has been pastor since 2006.
Gold Hill — St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church will welcome back family and friends to celebrate homecoming on Sunday. St. Stephens is celebrating 176 years in the Gold Hill community. The congregation was organized on Christmas Day in 1837. It is a congregation of the North Carolina Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
The celebration begins with Sunday School at 9:45 a.m. with Justin Simpson, a son of St. Stephens, teaching the combined adult class.
Pastor Darrell Norris will preach at 11 a.m. Rev. Norris previously served as the pastor of Mt. Zion, Richfield and Union, Salisbury. He also served as the chaplain for the Trinity Oaks Lutheran retirement campus.
After worship will be a covered dish feast in the fellowship building.
The day’s activities conclude with the annual St. Stephen’s Playschool open house from 2 until 4 p.m.
Everyone is encouraged to wear something blue for the day. This year’s theme is “True Blue Christians.”
St. Stephen’s is located at 4401 St. Stephen’s Church Road, about 2 miles from the town of Gold Hill.
New Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 2785 Dunn’s Mountain Road, will celebrate its 121st church anniversary and homecoming on Sunday at 3 p.m. with guest speaker the Rev. Bradley Taylor, pastor of Outreach Christian Ministries of Salisbury.
There will be a four-night revival Monday through Thursday at 7 p.m. The guest speaker for the week will be Bishop Derek Kelly, pastor of New Faith Full Gospel Fellowship Center of Lexington. The theme of this revival is: “Going Higher In God.” Various area churches will attend each night and their choirs will sing. The host pastor is the Rev. Patrick Jones Sr.
Rockwell — Immanuel Lutheran will celebrate the beginning of another school year with a Blessing of Backpacks service on Sunday at 11 a.m. All students and school personnel, from preschool through adults, may bring backpacks, book bags and lunch boxes to this service for a special dedication and blessing.
Teachers, assistants, principals, other administrators, secretaries, cafeteria staff, librarians, janitors and bus drivers are invited to be blessed, affirmed in their vocations, and encouraged.
Cedar Grove will observe their annual homecoming on Sunday. The pastor, the Rev. Dr. Bertha Pittman, will bring the 11 a.m. message. Lunch will be served at 1:30 p.m. The Rev. Andrew Davis, associate minister at Shady Grove Baptist of East Spencer, will be the 3 p.m. speaker.
Revival services will run Tuesday through Thursday at 7 p.m. nightly. Speakers for the three-night revival will be • Tuesday, the Rev. Dr. William McKenith of Marable Memorial AME Zion Church, Kannapolis • Wednesday, the Rev. Tamica Robinson of St. John AME Zion Church, Mocksville • Thursday, the Rev. Patrick Tate of Southern City Tabernacle AME Zion Church, East Spencer.
Henderson Grove Missionary Baptist Church will celebrate homecoming on Sunday. The 11 a.m. service will be conducted by the Rev. Perry J. Dye, pastor of Henderson Grove. Dinner will be served at 1:30 p.m. The guest speaker at the 3 p.m. service will be the Rev. John Geter, pastor of St. Matthews Baptist Church in Rockwell.
A four-night revival will be held Aug. 25 through 28 at 7:30 p.m. nightly. The evangelist for the week is the Rev. Dr. Herbert Miller II, pastor of First Baptist Church in Lexington.
Dr. Miller is a graduate of Shaw University with a degree in religion and philosophy, a master of divinity from Wake Forest University Divinity School and a doctor of ministry degree from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. He is currently an adjunct professor at Carolina Christian College in Winston-Salem and at Davidson County Community College, Lexington.
Knox Chapel UMC, 3520 Amity Hill Road, will observe its annual homecoming on Sunday at 11 a.m. Lunch is at 12:30 p.m. Bring a covered dish and join in the meal and fellowship.
The Gospel Plowboys will be singing selections in the homecoming service at 11 a.m., then the meal, and then back in the church about 1 p.m. or 1:30 p.m. for the music concert.
First Calvary Baptist Church will observe Deacons/Deaconesses Day on Sunday at the 11 a.m. service. The Rev. John K. Bankhead Jr. will be the speaker.
Rev. Bankhead Jr. is a native of Kannapolis. He received his license at First Baptist Church of Kannapolis and was ordained by the Lane Creek Association of Ministers. He is currently serving as associate minister at Jerusalem Baptist Church of East Spencer under the leadership of the Rev. Dr. David L. Bracken.
Host pastor is the Rev. Leamon E. Brown. First Calvary is at 400 S. Long St.
Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 1920 Shirley Ave., will celebrate its annual Women’s Day on Sunday at the 11 a.m. service with guest speaker the Rev. Dr. Ethel Bamberg-Revis.
Dr. Bamberg-Revis is an ordained elder of the AME Zion Church and an associate minister and member of Soldiers Memorial AME Zion Church.She serves as a Chaplain to the W.G. (Bill) Hefner VA Medical Center. Her counseling service, Haven Counseling Services, is located at 1211 Old Concord Road.
Music will be provided by The Sanctified Sisters of Mount Zion and creative expressions by the Mount Zion Dance Ministry.
Rev. Dr. Nilous M. Avery II is host pastor.
Woodleaf — Homecoming will be observed on Sunday with Dr. Emery Rann, pastor at Mt. Vernon, preaching at 11 a.m. Lunch will follow in the fellowship hall.
The afternoon service, consisting of singing, testimonials, baptisms and the homecoming financial report, will begin at 2:30 p.m. Mt. Vernon is located on Carson Road.
The Church of the Word of God, 1380 Hollywood Drive, celebrates the 18th pastoral anniversary for Pastor Willie James Heilig at 11:30 a.m. Sunday.
Pastor Heilig began as a minister in 1982. In 1996, he started The Church of the Word of God. The first service was in August of 1997 with three adults and 10 kids at Dan Nichols Park.
New Bethel Baptist Church will observe homecoming on Sunday. The pastor, Rev. William S. Cowan will be the speaker for the 11 a.m. service. Lunch will be served at 1:30 p.m. Dr. Clary Phelps, pastor of Gethsemane Baptist Church will be the speaker at the 3 p.m. service.
Revival will be held at 7 p.m. Monday through Wednesday with speaker Dr. Timothy Williams, pastor of Yadkin Star Baptist Church, Lexington.
The 27th pastoral anniversary service for Bishop JC and Apostle Charlene Kellam of Bethel Power of Faith Ministries, 1021 N. Main St., will be held Sunday at 11 a.m. with guest speaker Apostle Kenneth Kates of Christ Deliverance Temple of Dublin, Ga.
The Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church Men’s Choir observes its 16th anniversary celebration on Sunday at 5 p.m. The celebration will feature Gethsemane’s Men’s choir, The Heirs of Salvation and other invited guests.
Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church is located at 719 S. Caldwell St. where the Rev. Dr. Clary L. Phelps is pastor. Eugene Nunn is president of the Men’s Choir and Thelma Cuthbertson serves as Minister of Music.
East Spencer — Mr. Cedrick Hash will deliver his first official sermon as a minister on Sunday at 5 p.m. at Love Christian Center, 102 N. Long St. Mr. Hash has been in the church nearly all of his life and is a music minister, youth leader, financial stuart, asst. treasurer of the Church of God Apostolic, and special assistant to his father, Bishop Ronald Hash.
The pastors of Love Christian Center are Bishop Ronald and Mother Lotis Hash. For additional Information call 704-433-1474.
First Presbyterian Church of Salisbury welcomes Dr. Ed Lewis to the pulpit on Sunday for all three worship services. Dr. Lewis is a native of Johnson City, Tenn. and a graduate of Columbia Theological Seminary and Drew University. He served as an installed Presbyterian pastor for 41 years, the last 34 at First Presbyterian Church of Mooresville. Since retiring in 2004, he has served three interim pastorates and continues to serve as a pulpit supply.
CHINA GROVE — First Free Will Baptist Church, 404 N. Boston St., will be celebrating homecoming on Sunday with a special singing service starting at 10 a.m. with guest singers The Littles. The worship service will begin at 11 a.m. and Pastor Mark Murphy will bring the message. Following the service will be lunch on the grounds.
KANNAPOLIS — Revival services at Prince of Peace Free Will Baptist Church, 4225 Vincent St., are will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 27 at 7 p.m. with the Rev. Don Draughn, and Sunday, Aug. 31 at 6 p.m. with the Rev. Gary Brown.
Host pastor is Chuck Overcash, 704-938-8433.
LEXINGTON — The Mighty Clouds of Joy will be in concert, Sunday at 4 p.m., at the Lexington Civic Center, 217 S. main St. For more information call Glenn Jordan, 336-243-1365
Emcees for the event will be Michael Bethel and Roland Carter. Advance tickets are $20, DOS $25. Also performing will be the Swanee Quintet, the Legendary Singing Starts, Men of Christ, the Chosen Disciples and the original Sensational Aires.
The 27th pastoral anniversary of overseer Priscilla Overstreet and co-pastor Calvin Overstreet will be held Aug. 28, 29 and 31.
Speakers for the event are • Thursday, Apostle Wayne Danner of Newton • Friday, Bishop Dalton of Mocksville • Sunday morning at 11 a.m., Bishop Jackson of Statesville.
Lilly’s Chapel Church of God will have a pre-anniversary service for their pastor, Dr. Thoms Clawson Sr., on Friday, Aug. 29 at 7:30 p.m.
Guest speaker will be the Rev. Carolyn Bratton of Moore’s Chapel AME Zion Church of Salisbury. Special guest choir will be from the Ardis Chapel AME Zion Church of Salisbury.
Sills Creek AME Zion Church, 3165 Bradshaw Road, celebrates homecoming on Sunday with the Rev. David Williams of Pleasant Ridge AME Zion of Gastonia, at 3 p.m. Lunch will be served at 1:30pm.
Revival services are Tuesday through Thursday with devotions at 7 p.m. and service at 7:30 p.m.
Preachers for the week are • the Rev. Donald Hill, Freedom Tabernacle Family Worship Center, Lexington • the Rev. Clarence Roberts, Union Bethel AME Zion, Cornelius • the Rev. Jimmy Griffin, New Jersey AME Zion, Lexington • the Rev. Kinston Jones, St. Stephens AME Zion, High Point.
Richfield — Mt. Zion Lutheran Church will host a family movie night Friday, Aug. 29, rain or shine. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and come for a free, family-friendly movie, complete with popcorn, beginning at 8:30 p.m.
Call the church at 704-463-7280 or visit www.mtzionrichfield.org for more information.