Today: Picnic, then homecoming

The annual Picnic at Cedar Grove is today beginning at 11 a.m.  Food will be available to purchase.  Homecoming is Sunday with Minister Chris Sherrill of Shiloh Baptist Church, Concord delivering  the 10 a.m. message.  Lunch is at 1 p.m.  The Rev. Sonny Turner of Charlotte is the 3 p.m. speaker.  Rev. Dr. Bertha E. Pittman is host pastor

ROCKWELL — Lyerly Evangelical Church, 1320 Crescent Road, will celebrate its 126th anniversary at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday. Dr. W.C. Gaither Jr., pastor, will preach and there will be special music by The Edwards Family.

The church was chartered in 1891 under the name Bethany Reformed Church by Dr. J.M.L. Lyerly, who also founded Nazareth Children’s Home in 1906.

Mt. Zion UCC 

CHINA GROVE — During the 10:30 a.m. service Sunday at Mt. Zion UCC, 1415 S. Main St., there will be a Blessing of the Children Time in preparation of the new school year. Bring canned goods and dry goods for the Main St. Mission Food Pantry. Mark L. Burns is host pastor. Visit www.mtzionchinagrove.com or call 704-857-1169.

The Arbor UMC

The Arbor UMC, 5545 Woodleaf Road, will be having a Back To School worship at 10:30 a.m. Sunday. School supplies collected will be dedicated and special prayers for students, teachers and staff will be offered. After the service will be a traditional Sunday lunch prepared by members. Pastor Craig Sefa is host pastor.

New Bethel Baptist 

MOCKSVILLE — New Bethel Baptist Church, Hwy. 601 South, will celebrate its annual homecoming service on Sunday with Rev. John Bankhead, host pastor, delivering the 11 a.m. service. Rev. Dr. Claude Forehand II, pastor of First Baptist Church in Kannapolis, will speak at 3 p.m. and dinner will be served at 1:30 p.m.

Annual revival services run Monday-Wednesday, Aug. 28-30 at 7 p.m., with Rev. Timothy Bridges Sr., pastor of Shady Grove Baptist Church in East Spencer, as the guest speaker.

Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist 

Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 1920 Shirley Ave., celebrates Women’s Day on Sunday at 11 a.m. Music will be provided by the Sanctified Sisters Mass Choir.

Guest speaker is Tracy Ross, a graduate of NC Central University with a degree in community health education. She is currently pursing her masters in divinity at Shaw University Divinity School. She serves as an associate minister at First Calvary Baptist Church in Durham and is employed as headquarters staff for the Woman’s Baptist Home & Foreign Missionary Convention of NC.

Dr. Nilous M. Avery II is host pastor.

Mt. Vernon homecoming

WOODLEAF — Homecoming will be observed at Mt. Vernon, 435 Carson Road, on Sunday. The Rev. Dwight Omar Neely, pastor of Rock Spring AME Zion Church in Hope Mill will preach at 11 a.m. Lunch will follow, and the afternoon service begins at 2:30 p.m. Rev. Neely is a native of Rowan County and holds an associate of arts degree from Fayetteville Technical Commnity College, a bachelor of ministry degree from Andersonville Theological Seminary and is currently pursuing a master’s degre, also from Andersonville. He is a veteran of the U.S. Army.

Host pastor is Rev. Otto Gaither.

First Calvary Deacon and Deaconess Day

First Calvary Baptist Church, 400 South Long St., will celebrate Deacon and Deaconess Day on Sunday. The 11 a.m. speaker is Vanessa Moser Heggins, a native of Rowan County and graduate of UNC-Charlotte with a BA in elementary education. She retired from the Rowan-Salisbury School System in December of 2015 after 30 years of service.

Vanessa Heggins is a former member of Shady Grove Baptist Church and is the wife of Rev. Arthur L. Heggins, who recently retired as Pastor of St. Luke Baptist Church.

Henderson Grove Missionary Baptist

Henderson Grove Missionary Baptist Church will celebrate homecoming on Sunday. The 11 a.m. service will be conducted by the pastor, Rev. Perry Dye. Lunch will follow at 1:30 p.m. The guest speaker for the 3 p.m. service is Rev. Alice Perry, pastor of The Vineyard Worship Center. A five-night revival will be held Aug. 28-Sept. 1 beginning at 7 p.m. The evangelist will be the Rev. Reginald McConneaughey, pastor of God’s Tabernacle for Believers in Rockwell.

Historic St. Andrew’s

WOODELAF — The annual homecoming at Historic St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church will be Sunday at 11:15 a.m. A covered dish lunch will follow at Unity Presbyterian Church (Woodleaf-Barber Road off Hwy 801).

The service will celebrate the 177th anniversary of the consecration of St. Andrew’s on the last Sunday in August,1840. The service will be conducted by The Right Reverend Anne Elliott Hodges-Copple, Bishop Suffragan of the Diocese of North Carolina. She served as Bishop Pro Tem from 2015 until a new Bishop was consecrated in June 2017.

For more information, email bebrown24@gmail.com or call 919-619-8588.

Oak Ridge Baptist

CHINA GROVE — The Rising Star Choir at Oak Grove Baptist Church, 1205 S. Main St., will celebrate its anniversary on Sunday beginning at 3 p.m. All choirs, soloists, and praise teams are invited to come help the choir celebrate. Host pastor is the Rev. Dr. Keith Curry.

Liberty AME Zion

COOLEEMEE — Liberty AME Zion church, 271 Gladstone Road, will host a Twelve Tribes Rally on Sunday at 3 p.m. Host pastor is Rev. David T. Smalls.

New Zion Baptist

New Zion Baptist Church, 2785 Dunn’s Mountain Road, will observe its annual homecoming on Sunday at 3 p.m. with guest speaker Rev. Leamon Brown, pastor of First Calvary Baptist Church.

Revival services run Monday-Thursday, Aug. 28-31 at 7 p.m. Rev. Carolyn Bratton, pastor of Moore’s Chapel AME Zion, will be the revival speaker. Music will be provided by the various area churches in attendance. Host Pastor is Rev. V. Patrick Jones Sr.

Rhema Praise

SPENCER — On Sunday beginning at 3 p.m. is the annual youth revival of Rhema Praise and Worship Church, 117 Long Ferry Road. Pastor James Ledbetter of Oak Smith Grove, Lexington is the guest speaker. Rev. Alonza Williams Sr. is host pastor.

Sills Creek

MOORESVILLE — Sills Creek AME Zion Church, 3165 Bradshaw Road, is observing its annual homecoming on Sunday. Dinner will be served at 1:30 p.m. The 3 p.m. guest is Dr. Dwayne A. Walker of Little Rock AME Zion Church, Charlotte.

Revival services are Aug. 28-30 at 7 p.m.

Monday: Dr. James Grant of New Patterson Grove Faith AME Zion Church in East Bend;

Tuesday: Rev. Walter Bryson of Shiloh AME Zion Church, Asheville;

Wednesday: Rev. William Puryear of Torrence Grove AME Zion Church, Charlotte.

Rev. Morgan Glenn is host pastor.

Faith Temple Triumphant continues revival series

EAST SPENCER — Faith Temple Triumphant Ministries, 900 Pinetree Drive, will hold the last of its six Sunday Afternoon Revival Series on Sunday at 3 p.m. Pastor Rickey Johnson of Antioch Baptist Church, Granite Quarry, will be the revival preacher. Host pastor is Dr. Henry C. Diggs.

Gethsename Men’s Choir

Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church, 719 South Caldwell St., hosts its 19th anniversary celebration on Sunday at 4 p.m. starring the Gethsemane’s Men’s choir and also featuring The Heirs of Salvation and other invited guests. Rev. Dr. Clary L. Phelps is host pastor. Eugene Nunn is president of the Men’s Choir and Thelma Cuthbertson is Minister of Music.

Lutheran Reformation Series session 4

The East Rowan Area LCMC/NALC congregations’ series of five worship services continues with session 4 at 4 p.m. Sunday at Christiana Lutheran Church. Speaker will be Pr. Carlin Ours on “Impact of Reformation on the World.”

Session 5 will be a joint celebration at 4 p.m. Sunday Oct. 29 at Organ Lutheran Church with guest speaker Pr. Mark Ryman.

A nursery will be available. Contact St. Paul’s Lutheran Church at 704-633-0922 for more info.

Benefit concert at New London UMC

NEW LONDON — On Sunday, New London UMC, 206 S. Main St., will contiue its Music and Missions Concert Series at 4:30 p.m. with Daniel Dickens (church pianist) and Kelly Newsome (organist at First Lutheran Church, Lexington). Proceeds from the concert will assist with the medical expenses of Tate Whitley, a 3-year old recently been diagnosed with leukemia. With questions, call 704-463-5669.

Ice cream social

Milford Hills Baptist Church (East Colonial Drive) is hosting a community Ice Cream Social at Foil Tatum Park, 225 North McCoy Road, on Sunday from 6-8 p.m.

Immanuel Lutheran Praise Festival

ROCKWELL — On Sunday Immanuel Lutheran Church will kick off the new school year with a Praise Festival of Songs. The sermon will even be in song, by the Immanuel Chancel Choir under the direction of Dr. Rob.

Whether praising God, asking for repentance, requesting assistance, or offering submission, the words of the old classic hymns have played a vital role in daily, spiritual lives. Many hymns utilize direct quotes or paraphrased passages from the Bible while other hymns contain original words of individual authors who were inspired by God’s greatness and goodness and/or the life of Jesus Christ.

Luther’s Lutheran

RICHFIELD — Luther’s Lutheran Church, 4955 Richfield Road at the corner of Stokes Ferry Rodd, continues its school supplies collection through Sept. 3.

Moms in Prayer of Rowan County

Moms in Prayer of Rowan County invites the community to join in united corporate prayer for our children and schools for “First Day. Let’s Pray” on Monday, Aug. 28, at noon at the First Ministry Center (former YMCA) at 220 N. Fulton St. People who attend during the lunch hour may bring a bag lunch.

Moms in Prayer International is a non-denominational Christian organization comprised of women coming together for one hour weekly to pray for children and schools. Women pray for their own children and for the children, faculty, and staff at local schools with a goal to cover all children and all schools around the world in prayer.

Begun in 1984, groups meet in all 50 states and in 140 nations.

Visit www.momsinprayer.org. Barbara Hendrix has been involved in Moms in Prayer for 14 years. Email for more information at mipirowan@gmail.com or call 980-330-1227.

Allen Temple Church

CLEVELAND — Revival services and the 132nd anniversary celebration at Allen Temple Church on main Street, are Monday-Wednesday, Aug. 28-30. Praise begins at 7 p.m. and worship at 7:30 p.m.

Monday: Rev. Eddie Fortson, Moore’s Chapel AME Zion Church, Cleveland;

Tuesday: Rev. Kenneth Cornelius, Zion Wesley AME Zion, Troutman;

Wednesday: Rev. Debra Hall, New Hope AME Zion Church, East Spencer.

The anniversary service is at 3 p.m. Sunday Sept. 3 with Rev. Timothy Porter from Mt. Tabor Presbyterian Church, Cleveland. A meal will be served following the service. Pastor Stedman Newsom is host pastor.

Gethsemane Missionary Baptist after school tutoring program

Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church will host its annual after school tutoring program 3-6 p.m Monday-Friday, 3-6 p.m. starting Aug. 28. Pick up from select schools; seats are still available. Call 704-633-5057 for more info or email gethsemane@charlotte.twcbc.com

Jerusalem Baptist

Jerusalem Baptist Church, 1570 N. Long St. Extension, will celebrate revival and homecoming on Tuesday-Sunday, Aug. 29-Sept. 3.

The revival speaker for Tuesday through Thursday at 7 p.m. is Rev. Dr. Paul A. Lowe Jr , pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church in Winston-Salem. Dr. Lowe is past moderator of the Rowan-Baptist Association and a North Carolina Senator for District 32.

On Sunday, Sept. 3 the 11 a.m. speaker is Rev. Dr. Dennis Leach Sr. , vice-moderator of the Rowabn-Baptist Association and pastor of Morning Star Baptist Church in Winston-Salem. Dinner will be served at 1:30 p.m. Dr. David Bracken is host pastor.

Life Church

Life Church (Salisbury) will host a special Community Kick-off and Prayer Event for Operation Christmas Child 6:30-8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 30. This event is free and for the whole family. There will be light refreshments, music, information and prayer. Guest speaker and shoebox recipient, Alex Nsengimana, will share how receiving a gift-filled shoebox following the genocide in Rwanda in the early 90s impacted his life. Learn more about the global impact of Operation Christmas Child since 1993, and how we can come together as a community to bring relief and hope to millions of hurting children around the world through a simple gift. To learn more, visit LifeChurchNC.com

Gloria Dei Lutheran

In commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 1908 Statesville Blvd., will explore the Lutheran churches in America with focus on Rowan County. The study meets Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. Rev. John Tucker is host pastor.

My Father’s House

In My Father’s House, led by the Rev. Roosevelt Jenkins, meets the first two Thursdays of each month from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. The next services will be on Sept. 7 and 14 in the Hurley Room at Rowan Public Library, and will continue in “The Purpose Driven Life.”

Financial Peace University opportunities

Through common-sense principles and small-group accountability, FPU gives people the tools they need to change their behavior and succeed financially. The course is taught by Dave on DVD followed by a small-group discussion. Lessons include budgeting, relationships and money, getting out of debt, saving for emergencies and investing. FPU will be held at

• First Reformed Church, Landis. Two sections will be offered, one during Sunday School as an elective class and the other will on Tuesday evenings. Begin Sunday, Sept. 10 (10-10:45 a.m.) or Tuesday, Sept. 12 (6:30-7:30 p.m.). Sign-up ends Sept. 3 at www.daveramsey.com or the church at 704-857-7119.

• Trading Ford Baptist Church, 3600 Long Ferry Road. Classes begin Sunday, Sept. 17 at 4 p.m.

• Saint Peter’s Lutheran Church, 2570 Saint Peters Church Road. Classes begin Thursday, Sept. 21 at 6:30 p.m.

Contact www.daveramsey.com for more information or to register.