CHINA GROVE — Mount Zion United Church of Christ celebrates Mardi Gras at 11 a.m. Sunday.
Guest musician Jay Meachum, trumpet professor at Catawba College, will play Mardi Gras songs and accompany the Chancel Choir. Mardi Gras beads optional!
There will be a Fat Tuesday pancake dinner from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday in Mount Zion UCC’s new building. All donations will support the new construction fund.
The church will be offering an Ash Wednesday Service to begin the Lenten Journeys of Faith at noon and 7 p.m. Wednesday.
Mount Zion UCC is located at 1415 South Main St., 704-857-1169, mtzionchinagrove.com
Evangelist Joseph Morrison and his wife, Mennie, from York, S.C. will be the guest speakers during the 10 a.m. service at Resurrection Life Church Sunday.
Joseph is a certified chaplain with the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team and travels with Samaritan’s Purse Disaster Relief Teams. He will share in testimony of how God has worked in his life and ministry.
Mennie works for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.
The Resurrection Life praise band will present the music for the service.
Resurrection Life Church of Salisbury is located at 216 South Main St., 704-638-0002, Rev. Jerry Snipes, pastor.
ROCKWELL — Immanuel Lutheran will host the East Rowan High School Honors Chorus as they perform in concert during the 11 a.m. service Sunday.
Immanuel members Jordan Corl, Steffi Sides and Taylor Trexler are part of this ensemble.
The East Rowan Honors Chorus, an auditioned group of about 40 students, performs in Rowan, Cabarrus and Iredell counties, and throughout other states in the Southeast.
They are under the direction of Dean Orbison, and have amassed numerous awards throughout the country under his leadership.
The chorus has performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City; Lakeland Performing Arts Center, Lakeland, Fla.; and the Greater Virginia Performing Arts Center at Virginia Beach.
The chorus consistently receives superior ratings at state festivals in the highest level of music competition and were named Grand Champion Choir in national festivals in Florida, Virginia, South Carolina and North Carolina.
Orbison has won many awards, including East Rowan Teacher of the Year, Wal Mart Teacher of the Year for Rowan County and Time Warner Cable Star Teacher for three years.
He is a founding member of the Southern Gospel Quartet, Brothers 4, which ministers in churches across the state. The group performs benefit concerts at several community service events.
Following the service, the Honors Chorus and their family members will be treated to a luncheon prepared by members of the Immanuel congregation.
The Henderson Grove Missionary Baptist Church Building Fund will hold a Pack-A-Pew Rally at 3 p.m. Sunday.
The Rev. Timothy Bridges, pastor of Shady Grove Baptist Church in East Spencer, will be the guest speaker. The Rev. Perry Dye is the host pastor.
KANNAPOLIS — Retired Col. Quincy Collins will be speaking at North Kannapolis Baptist Church at 10:45 a.m. Sunday.
Col. Collins is a former POW of the Vietnam War and winner of two Silver Stars, two Purple Hearts and numerous other decorations.
North Kannapolis Baptist Church is located at 312 Locust St.
SPENCER — The Rev. Dr. Dennis Sheppard, pastor of Hope Mills United Methodist Church of Hope Mills, will be the guest preacher at Spencer Presbyterian Church on Sunday in celebration of the 90th birthday of his father-in-law, the Rev. Larry Ayers.
Sheppard and Ayers will assist Spencer Presbyterian pastor, the Rev. Dr. Barrie Kirby, in administering the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper.
The church’s Ash Wednesday is 7 p.m. Wednesday.
Spencer Presbyterian is located on First Street across Salisbury Avenue from the entrance to the NC Transportation Museum.
On Transfiguration Sunday, First Presbyterian will highlight the ministry of the church’s Stephen Ministers. Worship is in the sanctuary at 8:30 and 11 a.m., and in Lewis Hall at 8:50 a.m. for Life Center Worship.
Special music features the Bell Tower Ringers in sanctuary during worship and Catawba Music Scholars during Life Center worship.
The Lenten journey begins at 7 a.m. Wednesday in Lewis Hall with a prayer breakfast.
A service of the imposition of ashes will be observed following breakfast and again at 6:30 p.m. in the sanctuary.
Elijah Furquan, a hip-hop artist and spoken word poet, will be present at all three worship services Sunday at St. John’s Lutheran Church.
Furquan, 20, a student who lives in Milwaukee, was a featured artist during last summer’s National Lutheran Youth Gathering in New Orleans.
He’ll deliver a spoken word poem inspired by the morning’s scripture text at the church’s 8:30, 9 and 11 a.m. services.
St. John’s Lutheran Church is located at 200 W. Innes St.; the Rev. Rhodes Woolly is senior pastor and Danielle Kosanovich is diaconal minister for youth and outreach.
COOLEEMEE — Men’s Day at Liberty AME Zion Church is Sunday.
The program will start at 3 p.m. Lay speakers will participate.
Liberty AME Zion is located at 271 Gladstone Road; Rev. Tamica Robinson is host pastor.
Soldiers Memorial AME Zion Church celebrates Livingstone College Day at 11 a.m. Sunday.
This year’s theme is “The Power of Caring and Sharing,” commemorating the bond between the church and the college.
In keeping with tradition, Soldiers Memorial will honor the legacy of the two institutions that began with Dr. Joseph Price, founding president of Livingstone College, who was a trustee of Soldiers.
He used the church office as his first office and was so committed to the cause that he required the students to walk to church for services.
Dr. William Goler, a professor at the college, was pastor of Soldiers for three years. He conceived the name for the church in honor of the soldiers who fought for the freedom of slaves.
And there is Dr. William J. Trent, who was the first Livingstone College graduate to become president of the college and a member of the college.
This year’s program builds on that legacy and the spirit of the watch night service which was centered on the theme of expecting the best in 2013.
Music will be provided by the Livingstone College Choir. The preacher will be Soldiers’ own pastor, Dr. Grant Harrison Jr., a native of Washington, DC, teacher, singer and anointed.
Dr. Jimmy R. Jenkins, president of Livingstone College, along with members of his faculty and staff, will also be joining us.
Guests are invited to stay for dinner afterward.
Soldiers Memorial AME Zion Church is located at the corner of Church and Liberty Streets in downtown Salisbury. Call 704-213-0991 if you need transportation.
STATESVILLE — New Creation Baptist Church will celebrate the Rev. Joseph Robinson and First Lady Mary Robinson’s sixth pastoral anniversary at 3 p.m. Sunday,
The speaker will be the Rev. Arthur Heggins from St. Luke Baptist Church. Dinner will be served at 2 p.m.
It will be held at the Statesville Civic Center, 300 South Center St.
EAST SPENCER — The seventh church anniversary of Faith Healing and Life Ministries will be celebrated at 3 p.m. Sunday with guest speaker the Rev. William Moody of Bread of Life Missionary Baptist Church of China Grove.
The church is located at 201 E. Pinetree Drive (corner of Pinetree and Shaver St.), 704-239-4781, faithhealinglife@carolina.rr.com
EAST SPENCER — Southern City Tabernacle AME Zion Church will celebrate the life of Mr. William ‘Pete’ Kennedy at 3 p.m. Sunday.
An East Spencer native, Kennedy graduated from the former Dunbar High School, from Livingstone College with a bachelor’s degree, UNC-Charlotte with a master’s degree and the Graduate Realtors Institute. In addition, he holds principal certification.
He has served as public educator, coach and guidance counselor for 28 years.
As a guidance counselor for more than 20years he advised thousands of students, many of whom have become ; as an educator, he served as a delegate to numerous state and national conventions which passed by-laws and regulations to govern the teaching profession.
The owner and President of William R. Kennedy Realty Inc., he has provided jobs for employees and subcontractors for over twenty-five years.
As a realtor, he has assisted hundreds of residents in becoming homeowners, most of them first-time home buyers; he has assisted tenants in becoming homeowners, and he has helped many homeless people leave the shelter and find suitable rental units.
He has served on the Board of Directors for the Salisbury/Rowan Association of Realtors and is a past treasurer of the board.
The church is located 940 South Long St.
The Rowan & Davie County Deacon Alliance, Inc will celebrate its 24th anniversary and revival Sunday through Wednesday.
Services begin at 4 p.m. Sunday at New Zion Baptist church.
The Rev. Corey Barr, pastor of Mt. Zion Boyden Quarters Baptist Church in Mt. Ulla, will speak. The Rev. Paul Jones Sr. is host pastor.
Revival services will be held nightly at 7 p.m. at Jerusalem Baptist Church, where the Rev. David Bracken is pastor.
Speakers for the week are :

• Monday: The Rev. Timothy Bridges of Shady Grove Baptist Church, East Spencer.
•Tuesday: Evangelist Cathy Verdell Marlin, associate minister of Fairview Heights Missionary Baptist Church, Salisbury.
• Wednesday: The Rev. Joseph Robinson of New Creation Baptist Church, Statesville.
St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church hosts second Sunday singing tomorrow, featuring the Lost Then Found trio from Denton.
The group has travelled from Massachusetts to South Carolina singing southern gospel music that ranges from old hymns to new songs heard on the radio today. The 7 p.m. singing will be held in the family life center.
Lenten will begin with the Ash Wednesday service at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 13, in the sanctuary.
St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church is located at 9275 Bringle Ferry Road.
RICHFIELD — Mt. Zion Lutheran Church in will celebrate Shrove Tuesday with a pancake supper from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Tuesday. and begin the observance of Lent on Ash Wednesday with worship including Holy Communion and the Imposition of Ashes on at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday
Mt. Zion Lutheran Church is located at 111 E. Church St., 704-463-7280; Ruth Ann Sipe, pastor.
Mt. Moriah Lutheran Church will start their observance of Lenten services with a pancake dinner on Shrove at 6 p.m. Tuesday, followed by a service of the burning of the palms to be held at 7 p.m.
The Ash Wednesday service with the Holden’s evening prayer service is Wedneday.
Each Wednesday after Feb. 13 there will be a meal sponsored by different committees of the church at 6 p.m., followed by a service at 7 p.m. The theme of these Lenten services will be “Beneath the Cross of Jesus.”
Mt. Moriah Lutheran is located at 750 Mt. Moriah Church Road.
SPENCER — Calvary Lutheran Church begins Holy Week services at 6 p.m. Tuesday. Shrove Tuesday pancake supper with freewill offering.
The Ash Wednesday Service with Imposition of Ashes & Holy Communion will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
Lenten services will also be held on subsequent Wednesdays at 7 p.m.
Calvary Lutheran Church is located at 303 5th St., 704-636-2152.
Join Mount Tabor United Methodist Church at 6 p.m. Wednesday for an Ash Wednesday service, a time of reflection and reverence. Immediately following the service will be a family night potluck dinner.
Mount Tabor United Methodist Church is located just north of Ellis Park on Old Mocksville Road, 704-633-7484, www.mounttaborumc.org
St. John’s Lutheran Church is hosting its annual Pancake Fiesta from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Shrove Tuesday in the fellowship hall.
A freewill offering will be received to benefit the church’s mission work in Guatemala.
St. John’s Lutheran Church is located at 200 W. Innes St.; the Rev. Rhodes Woolly is senior pastor.
SPENCER — Spencer Presbyterian Church’s Ash Wednesday service is 7 p.m. Wednesday.
Spencer Presbyterian Church, 113 First St., 704-636-6223.
Moore’s Chapel AME Zion Church will have an Ash Wednesday service at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
The Rev. Carolyn Bratton, pastor, will be the speaker. Music will be provided by the Rev. Owen Forbes of Livingstone College and the Moore’s Chapel choir.
Moore’s Chapel is located at 500 Partee St.
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CLEVELAND — The Woodleaf JOY Group will meet at noon Thursday at Unity Presbyterian Church.
Matthew Weaver will be the entertainment for this meeting. All are invited to come and bring a covered dish.
The church is located at 885 Woodleaf Barber Road, Cleveland.
Grace Deliverance Tabernacle will host the program “A Moment in Black History” next Saturday, Feb. 16, beginning at 5:30 p.m.
There will be African dancing demonstrations, poetry and presentations of history by the Massey family. Admission is $10, and for children up to age 12, $5.
Grace Deliverance Tabernacle is located at 1237 Old West Innes St. (Salisbury Women’s Club).
CONCORD — Spirit of Life Ministries No. 2 will present the program “Men In Black: The Weapons of Our Warfare” at 3 p.m. Sunday.
The church is located at 123 MeLba St., the corner of Melba and Crowell; pastors Hugh and Etta Banks.
St. John’s Lutheran Church, 200 W. Innes St., is offering two services on Ash Wednesday.
The first service is set for noon in the chapel. Evening worship is set for 6:30 p.m. in the sanctuary.