Pastors Rhodes Woolly and Jan Huntley and area musicians will be offering brief Lenten services of music and meditation during the lunch hour on three consecutive Mondays this month, held in St. Johnís Chapel at 200 W. Innes St., on Monday, March 14, 21, and 28 from 12:15-12:45 p.m.
The services will include prayer and meditation led by the St. Johnís pastors, and special music by Tim Truemper, hammered dulcimer (March 14); Gretchen Tracy, cello (March 21); Rosemary Kinard, flute and Rob Durocher, piano (March 28).
Tim Truemper, a native of Texas, moved to Salisbury in 1988, and is a clinical psychologist working for the state of North Carolina in early childhood services. He taught himself to play the hammered dulcimer, using his years of musical experience as a guitarist and trumpet player. His handmade instrument was crafted for him by Spears Instrument Company, a local custom musical instrument maker.
Gretchen Tracy, born in New York and raised in Charlotte, began playing the cello at age 12, was a member of the Charlotte Symphony at age 15, and has received degrees from East Carolina and Eastern Illinois Universities. She has played in numerous orchestras and string ensembles, including locally the Charlotte Symphony, the Salisbury Symphony, Carolina Baroque, and the Catawba String Quartet. Gretchen also moonlights as a five-string banjo player with local bluegrass bands.
Rosemary Kinard is associate parish musician at St. Johnís, after having retired in 2007 from her 20 years as head of the choral program at Catawba College. She accompanies the Chancel Choir, and directs three ensembles. She has recently re-discovered her love of the flute, which she plays frequently for worship at St. Johnís.
Rob Durocher is director of music ministries at St. Johnís where he administers the music program of 18 choirs and ensembles. He is an organist and composer, and is active in the NC Synod where he serves on the Candidacy and Worship and Music Committees. Born in Texas and raised in New Jersey, he came to St. Johnís in 1998, after having served churches in Gastonia and Ramsey, NJ.
Hallís Chapel
Hallís Chapel Primitive Baptist Church is hosting the Holy Ghost Reunion Banquet on Saturday, March 12 at 6 p.m. Elder Dwight Moore is the speaker. A $5 donation is requested.
Boyden Quarters
The Spiritual Voices will observe their 37th anniversary at Mt. Zion Baptist Church Boyden Quarters.
The anniversary will be held on Saturday, March 12 at 7 p.m., and continue on Sunday, March 13 at 2:30 p.m.
The pastor of Mt. Zion is Pastor Corey Barr. For more information, call the church at 704-637-3712.
Green at Gethsemane
March 13 is Missions Sunday at Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church, 719 S. Caldwell St. Worshippers are invited to wear African attire.
At the 10:45 a.m. service, guest speaker will be Dr. Gwendolyn Johnson Green on ěBuilding Friendships in Liberia, Africa.
Green is a member of First Emmanuel Baptist Church of High Point. She is First Vice President of Christian Education/Sunday Congress of the Rowan Baptist Association.
Music for the service will be provided by the combined choirs of Gethsemane and Daughters of Praise are the invited praise dance group.
At the 4 p.m. service, Kareem Adul Shakoor of Salisbury High School will be the special guest for the Performing Drum Line.
Latisha Sanders will give an overview of Liberia, Africa, her native home.
The morning and afternoon services are sponsored by the Missionary Ministry of Gethsemane.
125th anniversary
CLEVELAND ó Cleveland First Baptist Church will observe their 125th anniversary on Sunday, March 13 at 10:45 a.m. The church was organized on March 12, 1886 with eight male and 10 female charter members.
A booklet of ěRemembrances and Recollectionsî will be given each family present. Hundreds of pictures will be on display in the fellowship hall.
Special music by the church choir and Amy Tolbert Wilhelm will be presented. Special recognition will be given to a member of the church. Former pastors expected to be present include Dr. Kenneth Hyde, the Rev. Arnold Bell and the Rev. Glenn Dancy III.
Speakers will include Hyde, Dancy and the Rev. Bobby Seagroves, present interim pastor. Seagroves has been serving as interim for 18 months.
Former members are encouraged to come. Lunch will be served afterward.
Girl Scout Sunday
CLEVELAND ó Girl Scout Sunday will be observed at Cedar Grove AME Zion Church during the 11 a.m. service Sunday, March 13.
Girl Scout Troop #670, along with troop leader Maude Jones and troop volunteer Alicia Pharr, will be in charge of the service. Donna Cuthbertson will be the speaker.
Cedar Grove is located at 2430 Hildebrand Road.
Recorder concert
CONCORD-KANNAPOLIS ó The Windsong Recorder Consort, a group of nine musicians who play a variety of instruments, will present a concert entitled ěMusica Enjoyusî at two locations in March.
The first concert will take place at St. Johnís Lutheran Church, 100 St. Johnís Church Road, Concord, at 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 13.
The program will be repeated on March 20 at Memorial United Methodist Church, 1100 West ěCî Street, Kannapolis, at 3 p.m.
The group will present a program of Renaissance, Baroque, Classical and 20th century music. The consort members are Carol Hinson, Jon Hutchinson, Melanie Misenheimer, Don Richards, Doris Rogers, Gwen Sembroski, Nancy Sloop, Winborne Springs, and Rebecca Witkowski.
Admission to the concert is free. For more information call Nancy Sloop at 980-621-2010.
Twelve Tribes rally
The Estella McGorda Missionary Society of White Rock AME Zion Church will sponsor a Twelve Tribes of Israel Rally on Sunday, March 13 at 4 p.m.
The Rev. Morgan Glenn, pastor, will introduce the tribes. Julia Tate, vice chairperson, is in charge of planning the program.
First Calvary Baptist
First Calvary Baptist Churchís music ministry and black history committee will present an afternoon of music, dance, poetry and prose on Sunday, March 13 at 4 p.m.
A highlight of the program will be a tribute to the late James Weldon Johnson, noted educator, songwriter, poet and the first black executive director of the NAACP. Johnson is perhaps best known as the writer of the lyrics for ěLift Evíry Voice and Sing.î Adopted by the NAACP, the song became known as the Negro National Anthem.
Mother and son duo Lorna and Justin Ray will present in dance and oratory ěThe Creation,î one of the sermons written by Johnson.
Minister of Music Winnell Short, the adult choir and MAGNIFY! will present vocal and liturgical dance selections.
The church is located at 400 S. Long St. For more information, call 704-633-2818.
The Anchormen
CHINA GROVE ó Gospel Lighthouse Church presents southern gospel group The Anchormen Quartet in concert on March 13 at 6 p.m.
Gospel Lighthouse is located at 453 Concordia Church Road, one quarter mile past Concordia Lutheran Church on Hwy. 152 West.
A love offering will be taken. For more information call Pastor Joel Ervin at 704-273-8299 or Donna Peeler at 704-857-3390.
South China Grove
Brent Lane will be preaching at the South China Grove Church of God on Sunday, March 13, in the 6:30 p.m. service. Lane is the youth pastor for the church and is also active in prison ministry and other helping ministries.
For more information call 704-467-4555.
Puppet troupe visits
SPENCER ó The Good News Crew Puppet Troupe will present ěIím Following Jesus î at Spencer Presbyterian Church, in the fellowship hall, Sunday at 7 p.m.
The Good News Crew Puppet Troupe is an evangelistic outreach ministry of Tyro United Methodist Church in Lexington. In their 17th year of touring, this 10-member team shares in a fun and innovative way.
There is no admission charge, but a love offering will be collected.
Spencer Presbyterian Church is located on First Street, off Salisbury Avenue across from the entrance to the Transportation Museum.
Mount Olive Baptist
Mount Olive Baptist Church offers Noon-Day Prayer every Tuesday and Thursday in the old Mount Olive Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, 1229 Bringle Ferry Road.
For more information call 704-633-3105.
Open sanctuary
Park Avenue United Methodist Church will open its sanctuary every Tuesday evening from 5:30-6:30 p.m. for anyone to come in and pray in a safe and quiet place. This will be available from March 15-April 19.
Call the Downtown Salisbury Cooperative Parish of The United Methodist Church at 980-234-4775 for details.
Park Avenue UMC is located at 500 Park Ave.
Lenten Bible study
Prince of Peace Lutheran Church is offering a Lenten Bible Study on Wednesday evenings on Hebrews 11-12.
There will be a light meal served at 6 p.m. and Bible study begins at 6:30 p.m. A brief Lenten worship service will end each evening.
For more information, call 704-857-9588 or visit www.princeofpeacesalisbury.org.
Lent at Concordia
CHINA GROVE ó Concordia Evangelical Lutheran Church, 185 Concordia Church Road, is planning Lenten mid-week activities on five Wednesday nights in Lent, beginning March 16.
Supper will be served at 6 p.m., courtesy of Concordia Women, Men and Sunday school classes. At 7 p.m., Pastor Kenneth W. Reed Jr. will lead Bible study and prayer. This yearís series is entitled ěMending Fences ń Biblical Models for Healing Strained Relationships.î Music will be provided by Michael Hiskey.
Second Presbyterian
Salisbury Second Presbyterian, 732 Lincolnton Road, will host their second M&M (meal and message) of the lenten season on Wednesday, March 16 at 6:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall.
Max Dry, elder and Sunday School teacher, will speak about the purpose of prayer. His two daughters, Lynne Harrell and Marie Shehan, will provide music.
Janet Paschal speaks
STATESVILLE ó On Friday, March 18 beginning at 6:30 p.m., Christian female singer/songwriter, author and talk show host Janet Paschal will be featured at the womenís conference at Western Avenue Baptist Church, 1206 Museum Road, sponsored by the South Yadkin Baptist Association.
Registration is required. Call 704-873-4372 for complete information or visit www.sybaptist.org or www.janetpaschal.com.
Macedonia Missionary
CONCORD ó Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church in conjunction with the Sunday school department, presents their fourth annual Musical Extravaganza.
The event is on Saturday, March 19 beginning at 6 p.m. Macedoniaís Mass Choir and the Praise Team will be featured, in addition to several local choirs, praise dancers and hip-hop praise dancers.
Choirs and praise dancers from other churches are invited to join in. Contact Landry Rucker at 704-792-2198 or the church at 704-786-7308 for details.
The church is located at 6734 Macedonia Church Road.
Twelve Tribe program
Ardis Chapel AME Zion Church will hold a Twelve Tribes Program at 4 p.m. Sunday. There will be a youth revival Monday through Wednesday, starting at 7 p.m. Speakers are Donte Snowden, the Rev. Tiffany Miller and Adrian Wyrick.
Rush trial sermon
On Sunday, March 20 at 3 p.m., Melvin J. Rush II will present his inaugural sermon, also known as trial sermon, at Sillís Creek AME Zion Church on Highway 150.
Special music will be furnished by Rushís uncles and aunts and the church choir.
Marable Memorial
KANNAPOLIS ó Marable Memorial AME Zion Churchís Missionary Department will host a dinner theater at 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 26 featuring the Community of Arts performing ěGodís Tromboneî under the direction of Delores Cunningham.
Tickets are $10. For more information , call 704-932-6211. The church is located at 400 Huron St.
Installation at Trinity
An installation service will be held for pastor elect, the Rev. Olen V. Bruner, at 4 p.m. Sunday at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 300 S. Caldwell St. Timothy Bates will deliver the installation message. The Rev. Bruner will be Trinityís ninth pastor.
Bruner was born in Concord and earned his bachelorís degree from Livingstone College in 1977 and his masater of divinity degree at Hood Theological Seminary in 1983.
He has more than 30 years of active Christian ministry.