Churches plan programs for kids

Area churches are reaching out to the younger members of our community in a variety of ways by lending a hand with back-to-school supplies, offering a soccer program, a weeklong camp meeting as well as a camp for drama and art.

Church schools also are offering enrollment in summer programs and several preschools. I'll start out with a quick look at what some of the local churches have going on for children:

LOVE HOUSE MINISTRIES

Love House Ministries will host its annual Back to School Bash and Operation Share Love events from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. today. Participants are invited to hang out for a day of fun, games and prizes Free school supplies and groceries will be offered to those in need. Bring a photo ID and proof of residency. Children must be present to receive school supplies. Love House Ministries is at 423 Parris Island Gateway, Beaufort.

Details: 843-524-5683

SPOKEN WORD OUTREACH MINISTRIES

Miracles, Signs and Wonders Camp Meeting 2009 is from 10 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Sunday-Friday at Spoken Word Outreach Ministries. A nursery is provided. Kids Camp for ages 5-11 is offered each morning. Spoken Word is at 42 Keans Neck Road off U.S. 21, Lobeco.

Details: 843-846-4835, or spokenwordoutreach@earthlink.net

CORNERSTONE CHRISTIAN CHURCH

Registrations for Upward Soccer, for children in kindergarten or 5 years old and up to sixth-graders, offered at Cornerstone Christian Church continues through Monday. The focus is on "every child is a winner" as well as developing good sports skills.

The weekly one-hour practices begin the week of Sept. 1, and the eight-game season will run Sept. 19-Nov. 7.

Each player must attend one evaluation.

Children ages kindergarten or 5 years old through second-graders will be evaluated between 5-7 p.m. Aug. 4. Children in third through sixth grade will be evaluated between 5-7 p.m. Aug. 6.

Early registration fee is $50 if received by Monday. Registration after Monday is $60. Forms may be downloaded from www.upward.org or www.cornerstoneofbeaufort.org.

Details: 843-812-6494

SEASIDE FELLOWSHIP

Seaside Fellowship will offer its first free Creative Youth Art Camp from 9 a.m.-noon Monday-Friday at Seaside Fellowship off Sea Island Parkway, in front of Beaufort High School on Lady's Island.

Youth, ages 5 through 17 are invited to the five-day camp which offers art projects and dramatic surprises. The artists will have the opportunity to exhibit and donate their art in preparation for a grand finale of events at noon Friday in Seaside Fellowship's main lobby.

Friday's events include a lunch for parents, a dramatic musical production, and an art exhibit followed by a silent auction open to the public with all proceeds to benefit Backpack Buddies, a nonprofit organization created to feed hungry children in need.

Register for camp by calling or stopping by Seaside Fellowship.

Details: 843-524-8463

THE PARISH CHURCH OF ST. HELENA

"Veggie Fun World Adventure," a Christian summer program for ages 18 months through 6 years old, is offered by The Parish Church of St. Helena (Episcopal), in downtown Beaufort, through Friday and Aug. 21-Sept. 2. Cost is $130 a child a session. The program is from 9 a.m.-noon Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Details: 843-522-1712 ext. 220, nursery@islc.net

ST. HELENA PRESCHOOL TO EXPAND

St. Helena Preschool, presently for children ages 2 to 4, will offer a classical style of education in its new kindergarten program for 5-year-olds.

Classes will meet from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday through Fridays. A 40 percent tuition discount is available for active-duty military families. Enrollment for September 2009 is under way. The preschool is at 507 Newcastle St., Beaufort.

Details: 843-522-1712, ext. 223, preschool@islc.net

TEMPLE OSEH SHALOM

Robert Wiener has announced his retirement as Temple Oseh Shalom's spiritual leader. Wiener, one of the founding members of Bluffton's only synagogue, has seen the congregation grow from a handful of members to nearly 500 in three years.

Wiener, a lay clergyman during his tenure, will remain active in the temple and continue to teach the Adult Bat Mitzvah Class.

Details: www.templeosehshalom.org

ANGEL FOOD ORDERS

Angel Food orders must be picked up from 9-11 a.m. today at St. John's Lutheran Church, 157 Lady's Island Drive on Lady's Island.

Starting with August orders, any item, including specials may be purchased without the requirement to purchase a box.

Beginning Aug. 29, distributions at St. John's will be from 9-10:30 a.m. Orders not picked up by 10:30 a.m. will be donated. Orders also may be placed at:

• St. John's from 9-11 a.m. today; from 9 a.m.-noon Aug. 15 and from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Aug. 17.

• Grace and Truth Gospel Chapel, 1161 Sea Island Parkway, St. Helena Island (corner of Dulamo Road), from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Aug. 8 and Aug. 15.

• Praise Assembly, 800 Parris Island Gateway in Burton, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Aug. 11.

• Shell Point Baptist Church, 871 Parris Island Gateway in Burton, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Aug. 13.

Orders also are taken Monday through Saturday at Life House Church, 40 Faith Station, Beaufort. Details: 843-379-9673. Orders taken at Life House Church will be picked up there.

Orders may be placed south of the Broad River at Grace Coastal Church in Okatie by calling 843-379-5520.

Orders may be placed online at www.angelfoodministries.com

GRACE CHAPEL AME CHURCH

The Hestelle Woodbury Missionary Society of Grace Chapel AME church will celebrate its 74th anniversary at 5 p.m. Sunday. The Rev. Virginia Peace of Summerville will speak. She is the local elder at Greater St. James AME Church in Summerville at Cooperstore. The chapel is at 502 Charles St., Beaufort.

Details: 843-524-6091, 943-525-0708.

UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP OF BEAUFORT

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Beaufort's Summer Sunday Series continues at 10 a.m. Sunday when Brigid Fackrell will present "Christianity" at Wardle Family YMCA in Beaufort. The next topic will be "Judaism" presented Aug. 2 by Al Reuben. Details: www.uubeaufort.org

CARTERET STREET UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Carteret Street United Methodist Church continues to offer "Real Church. Real Simple" at 8:15 a.m. on Sundays in July and August at Lowcountry Produce 1919 Trask Parkway (U.S. 21), Lobeco.

Details: 843-524-3841

SCOTTSVILLE BAPTIST CHURCH

The Scottsville Baptist Church concludes the celebration of its 129th anniversary at noon with guests including the Rev. Leroy Haynes Sr., Nazareth Baptist Church, St. Helena Island and at 2 p.m. Sunday with the Rev. Leonard Ritter, Ebenezer Baptist Church, St. Helena Island.

The church is at 110 Olde Church Road, St. Helena Island.

Details: 843-838-1260, 843-838-2910

FRIENDSHIP BAPTIST CHURCH

Friendship Baptist Church concludes its annual revival services at 10 a.m. Sunday with Pastor Irvin Middleton. The church is at 36 Friendship Lane, Coosaw Island.

Details: 843-521-4419

MOUNT SINAI BAPTIST CHURCH

The Mount Sinai Baptist Church in Beaufort will conclude the celebration of the eighth anniversary of Pastor Joseph Josey at 4 p.m. Sunday. Pastor Donald Goodwine and the St. Paul Baptist Church are guests at 4 p.m. Sunday.

Details: 843-379-5754 or 843-846-6738.

JERICHO AME CHURCH

Jericho AME Church will host its annual Women's Day celebration at 2 p.m. Sunday. Dawn Baker, senior anchorwoman of WTOC in Savannah, will speak. The church is at 342 Broad River Blvd., Burton.

Details: 843-522-1648,www.webspawner.com/users/jerichoamec

JEHOVAH CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST

The Jehovah Church of Jesus Christ of St. Helena Island will celebrate its 34th Holy Convocation Monday-Aug. 2. Services begin at 8 p.m. nightly Monday through Friday. On Aug. 1, a seminar for all ages begins at 8 a.m. Breakfast and lunch will be served. The Holy Convocation close-out service begins at 2 p.m. Aug. 2. with Pastor Tommy L. Johnson of Holly Hill as speaker.

The church is at 18 John Fripp Circle., St. Helena Island.

Details: 843-838-2928

LUNCH HOUR OF POWER

Elder Pat Bee, associate minister at Lighthouse Christian Center, will speak at the Lunch Hour of Power praise and worship experience from noon-12:45 p.m. Wednesday in Helen Galloway's Memorial Chapel of Chisholm Galloway Home for Funerals, 808 Bladen St., Beaufort.

Details: 843-524-6634

GILLISON BRANCH BAPTIST CHURCH

Gillison Branch Baptist Church is holding its Summer Revival "Moving From Position to Possession" at 7:30 nightly Wednesday-Thursday. A free concert featuring national gospel singer Bryan Wilson will be Aug. 1. Guest revivalist is Pastor Yves Mckenzie, of Disciple Of Christ Ministries in Atlanta. Elder Raymond J. Hamilton is host pastor.

The church is at 4591 Calf Pen Bay Road, Pineland.

Details: 843-726-6143

ORANGE GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH

Orange Grove Baptist Church will celebrate Friends and Family Week at 7:30 nightly Wednesday-Friday.

The Rev. Donald Goodwine of St. Paul Baptist Church will speak Wednesday, the Rev. Chauncey Campbell of Old Fort Baptist Church will speak Thursday and the Rev. Albert Smoaks of Second Jordan Baptist Church will speak Friday.

The church is at 189 Orange Grove Road on St. Helena Island.

Details: 843-838-4128

SEMINAR FOR WOMEN

Reservations are required by Aug. 1 to attend the "Live Above Your Circumstances" seminar for women by Mary Glynn Peeples, who will speak from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Aug. 8 at The Parish Church of St. Helena Parish Hall, 507 Newcastle St., Beaufort. Cost is $10 a person and includes lunch. Cost after Aug. 1 is $15 a person. Space is limited.

Details: 843-522-1712

BEAUFORT AGLOW COMMUNITY LIGHTHOUSE

Minister Lewis Gadson will speak at 11 a.m. Aug. 1 at the Beaufort Aglow Community Lighthouse on the second floor of the Port Royal Medical Center at 1320 Ribaut Road, Port Royal.

Gadson, a licensed evangelist, is the Minister of Music with the Highest Praise Ministry. Dr. Barbara Fishburne has been his overseer and his pastors are Linda and Rufus Fripp.

Details: 843-812-7733