Celebrating the effort to keep the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream alive continues across Beaufort County this holiday weekend.

Twenty-seven churches in the Beaufort County Ministerial Alliance will celebrate King's legacy Saturday with the theme: "Working Together to Achieve Success."

The 21st annual banquet begins at 6 p.m. Saturday at Beaufort High School. The Rev. Dr. Sam Spain, president of the alliance and pastor of Lady's Island Baptist Church, plans to bring King's "I Have a Dream" speech into context to what is happening Saturday.

"I want everybody to wake up and put his speech in today's relationship with statistics about where we are in the way of gang warfare, school dropouts and teen pregnancy," Spain said. "Is this what Dr. King would have wanted in his 'I Have a Dream' speech?"

"Wake up everybody," he said. "It is time to wake up and do those things that are pleasing in the sight of God to help our children. There is a need for a great awakening, and we have been asleep for too long."

Events in Beaufort and on Hilton Head Island have included youth nights and concerts.

"This year we're trying to involve a whole lot more youth," said Pastor Arthur Cummings Sr., organizer of the alliance's 2012 celebration.

"We most definitely want to keep Dr. King's dream alive," he said. "We want them to remember what he did and how he contributed to the world. We want to make sure that message doesn't die."

So far this week the alliance has sponsored a youth night and a gospel extravaganza.

This morning, All Saints Episcopal Church will begin its MLK Community Service Day at 9 a.m. Volunteers will meet from 8 to 9 a.m. for a free breakfast, then proceed to work on various community projects from 9 a.m. to noon. Volunteers are asked to wear workclothes and closed-toe shoes and bring work gloves. Canned goods will be collected and donated to local food banks. The church is at 3001 Meeting St., Hilton Head Island. Details: 843-681-3881

Activities on Monday include parades in Beaufort and Big Estate and a Memorial March and cookout on Hilton Head.

BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE

The synagogue continues to host its weekend with Rabbi Arnold Belzer and his wife, Arlene, at 10 a.m. Saturday, after which a light lunch will be served. Belzer will officiate at both services. He served as rabbi of Savannah's historic Mickve Israel for more than 20 years. Beth Israel was founded in Beaufort in 1905. The synagogue is at 401 Scott St., Beaufort. Details: 843-524-4076, www.bethisrael-beaufort.com

FIRST AFRICAN BAPTIST CHURCH OF BEAUFORT

The First African Baptist Church of Beaufort will continue the celebration of its 147th anniversary with services at 3 p.m. Sunday. The Rev. Dr. Kenneth Doe of St. Joseph Baptist Church of St. Helena Island will speak. The church was built by freed slaves and was the home church of Beaufort Civil War hero Robert Smalls. The church is at 601 New St., Beaufort. Details: 843-524-7270

PROVIDENCE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

The Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra Youth Concerto Competition and the church will present a recital by violinist Shannon Fitzhenry, accompanied by Chee Hang See, at 4 p.m Sunday at the church, 171 Cordillo Parkway, Hilton Head Island. Fitzhenry, 16, began playing the violin at the age of 2 1/2.

UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CONGREGATION OF THE LOWCOUNTRY

The Rev. Manuel Holland will discuss the sixth Unitarian Universalist Principle -- the goal of world community with peace, liberty and justice for all -- at 10 a.m. Sunday. His sermon title is "How Can We Build the Beloved Community?" Religious education is provided during the service. The church is at 110 Malphrus Road, Bluffton. Details: 843-837-3330

UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP OF BEAUFORT

The Rev. Nan White will lead a celebration of the life of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, at 10 a.m. Sunday. Recordings of King's speeches will be interspersed with music from the Civil Rights era. This service begins the 30 Days of Love campaign partnering with Standing on the Side of Love. It concludes on Valentine's Day. The fellowship meets at 178 Sams Point Road, Lady's Island. Details: 843-838-1399

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE SOCIETY OF BLUFFTON

The Christian Science Society, Beaufort, joins with the Hilton Head Island and Savannah Christian Science churches to sponsor a weekly radio broadcast on WLOW 107.9 FM at 8:30 a.m. Sundays. The show discusses how people overcome illness, relationship difficulties, financial hardships and other trials through prayer.

"Life" will be the subject of the Bible Lesson Sermon at 10:30 a.m. Sunday. The society meets at Temple Beth Israel, 401 Scott St., Beaufort. Details: 843-441-2262

NEW HOPE CHRISTIAN CHURCH (DISCIPLES OF CHRIST)

The church will celebrate its 89th anniversary with Family and Friends Week at 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and conclude at 10 a.m. Jan. 22. Guests are Singleton Family Group with Huspah Baptist Church Family on Monday; Doe-Hagood Family Group with Bethesda Christian Fellowship on Tuesday; Brown-Allen-Aiken with Spring Hill AME Church on Wednesday; Young-Allen-Jenkins-Gibbs with Gillison Branch Baptist Church on Thursday; Glaze-Williams-Allen with Lady's Island Baptist Church on Friday; and New Hope Church Family on Jan. 22. Edward Cushingberry Jr. is host pastor. The church is at 67 Parris Island Gateway, Burton. Details: 843-524-6520

THE CHURCH OF THE CROSS IN BLUFFTON

The Alpha Course will be presented from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday nights, starting this Tuesday through March 20 at the Buckwalter campus, 495 Buckwalter Parkway, Bluffton. Dinner is served at each session. More than 16 million people have taken the Alpha course, now offered in 169 countries in 81 languages in more than 100 denominations. Reservations required.

The church will host a four-week Bible study of the Book of Jude. This study, led by teacher Martha Horn, will be at 7 p.m. Thursdays starting this Thursday and 10 a.m. Fridays starting this Friday at 110 Calhoun St., Bluffton.

The church invites divorced or separated people to attend the DivorceCare weekly seminar and support group from 7 to 9 p.m. Mondays, Jan. 23 through April 23 at 110 Calhoun St., Bluffton.

Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University, a 13-week program, begins at 6:30 p.m. Mondays starting Jan. 23 at 110 Calhoun St., Bluffton. Registration required.

Details: 843-757-2661, www.thechurchofthecross.net

ST. LUKE'S UNITED METHODIS CHURCH

An open 12-Step meeting is held from 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays in the Fellowship Hall. The church is on S.C. 170 near the back gates of Sun City Hilton Head in Okatie. Details: 843-705-7939

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND

A four-week series, "For the Beauty of the Earth: Saving Hilton Head Island for Today & Tomorrow," a program about sustainability and the environment, will be held at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays in Fellowship Hall beginning this Wednesday.

The Health Ministries is sponsoring a free program, "Organ Donation: Don't Let the Myths Confuse You," at 5 p.m. Jan. 24 in the church library. Speakers include transplant recipients, those whose loved ones have been donors, and Pastor Jan Cook, who will give the religious point of view.

The church is at 540 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island. Details: 843-681-3696, mhall@fpchhi.org, www.fpchhi.org

LUNCH HOUR OF POWER

The Rev. Dr. Horace Williams Jr., pastor of Faith Memorial Baptist Church, will speak from noon to 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

ALL SAINTS EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Hilton Head for Peace meets at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the church. Four clergymen of Hilton Head Island -- Dr. John Miller, Father Rick Lindsay, the Rev. Ed Alston and the Rev. Manuel Holland -- will address the significance of nonviolence in their ministries and how it relates to issues of peace and justice in their churches.

Light refreshments will be served. The church is at 3001 Meeting St., Hilton Head Island. Details: 603-264-6102

SECOND GOODWILL BAPTIST CHURCH

The Food Bank will reopen at 10 a.m. Jan. 25 at 2201 Morris St., Beaufort. Details: 843-470-0762

COOSAWHATCHIE BAPTIST CHURCH

The church will host revival services at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Jan. 22 and at 7 p.m. Jan. 23-25 with Evangelist Frank Shivers. Shivers of Columbia is in his 36th year as the full-time preaching evangelist. He has written 10 books and is the director of Longridge Camp and Retreat Center in Ridgeway. Singing will be provided at each service from the Coosawhatichie Baptist Choir and there will be special guests. Nursery services will be provided. Details: 843-258-0081

CONGREGATION BETH YAM

Maggie Anton, noted authority on the historical role of women in Judaism and author of the "Rashi's Daughters" trilogy, will discuss life, love and the Talmud in medieval France at 7 p.m. Jan. 22. The program is sponsored by Hilton Head Hadassah and the sisterhoods of Congregation Beth Yam and Congregation Oseh Shalom. A donation of $5 a person is requested. For reservations, send checks payable to "Congregation Beth Yam Sisterhood" to Judie Aronson, 12 Fishermen's Bend Court, Hilton Head Island, SC 29926; or email judiea2323@gmail.com. Details: 843-837-1639

Walter Isaacson, author of a new biography of Steve Jobs, will discuss the significance of Jobs' contributions to the business world, with Rick Stengel as moderator at 8 p.m. Jan. 24. The program will be presented via satellite as part of the Live from New York City's 92nd Street Y series.

Isaacson, CEO of the Aspen Institute, has been chairman of CNN and managing editor of Time magazine. He is the author of "Benjamin Franklin: An American Life" and "Kissinger, A Biography." Stengel is managing editor of Time magazine. The cost is $10 for congregation members and $15 for nonmembers. Reservations required. Details: 843-689-2178.

The congregation meets at 4501 Meeting St., Hilton Head Island.

SHELL POINT BAPTIST CHURCH

A free, warm meal and conversation is offered from 6 to 7 p.m. each Friday at the church, 871 Parris Island Gateway, Beaufort. Refining Christian Maturity Recovery meeting will be at 7 p.m. A food pantry is also available.

Details: Joy Kircher, 843-575-2200, joykircher028@gmail.com

OLD ASHLEY BAPTIST ASSOCIATION

All churches in District Three of the Old Ashley Baptist Association will meet at 9 a.m. Jan. 21 at Israelite Baptist Church, Laurel Bay. The church is at 46 Rug Rag Road, Laurel Bay. Details: 843-812-6927

THE PARISH CHURCH OF ST. HELENA

The oldest public building in Beaufort, and one of the oldest continuously operating churches in the country, will celebrate its 300th anniversary beginning with opening ceremonies from 9:15 to 10 a.m. Jan. 22.

The Right Reverend and Right Honorable Richard Chartres, Lord Bishop of London, will be a special guest and will preach at the worship service. Chartres officiated at the royal wedding earlier this year.

The event will include the ringing of the 1726 church bell at 9:15 a.m. and calling all to worship as they did in the 18th century. Flag bearers with various historical flags and in period costumes will line the front walkway of the church as a town crier will "cry" a greeting from Queen Elizabeth and the Archbishop of Canterbury. A special worship service will follow with a sermon by Chartres, with original tricentennial music composed by English composer Malcolm Archer and performed by the St. Helena's choir, accompanied by special orchestral musicians. The church is at 505 Church St., Beaufort. Details: www.StHelenas1712.org, janspringle@earthlink.net, stewart.cat@gmail.com

The church will offer two 13-week programs, Divorce Care and DivorceCare 4 Kids beginning at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 24 to help in the healing and recovery process and to deal with divorce and separation issues at 507 Newcastle St., Beaufort. Details: Carole Cash, 843-379-5944 to register; or call Tim Edwards, 843-522-1712 to register kids ages 5 to 12.

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