Religion News: Celebrate Thanksgiving, with an emphasis on The Giving

The Link is bringing The Giving to town.

The Giving is a program to help needy families who prefer to cook their own Thanksgiving meal at home, and it's accepting donations. The Link, a contemporary community-focused Beaufort church, is collecting donations of food and money to buy the ingredients to place in boxes for families who are requesting assistance.

The Giving, a night to give thanks and to give to others, will culminate with a special service from 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 22 at Holiday Inn Suites at 2225 Boundary St. in Beaufort. The service begins at 6 p.m. where tables will be set up to hold donations.

In addition to the "Celebration of Thanks" service, there will be music from the church band and games such as a "Pimp My Turkey" competition for the kids and fun-loving adults. Cell phone texters are invited to the "Thanksing" competition to see who can text the fastest what they are most thankful onto an oversized computer screen.

"The idea is to raise support to take care of people who can't provide their own meal," said Mike Green, The Link pastor.

Concerned that the down economy might make it harder for families to celebrate this year, Green came up with The Giving as a solution.

Some of the 20 families who have been referred by The Salvation Army, the Department of Social Services, the United Way and HELP of Beaufort include a single mother with four children younger than 5 and a mother who lives on disability and has a child who is mentally disabled.

"Yes, we have lost a lot and it has been a rough year, but Thanksgiving has been about being thankful for what you do have," Green said.

"It is a time of reminding people of how much we do have and that's the goal," he said.

The event is expected to provide for 50 to 100 needy families.

Also included in each box will be information about the area's resources provided for those in need through the Community Service Organization.

The Link is located at 1053 Otter Circle in Beaufort.

FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH

First Christian Church of Shell Point begins a six-session presentation of The Man in the Mirror program for "The Seven Seasons Life Plan."

The initial session and a pancake breakfast is at 8 a.m. today. All men of the community are invited. Reservations are requested.

The church is located at 102 Old Savannah Highway, Beaufort.

Details: Bob Sandlin, 843-812-5783; Will Payne, 843-846-8669

THE BAPTIST CHURCH OF BEAUFORT

Dan Goeller of Sioux Falls, S.D., will be featured at a Meet The Composer Weekend today and Sunday at The Baptist Church of Beaufort. The church's choirs; White Bluff United Methodist Church, Savannah; First Presbyterian Church, Beaufort; and LowCountry Children's Chorus will present Goeller's work, "In His Own Words," a dramatic choral presentation at 3 p.m. Sunday.

The church is located at 600 Charles St., Beaufort.

Details: Dr. Melanie Williams, 843-252-4104; www.bcob.org

CHURCH OF THE PALMS UNITED METHODIST

Church of the Palms United Methodist will host its seventh annual fall bazaar from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. today.

Included will be a silent auction, Grandma's Attic, Rada Cutlery, homemade arts and crafts, cookbooks, homemade meals and casseroles, and baked goods.

A free magic show is among the many children's activities, along with a food court. Proceeds benefit the church's community outreach ministries and spiritual education projects.

The church is located at 1425 Okatie Highway, S.C. 170, Okatie.

Details: 843-379-1888

HILTON HEAD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

"Arise! Cry Out!," a worldwide day of extraordinary prayer for children and schools, is from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. today at Hilton Head Presbyterian Church. The event is sponsored by Moms in Touch International.

The church is located at 235 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island.

Details: Deborah McCandless, 843-247-7102, damcpaa@hargray.com

ALLEN CHAPEL AME CHURCH

Allen Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church celebrates its 140th church anniversary at 7:30 p.m. today through Friday. The celebration begins at 7:15 p.m. today with the performance of the skit, "Glory Train."

The celebration continues with nightly services, speakers and guest churches. Closing worship service begins at 4 p.m. Nov. 22 with the speaker, Dr. Daniel Hembree, Ph.D., of Claflin University, Orangeburg. The Church of Christ Adult Choir of Grays Hill will sing.

The church is located at 16 Shelter Church Road, U.S. 21, Burton.

Details: 843-846-2840

HORSEPOND BAPTIST CHURCH

Horsepond Baptist Church will conclude the celebration of its pastor's 18th anniversary at 1 p.m. Sunday. Pastor Joseph Brown of Charity Inspirational Church of God in Christ will speak.

Details: 843-524-4128, 843-846-8050

UNION BAPTIST CHURCH

Union Baptist will conclude its Friends and Family celebration at 11 a.m. Sunday. Elder Raul Bradley will speak. Dinner will be served following this service.

Details: 843-524-8604

LUNCH HOUR OF POWER

The Lunch Hour of Power praise and worship experience is from noon-12:45 p.m. Wednesday in Helen Galloway's Memorial Chapel of Chisholm Galloway Home for Funerals at 808 Bladen St., Beaufort.

Details: 843-524-6634

BEAUFORT CHURCH OF CHRIST

Beaufort Church of Christ will present "Wanted: A Man To Stand In the Gap!" at its fourth anniversary Gospel Meeting and Revival Sunday this Sunday through Friday. Jerry Houston, minister of East Henrietta Road Church of Christ in Rochester, N.Y., will speak.

The event is hosted by Jonas Gadson, minister of the Beaufort Church of Christ.

The church is located at 170 Robert Smalls Parkway, Beaufort.

Details: 843-524-4281, www.BeaufortCoC.com, jg@jonasbonus.com

FIRST BAPTIST HILTON HEAD

In honor of Thanksgiving, First Baptist Hilton Head Sanctuary Choir will present "Sing Praise to the Lord," a musical presentation of selections from Psalms at 9 and 11:15 a.m. Sunday in the sanctuary.

The public is invited and child care is available. The event is free and no reservations are necessary.

The church is located at 100 South Forest Beach Drive, Hilton Head Island.

Details: 843-785-4478

INTERFAITH PRAYER SUPPER

The Exchange Club of Beaufort will host an interfaith prayer supper for the community at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at The Holiday Inn on Boundary Street in Beaufort. The cost is $12 a person.

The panel of speakers are Tim Tebalt, St. Peter's Catholic Church; Sy Commanday, Religious Leader of Beth Israel Synagogue; Bishop Alden Hathaway, retired, The Episcopal Church; and Dr. Abraham Murray, of Brick Baptist Church.

Details: 843-525-0102, atac@hargray.com

ADAM STREET BAPTIST CHURCH

Adam Street Baptist Church will hold three nights of Harvest Revival at 7:30 nightly Wednesday through Friday. The group will conclude with a Harvest Service and Thanksgiving Feast at noon Nov. 22. The Rev. Joseph Taylor, of Mount Tabor Baptist Church in Savannah, will speak at noon Nov. 22. The theme is "A Fruitful Harvest Requires a Faithful Witness."

The church is located at 736 Lands End Road, St. Helena Island.

Details: 843-838-2887

THE CHURCH OF THE CROSS

The Crafters Guild of The Church of the Cross' 21st annual Christmas Bazaar will feature an arts festival this year.

The event will be from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Nov. 21. Local artists will sell vintage linen angels, floral arrangements, jewelry and purses. Other items to be sold are the church's ornaments, coffee mugs, aprons, note cards and cookbook, "Great Cooks Rise." There also will be homemade baked goods and canned foods.

The church is located at 110 Calhoun St., Bluffton.

Details: Bobbie Ohliger, 843-705-1090; Lisa Carroll, 843-304-1922

JERICHO AME CHURCH

The eighth annual Feed My Sheep & Free Clothing Give Away begins at 11 a.m. Nov. 21 at Jericho AME Church.

The church is located at 342 Broad River Blvd., Burton.

Details: 843-522-1648

LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTIAN CENTER

Lighthouse Christian Center will celebrate 10 years in ministry at 10 a.m. Nov. 22. The Rev. Julia Winslett, of Smithfield, Va., will speak. Pastors are Chad and Ann Nobles.

The center is located at 3538 Trask Parkway, Beaufort, across from Stokes-Brown Toyota.

Details: 843-525-6910, lcc@hargray.com

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