Church news

LifeSong from First Baptist Church will sing at Draytonville Baptist Church on Sunday, March 21, at the 6:30 evening service.

The Health Awareness Ministry of Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church will sponsor a Colon Cancer Awareness Event on Wednesday, March 24, at 1:30 p.m. This forum will focus on facts and stress the importance of early screening and colonscopies. Public invited.

Eastside Baptist Church, 1284 E. Cherokee St., will host its third Saturday night singing March 20 at 7 p.m. Guests will be The Centurions, Soul Harvest and The Hamptons.

New Mt. Zion Baptist Church will have a 58th church anniversary celebration Sunday, March 21, at 3 p.m. Guest speaker will be Pastor Van Williams and Pine Grove Baptist Church of Blacksburg.

Shalom Christian Fellowship Church will have its annual Family and Friends Day on Sunday, March 21, at 4 p.m. The Rev. Stanley Watson will deliver the message. The church is located at the corner of Beech and Colonial streets.

Suck Creek Baptist Church family will have special celebration services Sunday, March 21, at 3 p.m. honoring its pastor, the Rev. Tony Macom-son, on his 30th pastoral anniversary. Guests will be Pastor Freddie Davidson and Ebenezer Church of Gaffney.

Ebenezer Baptist Church Youth Department will have an Easter program Saturday, March 20, at 4 p.m. There will be an Easter play, speeches, songs, plenty of food, candy, games and an Easter egg hunt. Public invited to attend and bring their children. The Rev. Freddy Davidson is pastor.

The Senior Choir of Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church will celebrate its 112th anniversary Sunday, March 21, at 4 p.m.

Bethany Baptist Church will celebrate Children and Youth Day on Sunday, March 21, at 11 a.m. The youths will lead the music, welcome members and visitors, and take up the offering. The children will quote and read Bible verses. The children's choir will sing three songs and there will be several solos by the children and youths. Josh and Heather Ritchie will give their testimonies and speak on what God is doing in their lives. The service will conclude with the youth Cross Point team in an interpretive stick drama presentation to "Arise My Love" by Newsong. There will be a spaghetti lunch with French bread, salad, drinks and deserts following the service. Donations will be taken to help with the cost of a children/ youth retreat in April. Take out plates will be available. The church is located at 215 Wilkinsville Hwy. For more information, call the Rev. Roger W. Ham, pastor, at 864-488-5553.

Antioch Baptist Church, 300 Serene Drive, will have its first church anniversary celebration Sunday, March 21, at 3 p.m. Pastor Michael Isaac of Shoal Creek Baptist Church, Shelby, N.C., will be the speaker. The theme is "Striving for Excellence."

The Senior Missionary of Ebenezer Baptist Church will have its annual program Sunday, March 21, at 11:15 a.m. Guest speaker will be the Rev. Doris Mauney, associate minister of Ebenezer Baptist Church. --

MOW benefit

Daddy Joe's Beach House BBQ & Grill on Floyd Baker Boulevard will host "So No Senior Goes Hungry," a benefit for Meals on Wheels, on Sunday, March 21, from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. The meal is a buffet feast and you can eat in or carry out. Adult buffet plates are $10. A child's plate with chicken and fries is $5 (children's tickets may be purchased at the door). The buffet will feature barbecue, Calabash chicken, slaw and BBQ slaw, baked beans and hush puppies. There will also be a bake sale. Tickets are available at the Meals on Wheels office, 864-487-2730, and from Meals on Wheels board members.

Free tax service

The Volunteer Income Tax assistance Coalition, a consortium of local organizations and volunteers, is encouraging residents to file their taxes and take advantage of available credits. If your household income was less than $49,000 in 2009, you can receive free tax services and be eligible for an Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) of up to $5,600. The EITC is a special tax benefit for working people who earn low or moderate incomes. Appointments are available at the Gaffney Senior Center, 499 W. Rutledge Ave., Gaffney, on Friday, March 26. Call 864-582-7556, ext. 142, to schedule an appointment (required).

Fund raisers

Cherokee Creek Baptist Church's Missionary Team is sponsoring a Boston Butt sale Saturday, March 20. Whole Boston Butts with sauce and a pint of slaw is $35. Pick-ups can be made from 7-10 a.m. at the Cherokee Creek Fire Dept. All orders must be picked up by 10 a.m. on March 20. To place an order, call 864-487-7899 and leave a message.

The BHS Band will have a fish fry Saturday, March 20, from 11:30 a.m. until 7 p.m. Plates are $8 and include fish or chicken, French fries, hush puppies, slaw, and tea or lemonade. Baked goods will also be for sale.

White Plains Baptist Church will have a fish fry/hot dog fundraiser on Saturday, March 20, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at the VFW located on Dr. Martin Luther King Street.

The boxing team of the Boys and Girls Club of the Upstate will have a car wash at Suds Nightclub on Hwy. 29 on Saturday, March 20, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. All donations will be appreciated and all proceeds will go to the building of a boxing ring and travel expenses.

Benefits check-up

Representatives from the Appalachian Council of Governments, Area Aging Agency has planned a workshop for senior adults of Cherokee County. They will answer Medicare drug plan coverage questions. There will also be a benefits checkup to discover other unmet needs that you may have. Bring your Medicare card, Medicaid card – if you have Medicaid coverage – current drug plan information and identification. The workshop is planned Tuesday, March 23, from 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Gaffney Senior Center, 499 W. Rutledge Ave. For more information, call 864-487-2725.

Free tax service

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Coalition, a consortium of local organizations and volunteers, is encouraging residents to file their taxes and take advantage of available credits. If your household income was less than $49,000 in 2009, you can receive free tax services and be eligible for an Earned Income Tax Credit of up to $5,600. The EITC is a special tax benefit for working people who earn low or moderate incomes. Appointments are available at the Gaffney Senior Center, 499 W. Rutledge Ave., on Friday, March 26. Call 864-582-7556, ext. 142, to schedule an appointment (required).