Briefly

Briefly

Autism awareness event scheduled for Sunday

An Autism Awareness Sunday celebration starts with a contemporary worship service at 9:15 a.m. Sunday in the sanctuary of St. Andrew Lutheran Church, where there will be contemporary music and a video presentation and prayers regarding autism. After the service there will be an open house in the Autism Lending Library in the church, where visitors can see all the items in the library used for therapies and education of children with autism and meet many other parents, therapists, teachers and community leaders who all have a common concern and interest regarding autism. Breakfast will be served, and there will be opportunities for fellowship. There is no dress code or requirement for dress clothes. The contemporary service is casual and comfortable.

St. Joseph holds fund-raiser for area child

St. Joseph parish in Scott City will hold a fund-raiser during the fall dinner Sunday in the parish center. Proceeds will help cover medical expenses for 10-month-old Matthew Eakins of the parish, who suffers a rare disorder that will cause serious neurological, muscular and sensory problems and developmental delays. To buy a ticket or make a donation, call (573) 264-2178.

Animal blessing set at Abbey Road Christian

Abbey Road Christian Church is having a Blessing of the Animals at 2 p.m. Sept. 16 outside the church by the labyrinth. People are asked to bring their pets. The service is open to the public. In case of rain, the service will be held Sept. 30.

Bethany Baptist to host annual meeting

Bethany Baptist Church, 1712 Randol Ave., and the Rev. Shawn Wasson will host the 183rd annual Cape Girardeau Baptist Association meeting Sept. 18. The afternoon session will begin at 2:30 p.m. At 5:15 p.m. there will be a covered dish supper followed at 6:30 p.m. with the evening session. Praise and worship time will be at 7:15 p.m. The Rev. Steve Francis, pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Crosstown, Mo., will give the annual sermon during the evening session. Special music will be provided by the choir from Bethany Baptist, under the leadership of choir director Jerry Huskey.

Series begins at Christ Episcopal Church

Christ Episcopal Church, 101 N. Fountain St., has announced a fall sermon series exploring the congregation's mission: "We are a community, beloved and forgiven by God, joyfully called to the work of reconciliation." Reconciliation will be the key for the next three months. The series begins Sunday with "Justice, the Atmosphere of Reconciliation." The Rev. Bob Towner is rector of Christ Episcopal Church.

Two local Baptist churches are in revival

• Randles General Baptist church, 112 N. Henderson St., Randles, will be in revival nightly at 7 p.m. Sept. 17 through Sept. 21. Kenny Burchard will be the evangelist. Special singing will be held nightly.
• Little Whitewater Baptist church in Patton, Mo., will host a homecoming revival Sept. 16 to 19, beginning Sept. 16 in the morning with Cy Smith preaching and a covered dish meal at noon. Sept. 17 through 19 will feature Don Estes, Donny Ford and Tom Bray preaching respectively at 7 p.m. Special music will be at each service.

Activities planned at First Presbyterian

Egyptologist Bill Needle, retired chairman of the art department at Southeast Missouri State University, will deliver two slide lectures Sunday and Sept. 23 at 5 p.m., followed by a light supper at 6 p.m. On Sunday he will explain the Egyptian historic connection to the biblical story of Joseph, pointing out similarities between the biblical facts and ancient Egyptian stories along with photographs of Egypt and slides of ancient artifacts related to the Joseph story found in Genesis 39, 40, 41, 46 and 47. On Sept. 23, the emphasis will be on the Egyptian connection to the Exodus story with historic dates and names of the pharaoh and his firstborn son. He will show slides of the ancient temples whose story is found written in hieroglyphics. This discussion is based on Exodus 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14. First Presbyterian Church's annual Agape Sunday will begin with morning worship Sept. 16 followed by a picnic in the courthouse lawn. Members of the congregation are asked to bring a covered dish; meat and beverages will be provided. Guests are welcome to worship and join the picnic afterward.

Activities announced at First Baptist Church

The Rev. Mike Shupert continues his RE sermon series Sunday with "Recover (your heart)," taken from Matthew 22:37-39. Wednesday at 6:15 p.m. will be adult Bible study with Dr. Ron Winstead; youth Bible study with Tyler Tankersley; and children's activities with Whitney Thomason.

Faith in Action dinner set for Sept. 30

Lutheran Family and Children's Services of Missouri will hold its Faith in Action dinner Sept. 30 at Drury Lodge. LFCS will also announce the recipients of the Walter J. Keisker awards, the Community Award and the Volunteer of the Year Award. For reservations, call 334-5866 by Sept. 26.

Pleasant Valley will hold annual special service

Pleasant Valley church in Gipsy, Mo., will have its annual church service at 10 a.m. Sept. 16. There will be special singing. Lunch will be served and everyone is invited to enjoy the service, singing and visiting in the afternoon.

Calendar

Today

• Sausage supper at St. John's United Church of Christ in Jackson. Serving begins at 4 p.m. A country store will also be available.

Friday

• Singles Reaching Out will meet at 6:30 p.m. at Tunes at Twilight on the Common Pleas Courthouse lawn. Bring a lawn chair or blanket. For more information, call 243-4214.

Monday

• Christian Women's Club will meet at 11 a.m. at the Elks Lodge in Cape Girardeau and is open to women of all faiths. Call 243-1548 for reservations.
• Christian Women's Luncheon at 11:30 a.m., at 515 Laurelwood Ave. in Sikeston, Mo. Speaker will be Pam Ellis of Marble Hill, Mo. To register, call (573) 471-5817.

-- From staff reports