Journal staff

Friendship Sunday

The public is invited to Friendship Sunday on

Sept. 14, at First Assembly of God, 4905 S. Highway 16 in Rapid City. The day will include two regularly scheduled services at 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. that include music, a message, ministry parade and a video. Following the second service, everyone is invited to a lunch catered by KFC. Friendship Sunday will include activities for the whole family, including jump houses for the kids. For more information, call 342-8265 or go to www.firstagrc.com.

Fall festival

Fountain Springs Community Church in Rapid City will hold a fall festival from noon to 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28. There will be a free lunch, games for kids, a dunk tank and a silent auction. Each child will receive four free tickets for the games; participants also will receive one free ticket for each can of food donated to the FSCC food pantry. All proceeds from the event will benefit the church's Compassion ministries.

Weight loss

Members of Word of Hope Wesleyan Church in Rapid City are meeting in weekly support groups to participate in the First Place program, a faith-based weight loss plan. The fitness and Bible study program centers around nine commitments, including regular attendance, daily prayer, regular scripture reading, scripture memory, daily Bible study, healthy eating, accountability, fellowship and exercise.

First Place is a 13-week program that emphasizes a balanced lifestyle and creates a compassionate support group that helps members stay accountable in a positive environment.

Word of Hope has multiple groups meeting during the week. For more information or to join a group, contact Mike Beck, home groups lay pastor, at 381-1896 or mikerbeck@rap.midco.net.

Community fair

The Church of Christ of Latter-day Saints is hosting an Emergency Preparedness Community Fair from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 20, at 2822 Canyon Lake Drive (next to South Dakota National Guard Camp Rapid).

Participating in the fair will be the Red Cross, food bank, emergency preparedness, Literacy Council of the Black Hills, recycling, 211, Habitat for Humanity, the Salvation Army and more.

Attendees can gain information and knowledge on how to make a 72-hour emergency kit, how to store food and preserve water, how to better manage finances and how to help and serve the community.

New lay ministers

St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 910 Soo San Drive in Rapid City, will commission its new and continuing lay ministers during its 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. services Sunday, Sept. 13. The installation will be conducted by the Rev. Kathy Monson Lutes, rector.

It is also the second week of a new program at the church - a staffed nursery. The nursery will be open from 9 a.m. until the end of the second Mass on Sundays. It is being staffed by Monica Sorensen Haeder, a trained Montessori instructor, who will do Montessori enrichment.

Chuckwagon supper

Faith Lutheran Church, 17 Indiana St., Rapid City, will hold a chuckwagon supper from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, in its fellowship hall. The menu includes chuckwagon beef, potatoes and gravy and chuckwagon beans, all cooked outside in large cast iron kettles. There will be ice cream for dessert.

Advance tickets are available at the church office or at worship services. Cost is $9 for adults and $5 for children. Children younger than age 4 are free. For more information, call 342-9234.

Rochford Chapel

The Rev. Peary Wilson, retired Methodist pastor from Custer, will lead services at

7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 14, at Rochford Chapel. Fellowship will follow the service.

Hills Area Ingathering

Hills Area Ingathering 2008 will be from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, at First United Methodist Church in Rapid City. There will be an opening worship with music. Guest speaker is Josephine Dear. There will be mission information breakout sessions and displays. Regular and silent auctions and a pie sale will be held, with proceeds going to help alleviate hunger locally and internationally.

For more information, contact LaRee Mayes at 341-1568 or Lmayes@rap.midco.net, or call the church at 342-4498.

'One Month to Live'

Countryside Community Church, 625 Woodland Drive in Spearfish, will present a six-week series based on the book "One Month to Live" by Kerry and Chris Shook, Sept. 14 through Oct. 19. Participants are urged to "take the one-month challenge" and think about what they would do to make the rest of their lives

really matter. Small group discussions are available. For more information, call 642-0585.