Matters of Faith

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

ST. STEPHEN’S LUTHERAN CHURCH: “Beach Party: Surfin’ through the Scriptures,” 6-8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 119 N. Church St., Lexington. Dinner at 5:15 p.m. (803) 359-6562

ST. TIMOTHY’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH: “Rainforest Adventure,” 6-8:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday , 900 Calhoun St. All ages through sixth grade. (803) 765-1519

FAIR LAWN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH: “Beach Party: Surfin’ through the Scriptures,” 6-8:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 9203 Wilson Blvd. Light supper served each night. Ages 3-12. (803) 754-2070; www.fairlawnchurch.org

NEW TESTAMENT BIBLE CHURCH: Operation Orient Vacation Bible School, 9:30 a.m.-noon Monday through Friday, 300 Sims Ave. K4 through sixth grade. (803) 957-4511

FAITH LUTHERAN CHURCH: Vacation Bible School, Sunday through Thursday, 1717 Platt Springs Road, West Columbia. Meal, 5:30 p.m.; opening, 6:15 p.m.; programming for all ages, 6:30-8:30 p.m.; youth programming including Bible study and nightly excursion, 6:30-9 p.m. (803) 794-0123

PILGRIM LUTHERAN CHURCH: “God’s Big Backyard,” 6:15-8:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday (cookout 4:30 p.m. Sunday), 1430 N. Lake Drive, Lexington. (803) 957-7889; www.pilgrimchurch.net

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF LEXINGTON: FamJam08, 6:30-8 p.m. Aug. 3-6, 415 Barr Road, Lexington. Family program will feature illusionist Brad Brown. Dinner with reservations at 5:15 p.m. nightly. (803) 957-0686; www.first-baptist.org

NORTH COLUMBIA CHURCH OF GOD: “God’s Big Backyard,” 6:45-9 p.m. July 28-Aug. 1, 1004 Lorick Road, Blythewood. Ages 4-17. (803) 786-4570

SPECIAL SERVICES/EVENTS

EBENEZER LUTHERAN CHURCH: Holy Communion service, 7:15 a.m. Wednesdays, 1301 Richland St. Service lasts 30 minutes. (803) 765-9430

EASTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH: Jubilee service, 5:30 p.m. Sundays, Thompson Hall, 3200 Trenholm Road. Child care provided. (803) 256-1654

SHANDON PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH: Theology on Tap, 7 p.m. Thursdays at Jake’s, 212 Devine St. (803) 771-4408

CRESCENT HILL BAPTIST CHURCH: 75 year celebration, 10:30 a.m. July 27, 2659 Two Notch Road. (803) 254-5549

ZION BENEVOLENT BAPTIST CHURCH: Men’s Day program, 10:15 a.m. July 27, 201 Meeting House Road, Hopkins. (803) 776-7990

DENNIS CHAPEL BAPTIST CHURCH: 60th church anniversary, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Sunday, 7 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 230 Bertha Ave., Columbia. (803) 786-9493

S.C. ARCHIVES & HISTORY CENTER: Sabbath conference, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Aug. 16, 8301 Parklane Road. Hosted by Sensible Living. (800) 837-3139; www.sensibleliving.org

PILGRIM LUTHERAN CHURCH: Free health screenings offered by Lexington Medical Center, Monday, 1430 N. Lake Drive, Lexington. (803) 359-9421; www.pilgrimchurch.net

ST. PETER BAPTIST CHURCH: “Women Bonding in the Spirit of Christ,” 11 a.m. July 27, 7910 Broad River Road, Irmo. Minister Pearl Smith will speak. (803) 781-1067

REHOBOTH UNITED ASSEMBLIES: 14th annual General Assembly, 7:30 p.m. Sunday through July 27, 611 Laurel St. (803) 252-6001

BEULAH BAPTIST CHURCH: Beth Moore’s Living Proof Live, 7:30-10 p.m. Aug. 1, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Aug. 2, 9487 Garners Ferry Road. $30. (803) 776-2188; www.beulahbaptist.com

ST. DAVID’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH: “A Taste of Columbia” fundraiser, 5 p.m. July 29, 605 Polo Road. (803) 736-0866

SPRING VALLEY BAPTIST CHURCH: Beth Moore’s Living Proof Live, 7:30-10 p.m. Aug. 1, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Aug. 2, 91 Polo Road. (803) 736-0624; www.springvalleybaptist.com

VILLAGECHURCH: Summer Nights with USC, 6:30-8 p.m. Monday and Wednesday, Jeep Rogers YMCA, 900 Lake Carolina Drive. Rising first through fifth graders. (803) 419-0989; www.blythewoodvillage.com

CROSSROADS WORLD OUTREACH CENTER: Special service featuring Laverne and Edith Tripp, 10 a.m. Sunday, 2606 Emanuel Church Road, West Columbia. (803) 755-0246

GREENVIEW FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH: FamilyFest, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. today, 101 Isaac St. Theme: “Unity of family and friends.” (803) 786-2839

TRINITY BAPTIST CHURCH: Annual revival, 7 p.m. July 28-July 31, 2521 Richland St. (803) 254-7142

LOWER RICHLAND PRAYER CRUSADE: 7:30-8 p.m. Friday, Hopkins Park, 150 Hopkins Park Road, Hopkins. Prayer leader will be Rev. Sammy L. Wade. (803) 447-1291

GREEN HILL BAPTIST CHURCH: Revival, 6 p.m. July 27, 7 p.m. July 28-Aug. 1, 2215 Green Hill Road, Elgin. (803) 438-1841

CONCERTS, GATHERINGS

ST. TIMOTHY’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH: Summer concert series: Katie Taylor, harp, Tuesday; “The Three Baritones,” Aug. 12, 900 Calhoun St. All concerts are at noon. Box lunches are available for $7.50 and must be reserved the Monday before. Lunch reservations, (803) 414-7803; information, (803) 765-1519

MIDLAND GOSPEL SINGING CENTER: Gospel singing, 7:30 p.m. Aug. 2, 705 Martin Smith Road, Gilbert. Featuring Will Cribb and Calvary’s Call. (803) 657-5373

LEXINGTON UNITED METHODIST CHURCH: Jews for Jesus musical group “The Liberated Wailing Wall” to perform, 7:30 p.m. Friday, 309 E. Main St., Lexington. (803) 359-6838; www.lexumcsc.com

MT. ZION MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH: Gospel sing-out, 3 p.m. Aug. 10, 1908 Wilkinson St., Cayce. Special guests Women of Strength of Columbia and Daniel Circle Male Chorus of Fort Jackson. (803) 796-6776

PROGRAMS, SEMINARS

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH: Lunch and speaker series, 11:30 a.m.-12:50 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays in Jackson Hall, 1324 Marion St., Columbia. Soup and salad, $5; hot meal, $6. Free parking available. (803) 799-9062, ext. 261

TRENHOLM ROAD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH: Singles Remix, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesdays, 3401 Trenholm Road. (803) 254-6695

CHRISTIAN LIFE CHURCH: “Telling Yourself the Truth,” 9-10:30 a.m. Sundays through Aug. 31 in the church modular building. Free. Love and respect class, 9-10:30 a.m. Sundays through Aug. 31 in the fellowship hall. Free. Secrets of the Vine class, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Sundays through July 27. Free. Child care provided for all classes. 2700 Bush River Road. (803) 798-4488

BETHLEHEM BAPTIST CHURCH: The Interdenominational Theological Center will begin offering Certificate in Theology classes in August at Bethlehem Baptist Church, 1028 Eastman St. An orientation class will be 6:30 p.m. July 30 at the church family life center. For information call (803) 754-1890.

WORD CHURCH INTERNATIONAL: “Beyond the Pain and Into His Presence” women’s conference, 9 a.m. today, 1406 Third St., Newberry. (803) 321-3170

WORD OF TRUTH MINISTRY AND WORSHIP CENTER: Singles conference, 9 a.m. today, 1723 Leesburg Road. (803) 695-4227

BETHLEHEM BAPTIST CHURCH: Anger management for Christians seminar, 6 p.m. Aug. 4, 1028 Eastman St. (803) 754-1890

ST. JOHN BAPTIST CHURCH: Seminar to help the elderly avoid fraud, 9:30 a.m. today, 3404 W. Beltline Blvd. (803) 254-4170

UNITY EVANGELISTIC CHURCH: Women’s 2nd annual conference, 7:30 p.m. Friday, 8:30 a.m. July 26, 200 Newtown Road, Eastover. Theme: “Women Working through the Power of God.” (803) 353-2347

Send information for Matters of Faith to rbuffington@thestate.com. Please include the kind of event, the date, time, a phone number and an address.