Matters of faith: Sept. 24 and beyond

AMERICAN CHRISTIAN FICTION WRITERS, SOUTH CAROLINA CHAPTER: The chapter will meet 2-5 p.m. Saturday at North Anderson Baptist Church, 2308 N. Main St., Anderson. Edie Melson will share highlights from the national American Christian Fiction Writers meeting. The meeting is free, and visitors are welcome. Visitors who have attended at least one critique session can submit a piece of up to 1,200 words for critique using the guidelines listed on the chapter blog. (864) 226-7024; elvacmartin@gmail.com; www.scwritersacfw.com

Entries for the First Five Pages fiction-writing contest should be submitted by email by Oct. 10. Any author whose fictional work has not been previously published (in print or online) is eligible. The same manuscript may not be entered into multiple categories. See submission guidelines at www.scwritersacfw.com. Prizes will be awarded at the October chapter meeting.

ASHLAND UNITED METHODIST CHURCH: Festival of Faith will be Oct. 2-4, with dinner at 6 p.m. and services at 7 p.m., 2600 Ashland Road. The Rev. Dr. Tim McClendon, senior pastor of St. John’s United Methodist Church in Aiken and recent Columbia district superintended of the UMC, will speak. (803) 798-5350; www.ashlandumc.com

BETH SHALOM SYNAGOGUE: An adult education course, “A Walk Through the Mahzor,” will be 6:15-7:15 p.m. Wednesday, 5827 N. Trenholm Road. Take a crash course on the high holiday prayer book. (803) 782-2500; www.bethshalomcolumbia.org

An Erev Rosh Hashanah candle lighting will be 6:47 p.m. Oct. 2.

Reservations, which are required for Second Day Rosh Hashanah luncheon, must be made by Monday. Luncheon will be served following services (approximately 2 p.m.) Oct. 4. Menu is boneless chicken breast, roasted potatoes, long green beans, fresh fruit, a dinner roll and dessert. Meals are $18 for adults and $8 for children younger than 12. RSVP to the church office.

CLEAVES MEMORIAL CME CHURCH: Fall revival will be 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, 3407 Beaumont Ave. Revival messengers will be the Rev. James McKee of Dunham Temple CME Church in Greenwood, Monday, and Bishop James Mack of Bible Way Church, Tuesday. (803) 736-9884

EBENEZER LUTHERAN CHURCH: Seeds of Hope farmers market will be 7:30-10:30 a.m. Thursdays through September, 1301 Richland St. Farmer is Abraham McFadden. (803) 765-9430; www.ebenezerlutheran.org

EZEKIEL MINISTRIES: House of Raeford’s nonprofit organization, FLOCK, will present a donated tractor to Ezekiel Ministries’ Eze Farms at 10 a.m. Saturday at Eze Farms, 2323 Harrison Road. Eze Farms (“Eze” is pronounced like “easy”) will teach inner-city students every aspect of agribusiness, including cultivating crops, managing a working farm, developing a customer base and selling produce. (803) 240-3872; ezeministries.org

FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH: A worship service, part of the Christian Church (Disciples in Christ) in South Carolina’s annual regional conference, will be 7 p.m. Friday, 2062 N. Beltline Blvd. (803) 787-9777

LEXINGTON BAPTIST CHURCH: “Created,” a women’s creative summit, will be 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, 308 Main St., Lexington. Tickets are $20 per person and include lunch and supplies for all sessions at lexingtonbaptist.org/created. Event T-shirts will be available for $10. (803) 359-4146

A student tailgate will be 6 p.m. at the Lexington-River Bluff football game at River Bluff High School, 320 Corley Mill Road, Lexington.

LIVING WATER CHRISTIAN OUTREACH CENTER: Taste of Living Water Feast will be 2 p.m. Oct. 2, 2229-D Decker Blvd. Featured cuisine includes Southern, Jamaican, backyard barbecue and seafood. Tickets are $10 for adults and $6 for children, available in advance or at the door. (803) 699-9346

MAIN STREET UNITED METHODIST CHURCH: The Concert across America to End Gun Violence will be 4-6 p.m. Sunday, 1830 Main St. Admission is free. (803) 779-0610; www.mainstumc.com

MIDLAND GOSPEL SINGING CENTER: A steak supper fundraiser will be 4-6 p.m. Oct. 1, 705 Martin Smith Road, Gilbert. Plates, which include a drink and dessert, are $9 for adults and $4 for children 12 and younger. Proceeds benefit the Singing Center’s general fund. The October monthly singing featuring Vocal Reunion and the Chordsmen Quartet will follow at 6 p.m. (803) 719-1289; www.midgsc.com

OUR LADY OF THE HILLS CATHOLIC CHURCH: Fall Catechist Day, “Prayer: The Faith Prayed,” will be 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, 120 Marydale Lane. The event is for all of the baptized, especially catechists and Catholic schoolteachers, to devote themselves to a deeper study and practice of prayer. (803) 772-7400; ourladyofthehillssc.org

OUR SAVIOUR LUTHERAN CHURCH: Blessing of the Animals will be 10 a.m. Oct. 1 at West Columbia’s Riverwalk Park Amphitheater, Three Rivers Greenway. The public and their pets are cordially invited. (803) 794-8180; oursaviour.net

PISGAH LUTHERAN CHURCH: The fall bazaar will be 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, 1350 Pisgah Road, Lexington. The bazaar features local craftsmen and representatives of popular brands. Admission is free. (803) 359-2223; www.pisgahlutheran.org

REID CHAPEL AME CHURCH: A scripture study and workshop studying the biblical mandate to “do justice” will be 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, 704 Gabriel St. Guest speakers include the Rev. Nelson Rivers III of Charity Missionary Baptist Church and the NAACP, the Rev. Joseph Darby of the Charleston Area Justice Ministry, and John Aeschbury, executive director of the Direct Action and Research Training Center. In addition to Reid Chapel, the planning team for the event includes representatives from Brookland Baptist Church, the South Carolina Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Grace Christian Center, the Columbia District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Rehoboth Baptist Church, Adams Northeast AME Church, Turner Memorial AME Church, Love Covenant Church, the Beaufort District of the AME Church, the General Presbyter of Trinity Presbytery, Beth Shalom Synagogue, Garden of Grace United Christian Church and the Lancaster District of the AME Church. (803) 786-0701; www.reidchapelamechurch.org

SAINT ANDREWS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH: The Raleigh Ringers will perform at 7 p.m. Saturday, 6952 St. Andrews Road. The internationally acclaimed concert handbell choir is based in Raleigh, North Carolina. The concert is free, and no tickets are required. (803) 732-2273; www.sapc.net

SHANDON UNITED METHODIST CHURCH: Seeds of Hope farmers market will be 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays into October, 3407 Devine St. Farmer is Louis Reid. (803) 256-8383; www.shandon-umc.org

SHARING GOD’S LOVE: Woodmen Life oyster roast and barbecue dinner will be 5-8 p.m. Saturday, 2000 Johnson Marina Road, Chapin. Day-of tickets are $25. Proceeds benefit Sharing God’s Love.

A fall yard sale will be 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 1, 147 Friarsgate Blvd., Irmo. Donate items by Thursday. To donate large items or make special arrangements, contact Shari Selke at (803) 732-3188, ext. 16.

SHEPHERD’S CENTER OF LEXINGTON: Fall session is Thursday through Nov. 3 at Lexington United Methodist Church, 309 E. Main St., Lexington. Classes include line dancing, photography, painting and bridge. Tuition for the session is $25, plus $2 per day for lunch. (803) 359-6838, ext. 110; www.sclex.org

STEDFAST CHRISTIAN CENTER: A community feeding will be noon-2 p.m. Saturday, 5200 Fairfield Road. A free meal, music and fellowship. No carry-outs. (803) 786-9129

TREE OF LIFE CONGREGATION: Selichot services will be 8 p.m. Saturday, 6719 N. Trenholm Road. The services are a joint venture between Tree of Life and Beth Shalom Synagogue. Bedrija Jazic, director of refugee services in Columbia, will speak. (803) 787-2182; www.tolsc.org

This story was originally published September 23, 2016 at 12:38 PM with the headline "Matters of faith: Sept. 24 and beyond."