Church Briefs-Sept. 30, 2010

Brownstown block party is Saturday

A block party will be held this Saturday in Brownstown City Park from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Sponsored by First Baptist Church of Brownstown, the event will include activities for all ages, prizes and refreshments.

For more information, call Tammy Barker at 292-6006.

'Blessing of Animals' to be held Sunday

St. James Lutheran Church will hold a "Blessing of the Animals" at 4 p.m. this Sunday in the church courtyard.

The special service is celebrated in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals and the environment.

St. Francis believed that all animals reveal something unique about the nature of God.

A treat will be offered to every pet in attendance.

The church is located at 727 W. Gallatin St. in Vandalia.

Life Chain event to be held this Sunday

Life Chain Sunday will be observed this Sunday from 2-3:30 p.m. in Vandalia and across North America.

The observance calls for participants to stand on a designated local sidewalk and pray for 90 minutes while holding signs with pro-life messages. In 2009, more than 1,400 life chain events were held in the U.S. and Canada.

In Vandalia, the Life Chain will be held on the sidewalks at the intersection of Kennedy Boulevard and Gallatin Street.

For more information, call Patricia Sprague at 283-1387.

Lutheran women hold fall rally Sept. 22

The Altamont Zone of the Central Illinois District of the Lutheran Women's Missionary League held its fall rally on Sept. 22 at Salem Lutheran Church.

The theme of the rally was "Go Tell It…Everywhere."

Rally co-chairs, Abby Lang and Leila Dippold, hosted the following participants: district president, Shelley Moeller; district counselor, the Rev. Frank Zimmerman; zone counselor, the Rev. Peter Kolb of Holy Cross Lutheran of Vandalia; host pastor, the Rev. Douglas Meyer; five other pastors from the zone; 74 members; and 15 guests of LWML.

The Lutheran Women's Missionary League is a service organization of the Lutheran Church, Missiouri Synod.

Speaking at the rally was the Rev. Andris Kraulins from Latvia. He spoke on efforts to spread the Christian gospel in his home country. He presented a slide show about Latvia and the activities of the Lutheran Church there.

Newly elected secretary/treasurer of the zone is Linda Rhodes of Holy Cross Lutheran Church of Vandalia.

The 2011 zone rally will be hosted by St. Paul Lutheran Church of Shobonier.

Assembly of God offers financial course

First Assembly of God Church of Vandalia will be offering Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University, beginning Oct. 17 at 6 p.m.

Ramsey is a financial expert and author of several books about managing your money.

The 13-week series will meet Sundays from 6-8 p.m. at the church, which is located at 1328 N. Seventh St. in Vandalia.

For information, call Daniel Rickett, associate pastor, at 780-2278.

Fall Festival under way in Oconee

Sacred Heart Church in Oconee will be hosting its annual Family Fall Festival the next three Sundays from 11 a.m-4 p.m.

This week's festival includes a car show that starts at 11 a.m.

Next week will feature a tractor drive and show.

Featured each weekend are a straw maze, slides, hayrides, barnyard zoo, carmel apples, kettle corn, craft booths, face-painting, kids  play area and a water balloon launcher.

For more information, call Don Selby at 217-827-1932.