Carnival and water games, a cookout and a ministry expo will span the length of the lawn and stretch inside the church building at St. Timothy's Episcopal Church Aug. 28 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The free event is open to the community.
"We will take over the church property with water slides and a dunk tank," said coordinator and St. Timothy's vestry member Susannah Murdock. "It's a celebration for children getting back in school and getting ready for the fall season to start."
She said this is the first year for the family-friendly carnival, but the ministry expo is an annual event. The carnival will host games such as a ring toss, face painting and balloons. The men of St. Timothy's will grill hamburgers and hot dogs for guests to enjoy.
While water and carnival games go on outdoors, guests can walk through the ministry expo indoors. Booths set up in the narthex next to the sanctuary will showcase community outreach ministries the church offers.
"We are kicking off the school year and a new year of Sunday school classes," said Murdock. "We want to celebrate exciting and new opportunities in our ministry and missions."
She said church representatives of ministries and missions will be available to answer questions at expo mission booths.
"We have a great music ministry with choir hand bells for children and adults, and a contemporary band [called] Zammarin," said Murdock. "We work with Interfaith Homeless Network [to house Chattanooga homeless families on a rotating schedule]. We go to New Orleans on missions. We also work with Neema Resettlement Ministry that provides literacy and assistance to new refugees and immigrants that move to Chattanooga."
She said St. Timothy's Episcopal Church mission volunteers aim to assist people from "local to global." St. Timothy's the Rev. George Choyce will return from a sabbatical in time to meet and greet guests at the carnival and expo.
"Anyone in the community can bring their children along with a bathing suit and towel for the water slides," said Murdock.
St. Timothy's Episcopal Church, at 630 Mississippi Ave. on Signal Mountain, can be reached at 886-2281. For more information, visit the church website. To learn more about the carnival and ministry expo, contact Susannah Murdock at 886-1347.