Chaplains
* Life Care Center of East Ridge, 1500 Fincher Ave., will offer a free chaplains training seminar beginning Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. The discussion-style seminar will teach the ins and outs of chaplain ministry and is expected to run 10 to 12 weeks. Carlton Espy, pastor of East Lake Church of the Nazarene and maintenance director at Life Care Center of East Ridge, will lead the class. Those who complete the training will be commissioned by Community Chaplains of America and be able to serve as chaplains in places such as nursing homes, hospitals and prisons. For information or registration, call Christian McDonald at 499-3922.
Community event
* Ridgedale Baptist Church will host a free community event on Sunday, May 23, from 3 to 5 p.m., at the East Brainerd Elementary School playground, 7453 East Brainerd Road. The event will include pony rides, games, ice cream, popcorn and other activities. For information, call the church at 499-0994.
Enrichment
* Orchard Knob Missionary Baptist Church, 2305 E. Third St., will host a Gangs & Drugs Rap Session on Saturday, May 22, from 10 a.m. to noon. The guest speaker is Lt. Van Hinton of the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department. The session for parents, students and others will cover what to look for if a child is using drugs or is in a gang; how to recognize bullying and if a child is a bully or being bullied; and information about teens and dating. Refreshments will be served. For information, call the church at 624-9097.
Love Fellowship breaks ground
* Love Fellowship Baptist Church, 1811 Roanoke Ave., will break ground for a sanctuary extension on Sunday following the 11 a.m. service. The 5,490-square-foot project will provide 60 to 80 additional seats, a baptistery, six classrooms and an office for the 193-member East Chattanooga congregation. The addition more than doubles the size of the 11-year-old church to 10,290 square feet. The architect for the project is Rardin & Carroll Architects, and the contractor is OC Construction of Soddy-Daisy. The addition is expected to be completed in October.
Movie
* The film documentary “Coal Country,” which discusses the positives and negatives of coal mining and mountain top removal, will be shown on Sunday, May 23, at 2 p.m., at Unitarian Universalist Church of Chattanooga, 3224 Navajo Drive. Accompanying the film is an exhibit of drawings of miners and their thoughts. There is no charge to attend, but donations will be accepted to benefit United Mountain Defense. For information, call 624-2985.
Music
* The Voices of Faith Choir of Mount Carmel Baptist Church, 86 U.S. Highway 127, will hold a fundraising lunch following the Signal Mountain church’s 10:50 a.m. service Sunday. There is no cost for the meal, which will be held in the Christian life center, but donations toward the choir’s new compact disc recording, “God of This City,” are requested. The recording will be released in June. For information, call 667-0130.
* St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 848 Ashland Terrace, will conclude its Counterpoint series with a concert of new and experimental music on Thursday at 7 p.m. The concert features touring musicians Nicole Longevin-Burroughs, Mark Burroughs and Harv Wileman. A reception will follow at 8 p.m. There is no cost to attend, but donations are welcome. For information, call the church at 877-2428.
* Jim Ricketts will present concerts on Friday at 7 p.m. at Jones Memorial Baptist Church, 415 W. Gordon Ave., in Rossville, Ga.; on Saturday, May 22, at 6:30 p.m., at Dividing Ridge Church of God, 9400 Hixson Pike, in Soddy-Daisy; on Sunday, May 23, at 10 a.m. CDT, at Lighthouse of Praise, 756 Lantana Road, in Crossville, Tenn.; and on Sunday, May 23, at 6 p.m. CDT, at Mayland Church of God, 179 Mayberry St., in Crossville, Tenn. For information, call Mr. Ricketts at 775-2806.
* A Love Loud event at Cedar Hill Baptist Church, 60 Dyer Bridge Road, in Ringgold, Ga., will feature a free 1950s concert by Kenny Evans of the American Oldies Theatre in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., on Saturday, May 22, at 6 p.m. Free hair cuts, health checks, financial counseling and crafts will be offered beginning at 3 p.m., and barbecue will be served beginning at 11 a.m. Mr. Evans also will present a gospel concert at the church’s 10:50 a.m. worship service on Sunday, May 23. For information, call 706-858-0976 or e-mail pastor@cedarhillbaptist.com.
* One Accord Community Church, 343 Sweetland Drive, will host a Gospel Go-Around on Saturday, May 22, at 6 p.m. Singer-songwriter Ron Sample will be the event’s emcee, and featured artists include The Master’s Messengers, Calvary’s Blend, Got Mercy and Promises. There is no charge to attend, but a love offering will be taken. For information, call the church at 875-8377.
* A benefit singing for Cedar Hill Ministries, which had its sound equipment stolen in January, will be held Saturday, May 22, at 6:30 p.m., at Jones Memorial Baptist Church, 415 W. Gordon Ave., in Rossville, Ga. Featured singers include Cedar Hill, John Lanier and Rick Alan King. There is no charge to attend, but a love offering will be taken. For information, call 505-8700 or visit www.cedarhillministries.com.
* “The Reason We Sing,” a reunion concert of the adult ensemble From the Heart, will be held at Mountain Creek Baptist Church, 1001 Mountain Creek Road, on Saturday, May 22, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, May 23, at 6 p.m. There is no charge to attend. For information, call the church at 870-9331 or e-mail office@mountaincreekbaptist.org.
Prayer
* North Cleveland Church of God, 335 11th St., will host a Global Day of Prayer event on Sunday, May 23, at 6 p.m. The worldwide, interdenominational event, which precedes 10 Days of Prayer and 90 Days of Blessing, will have as its local focuses the soul of the nation and the healing of the family. The event drew 1,500 in Cleveland in 2009. For information, call 339-3028.
Women’s events
* Chattanooga Aglow will hold its monthly meeting today at 10 a.m. at Out of the Blue Cafe, 3230 Brainerd Road. The guest speaker is Marlene Tidwell of Brentwood, director of the Tennessee Governmental Prayer Alliance and a member of the citizens committee that plans and coordinates the Governor’s Prayer Breakfast. Genendal Fratantuono, president of Chattanooga Aglow, will be commissioned as the Hamilton County leader for state prayer alliance. Lunch will be served at noon. For reservations or information, call 332-9715 or 697-9866.
* The Church of a Second Chance Ministry, 1725 Dodson Ave., will host a Women of Excellence conference on Friday and Saturday, May 22, at 7 nightly. The conference, whose theme is “Lord Make Me Over,” will feature Wanda Cail, assistant pastor of St. John Apostolic Holiness Church of Tucker, Ga., as evangelist. Other speakers and leaders are Vernita Taylor of Greater Liberty Temple Church of God in Christ and Bettye Ringer of Pure Holiness Church of God. For information, call Anna White at 624-4003.
* Rising Fawn Baptist Church, located at 4411 Highway 11 in Rising Fawn, Ga., will hold a free ladies conference on Saturday, May 22, at 6 p.m. The featured speaker is Esther Burroughs. For information, call the church at 706-462-2126.