Lookout Mountain Baptist calls Moore
* The Rev. Lamar Moore, executive director of the Fellowship of Christian Police Officers, has been called as pastor of Lookout Mountain Baptist Church, 901 Scenic Highway.
Prior to going to the Chattanooga-based FCPO, where he will continue as executive director, he was the transitional interim pastor at Loretto First Baptist in Loretto, Tenn. From 1989 through 2006, he was pastor of Lookout Valley Baptist. His first pastorate was at First Rockhaven Baptist in Muldrough, Ky.
After working with the Electric Power Board, Mr. Moore attended Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in the early 1970s. He later completed the Tennessee Baptist Convention’s transitional interim pastor training.
He also has been a member of the Chattanooga Human Rights Commission.
Mr. Moore and his wife, Vicki, have X grown children and X grandchildren.
New Lookout names Ezell
* New Lookout Baptist Church, located in Lookout Mountain, Ga., at 50 Ridley Circle, has called the Rev. Greg Ezell as its pastor.
He is a graduate of Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School and Covenant College and is pursuing a Master of Divinity degree at New Orleans Theological Seminary.
Mr. Ezell and his wife, Lori, have one daughter, Kaitlyn, and two grandchildren, Kameron and Karlee.
Blessing of pets
* McKendree United Methodist Church, located in Jasper, Tenn., at Betsy Pack Drive and Highway 150, will hold a blessing of the pets service on Sunday at 4 p.m. CDT. Refreshments will be served following the service. For information, call the church at 942-3888.
Enrichment
* The Benedictine Sisters Retreat Center, 916 Convent Road N.E., Cullman, Ala., will host an eight-day intensive/post-intensive centering prayer retreat from Tuesday through Tuesday, July 6. Both sessions require experience in centering prayer. The cost is $595. For information, call Diana Tschache at 205-991-6964.
Music
* First Baptist Church of Hixson, 4815 Winding Lane, will host its annual gospel music celebration on Sunday at 4 p.m. The featured performers include the Male Chorus of Orchard Knob Baptist Church, The Gospel Tymes, James Ward & The Harmonizers, the New Zion Young Adult Choir, instrumentalist Jerome Martin and the host First Baptist of Hixson Choir. For information, call the church at 875-2781.
* Valley Memorial Baptist Church, 614 Browns Ferry Road, will host an outdoor bluegrass concert by Mountain Faith on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. A hot dog dinner at 6:30 p.m. will precede the concert, and fireworks will follow the event. For information, call the church at 821-5499.
* First Presbyterian Church, 554 McCallie Ave., will host a free patriotic concert, “Our Hope Is in the Living God,” on Sunday, July 4, at 5 p.m. The program also will include narration, a color guard and testimonies from several military veterans. A free dinner will follow in the fellowship hall. For information, call Janis Smith at 267-1206.
Sunday school growth
* The Northwest Georgia area placed at least two churches in each of five size categories of the fastest growing Sunday schools among Georgia Baptist Convention congregations between 2006 and 2009. The criteria include net growth in Sunday school average attendance, percentage growth in enrollment, net growth in average worship attendance, percentage growth in average worship attendance and total baptisms. In the mega church division (Sunday school attendance of 700-up), Rock Bridge Community of Dalton was first and Oakwood of Chickamauga ninth. In the large church division (attendance of 400-699), Peavine of Rock Spring was second and Holly Creek of Chatsworth eighth. In the medium division (attendance 200-399), Salem of Dalton was first, Meadowdale of Calhoun was third and Trinity of Calhoun 18th. In the intermediate division (attendance of 101-199), Riverview of Calhoun was 11th and Second LaFayette was 13th. In the small division (attendance of 35-100), Pathway of Summerville was fifth and Clearview of Ringgold was 20th.
Vacation Bible schools
* Allen Temple African Methodist Episcopal Church, 813 Dodson Ave., today, 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. (breakfast 9 a.m.), 624-2231.
* Chamberlain Memorial Baptist Church, 4239 Benton Drive, Wednesdays, June 30-Aug. 11, 6-8:30 p.m., theme: “Saddle Ridge Ranch,” 624-3508.
* Daisy United Methodist Church, 9508 Dayton Pike, Soddy-Daisy, July 12-16, 6-8:30 p.m., theme: “Galactic Blast: A Cosmic Adventure Praising God,” 332-3243.
* East Ridge United Methodist Church, 1601 Prater Road, July 19-23, 6-9 p.m., theme: “Galactic Blast: A Cosmic Adventure Praising God,” 892-8451.
* First-Centenary United Methodist Church, 419 McCallie Ave., Monday-Thursday, 9:30 a.m.-noon, theme: “Egypt: Joseph’s Journey From Prison to Palace,” 756-2021, www.firstcentenary.com.
* Hixson First Baptist Church, 5800 Grubb Road, Hixson, Sunday-Thursday, 6:30-9 p.m., ages 4-fifth grade, theme: “Saddle Ridge Ranch,” 877-2467.
* Jones Memorial United Methodist Church, 4131 Ringgold Road, Sundays, June 27-July 25, ages 2 through fifth grade, 624-6073.
* Olivia Baptist Church, 1817 Guy St., Dalton, Ga., today, 10 a.m.-noon (registration carnival), Sunday-Wednesday, 7-9 p.m., theme: “SonQuest Rainforest,” 706-278-3507.
* St. Elmo Missionary Baptist Church, 3701 West Ave., Monday-Friday, 6-8:30 p.m., theme: “Praise Party,” 821-6825.
* St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, 630 Mississippi Ave., Signal Mountain, Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-noon, ages 3-fifth grade, theme: “The Green Vacation Mission School,” 886-2281.
* Silverdale Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 7407 Bonny Oaks Drive, Saturday and Sunday, 5-7:30 p.m., theme: “Water Works Park,” 892-8710.
* Simpson United Methodist Church, 601 McFarland Ave., Rossville, Ga., July 17, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., theme: “Feeding the 5,000,” 706-866-3410.
* Trinity Lutheran Church, 5001 Hixson Pike, July 12-16, 8:45-11:45 a.m. (plus July 16 picnic lunch at noon), ages 3-fifth grade, theme: “Stories of the Bible,” 870-1236 or www.lutherantrinity.com.
* Trinity Presbyterian Church, 104 McBrien Road, Sunday, 3-5 p.m. (kickoff celebration at Audubon Acres), Monday-Wednesday, 6-8:15 p.m., ages 5-adult, theme: “Lost in the Woods,” 892-7281.
* White Oak Baptist Church, 310 Memorial Drive, Sunday-Thursday, 6-9 p.m., ages preschool-youth; 877-8551.