Assistance
* Allen Temple African Methodist Episcopal Church, 817 Dodson Ave., will hold a community day of giving today from 11 a.m. until items are gone. The congregation is offering clothes, shoes, and homemade soups, chili, cornbread, coffee and lemonade. For information, call Sarah Harden at 624-4364.
* New Anointing Pure Holiness Church of God, 420 N. Holly St., will host a giveaway of clothes, shoes and other items today from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Saturday, March 6, at the same times. The event is sponsored by the church’s missionary department. For information, call the church at 622-4667.
Black history
* The Progressive Ministry and New Monumental Baptist Church, 901 Woodmore Lane, will host a black history banquet on Friday at 6 p.m. The speaker will be McCallie School graduate and former Duke University and NFL player Tawambi Settles, now a personal trainer. Tickets are $12. For tickets or information, call 899-2881 or 344-5521.
Enrichment
* The Rev. Dr. Joel Huffstetler, rector of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Cleveland, will give a presentation on his new book, “Gratitude and Grace,” as part of a brunch event on Sunday, Feb. 28, at noon, at the Museum Center at 5ive Points, 200 Inman St. East, in Cleveland. The event will include a catered brunch buffet, live piano music, a brief talk by Dr. Huffstetler and a guided tour of the museum’s current exhibit, “Stitches-In-Time Quilts.” The cost is $19. The deadline for reservations is Wednesday. For information or reservations, call the museum at 339-5745 or visit www.MuseumCenter.org.
Haiti relief
* The Episcopal Commission in Southeast Tennessee (ECSET) will host a communitywide networking meeting for Haitian relief efforts on Thursday at 6 p.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 305 W. Seventh St. The program will include a Holy Eucharist service, light refreshments, information on current and future needs in the country from people who are organizing or coordinating relief efforts there, and information on sources for donation. For information, call the church at 266-8195.
Music
* Tennessee Harmony will present a concert on Sunday at 6 p.m. at New Liberty Baptist Church, 13746 Birchwood Pike. The group was recently voted by readers of the Chattanooga Times Free Press as Best Inspirational or Gospel Band for 2009. There is no cost to attend. For information, visit newlibertybaptist.net or tennesseeharmony.com.
* The Diplomats will present two concerts on Sunday, Feb. 28, at 11 a.m., at Long Ridge Baptist Church, 11279 New Highway 68, in Tellico Plains, Tenn., and at 6:30 p.m. at Bethlehem Baptist Church, 130 Bethlehem Church Road, in Madisonville, Tenn. For information, call 770-832-2930.
* Jim Ricketts will present a concert on Sunday, Feb. 28, at 6 p.m., at the Porter Road Church of God, corner of Porter Road and Highway 136, in Trenton, Ga. For information, call Mr. Ricketts at 775-2806.
* Testimony will present a Southern gospel concert on Sunday, Feb. 28, at 7 p.m., at Rock Spring Baptist Church, 194 E. Turnip Seed Road, in Rock Spring, Ga. A chili/soup youth fundraiser will precede the concert at 5 p.m. There is no charge to attend or eat, but a love offering will be taken at the concert and donations will be accepted for youth activities. For information, call the church at 706-375-5345.
Retreat
* The annual Thorne Sparkman School at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 305 W. Seventh St., will be offered Wednesdays during Lent, Feb. 24, March 3, March 10, March 17 and March 24. This year’s courses are “The Modernity of Milton” by Bill Cushman, retired English teacher at Baylor School; “We Shall Not Cease From Exploration: T.S. Eliot’s Four Quartets” by Dr. Charles Thornbury, professor emeritus at St. John’s College in Minneapolis; “Liturgy: An Art Form” by Paul Reynolds, retired organist/choirmaster at St. Paul’s Church; “The Gospel According to John” by Dr. Jim Dunkley, librarian at The School of Theology, The University of the South; and “The Labyrinth” by Dr. Lilan Lasley, adjunct professor of philosophy and religion at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Each class is offered nightly at 7 and 8. The cost for all five session is $20 per person; the requested registration deadline is Monday. Participants also may attend an organ meditation at 5:30 p.m., Holy Eucharist at 5:45 p.m. and supper at 6 p.m. each week. The cost for dinner is $6 per adult and $2.50 for children. A nursery will be available for children ages 4 and under and a study hall for older children. For information, call the church at 266-8195.
* “Sharpening Our Sacramental Vision: A Lenten Retreat” will be offered Friday at 6 p.m. CST through Sunday, Feb. 28, following the noon meal, at the Benedictine Sisters Retreat Center, 916 Convent Road N.E., in Cullman, Ala. The retreat will be led by Father Bede Marcy of St. Bernard Abbey and Sister Therese Haydel, director of the Benedictine Sisters Retreat Center. The cost, including meals, is $175 per person for a shared room or $195 for a private room. For information, call the center at 256-734-8302 or e-mail retreats@shmon.org.
Women’s event
* Dr. Cathy Robbs Turner, author, organizational/personal development coach and director of education at Christ United Methodist Church, will be the speaker for the monthly luncheon meeting of the Scenic City Women’s Network on Thursday at noon at First Presbyterian Church, 554 McCallie Ave. Her topic will be “Three Questions That Can Change Your Spiritual Journey.” The cost is $10 for members and $12 for visitors. The deadline for reservations is Tuesday. For reservations or information, call 698-6262 or email romaine@scwn.org.