Editor’s note: Items for Religion Briefs should be submitted, typed or printed, to The Meridian Star by noon the Monday before publication. Please do not call in announcements.

To mail, send to P.O. Box 1591, Meridian, MS 39302. Fax to (601) 485-1275. E-mail to ibrown@themeridianstar.com. Photos may also accompany information when space allows. For information, call (601) 693-1551, ext. 3224.

TODAY

• The movie “Facing the Giants” will be shown at 2 p.m. at MSU-Meridian Kahlmus Auditorium. At 4 p.m., the film’s stars Ray Woods and Jason McLeod will speak to the audience. Admission is free; donations will be accepted. Concessions will be available. For more information, call Alan Clodfelter of College Park United Methodist Church at (601) 485-5262 or (601) 480-2434 or Jason Harms of Central United Methodist Church at (601) 693-1521.

On Sunday, Woods and McLeod will speak at the 11 a.m. worship service at College Park United Methodist Church. For more information, call the church office at (601) 485-5262 or (601) 480-2434. College Park UMC is located across from MSU-Meridian on Highway 19 North.

SUNDAY

• The congregation of New Era Missionary Baptist Church will celebrate the seventh anniversary of their pastor, the Rev. Roderick L. Steele Sr. at 3 p.m. The Rev. Tony Campbell, pastor of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, will bring the anniversary message. The church is located at 1525 24th St.

• Harvest Day will be observed at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. at Vardaman Baptist Church, located on Vardaman Road, just off Highway 16, east of the Kemper/Neshoba County line. Guest evangelist will be the Rev. Kevin Meador.

THURSDAY

• The Downtown Churches Lenten Services will be held at noon at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. The Rev. Tom Sikes, pastor of First Christian Church, will deliver the sermon.

COMING UP

• QUITMAN — Cooper’s Chapel 10th Annual Ladies Seminar will be held Feb. 24 at the church. Guest speaker will be Mary Ann Jones of Brandon. The speaker at lunchtime will be Brenda Hopkins of Clarke County. Special music will be presented by The Wesley Belles of Meridian, Montez Oudenaarden, Susan Cochran and Rhonda Kelly. A continental breakfast and lunch will be served.

To register, call (601) 776-5057 or (601) 776-6659. Registration forms are available at Great Southern National Bank or BankPlus, both in Quitman. The church is located on Highway 511, 2 miles east.

• PHILADELPHIA — Women of the Vine Spiritual Renewal Conference 2007 will be held Feb. 24 at the Neshoba County Coliseum. Guest speakers: Speaker/author Jannie Wilcoxson, founder of Sound Words, a Christian education ministry in Ohio; Tina Hudson of Complete In Christ, a teaching and preaching ministry founded by Hudson and her husband, Wayne; and C.C. Robertson, who will share her personal, spiritual journey and how God’s presence sustained her through a harrowing experience in the middle of Hurricane Katrina. Music will be provided by The Women of the Vine Praise and Worship Team.

Tickets are $20, advance (before Feb. 17); $25 on the day of the event. Box lunches are available for $5 for advanced ticketholders. Groups of 10 or more who preregister together will receive a complimentary box lunch for each member of their group.

To purchase tickets or for information: Call (601) 656-2306 or (662) 320-2441, or send an e-mail request to womenofthevine@yahoo.com. Tickets also may be purchased at Dancing Rabbit Press, Inc and Crossroads Frame and Art Gallery in Philadelphia.

• PETAL — A live simulcast of renowned author and Bible teacher Beth Moore will be presented Feb. 24, from 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at Macedonia Baptist Church.

Tickets are $25 and includes breakfast, a boxed lunch and an afternoon snack. Limited childcare available with a reservation. For additional information or ticketing, contact Macedonia Baptist Church at (601) 545-3110.

• LAUDERDALE — Evangelist Christian Baptist Church will host a Black History Awareness Program on Feb. 25 at 3 p.m. Guest speaker will be Obie Clark, former president of the Meridian NAACP. The church is located at 9802 Extension Road.

• SHUBUTA — The congregation of St. Matthew Missionary Baptist Church will celebrate their diverse heritage through black history with a program on Feb. 25 at 2 p.m. “Overcoming — But Still I Rise” is the theme. Guest speaker will be Rosusan Bartee.

• CARTHAGE — Revival will be held Feb. 25-28 at Pine Grove Church of God on Highway 16 E (1 mile east of Edinburg). Guest speaker will be the Rev. Bill Koustantopoulos of Winchester, Ky. Service times are 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m., Feb. 25; 6 p.m. Feb. 26-28.

• The Downtown Churches Lenten Services will be held at noon at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. The Rev. Tom Sikes, pastor of First Christian Church, will deliver the sermon.

• The Downtown Churches Lenten Services will be held at noon March 1 at St. Patrick Catholic Church. The Rev. Jimmy Harrison, pastor of Central United Methodist Church, will deliver the sermon.

• KEMPER SPRINGS — The congregation of Union Baptist Church will celebrate the eighth anniversary of their pastor, the Rev. Robert Coats, on March 4 at 11 a.m. The Rev. Jesse Townsel, pastor of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, will bring the anniversary message.

• Congregation Church of God will host a building fund program featuring The Gospel Songbirds, The Traveling Echoes and other groups will be presented March 4, at 7 p.m. Local and area choirs, dance and praise teams, groups, soloists and youth are encouraged to participate. The church is located at 1936 10th Ave.

• The Downtown Churches Lenten Services will be held at noon March 8 at First Baptist Church. The Rev. Terrance Roberts, pastor of New Wine Ministries, will deliver the sermon.

• The Downtown Churches Lenten Services will be held at noon March 15 at First Presbyterian Church. The Rev. Gerald Hudson, pastor of Newell Chapel Central Methodist Episcopal Church, will deliver the sermon.

• The Downtown Churches Lenten Services will be held at noon March 22 at Central United Methodist Church. The Rev. Frank Cosgrove, pastor of St. Patrick Catholic Church, will deliver the sermon.

• The Downtown Churches Lenten Services will be held at noon March 29 at First Christian Church. The Rev. Raymon Leake, pastor of First Baptist Church, will deliver the sermon.