Faith digest

LOOK AHEAD

TIME FOR HELP

VOLUNTEERS BRING HOPE AND ASSISTANCE TO Gulf Coast communities hit by Hurricane Katrina.

COMING NEXT SATURDAY

SOUNDS OF SILENCE

St. Paul's Episcopal Church chimes will be stilled for three months while painters and carpenters work on the bell tower at 605 Reynolds St. The job started Monday.

Youth events

The Rev. Dahenri Thurmond will be the guest speaker at a youth prayer breakfast at 9 a.m. today at First Ebenezer Baptist Church, 2040 Ebenezer Drive in Hephzibah. The Rev. Charvious Boyd will speak during the youth ministry anniversary at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the church.

Diabetes expo

The Diabetes Expo will be held from noon to 5 p.m. today at Warren Baptist Church, 3203 Washington Road. The event is sponsored by University Hospital. Call 860-1586.

Food for roses

Two canned items plus $10, or $12, equals a dozen roses at participating florists in the Augusta area during Golden Harvest's Caring Rose Week, Monday through Saturday, Nov. 19. The nonprofit agency relieves hunger in 25 counties in Georgia and South Carolina. Call 736-1199, ext. 208.

Keep them warm

Winter apparel, clean and in good repair, can be donated to Augusta Urban Ministries, 303 Hale St. Men's, women's and children's sweaters, gloves, hats, scarves and coats, especially plus-sizes, are needed. Hours are 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. today. Call 722-8195.

Medicare seminar

A seminar on Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage will be held at noon Tuesday at Wesley United Methodist Church, 825 N. Belair Road in Evans. Call 869-0888.

Cooking benefit

A cooking contest for men will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, at the National Guard Armory, 61 N. Main St. in Bamberg, S.C. Entry fee is $25 and includes an apron.

Patrons can sample dishes from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. or until the food sells out. Tickets are $7.

The event benefits missions at Mount Carmel United Methodist Church in Bamberg. Contest registration forms are requested by Tuesday. Call (803) 245-2176.

Open arms concert

Brian Free and Assurance will present a concert at 7 p.m. Thursday and Richard Robertson will follow at 7 p.m. Friday at Open Arms Community Church, 3588 Peach Orchard Road. Call 592-0180.

Creation seminar

Jim Gardner, of the Santee, Calif.-based Institute for Creation Research, will speak on Those Terrible Dinosaurs at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Shiloh Baptist Church, 3925 Shiloh Church Road in Aiken. Mr. Gardner is the CEO of Canopy Teaching Ministries based in Mountain City, Tenn.

REACH US

Contact Tharon A. Giddens, features editor, at (706) 823-3347 or

tharon.giddens@augusta chronicle.com