RELIGION BRIEFS: Fairfield First Lutheran; Old Threshers Family Tent; Come to Supper; Brighton gospel jam; Richland ice cream social; Historic Oak Grove Church

God's Work, Our Hands set at First Lutheran

God's Work, Our Hands is planned at 10:15 a.m., Sunday, Sept. 8, at First Lutheran Church in Fairfield.

The focus of the event this year will be hands-on projects, which will benefit the medical care of the people and hospitals of Africa, including Tanzania, the church's mission partner.

The group will gather following worship on Sept. 8. The group will work a while and then share pizza. Workers are asked to bring a salad or dessert for the meal.

Our projects this year are:

'Baby blankets/quilts. Knit and crocheted baby blankets are always needed for the maternity wards in the hospitals of the Global Mission partners.

Baby blankets can be made from cotton or acrylic yarn; do not use wool as it is too warm for most mission hospitals and it can irritate the sensitive skin of a newborn. The finish size of the blanket should be approximately 30- by 30-inches. This is a project to do at home or a group of individuals might want to gather in the church and spend a couple of hours knitting or crocheting together. Bring the finished blankets on Sept. 8.

' Rolled bandages. Mission hospitals and clinics are in need of basic supplies. Many health facilities have limited access to clean affordable bandages, an item they use every day as they care for patients.

Simple rolled bandages can be made from new or used white cotton or cotton blend sheets. Print or colored sheets cannot be used as they are not suitable for wound care. All sheets must be washed before being made into bandages. Complete instructions will be provided on Sept. 8. This is a project where all ages can work together, including kids.

For information, call 641-472-4184.

English preaching at Old Threshers

Mt. Pleasant native Steve English will bring the message as the preacher at the ecumenical worship service during the Old Threshers Reunion at 10 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 1, in the Family Tent at the Old Threshers Reunion.

English graduated from Mt. Pleasant High School before he played for the Iowa Hawkeyes under legendary Hall of Fame Coach Hayden Fry. Later he graduated Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois, with a master's in divinity. Within the last two years, while discerning opportunities to lead a congregation, Mt. Pleasant kept coming into view. He accepted the call to serve with the First Baptist Church congregation. English and his wife JoKasta have been married 15 years, with five children and one due to arrive in December. In his free time, he enjoys coaching football and track and field, and loves to hunt and fish.

Sunday's sermon title is 'For What It's Worth,” based on Mark 5:34-38. The worship service is open to the public, and all are welcome.

Come to Supper canceled Tuesday

The Come to Supper meal planned for Tuesday, Sept. 3, at the First Lutheran Church in Fairfield is canceled.

The cancellation is due to the Labor Day holiday and Old Theshers.

Call 641-472-4184 for information.

Gospel jam in Brighton

An ecumenical Gospel Jam fellowship hour will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 1, at the Brighton Community Church.

The church is the former Brighton United Church.

The Rubio Depot Band and other musicians will share their talents.

The event is open to the public.

Fellowship at Brighton events are planned at 3 p.m. the first Sunday of every month at Brighton Community Church.

Ice cream social set

Richland United Methodist Church is holding a homemade ice cream social from 4-6 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 8, in Fellowship Hall.

The ice cream will be served with assorted toppings and desserts.

A free will offering will be collected.

After the ice cream social, everyone is invited to stay for Cowboy Church out in the 'pasture” at 6 p.m. Those attending are asked to bring lawn chairs or blankets.

Historic Oak Grove Church hosting service

The historic 1895 Oak Grove Church in Van Buren County will host a special community worship service at 10 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 8.

Special music is planned, and the morning message will be given by the Rev. Oly Marcos of the Trinity United Methodist parish.

Everyone is invited to the unique service.

The historic church is at 15818 Iowa Oak Grove Ave., 2 miles south of the junction of Highway 16 and Iowa Oak Grove Ave.

Regular services at the church discontinued in 1997.

The Oak Grove No. 8 Country School that is adjacent to the church, also will be open for touring beginning at 9 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 8. The school was built in 1872.