Posted: Thursday, October 29, 2009 12:11 pm

The Messenger, October 29, 2009
Fall Festival planned
A Fall Festival is being planned for Saturday evening from 5-7 on the square in Troy. Free food and drinks, inflatable games, hayrides and much more will be offered. The fun will be hosted by the churches of Troy and the community is invited to attend.

‘Trunk or Treat’ slated
First Church of God, located at 415 South Miles Ave. in Union City, will host a “Trunk or Treat” Saturday from 4-6 p.m. at the church. This Halloween alternative will feature games, hot dogs and lots of candy for all the children. The Rev. Jerry Wicker, associate pastor, extends a warm welcome to the community to come and enjoy a fun afternoon.

‘Hallelujah Fest’ slated
Woodland Mills First Baptist Church’s annual “Hallelujah Fest” will be held Saturday from 6-9 p.m. in the church’s ACTS Building, located behind the main church building.
The Christ-centered family event will include a variety of food provided by the church’s youth and their parents, with activities for children slated to include games and hayrides. After the Hallelujah Fest for all ages concludes, the youth will enjoy their own special time of fellowship.
For more information, call the church office at 885-2033.
Pastor is the Rev. Rick Burton.

To host ‘Fall Fest’
Calvary Baptist Church, located at 2250 East Reelfoot Ave. in Union City, is sponsoring a community-wide “Wild West Fall Fest” Saturday evening from 3-6 at the mission activities building and parking area. Western-style games, free family photos, a climbing wall, a jumphouse, a hayride and horse rides will be available, along with hot dogs, drinks, fresh “cider mill” apple juice, popcorn and homemade snacks.  
Families with preschool/elementary-age children are especially invited to share in this Halloween alternative event. Non-scary costumes are welcomed, a spokesman said.  

Enjoy the ‘Haystack’
The “Giant Haystack” is back. On Saturday from 2-4 p.m. there will be free hot dogs, hot cocoa, coffee, a bag of candy for every child and lots of prizes in the backyard of Union City First Assembly of God, located at 1810 Pleasant Valley Ave. Children from 3 years old through sixth grade will be able to climb in the haystack on a five-minute mission to find a specially-marked ball to redeem for a prize. New this year will be a 25-cent cake walk for all ages and a free children’s craft table. Everyone is encouraged to register for the family gift basket with something for the whole family, a spokesman said. The drawing will be at 3:45 or after the final group completes the adventure in the haystack. Invite your friends, a spokesman urged.
The schedule for entering the Giant Haystack follows:
• 3-5 years old (preschool) — 2:15 and 3:15, if needed
• Kindergarten-second grade — 2:30 and 3:30, if needed
• third-fourth grade — 2:45 and 3:45, if needed
• fifth-sixth grade — 3 and 4, if needed

To begin revival
 Blessed Hope Baptist Church in Troy will hold revival services Sunday through Wednesday. The services will be kicked off with a Friends Day celebration at Sunday school at 10 a.m., followed at 11 with the morning worship service. A fellowship meal will be served after the morning worship service.
Revival services will be held Monday through Wednesday evenings at 7.
The Rev. Jerry Reynolds, “The Rodeo Chaplain,” who is a preaching evangelist, will be the featured speaker. He is from White Bluff. Ralph Norman will be in charge of the music, with special music in each service.
The Rev. Terry Council, pastor of the church, extends an invitation to everyone to attend.

Harrell to speak
Edgar Harrell, a survivor of the U.S.S. Indianapolis, will be the guest speaker at Sunswept Baptist Church, located at 205 Sunswept Drive in Union City, Sunday at 10:30 a.m. He has been invited to speak about his experience as a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who was on board the ship as it left San Francisco July 16, 1945, bound for Tinian Island with a top-secret cargo that would put an end to the war — components for the first operational atomic bombs.
After the crew successfully delivered the cargo in record time, the ship was ordered to the Leyte Gulf in the Philippines to prepare for the invasion of Japan. Traveling unescorted just past midnight on July 30, the ship was hit by two Japanese torpedoes that sent her to a watery grave in 12 minutes. Only 900 of the 1,196 men on board made it into the water. No one knew of their plight and five days later, only 317 men who had survived shark attacks, hypothermia, severe dehydration and salt-water hallucinations were accidentally spotted and rescued. Harrell was one of those who survived and he will share his story. The public is invited to attend.
The Rev. James Kinsey is pastor.

‘Fest-a-Treat’ planned
Liberty Worship Center, located at 120 Forestdale Ave. in South Fulton, will host “Fest-a-Treat” Saturday from 5-7 p.m. All children are invited to come by and receive special treats from the treat tables that will be set up with a variety of surprises. This is a come-and-go event and the community is invited to attend.
The Rev. Danny Walker is pastor.

‘Hallelujah Party’ slated
The youth department of Brown Chapel AME church will host a “Hallelujah Party” Friday at 6 p.m. at the church, which is located at 801 East College St. in Union City.
Everyone is invited to attend for an enjoyable evening for the children.
The Rev. Clay Holiday is pastor.

To host fish fry
The men of Friendship Freewill Baptist Church will host a fish fry Saturday beginning at 11 a.m. at the church, located at 3401 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Union City.
The menu will include fish, white beans, spaghetti and slaw for $6. Desserts will be sold separately. Diners may eat in or take out.
The Rev. Phillip Sanders is pastor.