CHURCH CALENDAR

A friend emailed me an article the other day. The article reviewed a study covering 5,000 genius children for 45 years. It was titled “A Study of Mathematically Precocious Youth” or SMPY. I am puzzled over the email’s implication, but I remain too old to take offense.

I read the article with some interest. After all, I wanted to know how I rated. Curiosity is not foreign to me. In the fourth grade, my teacher, Mrs. Sturgeon, handed me an envelope to take to the office. Important envelopes should be sealed and fourth-graders need to be accompanied by guards.

I can still see the classroom and Mrs. Sturgeon’s approving smile. I remember walking past my class, toward the door leading to the office. The hallway was quiet, the waxed floors glistening, reflecting light. Curiosity may be the softer side of temptation, and on this day, my softer side surfaced. On the way, unguarded, calculating time and opportunity, I opened the envelope to see my test results. It was my IQ.

Years later, I told my children this story with some pride. I wanted them to know I was smart enough to open the envelope. They didn’t buy it. “D-a-a-a-d,” came the response. I experienced the same rejection when recently, I attempted to hook up my new smart TV. It almost beat me but determined not to let it win, I called in reinforcements.

Our own eyes deceive us. We see and do not comprehend. Left to our own devices, our pride represses our guilt, reframing temptation into curiosity. “The way of the fool is right in his own eyes,” says Proverbs. I surmise there are a lot of fools walking around, especially fourth-graders gliding alone in quiet hallways. Competing for nothing more than center stage, life subsumes my waking moments into a tapestry of frustrations amid eternal joys. Recent circumstances tell me life is something to be lived and engaged. The tapestry reminds me I know what I know, but outside of what I know, I know nothing. The vast frontier of what I do not know humbles me.

As Mom always said, “A word to the wise should be sufficient.” Her inference never left me. I should be wise enough, humble enough, to seek wisdom from those better, smarter, older and more experienced. She meant I should never cherish my own pride, make sure character wins over behavior and know my limits. We are called to be better than we are. It’s a damn hard thing to do. Curiosity could well be the artful dodger picking our mind’s pocket leaving us void of (or at least diverted from) God’s true intent while we glide alone in quiet hallways. Alas, we are not saved by our wits, just some good old sufficient grace.

“Those who have ears to hear, let them hear” (Matthew 11:15). Men and women in traditional dress ride on festively adorned horses from the St. Coloman church near Schwangau, Germany. They are participants of the annual St. Coloman Ride held on the second Sunday of October. Riders participate in

Adairsville Church of God, 297 Old Dixie Highway, Adairsville, hosts Adairsville Church of God Kidz every Sunday morning at 11 a.m.

Bible Baptist Church, 151 Bert Road, will hold a revival MondayWednesday or as the Spirit moves at 7 p.m. nightly. Evangelist Steve Kelly will be bringing the message. For more information call 706-766-2617.

Dykes Creek Baptist Church, 46 Dykes Creek Church Road, will celebrate homecoming Sunday from 10:30 a.m.-noon. Dr. Abel Robles will be preaching and Heirborn will lead praise and worship. A covered-dish meal will be served following service.

Faith Temple of Jesus Christ, 542 Branham Ave., will observe its annual Hat and Tie Day on Oct. 22 at 3 p.m. The guest speaker and church will be Bishop Norris Allen and New Hope Cathedral Church of God. Dinner will be served after the midday service. For more information call 706-936-8722 or 706-676-0930.

First Christian Church, 209 E. Second Ave., will hold worship (casual/business casual dress) Sunday at 11 a.m. Sunday School is at 10 a.m. Morning coffee is each Thursday from 7-9 a.m. For more information contact the church office at romedisciples@gmail.com.

Flatrock Baptist Church, 848 Cunningham Road, will celebrate their 147th church anniversary on Oct. 22 at 3 p.m. The Rev. James Harris and the First Corinth Christian Church will be the guests. For more information call 706-234-9976.

Greater Mount Calvary Baptist Church, 445 E. 14th St., will hold fall revival Oct. 16-19 at 7 p.m. nightly. The Rev. Cedric Williams, pastor of Cedar Grove Baptist Church, Cedar Bluff, Alabama, will be the guest preacher for the week. The church will host the Wings of Glory Thanksgiving Songfest on Oct. 28 at 5 p.m. All groups, choirs, soloists and praise dance teams are invited. Proceeds benefit the Thanksgiving Day Love Feast. Donations may be sent to P.O. Box 161. For more information call 706-2342091 or 706-234-5047 on Sundays.

Greater Mount Tabor Baptist Church, 259 Herring Road, Armuchee, will celebrate Pastor Reginald McDaniel’s second year at the church with a pre-anniversary dinner musical gala on Oct. 21 at 6 p.m. at the Lovejoy Baptist Church Joy Life Center, 426 Branham Ave. Tickets are $20. Call 706290-3500 for tickets.

Metropolitan United Methodist Church, 700 Broad St., will celebrate its 150th church anniversary with children and youth services on Sunday at 11 a.m. Minister Courtney Harkness will be guest speaker. There will be a pew rally at 3 p.m. with the Rev. Wendy Owens and the choir of Shady Grove United Methodist Church. The Rev. Harvey Palmer will be the speaker.

Mount Alto Baptist Church, 1915 Huffaker Road, will host a free family fall festival on Saturday from 5-8 p.m. with food, games, dunking booth, hayride, bonfire and live entertainment. The church will hold revival Sunday at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. and Oct. 16-18 at 6:30 p.m. nightly. Pastor Ralph Jenkins will be the guest preacher and Mark Hooker and the praise team from Grace Baptist Church will lead worship. A nursery will be provided. For more information call 706-232-6222.

a parade as well as a worship service, in which the horses are blessed. According to lore, the Irishman Coloman passed through Schwangau on his pilgrimage to Jerusalem, where he rested, preached and looked after livestock.

Mount Olive Baptist Church, 17 E. Pennington Ave., will host a free community health fair on breast cancer awareness and education on Oct. 28 from 9-11 a.m. For more information call 706-234-6413.

New Antioch Baptist Church, 4553 Calhoun Road, will celebrate homecoming and a note burning on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Brad Prater will be guest speaker. A covered-dish lunch will follow service.

New Canaan Baptist Church,3 Excelsior St., will host Trunk or Treat with games, food and fun Oct. 28 from 1-3 p.m. For more information contact Carey Wright at 706-766-1152.

New Hope Baptist Church, 399 Moran Lake Road, will celebrate its 20th pastoral appreciation services for Pastor K.B. Woods and First Lady Pamela Woods on Sunday at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

North Broad Baptist Church, 1309 N. Broad St., will celebrate their 150th anniversary on Oct. 22 at 10:30 a.m. followed by a banquet at noon. Call 706-295-2100 or email shanda_douglas@bellsouth. net for more information.

NorthPointe Church, 30 Orchard Road, Adairsville, hosts Celebrate Recovery, a Christcentered recovery program, every Monday night. Cross Talk Cafe at 6 p.m., large group worship at 7 p.m. and open share groups at 8 p.m. Visit www. northpointechurch.com or contact Kitty at 404-642-3605 for more information.

Pisgah Baptist Church, 5603 Alabama Highway, holds prayer every Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. The church will hold revival Sunday to Wednesday at 7 p.m. nightly with Blake Dodd and Children of Promise providing music. Fall Festival is on Nov. 1 at 6 p.m. Call 706-232-4431 for more information.

Pleasant Valley North Baptist Church, 735 Old Summerville Road, holds a praise and worship service Sundays at 10:45 a.m. in the fellowship hall with music by Ben Thornton and the Praise Band. A blended service is held at the same time in the sanctuary.

Rome First United Methodist Church, 202 E. Third Ave., holds contemporary worship Sunday at 9 a.m. in the Garnett M. Wilder Center and traditional worship at 11 a.m. in the historic sanctuary. Sunday School and small groups for every age meet at 10 a.m. Visit www.romefirst.org for more information.

St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, 42 Ash St., meets for Holy Communion on Sundays at 9:30 a.m. For more information call 706-506-1241.

St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 911 N. Broad St., offers Saturday vigil Masses at 5:30 p.m. in English and at 7 p.m. in Spanish; Sunday Masses are 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. in English and at 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. in Spanish. LIFETEEN, the High School Youth Ministry Group, will meet on Sunday from 4-6 p.m. at the John Paul II Center. For additional information on any church activities or programs contact the church office at 706-290-9000 or at DeaconNeslin@smcrome.org.

St. Paul AME Church, 106 E. Sixth Ave., will celebrate its 147th anniversary on Sunday at 3 p.m. The Rev. Dr. Larry Hudson, a native of Rome and Presiding Elder of the Atlanta North Georgia Annual Conference, will be the speaker. Dinner will be served at 1:30 p.m. For more information call 706-295-3557 or 770-910-3599. Karl-Josef Hildenbrand / dpa via AP

St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 101 E. Fourth Ave., offers services of Holy Eucharist at 8:30 a.m. in the chapel and 10 a.m. in the church each Sunday. A service of Holy Eucharist in Spanish is offered Sundays at 5 p.m. in the chapel. Midweek Eucharist services are held on Tuesdays at 12:15 p.m. and on Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. in the chapel. Nursery is offered during the 10 a.m. Holy Eucharist. Children’s Chapel is also available for children ages pre-K through third grade during the 10 a.m. service. Christian formation and Sunday School are offered for children, youth and adults at 11:15 a.m. on Sundays. For more information visit www.stpetersrome.org or call 706-291-9111.

Second Avenue United Methodist Church, 801 E. Second Ave., will have a yard sale, Ellijay apple sale and fall festival with games, face painting and more on Saturday from 7-11 a.m. Free hot dogs and drinks at 11 a.m. Sunday School begins at 10 a.m. and service with the Rev. Millie Kim begins at 11 a.m. on Sundays. For more information call David Gresham at 706237-7146 or visit www.2aveumc.org.

Silver Creek Baptist Church, 1600 Booze Mountain Road, will have a singing Sunday during the evening service at 6 p.m. Rick Allen King from Nashville will be singing.

Springfield Baptist Church, 113 Smith St., will host MJR Ministries’ annual community revival Wednesday through Friday at 7 p.m. nightly. Guest choirs and psalmists featured nightly. The church will celebrate the 12th pastoral anniversary of Pastor Bryant T. Steans and family on Oct. 22 at 11 a.m. Pastor Willie Mosley and Evans Grove Baptist Church of Wake Forest, North Carolina, will be the guests. Dinner will be served following service. For more information call 706-295-7217.

Summer Hill AME Church, 1981 Kingston Road, will have Family & Friends Day on Sunday at 3 p.m. Springfield Missionary Baptist Church and the Rev. Bryant Steans will be the guests. Lunch will be served at 1:30 p.m. For more information call the Rev. Powell at 706-235-7113.

Transfiguration Episcopal Church, 304 Coker Drive, will celebrate Holy Eucharist on Sunday at 11 a.m. The Blessing of the Animals will be held at 3 p.m. rain or shine. Tuesday Travelers will not meet. On Wednesday, Al-Anon will meet in the parish hall at noon and there will be a public service of healing with Eucharist at 6 p.m. On Thursday, an Alcoholics Anonymous women’s meeting will be held at 6 p.m.

Unity Baptist Church, 2261 Pleasant Valley Road, Silver Creek, will host Brotherhood & Sisterhood on Monday at 7 p.m. Mike Southerland will be preaching and Wanda Kines of Doyle Road Baptist Church will be Lady Speaker. Supper will be served. The church will have Old Fashioned Day on Oct. 22. Dewey Atchley will be preaching. The church will hold fall revival Oct. 23-25 at 7 p.m. nightly. J. Clinton Green will be preaching. For details call 706-844-8628.

West Rome United Methodist Church, 1003 Shorter Ave., will hold services at 11 a.m. on Sunday. The sermon, “Full of Grace and Truth,” comes from John 1:118. The church will hold Bible study with Barbara Davis on Oct. 19 at 11 a.m. For more information visit www.westromeumc. org, call 706-234-6214 or email wrumc@bellsouth.net.