Faith Notes

It's not too early to look for pumpkins

Pumpkin patches are “sprouting” at churches throughout metro Atlanta. Here are a few that are opening early:

St. Andrew United Methodist Church, 3455 Canton Road, Marietta, celebrates its 25th annual “Pumpkin Patch” with the delivery of pumpkins Tuesday, Oct. 5. The patch will be open 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, and 1 to 8 p.m. Sundays through Oct. 31. All proceeds from the patch support the youth ministry and missions of St. Andrew United Methodist Church. For information, call 770-926-3488, or go to www.standrewunitedmethodist.org.

Norcross Presbyterian Church, 3324 Medlock Bridge Road, Norcross, celebrates with its annual “Festival of Pumpkin Unloading,” 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 3. For pumpkin sale hours, go to www.norcrosspresbyterian.org or call 770-448-7744.

Bridge to Grace Church, 2385 Holcomb Bridge Road, Roswell, opens its pumpkin patch Tuesday, Oct. 12. Pumpkins, gourds and fall decorations will be for sale. Children's activities are scheduled for Saturdays. Proceeds will go to service projects such as Project LIFT, a mentoring program for local at-risk youths. Pumpkin patch hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays, through Nov. 6.

A celebration of ITC faculty's works

The Interdenominational Theological Center’s faculty will be celebrated  at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 5, in the ITC Chapel at 700 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive S.W., Atlanta. The event spotlights the institution’s scholastic endeavors and research. Faculty authors include Mark Ellingsen, Jamal Hopkins, Temba Mafico, Marsha Snulligan Haney, George Thompson, Edward Wimberly, Wallace Hartsfield, Randal Bailey and Harold Bennett. www.itc.edu.

Providence Baptist to hold fall festival

The seventh annual Providence Baptist Church Community Fall Festival will be from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9. There will be a “kids zone” featuring face painting, pony rides, train rides and a moon walk; Southern fried fish and barbecue; and a farmers market with Georgia produce. Entertainment includes jazz musician William Green; DJ Radikal of Go Ye DJs; the nationally acclaimed dance company Ballethnic; CKW Mimes and the Providence Baptist Church Gospel Choir under the direction of Charles Nesbitt III. In addition, the double Dutch sensation “The Soul Jumpers” will conduct a double Dutch clinic and performance. For information, go to www.providencebc.com or call 404-209-1423. The church is at 1773 Hawthorne Ave., College Park.

St. Paul AME Church to mark anniversary

St. Paul AME Church, Atlanta, celebrates its 142nd anniversary with three 7 p.m. worship services -- Wednesday, Oct. 6, through Friday, Oct. 8 -- and a 7 p.m. concert by James Bignon on Saturday, Oct. 9. The church is located at 1540 Pryor Road, Atlanta. For more information, go to www.stpaulameatl.org or call 404-622-9711.

D.C. official to speak at Freedom's Voice

Joshua DuBois, director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, will give the keynote address during the third annual Freedom’s Voice Conference on Thursday, Oct. 7, at the Marriott Buckhead Hotel and Conference Center, 3405 Lenox Road N.E., Atlanta. DuBois will speak at noon. This year’s event focuses on mental health and substance abuse. Scholarships for the conference are available. For information, go to www.communityvoices.org.

Potluck lunch meeting tied to Tools for Life

The Greater Atlanta Hadassah-Health Professionals will meet at 11 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 10, for potluck lunch meeting and discussion on Tools for Life, Georgia's Assistive Technology Program. Fee is $5. Bring a dairy dish to share. For more information and directions, contact Lois Millsap at 678-983-4695.