Announcements of church events are published each Friday and Sunday in The News Courier. Church briefs must be submitted in writing, either on a form available at The News Courier office at 410 W. Green St., Athens, or sending e-mail to kelly@athensnews-courier.com or a fax to (256) 233-7753.

o Patriotic celebration. Blackburn Road Baptist Church will host a Freedom Celebration from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at 17836 Blackburn Road in Athens on Sunday, July 5. Past and present members of all branches of military service will be recognized. Hamburgers, hot dogs, watermelon served. Games, moon bounce and obstacle course for children. Volleyball, horseshoes, watermelon seed spitting contest and picking and grinning. Free. Bring lawn chairs. For information, call (256) 233-8502.

o Mothers and deacons. Jerusalem Primitive Baptist Church in Belle Mina will have its mothers' and deacons' celebration at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 5. Guest church in charge will be New Heaven C.P. Church of Belle Mina and pastor Ernest Bailey. Everyone is invited to attend.

o Benefit. Pleasant Grove CPCA Church will hold a gospel benefit for Rantavion Scott, a 13-year-old leukemia patient, at 15389 Hasting Road at 5 p.m. July 11. Rantavion is undergoing chemotherapy at the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. For more information, contact Turocy Jackson at (256) 431-3211 or Constance Wiggins at 278-6781.

o Yard and chicken sale. Grace Full Gospel Church will hold a yard sale and sell whole chickens and Boston butts from 7 a.m.-2 p.m. July 11 at 27267 Bain Road in Athens. Chickens are $10; Boston butts are $20. For information, call Tammie Johnson at (256) 771-3795 or 232-1832.

o Healing service. Final Harvest Church at 6983 Wall Triana Highway will hold a Healing and Deliverance service at 6 p.m. July 11 and a revival at 7 p.m. Friday, July 17, 6 p.m. Saturday, July 18 and 10 a.m. Sunday, July 19. For information, call (256) 830-1287.

o Music ministry appreciation. Poplar Creek Missionary Baptist Church will hold a Music Ministry Appreciation service at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, July 12 in honor of Timothy Townsend, Glenda Williams and Deonté Gill. The Rev. Larry Davidson and Willowgrove M.B. Church will be in charge of the service. The public is invited. For more information, call (256) 247-3589.

o VBS. West Highland Baptist Church will hold Vacation Bible School from 9 a.m.-noon July 13 through July 17 for children ages 4 - sixth grade. The church is at the corner Fifth Avenue and Hine Street. For additional information, call the church office at (256) 232-3397.

o Revival. Poplar Grove Missionary Baptist Church will host its revival at 7 p.m. nightly July 14-17 with prayer and praise at 6:30 p.m. each night. The Rev. Larry Lockett will be guest evangelist. The public is invited. For more information, call (256) 729-8852.

o VBS. Coxey Church of Christ will hold Vacation Bible School at 7 p.m. July 20-23 with classes for all ages, including an auditorium class. There will be puppet shows each night. There will be arts and crafts and snacks. For more information or to pre-register a child, call John Lovell at 729-6230 or Johnny Hannah at 729-8615.