Greater Tucker installs Maize
Ezra Thomas Maize, a fifth-generation clergyman, has been installed as pastor of Greater Tucker Missionary Baptist Church, 1115 N. Moore Road.
Maize's father, George Maize III of Jersey City, N.J., his brother, George Maize IV of Wilmington, N.C., and his former pastor, Daryl Arnold, of Knoxville, spoke at services surrounding his installation.
Maize replaces the Rev. M.T. Billingsley, who retired a year ago after serving as pastor for 35 years.
Prior to coming to Chattanooga, he was a social worker at Austin-East High School in Knoxville.
Maize, a native of Louisville, Ky., previously served as pastor for 18 years at Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in Cincinnati and other churches within the African Methodist Episcopal Zion denomination.
He is a graduate of Livingstone College in Salisbury, N.C., and studied at Cincinnati Theological Seminary.
Outside of being a pastor, Maize also worked for the Department of Human Services in Cincinnati, served as president of the Knoxville chapter of the NAACP, was a mediator for Knox County schools and has led motivational speaking workshops.
He and his wife, Andrea, have three children, Ezra Jr., Jaelyn and Aliya.
Banquet
• Chattanooga Convention Center, 2 Carter Plaza; 7 p.m. Thursday; Student Venture Banquet features address by Paul Smith, executive principal at Howard School of Academics and Technology, and student testimonies; free but reservations necessary; 265-8060.
Benefit
• Christian Worship Center, 120 Old Sweetwater Road (fellowship hall), Whitwell, Tenn.; 7 a.m. CDT Saturday, May 12; Mother's Day all-you-can-eat sausage and pancake breakfast; $6; proceeds benefit church's vacation Bible school; 423-304-6160, 423-494-2642 or 423-208-1103.
Enrichment
• River Park Hubert Fry Center, 4501 Amnicola Highway; 11:30 a.m. Sunday; Jewish Federation of Greater Chattanooga Celebration of Israel features Israeli-style foods, dancing games and music; $25 per family of four or more, $10 adults, $5 children ages 7-18 (accompanied by adult) or college students, free children ages 7-under (all including kosher lunch and hat); 493-0270, ext. 10, or www.jewishchattanooga.com.
• First Baptist Church, 201 N. Main St., LaFayette, Ga.; 6:30 p.m. Monday; Northwest Georgia/Lookout Valley Baptist Association vacation Bible school clinic; 706-764-1941.
• Mizpah Congregation, 923 McCallie Ave.; noon Friday; Jewish Federation of Greater Chattanooga-sponsored panel discussion about Israel by Israeli cultural emissaries serving Southern communities; free (participants can bring vegetarian or dairy lunch); 493-0270, ext. 10, or www.jewishchattanooga.com.
Lecture
• St. Luke's Chapel, School of Theology, University of the South, Sewanee, Tenn.; 8 p.m. CDT Thursday; lecture, "Remaking Christian History for Readers and Viewers," by Dr. Diarmaid MacCulloch, professor of the history of the Church, University of Oxford, England, and fellow of St. Cross College, Oxford (reception follows at McGriff House); 931-598-1577 or 703-408-8067.
Missions
• New Haven Baptist Church, 1058 Graysville Road; 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; Amazing Grace Mission National Conference features messages by Dr. Mike Bates, Dr. Ernest Groce, pastors Jesse Quapourlee and Glendy Hamilton and host pastor Bill Broom, and testimonies from foreign missionaries; 800-524-4018 or www.amazinggracemission.org.
Music
• Harrison Bay State Park, 8411 Harrison Bay Road; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. today; Ron Sample Ministries gospel concert features Sustaining Grace, Calvary's Blend, Pure Heart, Lakeside, Sonlife, Willowcreek, 2 Deep Within, The Hicks Family, Heartstrings, Bo Cox, Randy Kincannon, John Hamilton and Sample, plus silent auction; free; 423-702-5730.
• Ridgedale Baptist Church, 1831 Hickory Valley Road; 3 p.m. Sunday; concert by Senior Neighbors Orchestra; 499-0994.
• Philadelphia Baptist, 1065 Pine Grove Road, Ringgold, Ga.; 6:30 p.m. Friday; gospel concert featuring the New Day Gospel Singers and Sustaining Grace; 706-891-5683.
Women's event
• Country Place Restaurant, 7320 Shallowford Road; noon Thursday; Chattanooga Women's Connection May luncheon features message by Brenda Copeland on "How To Be a Princess and Not Wear a Crown All Day"; $12; free child care available if requested with reservation; 867-5019.