Religion briefs

Carson City

Bible talk sessions begin Wednesday

All ages are welcome to attend a series of Bible talks from 7:30-8:30 p.m. beginning Wednesday at the home of Jon and Bet Bunch, 3609 Shawnee Drive.

The quiet, simple and free services are held solely to awaken a deeper interest in the things of God, the teachings of Jesus and the practical application to our lives today.

For information, call (916) 524-1614.

Grace Baptist services in Dayton

Grace Baptist Church at 801 Overland Loop in Dayton is holding services.

Led by pastors Jean-Paul Escalera and Mark Escalera, Bible study is held at 10 a.m. Sundays; worship is at 11 a.m. and there is prayer and Bible study at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays.

For information, call Rev. Jean-Paul Escalera at 246-0914, or Rev. Mark Escalera at 2246-3905.

You may also visit the church's Web site at www.gracenv.com.

North Carolina

Church puts slogan on shot glasses to publicize new campus

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - To get people to attend his new church campus, Robbie McLaughlin is sending his message out to where the people are.

Staffers from Next Level Church of Matthews will go to bars in the Ballantyne area of Charlotte to hand out shot glasses that ask patrons to "give us a shot" and bear the slogan, "Real church for real people."

The idea is to draw people to the church's new Ballantyne campus, which opens next month.

McLaughlin is the pastor, and said he is confident that it will be controversial, but he said the goal is not necessarily to impress people who already go to church. He said it's to impress people who don't.

Founded in 2005, Next Level is an evangelical church that encourages members to dress casually and snack on coffee and doughnuts during services.

McLaughlin said the idea has caught on, and in two years, the church has grown from a handful of members to more than 700.