For about 10 years, every August, Bishop Elroy Lewis, pastor of Fisher Memorial United Holy Church, makes a trip to Georgia for the stated purpose of bringing back a big load of fresh-picked, giant muscadine and scuppernong grapes.

These grapes will be sold in two-pound bags for $2.50, with proceeds going to projects at the church. Last year, the grape sale raised $2,000, Lewis said Wednesday via phone from Georgia, where he was picking grapes.

Lewis and his cargo got back to the Triangle on Friday, and the main sale will be today from 9 a.m. to noon at the church, 420 E. Piedmont Ave.

Like other varieties of grapes, these make tasty jam and jelly. Lewis said he has eight regular customers who always buy 22-pound boxes. One man buys them to use for glazing ham and some of the others for making "juice."

"No questions asked," the bishop said.

It was Lewis' mother, coming up on her 104th birthday in October, who got the grape project started.

"We were in Georgia visiting relatives," he said. "And when we left, they gave both of us a bag of grapes. Going up the road, mama ate her bag and started on mine. After I tasted them I knew why."

Grapes will also be available on Sunday at about 1 p.m. after the morning worship service.

Rummage sale today at Bethesda UMC

Members and friends of Bethesda United Methodist Church will host a church-wide rummage sale today from 8 to 11 a.m. on the church grounds at 2309 S. Miami Blvd.

Items for sale will include contributions by church members and friends, as well as items no longer used in the church, the parsonage and storage buildings. Proceeds will go to retire debt on the church sanctuary.

Catch the 2006 Congo Choir on tour

The 2006 Congo Choir, a joint effort of the Presbyterian Church USA and its partners in the Democratic Republic of Congo, will perform today at 4 p.m. at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 2620 Weaver St.

The 12-member coed choir hopes to inspire Christians in the U.S. to help promote health, education and well-being in Congo. They are in the country on a summer tour.

A reception with light snacks will be held after the performance, which is free and open to the public.

Outreach ministry celebrates anniversary

The Rev. Rodney Green, who helped feed hungry people in the parking lot at St. Philip's Episcopal Church by starting Changing a Generation Outreach Ministries six years ago, will mark his ministry's anniversary today and Sunday.

Folks will gather this morning before 11 at the ministry's headquarters at 603 Holloway St. Two local gospel choirs will sing and the Rev. Clarence Burke of Beacon Light Baptist Church on Cook Road will preach.

A cookout and fish fry will begin at noon. Also, a medical team, headed by Dr. Louise Gooche of L&G Health Education, will perform health screenings and offer advice for healthy living. School supplies, including bookbags, will be distributed to students.

On Sunday at 4 p.m., the celebration will move to North East Baptist Church, 3204 N.C. 55, where Pastor Wesley Elam will preach and Sons of New Bethel, a local gospel group, will sing.

During the years, Green's ministry has fed hungry people breakfast and lunch, has provided food baskets to families on special holidays and has offered free haircuts. Corey Bell, an assistant wrestling coach at Duke University and the owner-operator of Day Dreamers Barber College on Roxboro Street, and his students cut hair every Saturday morning on the front porch at ministry headquarters.

"We have fed and evangelized over 200,000 people over the six years," Green said this week. "I have planted the seeds in Durham. That's what God told me to do."

Green can be reached at 824-2740. The ministry's new Web site, just up and running this week, is www.changingageneration.org, and the mailing address is P.O. Box 1061, Durham, NC27702.

Durham Women's Connection breakfast

Durham Women's Connection, formerly Durham Christian Business and Professional Women, will have its August breakfast and inspirational program on Aug. 19 at 10 a.m. at Grandma's Kitchen, 5230 N. Roxboro Road.

The inspirational speaker is Linda Ring, who will share her Christian experience and talk about her love of gardening, decorating and animals.

The event also will feature a country musician.

This group is open to women of all ages, said member Renee Shick. "It is not a denominational thing," she said.

"We don't talk about churches."

Reservations can be made by Aug. 16 by calling Alice Castillo at 596-6924 or e-mailing dcbpwc@yahoo.com.

Heart of Carolina Emmaus to meet

The Durham gathering of the Heart of Carolina Emmaus Community will meet Friday at 7 p.m. at Mt. Sylvan United Methodist, 5731 N. Roxboro Road. Anyone who has attended an Emmaus Walk or who is interested in learning more about this program of the Upper Room is invited to attend. A social time will follow the meeting.

Satellite Pantry to hold community event

An open community event organized by the Satellite Pantry, a ministry based at Grace Church, 200 Sage Road, Chapel Hill, will provide clothing, household items, information on social services, the public library, health and counseling to people in the Triangle area. It will be open from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday through Friday.