Three churches in Warren County are hosting festivals and invite you to help them celebrate:

St. Alban’s Episcopal Church

St. Alban’s Episcopal Church invites you to “Come to the Country” for its Founder’s Jubilee Oct. 31-Nov. 1. The celebration will be all about the church’s founding and its early history as a Civil War site and a viable part of the Bovina Community.

Civil War re-enactors and visiting Boy Scouts from the Mississippi Gulf Coast will camp out throughout the weekend.

The encampment will open for visitors at noon on Saturday and a Civil War Drill and Cannon Demonstration will be held at 3 p.m. At 5:30 that afternoon a soldier buried in the church cemetery will be honored with special recognition. At 6 o’clock there will be the All Saints Eve service with luminaries and roll call, followed by a tour of the church cemetery.

Church services will be held Sunday at 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. And following the 11 o’clock service, there will be “Dinner on the Grounds” from 12 noon until 2  p.m. The menu will include fried chicken, barbecue pork, green beans, potatoes, corn on the cob, cornbread and for dessert, Cobbler or Brownies. Cost of the dinner is $8 for adults and $5 for children.

But that’s not all.

A Country Market will be open, and a pig-cooking will highlight the activities along with demonstrations for visitors and special activities for the children. And not to be overlooked, music by “Bridging the Gap.”

St. Alban’s history dates back to 1856, when an Episcopal service was preached to a small congregation in a Baptist Church. A year later a group of cotton farmers in the area invited the Rev. Henry Sanson of Canton to hold services and some 17 men and women of the area formed Saint Alban’s Episcopal Church. Dr. Sanson was asked to serve as rector. In May, 1859, the new church was consecrated by the Rt. Rev. William Green, Bishop of Mississippi.

Today the Rev. Billie Abraham, who began her ministry as deacon-in-charge and was ordained to the priesthood in September 2008, is the  rector at St. Alban’s. She extends a special invitation to area residents to “come to the country” for St. Alban’s Founder’s Jubilee Oct. 31 and Nov. 1.

Christ Episcopal Church

Christ Episcopal events

Nov. 1: Enactment of the Rev. Henry Sansom and service of Ancient Evening and Hymns

Nov. 2: Morning tour, 10 a.m. to noon. All Souls Walking Tour, 7 p.m. and reception at Duff Green mansion.

Nov. 3: Driving Tour on the hour, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Nov. 4: Morning tour 10 a.m. to noon. Healing Service in Chapel, 12:15 and 5:30 p.m.

Nov. 5: Lecture, Terry Winschel, 6 p.m. Cultural and period music, 7:15 p.m.

Nov. 6: Tour of church 10 a.m. to noon.

Nov. 7: Illuminated Journey, the Rev. Brad Berglund, 10 a.m. to noon. Salad lunch and dulcimer concert, 12 to 1 p.m.

Nov. 8: Holy Eucarist: “Re-inventing Worship; “Pilgrims in 21st Century” with the Rev. Brad Berglund and the Very Rev. Chan Osborne de Anaya at 10 a.m.

Christ Episcopal Church will celebrate Nov. 1 through Nov. 8 the 170th anniversary of the laying of its cornerstone in 1839. Numerous events are scheduled for the week, and foods will be a featured item throughout the anniversary celebration.

On Sunday, Nov. 1, Civil War era refreshments will be served following the 6 p.m. re-enactment of an 1860’s church service with member Jim Miller portraying the Rev. Henry Sansom. Christ Church was one of only two Vicksburg churches remaining open daily in that period and is the only church still standing.

An All Souls Walking Tour is scheduled for Monday at 7 p.m., and will end with a reception at Duff Green Mansion, next door to the church.

Light appetizers will  be served in the Parish House on Thursday following the 6 p.m. presentation by historian Terry Winschel.

On Saturday, a soup and salad luncheon in the parish house will be served at noon between the morning and afternoon presentations by the Rev. Brad Bergund. Refreshments will be offered following the Nov. 8, 10 a.m. service in the sancturary led by the Rev. Berglund and Christ Church priest the Very Rev.

Chan Osborn de Anaya.

The public is invited to all events and there is no charge for any events.

Lutheran Church of the Messiah

Bratwurst and potato salad are on the menu for this Saturday at The Lutheran Church of the Messiah, 301 Cain Ridge Road. It’s the 21st annual Germanfest, and congregation members hosting the event are inviting the public to join them for a typical Germanfest meal of bratwurst, potato salad and beans.

Diners can look forward to a meal of Usingers’ Bratwurst from Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Hot German Potato Salad; and baked beans. There will also be a hot dog plate served with beans and chips. The Bratwurst plate is $8, and the hot dog plate is $4.

The public is invited to dine in, or carry out. Serving hours are 4 to 7 p.m.

There will also be a choice of fabulous desserts for purchase.

Pastor of Lutheran Church of the Messiah is Gary Osborn.