Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 22, 1990 TAG: 9003232118
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Frances Stebbins
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Baptist Visitation Ministry, whose volunteers the luncheon honors, has been in existence for 17 years. During that time more than 87,700 visits have been made. Of the 71 congregations in the association, 48 sent at least one volunteer during the year to be matched with a shut-in. The 1989 roster shows that Oakland, with 40 visitors, led the number with other large groups coming from Bonsack, Villa Heights, Melrose and Waverly Place. The Baptist volunteers currently work in 17 nursing homes and with 550 residents.
\ SOUTH ROANOKE LENTEN VESPERS are in progress at Lapsley Chapel of First Presbyterian Church, McClanahan at South Jefferson. Beginning at 5:30 p.m., the vespers feature dramatizations of characters in Christ's passion. The next will be Wednesday with the Rev. Cheryl Duke. The Rev. Don Lincoln will be leader on April 4. Robert Chapman will present a concert of Holy Week music for the April 11 program.
\ `REQUIEM," by Faure, will be sung April 1 at 11 a.m. at South Roanoke United Methodist Church, 25th Street at South Jefferson. Verle Witmer will direct the Chancel Choir.
\ CHURCH EMBROIDERY will be among the arts discussed March 29 when Audrey Francine, an Embroiders Guild of America teacher, presents slides and lectures at Raleigh Court Presbyterian Church, 1837 Grandin Road S.W. The chapel program will begin at 7:30 p.m. and is free. Call 774-3940 for more information.
\ "GROWING OLD GRACIOUSLY" is the theme of a Sunday evening radio program being carried each week at 5:55 on WRIS AM. The program is presented by the Rev. Dr. F. Bernadette Turner, a former Roanoker who returned recently for retirement and will be a volunteer counselor for St. John's Episcopal Church.
\ ROSALIND HILLS BAPTIST CHURCH, 2711 Laburnum Ave. S.W., has scheduled revival services Sunday through Wednesday with the Rev. Mark Barbour of Lawrenceville, Ga., the preacher. The meeting will start with 11 a.m. Sunday worship; night services begin at 7. Lunch will be served after the morning worship, and a nursery will be available.
\ ST. JOHN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH in downtown Roanoke gave started a direct-aid program to help the needy in February 1989. In a recent report, the Rev. John Sylvester-Johnson, minister of outreach, said the aid amounted to $37,000 and assisted 2,540. This represented about 60 percent of those seeking temporary help.
\ A BLACK AND WHITE MUSICAL PROGRAM, featuring gospel music, will be presented Sunday at 5 p.m. at Jerusalem Baptist Church by the J. Eugene Young Mass Choir. The church is at 1014 Norfolk Ave. S.W.
\ THE REV. CHARLES FULLER will be one of six recipients of the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary distinguished alumni awards this summer.
Fuller, pastor of First Baptist Church, 515 Third St. S.W., received a bachelor of divinity degree from the Forth Worth, Texas, seminary in 1957.
He has been pastor of First Baptist since 1961. He was chairman of the Southern Baptist Convention's Peace Committee and its Radio and Television Commission. He has held numerous other national, state and local denominational offices and memberships.
The award will be presented June 13, during the national Southern Baptist Convention meeting in New Orleans.
\ THE ANNUAL CLOTHING APPEAL, sponsored for many years by the ecumenical Church World Service agency, will be discontinued this summer. Instead supporters are requested to supply kits filled with supplies for personal health, school, sewing or infants. Purchased or handmade blankets also are sought. United Methodist, Disciples of Christ and Churches of the Brethren are among the major supporters and can supply lists of kit items.
\ THE REV. DR. VINSON SYNAN, Synan chairman of the North American Renewal Service Committee, will speak Friday at 8 p.m. at Holiness Tabernacle Church of God in Christ, 1130 Melrose Ave. N.W. Synan, a national Pentecostal leader, also has worked with other churches involved in charismatic renewal.
He will be in Roanoke for the Churches of God in Christ of Virginia's annual workers conference through Sunday . A free concert by musicians from Virginia churches is scheduled at the Roanoke Civic Center Saturday night at 7 . Speaking at the closing session Sunday at 11 a.m. at the civic center will be Bishop Samuel L. Green Jr., spiritual leader of the Second Jurisdiction.
\ A SKIT AND TESTIMONIES will be the program for the Roanoke Day Chapter of Women's Aglow, a charismatic Christian group, when it meets Wednesday beginning at 9:30 a.m. A $4 continental breakfast will be served at the Hidden Valley Country Club, Salem. A nursery will be available. Call 366-9054 or 774-0702 for reservations.
\ EVANGEL FOURSQUARE CHURCH, 612 Bullitt Ave. S.E., has scheduled "The Greatest Star of All," a morning of music, comedy and drama for the family. It will be April 1 at 10 a.m.
\ THE 123RD ANNIVERSARY of the founding of First Baptist Church in Salem will be marked Sunday at 3:30 p.m. at 226 S. Broad St. A program, "The Triune God," will include organ and other instrumental music. Sharon London and Karen Brewer are directors.
\ TICKETS ARE ON SALE for the annual Bits and Pieces Luncheon sponsored by the Lorraine Gribbons Circle of First United Methodist Church in downtown Salem. The event will be May 5 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the church fellowship hall. The $4 tickets are available by calling 389-5459.
Deadline for religion briefs for Neighbors is Thursday. Material must be delivered to Neighbors Religion Briefs, P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke 24010, by noon in order to run in the following Thursday edition.
by CNB