
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, May 31, 1990                   TAG: 9006010401
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: S-10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: By Frances Stebbins
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

RELIGION BRIEFS

A PENTECOSTAL EXPLOSION to celebrate Sunday's anniversary of the birthday of the Christian church is scheduled at 7 p.m. at Penn Forest Church of God, 4429 Buck Mountain Road S.W. It will include preaching and special music and is sponsored by the approximately 20 Churches of God in the Roanoke area which have headquarters in Cleveland, Tenn.

Pentecost, regarded, along with Easter and Christmas, as one of the major festivals of Christendom, marks the descent of the power of the Holy Spirit to Jesus' followers as recounted in the Bible book of Acts. The formation of the first Christian congregations followed the event. Call Virginia District Overseer Larry Lykens, 345-7204 for more information.

\ MARY ANN BLASKO, director of music at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Roanoke, has resigned effective Sunday when the church's summer schedule goes into effect. Blasko said she needs more time to devote to professional development. She has been on the staff for six years.

\ THE REV. DR. BARBARA TAYLOR, Christian education director at St. John's Episcopal Church for the past two years, will leave the staff June 15. Taylor, who came to Roanoke from the national staff of the Episcopal church in New York, will become assistant rector of R.E. Lee Memorial Church in Lexington. She is ordained to the perpetual diaconate for service in education.

\ CAVE SPRING UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 4505 Hazel Drive S.W., has scheduled a praise concert Sunday . The Chancel Choir and several guest performers will sing a variety of sacred music at 6 p.m. A nursey will be available.

\ THE SANCTUARY CHOIR of Colonial Avenue Baptist Church concludes its season with a special program Sunday at 7 p.m. A reception will be held after the program. the church is at 4165 Colonial Ave. S.W.

\ A MUSICAL TRIBUTE to honor the pastor, the Rev. J. Eugene Young, is scheduled Sunday at 6 p.m. at Jerusalem Baptist Church, 1014 Norfolk Ave. S.W. Several choral groups will participate.

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