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

DATE: THURSDAY, May 31, 1990                   TAG: 9006010521
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: E-19   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: BY FRANCES STEBBINS
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

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.

\ A FORMER ROANOKER, the Rev. Steve Spangler, has received a doctor of ministry degree with highest honors from Trinity Theological Seminary. He is pastor of Beulah Baptist Church near Lynchburg.

\ THE REV. CHARLES BRANNON, pastor of Mentow Baptist Church, Huddleston, has received the Warren-Poe grant for rural church ministry from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is a 1988 graduate.

\ 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.

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