Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 10, 1994 TAG: 9402100282
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: W-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BY FRANCES STEBBINS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
\ ROANOKE AREA MINISTRIES at 824 Campbell Ave. S.W., is renovating its quarters with volunteers painting the dining area and kitchen. Work will be done Feb. 25 through 27. Susan Adams, coordinator of volunteers, said collegiate and high school youth groups are especially needed. Work has been completed on the day room at the shelter which serves homeless people of the Roanoke Valley. Call 345-9786 or 981-1732 to volunteer.
\ FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH in downtown Roanoke has been judged the Virginia Southern Baptist congregation with highest giving to missions in 1993. Its contribution of $464,833 included $306,919 to the Southern Baptist Convention Cooperative Program and $99,962 for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for foreign missions.
\ SANDRA HAMBRICK has joined the staff of the Roanoke Valley Association of Southern Baptists. A recent graduate of Virginia Western Community College, she previously worked for the Church of the Brethren Virlina District office. Hambrick will coordinate program ministries, serve as registrar for Ward Haven Retreat Center and maintain the computer database.
\ COPING WITH DAILY LIVING is the theme of a community series of discussions led by Dr. TomasMariano each Saturday from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, 314 Turner Road in Salem.
Issues are discussed from a Christian perspective, and the group is open to those of any faith. Topics being covered throughout the spring include effective communication, raising self-esteem, loneliness, depression and when to be assertive. Each session costs $10. Call 387-0491 for more information.
\ CHURCH MISSION TEAMS going overseas may request packaged prescription eye glasses from the Lions Club Eye Bank to distribute to needy people served by missionaries. Call Merle Hash at 345-8823 for more information. Lions Club members collect the unused glasses from donors. The Roanoke center is the distribution point for a wide Mid-Atlantic area.
\ A LENTEN BOOK FAIR is scheduled Feb. 19 from 4:30 to 7 p.m. and the following day from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Roanoke Catholic Lower School cafeteria. Books for children and adults, as well as religious articles, will be sold. The school is at 631 N. Jefferson St.
\ INACTIVE CATHOLICS will be the focus of a meeting Feb. 20 at 2 p.m. at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, 314 Turner Road in Salem. The Rev. James Parke, pastor, said the gathering will be informal and intended to update lapsed members on changes that have taken place in recent years.
\ THE REV. JOSEPH METZGER has left the staff of St. Andrew's Catholic Church, where he has served as an assistant to the pastor since August 1991. He has been transferred to St. Pius X Church in Norfolk in a similar role known as parochial vicar. His replacement is expected to be assigned in May.
\ TEDDY BEAR SUNDAY will be observed Sunday at Unity of Roanoke Valley. The congregation is asked to bring a teddy bear to be given to the Roanoke City Social Services for its work with young children. The church also has donated the bears to a police unit.
\ THE REV. CECIL SHERMAN, director of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship based in Atlanta, will speak Sunday at Calvary Baptist Church, 608 Campbell Ave. S.W. He will preach at 11 a.m. and also discuss the role of the organization of Southern Baptists of "moderate" doctrinal position after a congregational breakfast.
\ A KINDERGARTEN READINESS SEMINAR will be sponsored by the Week Day Preschool of Grandin Court Baptist Church on Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. Kathleen C. Nininger of the Roanoke County Schools guidance staff will speak. The community seminar will be at the church at 2660 Brambleton Ave. S.W.
\ OAK GROVE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN, 2138 McVitty Road S.W., will sponsor a Service of Remembrance on Sunday at 4 p.m. The service for those who have lost loved ones recently or in the past will include a table where mementoes may be placed during the service. A fellowship time will be held after the service. Call 774-3217 for more information.
\ AN ORGAN RECITAL is scheduled Feb. 25 at 8 p.m. at South Roanoke United Methodist Church, South Jefferson at 24th Street. Frederick Swann, who directs music at The Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, Calif., will play. The church is sponsoring the program in cooperation with the Roanoke Valley Chapter of the American Guild of Organists.
\ WOODLAWN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH is marking the month of February with an financial appeal to buy staple food for several Roanoke Valley agencies that feed the needy. The money is used to buy cases of food at wholesale prices. Last year, more than $2,300 was collected and assisted three Roanoke ministries.
\ RALEIGH COURT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH has designated Bob McLelland, a leader there for more than 40 years, as an elder emeritus. Unable to serve actively now because of illness, McLelland has been both a deacon and an elder in the church and visitor to the homebound. He is known throughout the valley for his leadership of youth sports.
\ THE REV. LAWRENCE K. MULLANEY has left the staff of Our Lady of Nazareth Catholic Church to become administrator of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Clifton Forge. Mullaney was assigned as an assistant to the pastor of Nazareth in May of 1992. His successor is expected to be appointed in May.
\ CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH has endorsed a proposal to join with Project LINK in serving as host for regular luncheon meetings with a group of young mothers seeking to overcome substance abuse.
\ VIRGINIA HEIGHTS BAPTIST CHURCH is sending three members, Michael Northrup, Robert Smith and Roy Thomas, on a mission trip to Mexico City. The members of the Baptist Men's group are expected to build pews for a church. They will be gone from Saturday through Feb. 19.
\ COMMON GROUND, a prayer and praise group, will meet Friday night at 7:30 at Grace Covenant Church, 1857 Grandin Road S.W.
\ CAVE SPRING UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 4505 Hazel Drive S.W. will have a Lenten study, "Jesus of the New Testament, Experienced as Immanuel, healer, friend, teacher, savior and spirit," Tuesday through March 29. Elizabeth Martin will lead the discussion group. Call 989-3673 for more information.
\ DON BLATT JR. has joined the staff of Calvary United Methodist Church of Salem as director of youth outreach. Blatt was recently in a similar position at Blacksburg United Methodist Church. His ministry will be with the youths, 12 through 18, on Sunday mornings, Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. and Sundays at 5 p.m.
\ GLENVAR BAPTIST CHURCH, 4804 Stanley Farm Road, Salem, has scheduled a Christian Family Conference Feb. 16-18. Ben Strohbehn, who has been a camp\ director, evangelist and college teacher for nearly 30 years, is the leader. A nursery will be staffed, and a program for preschool children will be provided. Call 380-4074 for more information.
\ SINGING THE LORD'S SONG is the theme this year of the annual Disciples of Christ Lenten study book. Based on Isaiah 40-55, the course will be taught at Fort Lewis Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) from Sunday for six consecutive weeks. The Rev. William Murdock of the host church will teach the Roanoke Valley class, one of several offered in Western Virginia. The $14 registration is due at the first meeting. The study is open to the community; call 380-4636 or 389-6733 for more information.
\ GREEN HILL CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN, 2699 Harborwood Road, will hold a 12-hour Ash Wednesday prayer vigil on Wednesday, beginning at 6 a.m.
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