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

DATE: THURSDAY, February 10, 1994                   TAG: 9402100304
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: N-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: FRANCES STEBBINS
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

RELIGION BRIEFS

LENT, a time of preparation for Easter, will begin with Ash Wednesday and lasts 40 days excluding Sundays. During Lent, spiritual growth and self-denial have long been emphasized. Special classes and services are scheduled weekly in an increasing number of congregations. Easter is April 3.

\ 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. Tomas Mariano 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.

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