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

DATE: SATURDAY, February 12, 1994                   TAG: 9402120112
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: C-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: From staff and wire reports
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Long

BRIEFS

In Rocky Mount a series of noon services followed by lunch will be conducted on Wednesdays in Lent by the ministers of four denominations.

They will be held at Trinity Episcopal Church beginning Feb. 23. The Rev. Christine Payden-Travers of St. Peter's Episcopal Church near Callaway will preach at the first service. On the following week, the Rev. Samuel Anderson of First Baptist Church will speak.

The March 9 preacher will be the Rev. William Dawson of Rocky Mount United Methodist Church to be followed on March 16 by the Rev. Glenn Clements of Rocky Mount Christian Church (Disciples of Christ.) The final service on March 23 will be led by the Rev. Joseph Bryant of Rocky Mount Baptist Church.

Following each service, an optional lunch will be available for $4.

"The Life, Death and Resurrection of Jesus," will be the theme of Lenten ecumenical services to be held at Bedford's Main Street United Methodist Church starting Wednesday . Worship is at noon and is followed by an optional lunch for $3.75.

Dates and speakers for seven week of Lent are: Feb. 16, the Rev. Cameron Dahl of Thaxton Baptist; Feb. 23, the Rev. James Begley of Holy Name of Mary Catholic; March 2, the Rev. James Creasy of St. John's Episcopal; March 9, the Rev. Karla Gee of Bedford Baptist.

On March 16 the the Rev. Dallas Bennett of Christian Life Ministries will be heard, followed on March 23 by the Rev. Henry Henderson of Washington Street Baptist and on March 30 by the Rev. Carl Douglass of Main Street United Methodist.

Several Church of the Brethren congregations in Franklin County will unite in sponsoring Sunday night services during Lent.

They will begin on Feb. 20 with the Rev. Robert Jones speaking at Bethany Church. On Feb. 27 the Rev. Keith Simmons will preach at the Boones Mill Church. The Rev. Jerry Crouse is the speaker on March 6 at Monte Vista Church followed by the Rev. Chris Foster preaching at Brick Church on March 13.

For the March 20 program at Cedar Bluff Church a drama team from Antioch Church will be featured. The series will end with a cantata, "God`s Greatest Gift: The Life of Christ," performed at Antioch Church on Palm Sunday.

The "Mass in F Major" by Mozart will open the Lenten season Feb. 20 at 5 p.m. at Christ Episcopal Church, 311 E. Church St., Martinsville. The work will be sung by the choir of St. Christopher's School for Boys in Richmond. The eventy is free.

Kits for refugees

The Episcopal Diocese of Southwestern Virginia voted at its recent annual meeting to join with the Virlina District of the Church of the Brethren in seeking to fit 40,000 kits for refugees in the Sudan.

The kits contain a bath towel, a container of iodized salt and four bars of soap. All three items are considered life saving for destitute people and can be used in several ways. The diocese has an international partnership with the impoverished African country. The Brethren are responding to an appeal from a former missionary there.

The Rev. Dr. Randolph L. Harrison has retired to Staunton after a pastorate of nearly 19 years at Lexington Presbyterian Church. An interim minister, the Rev. Richard Webster of Louisville, Ky., will begin service at the church on March 1.

Lecture series

"Spirituality for the Minister" will be the theme of the Rev. Dr. James R. Newby at a continuing series of lectures for religion professionals at Lewis-Gale Hospital in Salem.

The executive director of the D. Elton Trueblood Academy for Applied Christianity will speak Feb. 22 at a breakfast at 8. The program is free, though reservations are needed and may be made by calling 776-4730. Other programs are planned on March 22, April 26 and May 24. For a schedule, call 776-4730 or 344-0931.

Missions promoted

An eight-member team known as "Missions USA Live," will be at Bedford Baptist Church, 1516 Oakwood St., Thursday at 7 p.m.

The team is made up of young adults who promote missions as part of the Southern Baptist US2 program. All its members are under 28 and college graduates who have given service in the mission field.

The "Mass in F Major" by Mozart will open the Lenten season Feb. 20 at 5 p.m. at Christ Episcopal Church, 311 E. Church St., Martinsville. The work will be sung by the choir of St. Christopher's School for boys in Richmond. The event is free.

Breakfast meeting

"Jurassic Park: Medical and Moral Implications" will be the theme of a breakfast discussion for religion professionals postponed from January. It will be Thursday in the Lewis-Gale Hospital Cafeteria.

The Rev. Branan Thompson and Dr. Alan Henry will be the presenters for the program that starts with free breakfast at 7 and continues for an hour. The dialogue is one of a bi-monthly series sponsored by the Roanoke Academy of Medicine and the Roanoke Valley Ministers Conference.