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

DATE: THURSDAY, November 18, 1993                   TAG: 9311180246
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: S-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: FRANCES STEBBINS
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

THANKSGIVING SERVICES

Thanksgiving, a national holiday marked in America for more than 350 years, will be observed in the Roanoke Valley with special services throughout next week. Though Thanksgiving always is on a Thursday, many congregations hold joint services on Thanksgiving Eve. This year, offerings from many of the valley neighborhood services will be given to the institutional chaplaincy ministry of the Rev. Richard Harris. Some of the special services include:

\ THE WILLIAMSON ROAD area service will be on Sunday at 7 p.m. at Airlee Court Baptist Church, Hershberger at Delray Northwest. The Rev. Bruce Noffsinger of Hollins Road Church of the Brethren will preach with other clergy of the neighborhood participating.

\ THE GRANDIN ROAD neighborhood churches will join for two worship opportunities. Both will be at Virginia Heights Baptist Church, Grandin Road at Memorial Avenue Southwest. On Wednesday night at 7:30, the Rev. Gregory Adkins of Raleigh Court United Methodist will preach. he following morning at 9:30, the Rev. Mark W. Radecke of Christ Lutheran will preach. A nursery will be staffed for both services which have been held for 63 years.

\ AN INTERFAITH SERVICE with both Christian and Jewish participants from several Southwest Roanoke congregations is scheduled Wednesday night at 7:30 at Greene Memorial United Methodist Church, 402 Second St. in downtown Roanoke. The Rev. David Yingling of Central Church of the Brethren will preach. Commercially canned food is sought as part of the offering for Roanoke Area Ministries. A social time follows.

\ THE SOUTHWEST ROANOKE United Methodist parishes of West End, Trinity and Highland Park will join for worship Wednesday at 7 p.m. The Rev. David Tanner of Trinity will preach at the service at Highland Park on Ferdinand Avenue Southwest.

\ SUBURBAN SOUTHWEST ROANOKE congregations will share worship at Woodlawn United Methodist, 2922 Corbieshaw Road S.W. with the Rev. James Beatty of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal preaching. This service starts at 7:30 p.m.

\ THE ROANOKE AVENUE Southwest neighborhood has scheduled worship Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Roanoke Avenue Baptist Church, 2202 Roanoke Ave. The message will be delivered by the Rev. Bruce Robinson of Woodside Evangelical Presbyterian Church.

\ SALEM COMMUNITY SERVICE will take place Wednesday night at 7:30 at Fort Lewis Baptist Church, 4215 W. Main St. Choirs from the host church, and a choir from New Hope Presbyterian will sing. The Rev. Michael Derflinger of Locust Grove United Methodist Church will preach. The offering goes to community ministries of the Salem Ministers Conference.

\ THE EAST SALEM CHURCHES of Calvary United Methodist and Ridgewood Baptist will join for Thanksgiving worship Wednesday at 7 p.m. The Rev. Nelson Harris of Ridgewood Baptist will speak at the Methodist church, 845 Hemlock Road. Fellowship time follows.

\ AN INTERRACIAL SERVICE is an innovation this year for Windsor Hills United Methodist and Morning Star Baptist. It will be held Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Methodist church, 3591 Windsor Road S.W. with the Rev. Lee Lewis of the Baptist church preaching. Music will be by choirs of the two churches. Dinner at 6 precedes the service.

\ IN SOUTH BOTETOURT, Trinity Church of the Brethren on U.S. 220 north of Daleville will be the site of a community service Wednesday at 7. It involves seven congregations.

\ IN VINTON, many from the town's churches will gather at Vinton Wesleyan Church, Jefferson and Poplar streets, for worship Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. The Rev. Noel Taylor, pastor of High Street Baptist Church in Roanoke, will preach. The offering benefits the Presbyterian Community Center.

\ NORTH ROANOKE COUNTY service will be at Melrose Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Wednesday at 7 p.m. The speaker will be the Rev. George Pearson of Southview United Methodist. The church is at 4807 Cove Road N.W.

\ FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST plans its traditional service Thursday at 11 a.m. at the house of worship at 1155 Overland Road S.W. Two readers will present passages from the Bible and from the interpretation of Mary Baker Eddy, founder of the faith. A nursery will be staffed.

\ JERUSALEM BAPTIST CHURCH, 1014 Norfolk Ave. S.W., plans a Thanksgiving morning service and breakfast starting at 7. The Rev. J. Eugene Young, pastor, will preach and music will be presented by a combined choir.

by CNB