Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 19, 1994 TAG: 9403220169
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: B-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By Frances Stebbins
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
One of the state's oldest and largest religious organizations for women may have ended an era this week when it concluded its annual two-day meeting Wednesday at First Baptist Church, 515 Third Street S.W.
The Women's Missionary Union of Virginia, an auxiliary of the state's Southern Baptist churches, next year will move its meeting dates to Friday and Saturday in a bid to accommodate more working women members.
Earlene Jessee, the organization's executive director, reminded the members of the dates for next year's meeting - March 18-19 - and encouraged them to get working women out to the event at Norfolk's First Baptist Church.
The 1996 gathering also is tentatively scheduled for a Friday and Saturday.
This year's meeting drew 1,675 registered participants representing all 43 of the state's Southern Baptist regional associations.
Aleen Wheeless of Springfield was re-elected president of the organization.
Program on Sudan
``The Church in the Sudan'' will be the theme of the presentation of Judy Mills Reimer and David Radcliffe March 27 at 9:30 a.m. at Central Church of the Brethren, 416 Church Ave. S.W. Reimer, of Roanoke, is national moderator-elect of the Church of the Brethren. Radcliff, a native of the Roanoke Valley, now is on the national staff of the church. Both have recently returned from the war-torn Central African country in which both Brethren and Episcopalians have a mission relationship.
Episcopal video
At Christ Episcopal Church, 311 E. Church St. in Martinsville, Marge and Joe Freeman of Lynchburg on Wednesday at 7:15 p.m. will present a video, ``The Episcopal Church in Virginia,'' which they prepared from historical photographs found in Roanoke last year. The program commemorates the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the Diocese of Southwestern Virginia.
Passover services
The observance of Passover, the Jewish holy period that recalls God's deliverance of the Jews from bondage in Egypt, begins on March 27. A goal of a leaven-free meal eaten in homes is to allow participants to experience as much as possible the actual departure in haste from Egypt and later the passing through a body of water to deliverance.
A congregational Seder, the ritual meal, will be eaten at 7 p.m. at Beth Isreal Synagogue on the opening day with daily worship following for the next seven days.
Mass in Roanoke
Bishop Walter F. Sullivan, spiritual leader of Roman Catholics in the Diocese of Richmond, will celebrate Mass March 27 at 10 a.m. at the Roanoke Civic Center Auditorium. The one service for the weekend marks the 80th anniversary of the founding of Our Lady of Nazareth parish.
The congregation worshiped for many years at 820 Campbell Ave. S.W., the site of the present Roanoke Area Ministries center. It moved in 1976 to 1925 Electric Road S.W.
The anniversary Mass will follow a special service and social Friday at the church on a day set aside in Catholic tradition to honor the Virgin Mary.
Moving the anniversary Mass to a public building is necessary to accommodate the 3,500 members who usually worship at four weekend services, the Rev. Kenneth Stoft, pastor, said.
Smoking ban
Smoking may soon be banned in all Virginia Roman Catholic buildings used for worship or other ministry. Bishop Walter F. Sullivan has approved this recommendation by the Diocesan Pastoral Council. The restriction already applies at diocesan headquarters in Richmond.
175th anniversary
The Diocese of Richmond will celebrate its 175th anniversary in 1995. Celebrations will be held in historic churches of the 12 regions throughout the year. Note also will be taken of Sullivan's 25th anniversary of becoming a bishop.
Baha'i holy day
Roanoke area Baha'is are preparing to celebrate their religion's New Year - called Naw-Ruz - Monday.
A 19-period of fasting that began March 2 will end at sundown Sunday. A celebration, open to the public, will be held by area Baha'is that day at the Harrison Museum of African-American Culture, 523 Harrison Ave. N.W., at 5:30 p.m.
During the fast period, Baha'is abstain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex.
On Naw-Ruz, one of the faith's holy days, Baha'i owned businesses usually are closed and the faithful who are able refrain from work.
by CNB