ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, January 18, 1996 TAG: 9601180022
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: E-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: FRANCES STEBBINS
OUTREACH
The Food Pantry, operated by St. Mark's Lutheran Church in the Old Southwest neighborhood, provided groceries for a record 1,219 households in 1995, an increase of 213 over the previous year. More than 2,500 individuals were helped. That number has more than tripled since 1987. The congregation also provided needy families with more than 100 food baskets at Thanksgiving and Christmas at the request of Roanoke Social Services. St. Philip Lutheran Church at Hollins joins St. Mark's in stocking the pantry.
After School Connections, a program to provide supervision and tutoring help for pupils in the four Salem elementary schools and Andrew Lewis Junior High, is expected to begin soon at First United Methodist Church in downtown Salem. In cooperation with the YWCA, the church will maintain the outreach ministry daily from 2 to 6 p.m. with the YWCA providing transportation. For more information, call 387-4532.
A Bosnian family that includes Emir Ferhatovic, his wife Dubravka, and their children, Denis and Sabina, arrived in Roanoke in mid-December under the sponsorship of St. Mark's Lutheran Church. The parents, a mechanical engineer and an economics teacher, are beginning to study English and seek work.
SPIRITUALITY EDUCATION
Calvary United Methodist Church, 845 Hemlock Road in Salem, is forming covenant discipleship groups for those who wish to deepen their spiritual life in weekly community group prayer, study and fellowship. The groups will follow a format developed by the United Methodist Church on the national level. Call 344-6380 for more information.
PEOPLE
Northminster Presbyterian Church will honor both members of its music staff during a noon farewell reception Sunday. David Hensley, minister of music for 12 years, and Joyce Minnich Hensley, organist for nearly five years, are leaving Jan. 31. David Hensley's full-time banking job is transferring him to Charlotte, N.C.
Laurie Gearheart, a certified public accountant for more than a decade, has joined the staff of First Baptist Church in downtown Roanoke as its accountant. She succeeds another CPA, Tom Markwood, who will work for a Roanoke accounting firm.
The Rev. Robert Lanier, pastor of Riverdale Baptist Church, will spend Jan. 19 through 29 in Panama where he will conduct evangelistic services at the request of Colon Baptist Church. His trip is part of a program of Virginia Southern Baptists to assist congregations with spiritual or construction leadership.
Barbara Cosgrove, Brad Hoff and Kay Hambrick have assumed leadership positions with the Roanoke Third Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meeting in Salem.
Roanoker Cosgrove takes over as president of the group for teen girls from Nancy Lorton of Buchanan who served for more than five years. Hoff, also of Roanoke, assumes leadership of the teen boys group, succeeding Roanoker John Cosgrove who's been in the job since 1991. Hambrick, as president of the women's New Relief Society, succeeds Nelda Hurst. Both relief society leaders are from Roanoke. They coordinate women's education and assist Mormon families in time of need.
The late Paxton Davis, a Botetourt historian and author, has been memorialized at Fincastle Presbyterian Church through gifts to purchase a grand piano with capabilities of simulating several other instruments. Other funds for the piano came from the estate of Ella Frantz.
MUSICAL EVENTS
Voices of Zion, a gospel choral group, will perform Jan. 28 at 6 p.m. at Catawba Community Center under sponsorship of Catawba Valley Baptist Church. An offering will be taken.
SPECIAL EVENTS
The Pastoral Counseling Center of the Roanoke Valley board of directors will announce new staff members and plans at a breakfast for religion professionals on Jan. 25 at 8 at Second Presbyterian Church. Supported ecumenically for more than 20 years, the center has been headed by the Rev. Leo Howard, who is retiring. Reservations are needed by Friday. Call 343-5455.
Send information to Frances Stebbins, Neighbors, PO Box 2491, Roanoke,Va. 24010-2491 by noon Thursday.
LENGTH: Medium: 91 linesby CNB