ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, March 23, 1996 TAG: 9603250016
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-7 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
COLUMN: In Religion
SOURCE: KENNETH SINGLETARY
Churches throughout the New River Valley will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the American Guild of Organists with special organ programs in the coming weeks. Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor will be performed at: Blacksburg United Methodist Church Sunday at 8:45 and 11 a.m.; at the Virginia Tech Memorial Chapel April 17 at noon and at Radford University Preston Auditorium April 23 at 4 p.m. The Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor will be performed at Preston Auditorium April 4 through 6 in connection with a production by the university's department of dance.
SERVICES
Christiansburg's Holy Spirit Catholic Churchwill celebrate Mass at 5 p.m. today at Our Saviour Lutheran Church on Cambria Street. The readings will be Ezekiel 37: 12-14; Romans 8: 8-11; John 11: 1-45. The church will have a Stations of the Cross service at 7 p.m. each Tuesday during Lent and this Thursday a Reconciliation Service at 7 p.m.. 382-8028.
Blacksburg's St. Mary's Catholic Church on Harding Avenue will celebrate Mass today at 5 p.m. and at 8:45 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. Sunday.
Christian Growth Center on Electric Way in Christiansburg will have a discussion on sisterhood in the Lord, today and April 27 at 9:30 a.m. 382-2908.
The Metaphysical Chapel on the corner of Church and Lee Streets in Blacksburg will host Nancy Mignone, who will leading a walking meditation tour at 7 p.m. Sunday. 951-4848.
"The Gun Culture: How Guns Have Become Such a Pervasive Factor in Our Society" will be Jim Littlefield's topic Sunday at 10:30 a.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of the New River Valley on Gladewood Drive in Blacksburg. Bob Underhill will lead a discussion on "The Looming Standard of Living Decline: What Can We Do for Our Kids?" during a roundtable at 9 a.m. 552-2717. Also at the church will be a series of discussions on feminist theology, "Rise Up and Call Her Name," continuing through May 7. An additional session will be today from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Enrollment is limited. Call Cynthia Luke at 381-5001 during the day for more information. The church will have a "Meditation East and West" session every Tuesday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. The meditation consists of silence, conscious breathing, attunement to the elements, cleansing energy, and chanting. Rudi Gelsey, 953-5546.
Roy Poole, the Country Parson from Fredericksburg will appear at a revival at Corner Stone Fellowship Church on Church Street in Cambria Sunday at 7:30 p.m. 381-2123.
Walton Pentecostal Holiness Church will have a revival with Brother Elbert Cox Sunday through March 31. Sunday's service will be at 6:30 p.m. with services Monday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. 639-1757.
Radford Church of God in Christ on Russell Avenue will have a presentation from Jews for Jesus on "Christ in the Passover" Tuesday at 7 p.m. Jews for Jesus is a group which proclaims that Jesus is the Messiah of Israel and Savior of the world. 639-5948.
Corner Stone Fellowship Church in Christiansburg will have a spring camp meeting revival through Friday with J.B. Shelton. 382-2123.
Fairlawn Baptist Church is celebrating its 50th anniversary through May 5. The church will present a special program on drug and alcohol abuse Sunday. 639-5049.
Hall's and Lafayette United Methodist Churches in Elliston are conducting an informal Sunday night praise services at 7 p.m. during March. 268-2300.
Northside Presbyterian Church on Progress Street in Blacksburg will conduct a series on "Discovering Everyday Spirituality" with host Thomas Moore through Thursday. Each series starts at 6 p.m. with supper and continues at 7 p.m. with the program. 552-4327.
Our Saviour Lutheran Church on Cambria Street in Christiansburg conducts an informal evening worship Wednesdays at 7 p.m. The 45-minute service is for people who work on weekends, community newcomers, and people looking for a mid-week worship opportunity. 382-2223.
Good Shepherd Baptist Church on Dunlap Drive in Christiansburg is offering a study course on "Experiencing God" to anyone who is interested. 382-0719.
Blacksburg Baptist Church on North Main Street will host a series of spiritual lunches from 11:50 a.m. to 12:50 p.m. during the coming weeks. The topics are: Tuesday, "Whatever Happened to Sin?"; April 2, "A Lay Person Looks at the Cross." 552-3869.
LENTEN AND EASTER SERVICES
Blacksburg's St. Mary's Catholic Church on Harding Avenue will have a Lenten meal at 6 p.m., followed by Stations of the Cross at 7 p.m. every Friday during Lent.
Good Shepherd Church of the Brethren on Heather Drive in Blacksburg will have a Lenten Study Series on conflict resolution on Thursdays in March at 6:30 p.m. 951-8937.
St. Michael Lutheran Church on Merrimac Road will celebrate its Lenten season with a five-week Wednesday evening service at 6 p.m.; a Maundy Thursday service with Holy Communion at 7 p.m.; a Good Friday Service on Shadows at 7 p.m.; and Easter Sunday Sunrise Service April 7 at 8 a.m. 552-0879.
Our Savior Lutheran Church on Cambria Street in Christiansburg will have a Palm Sunday service March 31 at 10 a.m., a Maundy Thursday service at 7 p.m., a Good Friday service at 7 p.m., an Easter sunrise service at 6:30 a.m. and an Easter Communion service at 10 a.m. with an egg hunt at 11 a.m.
Observance of Lent at Grace Episcopal Church on Fourth Street in Radford includes Holy Eucharist each Thursday at 11 a.m. followed by soup lunch. Thursday nights at 6:30 a potluck meal is followed by video study covering the topics of forgiveness, faith and death.
St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Christiansburg will have Palm Sunday service at 10 a.m. including a congregational reading of the Passion story. A Stations of the Cross liturgy will be April 2 at 7 p.m. followed by Wednesday Eucharist 10 a.m. The Maundy Thursday service at 7 will include the washing of feet and a watchnight vigil in the chapel. Good Friday worship will begin at noon and 7 p.m. with Easter Vigil on Saturday starting at 7 p.m. and Easter morning Eucharist at 10.
Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church on Fifth Street in Pulaski will have Lenten services at 7 p.m. on Sundays in March. 980-3624.
St. Peter's Church on West First Street in Christiansburg is offering a series of programs on the Epistle to the Hebrews on Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m.
Christiansburg Presbyterian Church will host Leighton Culler, who will conduct the final installment in a series of Lenten Bible Study sessions Thursday, with a light meal at 6:15 p.m. and the discussion at 7 p.m. Culler will talk on "Remember the Good News." 382-2802. Members of the church who belong to the Community Interfaith Choir will perform a selection from "God With Us" Sunday.
Grove United Methodist Church on Tyler Avenue in Radford will conduct Lenten Services on Sundays at 11 a.m. and Wednesdays at 6 p.m. The mid-week services will feature food, music and guest speakers. 639-2807.
United Methodist Churches in Radford and Montgomery and Floyd Counties are sponsoring combined Lenten services on Sundays in March. 639-2807.
Christiansburg and Radford area churches will sponsor pre-Easter services on Fridays at noon from now till Easter. The services will include soup and sandwiches, and songs, prayer, and a message, ending at 1 p.m. The schedule and themes are: March 29, Asbury United Methodist Church on Stuart and Chapel Streets, "True Vine." Sponsored by the Christiansburg Ministerial Association, 382-2223.
St. Jude Church in Radford on Tyler Road will have Palm/Passion Sunday Services March 30 at 5:15 p.m. and March 31 at 11 a.m. The church will have a Holy Thursday service April 4 at 7 p.m. and a Good Friday Service April 5, with Veneration of the Cross, at 7 p.m. An Easter Vigil Service will be April 6 at 8:30 p.m. and Easter Sunday Services will be April 7 at 9 and 11 a.m. 639-5341.
The Churches of the Brethren in Floyd will have Lenten services during each Sunday during Lent at 7:30 p.m. The schedule is March 24 at Burks Fork Church; March 31 Beaver Creek Church will hold a Palm Sunday celebration; April 5 White Rock Church will host a Good Friday celebration. 789-7892.
Five Blacksburg congregations will unite for Lenten evening services Wednesdays through March 27. Theme this year will be "Major Saints of Our Traditions." The Wednesday night joint programs will begin at 6 with supper and end by 7:30. Child care will be provided at each. This Wednesday's meeting will be at Christ Episcopal Church on "Saints and Liturgy." The suppers and programs are free.
Slusser's Chapel on Mount Tabor Road in Blacksburg will present its Easter Cantata April 5 through 7, at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and at 10 a.m. Sunday. The production will be Karla Worley's "Emmanuel Has Come," a two-act drama based on Biblical text. A love offering will be taken.
JOYFUL NOISES
The Martin Family will celebrate its 11th anniversary with a sing at Auburn High School today at 7 p.m. Performing will be The Brazells from Martinez, Ga.; the Martin Family; and The Easter Brothers from Mt. Airy, N.C. Tickets are $8; children's tickets are $5. 382-1954 or 381-1137.
Joyful Noise, a 47-member choir of high school students from 22 different congregations, will perform Sunday at 11 a.m. at Christ Episcopal Church in Pulaski.
New River Valley Gospel Singers with Rev. Frank Saunders of Roanoke and Guest Choir Lee Street Baptist Church from Bristol, Tenn., will perform at Schaeffer Memorial Baptist Church on High Street in Christiansburg Sunday at 4 p.m.
Radford Church of God in Christ will sponsor Youth Gospel Explosion Thursday through March 31, with a revival Thursday and Friday. A teen summit and music workshop is set for March 30 with guest speaker Pete Moore. Guest choir Voices of Unity will perform March 30 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $5. 639-5948.
Pine Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Dugspur will host The Bolt Brothers and Stacie March 31 at 7 p.m. 789-4828.
The Christiansburg Inter-Faith Choir will present "God with Us - A Worship Experience for All Seasons" March 31 at 7 p.m. in the Christiansburg High School Auditorium. The choir is composed of nearly 100 people from area churches and will be accompanied by a 30 -piece orchestra. A love offering will be taken, and a nursery will be provided. 382-2160.
SPECIAL EVENTS
New Hope United Methodist Church on Church Street in New River will have a bake sale today from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Proceeds will go to the church's building fund.
Dublin United Methodist Church on Main Street will recognize people, groups and businesses who contributed to the Salvation Army during the 1994-1995 fiscal year and the 1995 Christmas drive Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. The event will include a dinner and an address by Lt. Col. Gene Slusher, who also will be in revival today and Sunday at the Salvation Army's office on Commerce Street in Pulaski. Greater Love will provide music.
Voices of Vision, a drama team from First Baptist Church in Narrows, will perform Christian comedy today and Sunday at 7:30 p.m. at Narrows Annex.
First Baptist Church on Third and Downey Streets in Radford, will host "Dr. Hatcher Remembers," a dramatic portrayal of the life of William E. Hatcher, a prominent 19th-century Baptist minister who founded Fork Union Military Academy. The performance will be Sunday at 11 a.m. 639-4419.
The Radford/Fairlawn Ministerial Association and the Radford Department of Social Services are sponsoring a free dinner and budgeting seminar for all Radford residents who receive income assistance Tuesday at 6 p.m. The event will be at First Baptist Church on Third Avenue and Downey Street and will be led by Ed Garrettson of Consumer Credit Counseling in Roanoke. Reservations can be made by calling the department at 731-3663.
Clergy members from throughout the New River Valley are invited to a series of Mental Health Breakfast meetings, sponsored by the Mental Health Association of the New River Valley. The meetings will be on the third Thursday of each month from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the association office in Christiansburg. David Moore, a former pastor and licensed counselor, will conduct the sessions, which will feature an hour-long "Topic of the Month" and an hour-long case study. Make reservations by calling 382-5629 or (800) 559-2800.
An orientation and information meeting for Weigh Down Workshop, a Biblically based weight loss program, is scheduled for Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Main Street Baptist Church in Christiansburg. The 12-week program addresses emotional eating, stress eating, boredom eating and other topics. Dorothy Hughes, 382-5202. Memorial Baptist Church on Peppers Ferry Road in Pulaski will present the musical drama "The Choice" March 29 through 31 at 7 p.m. Admission is free. 980-1494.
Radford Church of God in Christ on Russell Avenue is conducting academic enrichment tutoring programs on Mondays and Thursdays from 7 to 9 p.m., open to grades 1 through 12. Computer skills will be taught from 6th through 9th graders on Mondays from 8 to 9 p.m. 639-5948.
Straight Street will sponsor skating at Dominion Skating Rink in Christiansburg April 4, from 6 to 8 p.m. and is hosting open gym nights every Saturday night in March from 6 to 10 p.m. at Auburn High School in Riner. Admission is $1, and food and drinks will be available. 381-1006.
A half-hour Bible study especially for lunch-hour workers has begun at First United Methodist Church in Pulaski. The Rev. Norman Wilhoit, pastor, will lead the group in Kirchner Chapel. The study will be from 12:10 to 12:50 p.m. It will continue through May 22.
A pilot program of after-school activities for 30 Blacksburg students is scheduled to be in session Sunday through April 19 at Blacksburg Middle School. Planned for several months, it is being promoted by five churches, campus religion groups, the 4-H program as well as Blacksburg Downtown Merchants.
According to the Rev. Kathy Carpenter, coordinator and the associate minister of Blacksburg Presbyterian Church, volunteers will staff the program and are sought both for the spring trial period and a permanent schedule starting in the fall.
Carpenter said the plan is to employ a part-time director in the fall if the program works in the spring.
Supporters surveyed parents, Carptenter said, and got a good response. Involved in the planning have been middle school students as well as 4-H staff and faculty from the Virginia Tech Child and Family Development Department. In addition to the sponsoring churches -- Presbyterian, Luther Memorial Lutheran, St. Mary's Catholic, Blacksburg United Methodist and Blacksburg Baptist -- interest has come from the Newman Community, Virginia Tech Campus Ministries, Blacksburg PTA, and the YMCA.
Carpenter said the after-school activities will include outdoor sports, arts, homework help and tutoring and some field trips and projects around the school.
Working with her are Linda Beal, Beverly Partlow, Jane Keppel-Benson and Andy Stremmel.
For more information about the program or to volunteer to work on any of the activities call Carpenter at 552-2504.
Christian Community Outreach in Radford has a food outreach on the fourth Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers Union Hall in Fairlawn. Food boxes will be available on a first-come, first-served basis to people who meet USDA income criteria. 639-5686.
The Rev. Joanna Stallings has joined the staff of Luther Memorial Lutheran Church as interim director of Christian education and youth. A former Lutheran now ordained in the United Methodist denomination, Stallings will work part time. She is a graduate of Duke Divinity School and recently moved to Blacksburg from North Carolina.
Men of Heritage Church of Dublin have collected and shipped 11 boxes of childrens' clothing to be distributed through Christian workers to institutions for homeless youngsters in Romania. The men's group also is supporting the Promise Keepers national movement to promote family and work responsibility across cultural and racial lines.
According to the Rev. Kathy Carpenter, coordinator and the associate minister of Blacksburg Presbyterian Church, volunteers will staff the program and are sought both for the spring trial period and a permanent schedule starting in the fall.
Carpenter said the plan is to employ a part-time director in the fall if the program works in the spring.
Supporters surveyed parents, Carptenter said, and got a good response. Involved in the planning have been middle school students as well as 4-H staff and faculty from the Virginia Tech Child and Family Development Department. In addition to the sponsoring churches -- Presbyterian, Luther Memorial Lutheran, St. Mary's Catholic, Blacksburg United Methodist and Blacksburg Baptist -- interest has come from the Newman Community, Virginia Tech Campus Ministries, Blacksburg PTA, and the YMCA.
Carpenter said the after-school activities will include outdoor sports, arts, homework help and tutoring and some field trips and projects around the school.
Working with her are Linda Beal, Beverly Partlow, Jane Keppel-Benson and Andy Stremmel.
In Religion is a regular Saturday feature of the New River Current. Please send news of your church or religious organization, along with photos, to Kenneth Singletary, New River Current, Roanoke Times, P.O. Box 540, Christiansburg 24073. Fax: 381-1656. E-mail: Currentbev.net. Clear, sharp photographs accompanying news items are welcome. Items must be received by noon Wednesday for use in that week's column.
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