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

DATE: THURSDAY, April 19, 1990                   TAG: 9004200531
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: E-7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Frances Stebbins
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

RELIGION BRIEFS

THE REV. JOHN WALLACE, interim pastor of Belmont Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) since October, has been elected by the congregation as its full-time minister. Wallace, 59, retired several years ago from a career as an Air Force officer. Before taking the temporary job at Belmont, he served the Doe Run Church near Rocky Mount. He and his wife, Sue, have four grown daughters.

\ OBSERVANCE OF RAMADAN, a month of penitence for Moslems, is in progress among Roanoke area followers of the Islamic faith. It includes fasting and sexual abstinence during the day as well as attention to those less fortunate. At sunset each day, the fast is broken by a light meal. Ramadan is set by lunar phases and will end this year with the sighting of the new moon on April 27.

\ HELEN WATKINS has left the Baptist Visitation Ministry staff after 17 years of coordinating volunteers who work with nursing home residents. Watkins and a retired pastor, the Rev. J. Landon Maddex, have arranged regular visits with more than 17,000 elderly residents over the years. Sandra McLaurin has succeeded Watkins.

\ CENTRAL BAPTIST CHURCH, 1502 Staunton Ave. N.W., has broken ground for a fellowship hall addition to its building. A concert, featuring the Rev. Terris Brown and a guest choir, is scheduled at the church Sunday at 3 p.m. to celebrate the 64th anniversary of the senior usher board.

\ ROANOKE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CONGREGATION has unanimously approved the $90,000 purchase of a duplex at 2028-30 Brandon Ave. S.W. The Rev. Kirk Ballin, pastor, said the duplex will be for adult education, youth fellowship and offices. Ballin said the church now has more than 160 adults and children attending worship, a doubling of interest in contemporary education during the past three years. The newly acquired property is just west of the church.

\ A CONFERENCE ON RELIGION AND RACE, sponsored by United Methodists in the Roanoke District but open to others interested in promoting church racial cooperation, is scheduled Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It will be held at Locust Grove United Methodist Church off West Main Street in Salem. The Covenant Players will perform. Call 989-0428 for more information.

\ TWO SENIOR CATHOLICS, the Rev. Albert Pereira and Sister Mary Gertrude Meyer, are being honored Sunday on the 50th anniversaries of their entering the religious life. Pereira will celebrate Mass at 11:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Nazareth Church. A potluck luncheon follows. Sister Mary Gertrude, who came to St. Andrew's parish 20 years ago from Richmond, currently ministers to sick and homebound. A reception for her is planned at St. Andrew's from 11:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.

\ ROANOKE VALLEY SOUTHERN BAPTISTS will hear from their new executive director, Kirkland Lashley, at their annual meeting April 30. The meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. at Airlee Court Church, Hershberger Road at Delray Street Northwest. Lashley, formerly of Danville, began his work last month and will be installed at the meeting.

Deadline for religion briefs for Neighbors is Thursday. Material must be delivered to Neighbors Religion Briefs, P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke 24010, by noon in order to run in the following Thursday edition.

by CNB