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

DATE: THURSDAY, February 14, 1991                   TAG: 9102150233
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: S-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: By Frances Stebbins
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

RELIGION BRIEFS

UNITY OF ROANOKE VALLEY, because of a rise in expenses and shortfall in donations, is reducing its paid staff. The jobs of bookstore manager and full-time maintenance aide have been eliminated. Earlier, the administrator left Unity for another job. Her duties will be assumed by an office manager. Contributions are being sought to continue printing the monthly NewSpirit publication.

Work, however, is continuing on a youth activities building that is expected to be open by Easter.

\ JOHN'S EPISTLES: ANSWER TO GNOSTICISM will be the theme of a Wednesday morning Lenten Bible study beginning at Cave Spring United Methodist Church, 4505 Hazel Drive S.W. Open to the community, it will be led by the Rev. Linda Kusse-Wolfe for seven weeks at 10:15. Call 989-3673.

Beginning tonight, a four-week Lenten prayer group for personal reflection will be in session from 7 to 8:15 p.m. through March 7.

\ BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE has been recognized by the United Synagogue of America's Seaboard Region for organizing a High Holidays food gifts project for military personnel in the Near East. Undertaken in September, soon after troops began to go to the Persian Gulf area, the shipment has received many thanks from recipients.

\ WEDNESDAY NOON SERVICES during Lent will begin next week at St. Mark's Lutheran Church, Franklin Road and Highland Avenue Southwest. Worship will begin at 12:05 and will be led by these Lutheran clergy in order: Harold Uhl, Kenneth P. Lane Jr., Linda S. Mitchell, James E. Mauney and Paul "Chip" Gunsten. A soup-and-sandwich lunch will be available from 11:30 a.m. to noon and from 12:35 to 1:15 p.m.

\ WEDNESDAY LENTEN STUDIES will begin next week at Christ Episcopal Church, 1101 Franklin Road S.W. They will start with prayers at 6, supper at 6:15 and classes from 7 to 8:30. Call 343-0159 by Sunday to reserve supper or child care. The three classes are based on the book, "Living Simply Through the Day," a video, "20th Century Religious Leaders" and talks on child rearing by several specialists in family life.

\ THE REV. EDD PRATHER, pastoral assistant at Our Lady of Nazareth Catholic Church for the past nine months, has left the staff. He is moving to Chicago to be near a family member who is ill.

\ SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 214 Mountain Ave. S.W., has scheduled Wednesday Lenten services weekly through March 27. They begin at noon and are followed by an optional lunch. Call 343-3659 for more information.

\ A CENTENNIAL PROJECT, the opening of a child-care center to supervise 36 children in kindergarten through third grade, will begin June 17 at Second Presbyterian Church. During the summer, the program will operate all day, and during the school year, it will be open in the afternoon hours.

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