Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 21, 1992 TAG: 9203200366
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: E-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: From staff and wire reports
DATELINE: ALEXANDRIA LENGTH: Medium
It was the 100th year in which the army has hung kettles at busy points on sidewalks of U.S. cities to receive donations from passers-by.
In the six-week holiday period, the army said it assisted 7.1 million people, up from the 6.5 million the year before, with demands for several basic services increased.
Among these were holiday dinners and toys, clothing requests, services for the elderly and requests for rent and utility assistance from suburban families.
"The army was able to meet increased demands due to increased contributions," said Commissioner James Osborne, the group's national commander. "The American people were extremely generous in spite of the economic times."
Presbyterian group opens home for retarded adults
Presbyterian Home & Family Services based in Lynchburg has recently opened a group home for eight mentally retarded adults. It is in Fredericksburg, and more homes are planned in Waynesboro and Warrenton. The residences are intended to provide permanent homes with some supervision for men and women who are employed in sheltered workplaces and are capable of some degree of independent living.
Mission project to Mexico looking for adult leaders
Leaders in the Roanoke Valley Association of Southern Baptists are seeking adults with specific skills to be part of 11-member teams going to Mexico City later this year for Christian mission projects. As part of an international partnership the churches of the Roanoke Valley, Botetourt and Craig will send workers May 28-June 2, Aug. 27-Sept. 1, and Nov. 26-Dec. 1. to teach Bible school, counsel families or youth, advise church leaders on strategies of growth and offer help with organizing church groups for men, women and youth.
Call 992-4943 for more information. The trips will cost approximately $800 per person.
Churches in diocese try to multiply money
Episcopalians in the Diocese of Southwestern Virginia are looking for ways to make $75 grow.
At the end of the January annual convention of the diocese, Bishop A. Heath Light presented representatives of each church with a check for $75 and challenged them to use the money to make more to advance God's work. Project 75 was devised by an education consortium of the diocese and calls attention to the 75th anniversary of the church administrative unit that will be celebrated in 1994.
The $4,350 required to give 58 congregations the gift came from an endowment fund set up after the sale of one of the diocesan conference centers several years ago. Theologically it is based on the Gospel story of multiplying talents. Each church is to use the "mustard seed" money this spring and summer and report at the annual mission day in October.
Though the diocese has had recent financial struggles, the money, according to the diocesan newspaper, is meant to challenge thinking on stewardship and promote creativity rather than to raise funds for operation.
Minister to retire
The Rev. Van F. Renick, 62, will retire April 19 from a 21-year pastorate at Trinity Episcopal Church at Rocky Mount. Prior to going to the church there, Renick was on the staff of Christ Episcopal Church in Martinsville. He and his wife will continue to live in Rocky Mount.
by CNB