Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 4, 1993 TAG: 9302040363
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: E-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BY FRANCES STEBBINS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
RELIGION BRIEFS
HEBREW CLASSES for adults and teens of any faith will begin Monday at Beth Israel Synagogue, 920 Franklin Road S.W.Rabbi Jerome S. Fox will teach the classes that are the Alef or beginner level and will include the phonetic reading of the Hebrew alphabet. A fee of $15 covers materials and instruction.
The class will meet on Monday nights from 7:30 to 8:30 except on Feb. 22 and the Passover weeks of April 5 and 12. The last session will be May 17. Call 343-0289 for more information.
\ EIGHT ROANOKE-AREA EPISCOPAL PARISHES have undertaken human service ministries with the $75 each received a year ago during the annual meeting of the Diocese of Southwestern Virginia. The gift was to be multiplied, if possible, to make the church's concerns felt in the world.
The youth of St. John's of Roanoke helped a school in the Sudan, while Christ Church of Roanoke bought cooking supplies for its Habitat for Humanity house buyer. St. Elizabeth's gave its money toward starting a network support group for the unemployed and to start a SHARE food program.
St. James made monthly donations to help pay for lunches for transients and a bus for the emotionally disabled, and Holy Spirit bought and served food at the Salvation Army.
In Salem, most of St. Paul's donation went to the new Community Food Pantry for renovations and staples. In Buchanan, Trinity Church members beautified their community and an adult home with flowers and raised some food. In Fincastle, St. Mark's Church shared in an ecumenical Bible school.
\ VINTON WESLEYAN CHURCH, 246 E. Jefferson Ave., will conclude observance of Youth Week on Sunday with teens in leadership positions at the 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. services. Call youth pastor, Ricardo Rodriguez, at 345-3385 for more information.
\ UNITY OF ROANOKE VALLEY has planned a Valentine Day spiritual celebration Feb. 14. Those attending worship are asked to bring a stuffed bear or other toy for cuddling. These will be distributed through the Roanoke City Police Youth Bureau to children who have been abused or neglected.
\ A MISSION CONFERENCE focused on both international and valley Christian work is scheduled Feb. 12-14 at Raleigh Court Presbyterian Church, 1837 Grandin Road S.W.
Dr. David McNeeley, an Episcopal priest and physician who directs Hospital St. Croix in Leogane, Haiti, will speak during the opening Friday night session at 7 p.m. The following morning at 9, McNeeley and a mission volunteer, Layton Evans, will discuss their work at the hospital.
Kaye Hale, director of the Roanoke ecumenical inner-city West End Center, also will speak, and conference participants will tour the new West End Center on Patterson Avenue Southwest.
\ TEMPLE EMANUEL, a Reform Jewish congregation, has entered into a membership study known as "Project Jacob: A Vision for Our Future."
In a message to the congregation, Rabbi Frank Muller said the goal of the study is to enrich life for members and encourage them to make a greater impact for good in the Roanoke Valley.
Among the issues being studied is the role of non-Jews in worship participation and congregational activities. Reform Judaism nationally is concerned about the loss of younger members through marriage outside the faith and is seeking a way to include interfaith families.
\ THE REV. JAMES MILLSAPS, who will conclude his ministry at Preston Oaks Baptist Church on Sunday , has been selected as the new chaplain at Friendship Manor.
Millsaps, who has been pastor of the Williamson-Road-area congregation for nearly 19 years, succeeds the Rev. Dr. Denver J. Davis who retired from the the retirement complex staff last year.
\ DIVORCE RECOVERY WORKSHOP, open to people of any religious background, is scheduled Feb. 19 and 20 at Holiday Inn Airport. The workshop, sponsored by the Roanoke Valley Association of Southern Baptists, will include sessions on single parenting, recovery of self-esteem, financial adjustments and the need for intimacy. Registration is $20 and is due by Feb. 17. Call 366-7631 for details.
\ THE REV. DR. ROBERT WAYNE, pastor of Lynn Haven Baptist Church in Vinton for 13 years, will end his work there Sunday He is moving to Richmond to become director of church minister relations for the Virginia Baptist General Board, which coordinates the work of Southern Baptist congregations throughout the state.
Wayne is moderator of the Roanoke Valley Association of Southern Baptists.
\ ROANOKE VALLEY BAHA'IS will celebrate World Religion Day Sunday with a program in Parlor C of the Salem Civic Center from 2 to 4 p.m. Bahai's focus on the oneness of humankind as children of God. Call 982-6984 for more information.
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.