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

DATE: THURSDAY, April 29, 1993                   TAG: 9304290357
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: E-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: BY FRANCES STEBBINS
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

RELIGION BRIEFS

THE REV. HAROLD J. UHL, interim pastor of St. Timothy Lutheran Church, 1201 Hardy Road, has become the permanent pastor of the parish. Uhl, who has served congregations in Pittsburgh, Annandale and North Miami, Fla., came to the Roanoke Valley five years ago as a church financial consultant; he will continue to do that work part time. At St. Timothy Uhl succeeds the Rev. Janet L. Ramsey who is continuing her education.

An installation program, scheduled for May 16, will begin with potluck lunch at noon and a 2 p.m. service.

The Rev. Mark Graham of St. John Lutheran Church will preach, and the Rev. Robert Maier of Glade Creek Lutheran at Blue Ridge will perform the installation.

\ THE REV. ERNEST LEWIS will conclude his pastorate of First Church of the Nazarene in mid-June. He will then become pastor of First Church of the Nazarene in Clearwater, Fla. Lewis, 50, came to Roanoke from Virginia Beach five years ago.

\ VICTORY CHRISTIAN CHURCH, a congregation meeting at 703 Jamison Ave. S.E., is forming a support group for people suffering from anxiety and depressive disorders.

The Rev. Arthur Watkins, pastor, said prayer and Christian principles will be shared in the group. The program is free and is not confined to members of the congregation. Call 342-4287 for more information.

\ MINERAL SPRINGS BAPTIST CHURCH near Vinton is accepting registration through May 30 for a proposed Christian primary school to serve children in kindergarten through second grade. A minimum of 30 will be needed for the school to open in September. Call 890-4465 for more information.

\ MEMBERS OF AID ASSOCIATION FOR LUTHERANS BRANCH 7524 in Blue Ridge have been awarded a gold star rating by the fraternal benefit society in recognition of exemplary volunteer services to the community. Members helped build homes through Habitat for Humanity and raised funds for the needy.

\ THE REV. DR. R. WOODS KENT, who became executive director of Disciples of Christ ministries in Virginia in December, will preach Sunday at 11 a.m. at Bethany Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Reared in the Saltville area, Kent came to the regional minister position from the international headquarters of the church in Indianapolis, Ind.

Kent will speak on "Child of Law - Child of Grace" in observance of Christian Family Week. The church is at 3115 Fleming Ave. N.W.

\ ST. JOHN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH has chosen Carlotta "Lottie" Bell Cochran as its second assistant rector.

She will graduate from Virginia Theological Seminary at Alexandria in May. Cochran, 35, was a high school teacher in Newport News before enrolling in seminary. Her undergraduate study was taken at Miami University in Ohio. At St. John's, she will be responsible for education and youth work and serve with the Rev. Thomas O'Dell, rector, and the Rev. David "Kirk" Brown, the other assistant.

In a reorganization of staff at the downtown Roanoke church, the Rev. Dr. John Sylvester-Johnson, outreach minister, leaves in June. Sandra Anderson, the former education director, left in March.

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