ROANOKE TIMES

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

DATE: THURSDAY, May 20, 1993                   TAG: 9305200425
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: W-9   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: BY FRANCES STEBBINS
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium


RELIGION BRIEFS

SALEM PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH will send 12 youth and adults to the Mexican border for a week, starting June 26. The group will worship at a Mexican church, teach in a vacation Bible school and do some repair work for people with special needs in Texas and Neuvo Laredo, Mexico.

\ VICKI HUBBARD, coordinator of Christian formation at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Salem, is leaving the staff after eight years. The educator will be honored at a picnic June 6 at 12:45 p.m. at the church.

Hubbard has worked in the elementary school division of the parish program.

\ FIRST EVANGELICAL METHODIST CHURCH, 1920 Lucas St., Salem, will hold a concert May 30 at 6 p.m. featuring Anabel, a musician from Maryland. A nursery will be available.

\ LUCOM, a cooperative agency of a dozen Lutheran parishes in the Roanoke Valley, is raising funds to erect a third Habitat for Humanity house in the spring of 1994. The Rev. Chip Gunsten, a leader in the project, said a site is still being sought.

\ BAPTIST FUNWAGON, a weekly children's program sponsored by the Roanoke Valley Association of Southern Baptists, will be used this summer by 14 Roanoke-area congregations.

Three high school and college students - Amanda Frazier, Beth Scott and Mark Mofield - have been hired to work as summer missionaries in the program.

Barbara Reed, a member of West Salem Church and chairman of the Missions Development Council, said a donated station wagon is being renovated and fitted with materials to teach and entertain children.

The trio will visit each church at specified times between June 14 and Aug. 13. Participating congregations are Green Ridge, Riverdale, Virginia Heights, Hollins Road, Forest Park, Rosalind Hills, Waverly Place, Catawba Valley, Enon, Ridgewood, Big Spring, Eagle Rock, Craig Valley and Troutville.

Reed said the goal of the weekly programs is to make contact with community children to direct them to an on-going education program during the school year.

\ THE REV. CARL NARO, will be honored Sunday on his retirement as pastor of St. Andrew's Catholic Church. Bishop Walter F. Sullivan of Richmond will celebrate a Mass in his honor at 5:30 p.m. Dinner will be served after Mass.

Naro, 68, has been at the Roanoke parish for three years, the last of his 43 years in the active priesthood. He is a native of Pennsylvania, and has served parishes in Fort Monroe, Williamsburg, Danville, Lynchburg, Virginia Beach and Charlottesville. He also spent periods on the staff of the diocese for mission work and helped start a school to prepare youths for the priesthood.

Naro will retire to a farm he owns in Nelson County and will be available for supply duties.

\ BRETHREN DISASTER RESPONSE, which trains volunteers to clean up debris, care for children, construct buildings and supply other necessary services will be the subject of a program Sunday at Oak Grove Church of the Brethren, 2138 McVitty Road S.W.

The Rev. Glenn Kinsel, coordinator of the program for the Virlina District of the denomination, will lead the program. Brethren and other volunteers have helped in many disasters, including the 1985 Roanoke flood and hurricane cleanup.

Call 774-3217 for more information.

\ WOMEN'S AGLOW DAY CHAPTER has scheduled a potluck meal Wednesday 26 at the Woodmen of the World Building, 2306 Peters Creek Road N.W. The prayer and praise meeting will be from 9:30 a.m. until noon. A $2 donation is requested for the breakfast. Reservations for child care can be made by calling 345-2359 or 297-7176.

\ "I BELIEVE IN AMERICA" will be presented Sunday at 7 p.m. at New Hope Christian Church, 4229 Welcome Valley Road S.W. New Hope's choir will combine with the choirs of Edgewood Christian Church and Vinton Church of Christ for the performance.

\ OAK GROVE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN has received a community service award from Glenvar High School. The award was given for members' support of several needs, including bone-marrow transplants and victims of homes destroyed by fire.

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.



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