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

DATE: THURSDAY, August 19, 1993                   TAG: 9308190302
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: N-8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: BY FRANCES STEBBINS
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

RELIGION BRIEFS

SMALL POTTED PLANTS to be given to shut-in residents of the Roanoke Valley are being sought from church members as part of the United Way fund-raising campaign this fall. A goal of 1,500 plants is far from being met, the Rev. George K. Bowers, a promoter of the effort, says.

The plants will be distributed on Sept. 14 during a "Day of Caring," the United Way's campaign kickoff. Pastors of churches with bells have been asked to ring them on this day to signify a united sense of concern for people in the valley. Call 774-1069 or 345-7351 for more information.

\ "ACTIVE PARENTING TODAY," a seven-week course, will be offered Sept. 30 to Nov. 11 at Peace Presbyterian Church, 4365 Cloverdale Road/U.S. Alternate 220. Judy Williams, who has been teaching parenting classes for 12 years, is the instructor. The course will cost $20 and meet from 7 to 9 p.m.

Sponsors of the class, in addition to the church, are Blue Ridge Community Services - formerly Mental Health Services - and the Botetourt Interagency Council. For more information and a registration brochure, call 977-1821. The registration fee covers one or both parents.

\ WOMEN'S AGLOW Day Chapter will hear Mary Royster speak on "The Compassion of Christian Women" at its meeting Wednesday. The meeting will be held from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the Woodmen of the World building. A $2 donation includes a continental breakfast. Call 345-2359 or 362-4849 for reservations.

\ THE 69TH ANNIVERSARY of the founding of Price Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church will be observed Aug. 29. The church building at 15th Street and Moorman Road Northwest is the third the congregation has occupied; others were in the Gainsboro area. The 11 a.m. worship will be followed by lunch at 1:30 p.m. The Rev. Charles Calloway of First Baptist Church at Hollins will lead the at 3:30 p.m. anniversary service.

\ THE ST. MARK'S EPISCOPAL YOUTH GROUP in Fincastle has raised $1,400 for Midwestern flood relief and sent it to the bishop of Iowa for residents in Des Moines.

\ THE ROANOKE COMMUNITY CHOIR will sponsor a Gospel Explosion Sunday at 5 p.m. at Guiding Star Church of God in Christ, 804 Madison Ave. N.W. The program will feature Elder Raymond Gardner and the Waller Memorial Choir of Martinsville.

\ EVELYN CONNER, gospel music artist, will present a recital Sunday at 7 p.m. at Enon Baptist Church, 7971 Williamson Road, Hollins.

\ MELROSE BAPTIST CHURCH, 3520 Peters Creek Road N.W., is establishing two community human service ministries. The first, a Sunday school classes for developmentally disabled people, is already in operation.

A second, an after-school care program, soon will be ready for inspection by the Department of Social Services. The church recently expanded its building.

\ BETH McKEE, minister of Christian education, has been ordained to the gospel ministry by First Church of God, where she is on the staff. The ceremony took place during the recent state camp meeting in Christiansburg. First Church of God has national headquarters in Anderson, Ind.

\ BLUE RIDGE BAPTIST CHURCH has scheduled homecoming on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. with the Rev. Ottawa Pullen, pastor, preaching. Lunch will follow. The 3 p.m. worship will be led by the Rev. Antonio Thomas and the Paradise Gospel Chorus of Greater Mount Zion Baptist Church in Roanoke.

\ THE REV. WILLIAM R. KLEIN, minister of Second Presbyterian Church for the past 25 years, is the author of "Prayers, Public and Private." It is available for $8.95 from the church office.

\ RABBI JEROME FOX of Beth Israel Synagogue is the co-author of a booklet, "A Jewish Dialogue," which answers questions Christians most often ask about Jewish beliefs and customs. The Roanoke rabbi produced the work with a Pennsylvania friend, Clifford Rieders. Copies of it are available by calling 345-7943.

\ THE TURNING POINT, a shelter for battered women and children operated by the Salvation Army, received nearly $950 from a recent benefit concert by Holy Wind, a contemporary Christian music group, at Calvary Baptist Church.

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