ROANOKE TIMES

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

DATE: THURSDAY, September 16, 1993                   TAG: 9309160321
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: S-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: BY FRANCES STEBBINS
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Long


RELIGION BRIEFS

CHURCH WORLD SERVICE, an ecumenical relief agency, is seeking "Gifts of the Heart" recovery kits for those whose property was damaged in the recent Midwest floods. The organization, whose nearest center is in New Windsor, Md., also is arranging for volunteers to work one to three weeks in a distribution depot in Moline, Ill., Kansas City, Mo., Columbia, Mo., or St. Louis.

The agency is asking families or church groups to assemble kits that should include cleanup supplies, personal health articles, bedding, kitchen utensils and food staples.

For more details about kits or for more information about volunteering in the cleanup, call 212-870-3151 or 405-525-2252. Major denominations also are appealing for funds that are being channeled through church agencies in the states most affected.

\ FALL FORUM, the Church Women United seasonal program, is scheduled Sept. 24 at 10 a.m. at Bethany Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), 3115 Fleming Ave. N.W. Gail Burris will discuss the needs of Bethany Hall, a halfway house for women alcoholics, and an offering will be taken for the house.

Those attending are asked to bring articles for personal care as well as legal pads, pens and pencils and dish detergent that will be distributed to a Roanoke Valley agency.

\ ALTA MONS SUMMER CAMP enrolled a record 517 children and youth for six weeks in June and July. More than one-fourth of the campers attended on scholarships made possible by the gifts of United Methodists who operate the camp near Shawsville.

\ THE CHURCHES OF GOD, ANDERSON, IN., will hold their third annual Heritage Service Sunday at 7 p.m. at the First Church of God, 2021 Hardy Road, Vinton.

\ Dr. Gregory Hall, president of Warner Southern College, will be the guest speaker. The churches will be recognizing the college's 25-anniversary. The Churches of God Hildebrand Road, Mill Lane Road, Staunton Avenue and Red Hill are hosts for the service.

For more information, call the Rev. Carl Woodie, 890-1110.

\ GLADE CREEK LUTHERAN CHURCH in Blue Ridge will celebrate its 165th anniversary Sunday. The Rev. James Mauney, assistant to the bishop of the Virginia Synod in Salem, will preach at 11 a.m., and the Singing Churchmen from Glade Creek Baptist Church will present music at 2:30 p.m.

A potluck picnic for the community is scheduled at 12:30 p.m.

One of the oldest active churches in the area, Glade Creek dates to the assembling of five families in 1828 who became part of Botetourt Parish. An early log building near the old Glade Creek cemetery gave way to a frame church that was used by other congregations and later, during the Civil War period, to a brick church.

The congregation subsequently became an independent parish, and dedicated its present building in 1942. The Rev. Robert J. Meier has been pastor for 12 years, and the congregation has about 200 members.

\ FIRST CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN has chosen Emma Jean Woodard as its interim pastor. The wife of the Rev. Ed Woodard of Oak Grove Church of the Brethren, she is preparing for pastoral licensing.

\ THE E.T.BURTON CHOIR will observe its 25th anniversary with two concerts Sunday at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Both will be at 521 Madison Ave. N.W.

\ JIMMY COOK, founder and director of the Roanoke Community Choir, will be honored this weekend with two concerts that will include guest singers from out of town. Saturday's program will be at 6 p.m. at Garden of Prayer 7, Church of God in Christ, 3101 Cove Road N.W. Sunday's program will be at 5 p.m. at Melrose Seventh-day Adventist Church, 1601 Melrose Ave. N.W.

\ WILLIE PURDEE will join the staff of Edgewood Christian Church in October as youth minister. Purdee, 26 and married, is coming from Louisville, Ky.

\ WOODSIDE EVANGELICAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 2321 Roanoke Ave. S.W., has scheduled homecoming Sunday to mark its centennial. The\ Rev. James Spitzel, a former pastor now living in Pitcairn, Pa., will preach at the service that begins at 10:30 a.m.

Beverages and desserts will be supplied by the church for a potluck lunch for the community.

\ ST. JOHN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH has named Becky Koenig as its program assistant for Christian education and youth ministries. She is a recent graduate of Ferrum College and will work with the Rev. Carlotta Cochran, the new assistant rector of the downtown Roanoke parish.

\ MUSIC ISSUE, a new Catholic hymnal, will be introduced at Masses Saturday and Sunday at Our Lady of Nazareth Church. Daniel J. Keeley is the minister of music.

\ WINDSOR HILLS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH has chosen Deborah L. Samsa as its new preschool director. A staff member since 1990, Samsa has been active in Salem PTA work and has a degree in early childhood education.

\ BROOKHILL BAPTIST CHURCH, 4725 Bandy Road S.E., will celebrate its 70th anniversary with homecoming events Friday through Sunday. A cookout Friday night at 6:30 begins the celebration. The Revs. Mason Cooper and Riley Ware, will preach Saturday at 7 p.m.

The Rev. Aubrey Dooley will speak during the Sunday school at 10 a.m., and the Rev. Bill Cato will preach for the 11 a.m. service. All the speakers are former pastors.

A program of testimonials and reflections is scheduled Sunday after lunch at the church. Call 427-0104 or 427-1427 for more information.

\ YOUTH REVIVAL continues through Friday at Bethlehem Baptist Church, 3017 Ivyland Drive S.W. The Revs. David Keaton, Perry Medley and William H. Whitaker II and choirs from their churches are participating in the three-night services.

\ COLLEGE LUTHERAN CHURCH of Salem is entering into an international partnership with a Lutheran congregation, Mekane Jesus, in Awasa, Ethiopia. The on-going project, which will be introduced Oct. 31, is promoted by the parish hunger education and advocacy group that has had contact with African nationals in the drought-prone nation.

Members of the church also are planning two gleaning days in October in which they will remove commercially useless fruits and vegetables from nearby farms in cooperation with the Society of St. Andrew Christian community in Bedford. The gleaned food will then be taken to nearby agencies that feed the needy.

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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