Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 26, 1994 TAG: 9403300005
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-10 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Rick Lindquist
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
PASSOVER is a week-long celebration of the deliverance of the ancient Hebrews from slavery in Egypt, as described in Exodus.
The Blacksburg Jewish Community Center offers a Seder for Virginia Tech Hillel students tonight at 6:30. A Seder for the community is set for Sunday at 5:30 p.m.
The Seder is at the center of Passover, the most important family celebration of the Jewish calendar and provides a festive introduction to a full week of sacred observances. Family members cook a ceremonial meal, complete with symbolic foods glasses of wine and accoutrements, and read from a prayerbook - the Haggadah - that details a ceremony also steeped in symbolism. During Passover, many Jews avoid bread and eat only unleavened matzoh.
An empty chair set at the Seder table symbolizes those still in captivity who cannot attend.
Memorial prayers - the Yizkor - are recited in the synagogue on the last morning of Passover, which - like Easter - is an affirmation of the triumph of the spirit over death.
Several churches have announced services and special events for Palm Sunday:
CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 120 Church St., Blacksburg, celebrates Palm Sunday with a Liturgy of the Palms, Reading of the Passion and Holy Eucharist at 7:45 (no procession), 9 and 11 a.m.
CHRISTIANSBURG PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 107 W. Main St. (382-2802) will distribute palm crosses at the end of its Palm Sunday worship at 10:55 a.m. The crosses are made in Africa by a cooperative in Tanzania and their manufacture benefits community programs there.
The FLOYD COUNTY CHURCHES OF THE BRETHREN (789-7892) hold a Palm Sunday service at 7:30 p.m. at Floyd United Methodist Church. The Rev. Tom. Lamasney of the Floyd Church of the Nazarene will speak. Offering proceeds go the Floyd Community Action Center.
Good Friday, the Rev. Kenny Wurzburger will speak at Burks Fork.
The FLOYD PARISH UNITED METHODIST CHARGE has Palm Sunday services at Huffville at 9 a.m. and Havens Chapel at 11 a.m. and a potluck dinner and egg hunt at Huffville at 12:30 p.m.
GRACE COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 416 Alleghany St., Blacksburg, on Palm Sunday presents the Rev. Fred Klett, a Jewish believer from Philadelphia. He'll speak about "The Messiah in the Passover" during the 9:15 a.m. service.
LUTHER MEMORIAL LUTHERAN CHURCH, Prices Fork and Toms Creek roads, Blacksburg (951-1000) will offer Palm Sunday services at 8:30 and 11 a.m., with a Procession of the Palms highlighted by a dramatic reading of the Passion according to Saint Mark.
OUR SAVIOUR LUTHERAN CHURCH, 1845 Cambria St., Christiansburg (382-2223) has a Palm Sunday fellowship with hot cross buns and coffee at 9:30 a.m., followed by worship at 10.
SAINT JUDE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, 1740 Tyler Road, Radford (639-5341), holds Palm Sunday services Saturday at 5:15 p.m. and Sunday at 11 a.m.
SAINT MICHAEL LUTHERAN CHURCH, 2308 Merrimac Road, Blacksburg (552-0879), offers Palm Sunday services at 9 and 11 a.m.
SAINT PAUL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 330 S. Church St., Wytheville, presents Gabriel Faure's Requiem Sunday, 4 p.m.
SAINT PETER'S ANGLICAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, 230 W. First St., Christiansburg (382-2676), on Palm Sunday holds Matins at 8:20 a.m. and Holy Eucharist at 8:30 and 10 a.m.
Monday, Holy Eucharist is celebrated at 7:30 p.m., and Tuesday at 7 a.m., and the Stations of the Cross at 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Holy Eucharist is offered at 10:30 a.m. and the office of Tenebrae at 7:30 p.m.
SAINT THOMAS EPISCOPAL CHURCH, East Main and Roanoke streets, Christiansburg (382-4365), will have the Blessing of the Palms, part reading of the Passion and Holy Eucharist at 10 a.m. Palm Sunday.
Holy Tuesday: The Stations of the Cross in the Chapel of Christ the King at 7 p.m.
Please Note: Because of the high volume of announcements, a summary of church happenings from Maundy Thursday through Easter will be published during the week in the New River Current.
Making a Joyful Noise:
The Atlanta Christian College Concert Choir performs at COMMUNITY CHRISTIAN CHURCH, McCoy, this evening at 6. The concert theme is "Honored, Glorified, Exalted." Call 639-3764 or 639-0937.
The Pilgrim Gospel Singers are in concert at BLACKSBURG PENTECOSTAL HOLINESS CHURCH, Warren and Center streets tonight at 7.
BOB AND SANDY MULLINS of Second Chance Ministries visit several area churches this week: Tonight at 7, they'll be at the Fifth Street Gospel Tabernacle in Pulaski.
Sunday at 7 p.m., they sing at the Bread of Life Chapel, Robinson Tract Road, Pulaski.
Tuesday at 7 p.m., they appear at the Asbury United Methodist Church, 490 Stuart St., Christiansburg. Call 639-6271 for more information.
The New River Valley Gospel Singers visit RANDOLPH UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 1607 Randolph Ave., Pulaski, Sunday, 5 p.m. for their ninth anniversary concert. Call 639-5159.
The Young at Heart quartet sings at RINER GRACE BRETHREN CHURCH, Sunday at 7 p.m. The church is on Virginia 8, three miles from Auburn High School. For more information, call 382-4654 or 382-7571.
"Did Jesus Go to India, the Beatles Did," will be offered by Russell Gregory, a Radford University philosophy and religion professor, 10:30 a.m., at the UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP OF THE NEW RIVER VALLEY, 1301 Gladewood Drive, Blacksburg. A discussion follows the service. For more information, call 552-5273 or 552-4749.
"United in New Directions" is the theme of a revival with evangelist Dale Riddle, Sunday through Wednesday at FAIRLAWN BAPTIST CHURCH, Old Peppers Ferry Loop, just off Virginia 114. Hot dog suppers for teens and children will be served Sunday at 6 and 6:30 p.m. respectively. There will be a family night supper Wednesday at 6 p.m.
A nursery is provided. Call 639-5049 for details.
Special Events:
The RADFORD/FLOYD CLUSTER UNITED METHODIST CHURCHES concludes its Sunday evening Lenten services Sunday at 7:
Auburn United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Joe Green and the Willis United Methodist Church choir.
Call 639-4516 or 639-4448.
A "walk-through" EASTER DRAMA, "The Alpha and the Omega," will be presented today and Sunday at First Baptist Church, Kimberland and Wolf streets, Narrows, starting at 6 p.m. both nights. Groups of about ten people will begin the walk-through followed by additional groups every ten minutes.
This Easter performance is sponsored by the Voices of Vision drama team and the Sunday school department. The public is welcome, and there is no charge.
Bethel United Methodist Church will hold an OYSTER or TURKEY DINNER tonight, 5-7:30 at the Radford Auto Auction, Mud Pike Road, just off Tyler Road near Radford.
Eat in and carry-out dinners and desserts are available.
Tickets are $7 for adults, $3.5 for youngsters 3-10 years old, under 3 free. Proceeds will benefit the organ fund.
For more information, call 639-2586 or 382-4877
The Christian Women's Fellowship of the Newport First Christian Church will sponsor an Easter BAKE SALE at the Super-Val-U Store next Saturday, April 2, starting at 8 a.m.
The BREAD FOR LIFEprogram at Radford University concludes Monday in Lounge C of Heth Student Center with Sam Zeakes, speaking on "Genetics and Morality."
Bread, peanut butter and jelly, coffee and tea are available.
Church Names in the News:
MATT SHOWALTER has assumed ministerial duties at Community Christian Church in Newbern. Folks in his native Carroll County might remember him as an announcer and sportscaster at WHHV in Hillsville and WBRF in Galax. (He's a cousin of New York Yankees' manager Buck Showalter.) Showalter graduated from Johnson Bible College in 1987. He most recently served at Commonwealth Christian Church in Fairfax.
Please send news of your church or religious organization in care of Rick Lindquist, New River Current, Roanoke Times & World-News, P.O. Box 540, Christiansburg 24073.
by CNB