Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, January 27, 1994 TAG: 9401270334
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S-11 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BY FRANCES STEBBINS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Hill will discuss "The Future of Religious Freedom in Russia: the Debate Over Evangelizing." Hill's denomination, an American evangelical Christian group, carries on extensive missionary work. The program will be held in the Sutton Student Center ballroom. Call 375-2354 for more information.
\ GREENE MEMORIAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH in downtown Roanoke has started an informal Saturday night service, believed to be the first of its type at a Roanoke Valley protestant church. The services are being held on an experimental basis for three months.
The Rev. Jerry Campbell, pastor, said the aim of the service from 7 to 8 p.m. is to reach both young adults who like an informal service and people whose work will not permit them to attend Sunday services.
Saturday night services have been well-attended in a number of other cities. In Catholic churches, including some in the Roanoke area, Saturday evening Mass has become highly popular, Campbell said.
The Greene Memorial worship will include minister's message, guitar music, informal dress and a chance to choose hymns and the frequency of Communion, Campbell said. A nursery also will be available.
\ THE LAY SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY, an annual ecumenical series of classes for adults, has been scheduled each Sunday night in March from 7 to 8:30 at Christ Lutheran Church at Brandon and Grandin roads. This year's topics will be "Lutherans and Sexuality," "True and False Spirituality" and "The Religious Vision of Flannery O'Connor."
The classes, though sponsored by Lutheran Cooperative Ministry and Roanoke College, attract adults from many religious groups. The classes are $10; participants may choose one.
\ CHURCH WOMEN UNITED, an ecumenical and interracial Christian group, will observe the 45th anniversary of the City Rescue Mission with a tour Friday at 10 a.m.
The mission, which offers temporary food, sleeping quarters and spiritual guidance to Roanoke Valley adults and children, is at 402 Fourth St. S.E.
\ Lois Johnson Bettis, founder of the mission, and her daughter, the Rev. Joy Sylvester-Johnson, director of development, will address the women's group. Luncheon will be available for $3.50. Call 343-5165 by Monday for reservations.
The annual business meeting also will be part of the program.
\ BISHOP WALTER F. SULLIVAN, who began his ministry in Roanoke 40 years ago, will be the speaker March 27 at the 80th anniversary Mass for Our Lady of Nazareth Catholic Church at 10 a.m. in the Roanoke Civic Center auditorium. The observance will replace the usual four Masses held at the church.
Sullivan is bishop of the Diocese of Richmond, which covers most of Virginia. The celebration will include the liturgy for Palm Sunday.
The original site of the parish was in the 800 block of Campbell Avenue Southwest, now headquarters of Roanoke Area Ministries. The church building was relocated to 2505 Electric Road S.W. in 1976.
\ EXPERIENCING GOD, a teleconference based on a 13-week adult study series, is scheduled Feb. 12 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Bonsack Baptist Church, on U.S. Alt. 220, north of U.S. 460. The workshop is $25. Registrants are to bring their own lunch.
The 13-week series will be held at First Baptist Church in downtown Roanoke beginning Feb. 6. The Rev. Chuck Ward will teach the classes each Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Cost for the First Baptist series is $10 per person.
\ TREVOR BOSEN, a member of Roanoke Second Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has left to begin a two-year missionary assignment in Concepcion, Chile. Bosen, son of Ralph and Mary Bosen of Southwest Roanoke County, attended Cave Spring High School.
\ A NEW PIPE ORGAN will be dedicated Feb. 13 at 3 p.m. at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, 4608 Brambleton Ave. S.W. Thomas Baugh, organist at Christ Episcopal Church in Roanoke, will be guest organist.
The organ complements a major addition of two years ago to the church.
\ LUCA and ARLENE DeCELLO, musicians from the Garth Newell Music Center at Hot Springs, will perform at the 9 and 11:15 a.m. services Feb. 6 at St. John's Episcopal Church in downtown Roanoke. They also will be guests at a luncheon for which reservations are needed; call 343-9341 by Monday.
\ ST. JOHN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH has joined a program to help the people of Ghana hold back the encroaching desert and the threat of famine. The Rev. Thomas P. O'Dell, rector, and others from the parish expect to spend July in the village of Binaba, where the Roanoke church has established a connection with St. James Anglican Church. Trees will be planted and other programs will be undertaken to establish a more stable environment.
A clergyman from Ghana, the Rev. Joseph Anyindana, will visit the parish Feb. 13 to plan the project. O'Dell worked with him on a previous stay in Ghana.
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