Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, December 15, 1994 TAG: 9412230035
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: FRANCES STEBBINS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
ST. ELIZABETH'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 2339 Grandin Road S.W., will have several special observances during the Christmas season.
On Sunday, members will visit and sing carols at a youth detention center and for shut-in and ill parishioners.
An Advent-Christmas pageant will be held on Christmas Eve at7 p.m. At 10:30 p.m., the church will celebrate its first Christmas Communion beginning with a half-hour of caroling.
Bishop William Marmion, retired bishop for Southwestern Virginia, will celebrate Holy Communion on Christmas Day at 10:30 a.m. During that time, children will have a special time to remember the Christmas story.
A New Year's Party at 9:30 p.m. will precede an 11:15 p.m. Communion service on Dec. 31. Communion will be given again on New Year's Day at 10:30 a.m.
THE COMBINED CHOIRS of Covenant Presbyterian Church, 1831 Deyerle Road S.W., will offer a program of Christmas music Sunday at 7:30 p.m. A dessert social follows in the fellowship hall.
GARDEN CITY BAPTIST CHURCH, 3536 Garden City Blvd. S.E., has scheduled the Don Wyrtzen cantata, "An Old-Fashioned Christmas," for Sunday at 11 a.m. Both choral and bell choirs will perform. On Christmas Eve at 11 p.m., Communion will be served by candlelight.
CAVE SPRING UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 4500 Hazel Drive S.W., will feature the Schubert "Magnificat" and other music by the Chancel Choir, handbells and the orchestra at both the 8:45 and 11 a.m. services Sunday. Special music also will be sung on Christmas Eve at 5:30 and 8 p.m.
THE REV. CAROL JOHNSTON, who is leaving the staff of Grandin Court Baptist Church after serving as a lay professional and the ordained minister of visitation, will be honored Sunday with a farewell reception from 2 to 4 p.m. It will be at the church, 2660 Brambleton Ave. S.W.
THE WEST END CENTER CHORUS will present "An Inner-City Christmas - Our Gift to You" Saturday at 7 p.m. The program will be at the center on Patterson Avenue at 13th Street Southwest and will feature children who are part of the activities the neighborhood center provides.
CAROL H. ELMORE has been named choir director at Oak Grove Church of the Brethren where she is a member. She succeeds Yvonne Gum, who has retired after more than 12 years on the staff.
BELMONT BAPTIST CHURCH, 825 Stewart Ave. S.E., will present "An Old-Fashioned Christmas" cantata sung by the Adult Choir on Sunday. A Christmas Eve carol and communion service also is planned. All services will start at 6:30 p.m.
AT VINTON BAPTIST CHURCH, Chancel Choir will perform at 11 a.m Sunday. Two family services, at 4 and 7 p.m., are planned for Christmas Eve. The church is on Washington Avenue in downtown Vinton.
"PRIME TIME," a Christmas musical given by children of the church and its Christian day school, is planned Sunday at 10:15 a.m. at First Church of the Nazarene, 728 Highland Ave. S.E. A carol and candlelight program will be held at 6 p.m.
KIM BRABHAM GEMBALA has become the full-time director of programs for youth and adults at Belmont Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Gembala has been on the staff on a part-time basis and formerly worked with First Christian Church in downtown Roanoke and the City Rescue Mission.
CHRISTMAS JOY - '94 will be the theme of a musical program and pageant Sunday at 7 p.m. at Campbell Memorial Presbyterian Church, 1130 Hardy Road in Vinton.
LESSONS AND CAROLS from many traditions will be presented Sunday at 11 a.m. at Belmont United Methodist Church, Jamison Avenue at Eighth Street Southeast.
WAVERLY PLACE BAPTIST CHURCH, 1407 Kenwood Blvd. S.E., plans a Christmas concert by the four children's choirs and the youth choir on Sunday at 6 p.m. More than 90 young people will participate.
SALEM BAPTIST CHURCH, 103 N. Broad St., has scheduled a cantata, "The City of Light," by the Sanctuary Choir for 11 a.m. Sunday. Another program, "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever," will be given at 6 p.m. Christmas Eve. Communion will begin at 6 p.m. Christmas Eve.
CENTRAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 428 College Ave. in Salem, will have a Christmas music program performed by the Children's Choir on Sunday at 11 a.m. Parish caroling will take place beginning at 6 p.m.
FIRST CHURCH OF GOD, 5008 Hildebrand Road N.W., will present a children's musical, "Inside the Outside Inn," Sunday at 6 p.m. and Monday at 7 p.m.
AT AIRLEE COURT BAPTIST CHURCH, Hershberger Road at Delray Street Northwest, the Adult Choir will present a musical drama, "Bethlehem ... Everybody's Home Town," on Sunday at 7 p.m.
DALEVILLE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN will present the cantata, "King Forever," Sunday at 11 a.m. A family Christmas Eve service is planned at 5 p.m.
A NEW MUSICAL DRAMA, "The Heavens Declare ... Glory!" will be presented Sunday at 7 p.m. at Oakland Baptist Church, 3623 Roundhill Ave. N.W. Charles Watkins and Wyatt Ewell will lead the cast.
Send information to Frances Stebbins, Neighbors, P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke, Va. 24010-2491 by noon Thursday.
by CNB