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

DATE: THURSDAY, January 26, 1995                   TAG: 9503100014
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: E-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Frances Stebbins
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

RELIGION BRIEFS

BELMONT CHRISTIAN CHURCH, a Disciples of Christ congregation, has chosen Robin Spangler as its new Chancel Choir director. She has begun her duties after serving as interim organist at Fort Lewis Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Salem. She also directs the Junior Generations Choir of First Baptist Church in downtown Roanoke.

VINTON WESLEYAN CHURCH, 246 E. Jefferson Ave. in Vinton, will begin observance of Youth Week on Wednesday.The observance at which young people lead church activities will continue through Feb. 5.

A lock-in, round ball night and parent-teen dinner are among the events planned. Call Stephanie Allie at 890-1583 for more information.

Seven youths from the Vinton church also have won $500 scholarships to a denominational college for taking second place in a national drama competition in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are: April and Stephanie Allie, Angie Carr, Danny Eng, Gary Johnson, Melissa Warner and Ricky Watkins.

VINTON BAPTIST CHURCH will send seven of its members to Prague in the Czech Republic for two weeks beginning Feb. 11. The team will help train church workers at the new International Baptist Seminary, which has moved to Prague from Switzerland. Members are paying their own way but have received some funds raised by the church. Vinton Baptist members also have personally assisted with a mission in India in recent years.

ROANOKE COLLEGE will have two lectures with religious themes as part of its March convocations. Both will be held in the Sutton Student Center Ballroom from 11:20 a.m. to noon and are open free to the public.

On March 2 the Rev. Dr. Vernie Bolden, a professor at New River Community College and retired minister of Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in Roanoke, will discuss "The Bell Curve: Race and Intelligence."

The March 16 lecture by Al Staggs is entitled "The Legacy of Dietrich Bonhoeffer" and commemorates the 50th anniversary of the death of the German theologian.

Lunch, which is optional, will be held after each presentation.

A VALLEYWIDE GOSPEL SING is scheduled Saturday at 7 p.m. at Bethel Baptist Church, 1601 Colorado St. in Salem. The event will feature the Virginians Quartet, the Dominion Trio and Evelyn Conner. An offering will be taken.

VOLUNTEERS IN MISSION, a United Methodist-sponsored program in which adults give a week to repair or build homes for the needy, plans work trips to the Charleston, S.C. area June 19-24 and June 26-30.

Construction skills are not needed although they are helpful for carpenters, electricians or plumbers. A trip costs the volunteer approximately $125 per week for food and lodging. This summer the Virginia Conference will assist impoverished American Indians in the Carolinas. Call 989-3335 for more information.

NOON ORGAN CONCERTS will be held each Wednesday in February at First Presbyterian Church, 2101 S. Jefferson St. The free, 25-minute programs will be performed by Marilyn Meador, Robert Chapman, Verle Witmer and Sally Goff..

The series will focus on music by American composers.

A BOOK DISCUSSION, ``Walk With the Spirit Every Day," is scheduled Tuesday at 8 p.m. at 2400 Gate House Lane in Salem. It is sponsored by Eckankar, a spiritual movement affiliated with the Virginia Satsang Society. Call 389-8043.

Send information for publication to Frances Stebbins, Neighbors, P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke, Va. 24010-2491 by noon Thursday.

by CNB