ROANOKE TIMES

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

DATE: THURSDAY, April 20, 1995                   TAG: 9504210046
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: E8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: FRANCES STEBBINS
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Long


RELIGION BRIEFS

A WALKATHON to raise $12,000 for the Baptist Children's Home and Family Services in Salem is scheduled May 13. Participants may choose a one-mile or three-mile hike on the grounds of the Salem home. For more information, call 389-5468.

MAY FELLOWSHIP DAY, one of several annual observances of Church Women United, will be held May 5 at High Street Baptist Church, 2302 Florida Ave. N.W. The theme is ``All Have a Place at the Table.''

The meeting will begin at 11 a.m. and will be followed by a $3.50 lunch. The Least Coin collection will be received.

ANDRE THOMAS, nationally traveled choral workshop leader, will be at First Presbyterian Church on May 12-13 to teach youth and adults under sponsorship of the Roanoke Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. The Friday night session is open to singers in grades six through 12 and begins with dinner at 5:30. The Saturday training for adults is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The workshops cost $5 for individuals and $100 for all choirs in a church. Call 344-6011 for registration materials.

THE REV. CURTIS GRAY has left the Valley Word congregation pastorate after seven years. Gray is carrying on an evangelistic ministry from Roanoke. Eddie Crabtree, a church member, will serve as its interim pastor.

NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER will be observed May 4 in some churches and with a downtown service in Salem. Held since 1952, the day is meant to give focus to the need in America for God's guidance.

The Salem service, with the theme ``Seek His Face,'' will be on Broad Street in front of City Hall beginning at noon. Those scheduled to participate are the Revs. Lew Bennett, Dean Lindsey, Robert Ward, James Braxton and Tommy London, and Paul and Margaret Welleford.

THE REV. POSEY STARKEY, a former Roanoker living in Atlanta, will return to Waverly Place Baptist Church, where he was once music director, to lead singing for a Here's Hope Revival meeting. The services will be at the church at 1407 Kenwood Blvd. S.E. Sunday through Wednesday. Services will be Sunday at 10:50 a.m. and nightly at 7. Several Southern Baptist pastors will rotate preaching.

THE REV. DWIGHT O. STEELE will be honored April 30 at 5 p.m. on the seventh anniversary of his coming to Pilgrim Baptist Church. Leading special worship will be the Rev. Joseph Roberts of Zion Baptist Church in Portsmouth and the Bethel Male Chorus of Reidsville, N.C.

CORNERSTONE CHURCH, 6930 Woodhaven Road, will sponsor a Youth Missions Night on May 5 from 8 to 10. It will include live music by the Soul band and a magic show. On May 6, Roanoke missionary agency director Mike Correll will lead a program beginning at 7 p.m. Further mission emphasis will take place May 7 when the Rev. Helen Elliot Correll, retired missionary and author, will preach at the 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. services.

DIVORCECARE, a 13-week seminar for people experiencing separation or divorce, will begin May 10 at 6:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church, 515 Third St. S.W. The Wednesday night series costs $10. Call 224-3370, the Singles Ministry office, for more information.

LIVING PROOF, a male trio that performs contemporary Christian music, plans a concert May 7 at 7:30 p.m. at Garden City Baptist Church, 3536 Garden City Blvd. S.E.

A NEW ALTAR CROSS, crafted by hand by Roanoke artist Bill Rutherfoord, has been dedicated at Christ Lutheran Church. To be used each year during Lent, the crucifix may be adapted by removing the carved body after Good Friday.

SENIOR ADULT DAY will be observed May 7 at Crystal Spring Baptist Church, 2411 Rosalind Ave. S.W. The Rev. Phil Day, pastor of Longdale Baptist Church, will speak at the 11 a.m. service. A luncheon honoring several who have made special contributions to the church will follow.

VINTON BAPTIST CHURCH, a sponsor of the Dogwood Festival 5K Challenge road race, seeks pastors from throughout the valley to participate in the event. The 3.1-mile race will be held April 29 in Vinton. Call the Rev. David Elks at 343-7685 for more information.

CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH has commissioned four lay members - Miriam and Fred Kretzer and Joyce and Ross Murray - as leaders of the parish's Stephen Ministry. They join several others in the congregation who have been trained as volunteer crisis counselors for members with special needs.

THE REV. BRAD R. BRAXTON, formerly of Salem, has been chosen pastor of Douglas Memorial Community Church, a historic congregation in West Baltimore. Braxton, 26, an honors graduate of Salem High School, took further study at the University of Virginia and was the first Salem student to win a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford University in England. He is completing work for a doctorate from Emory University in Atlanta. At the Baltimore church, he succeeds a pastor who served for 46 years.

A DOVE AWARDS PARTY to recognize winners of contemporary Christian music is scheduled April 27 at 6 p.m. at Parker's Seafood Restaurant. Holy Wind, a gospel group, will perform, and a seafood buffet will be available for $7.95. The event is sponsored by Spirit FM radio station. Call 774-9798 for more information.

Send information to Frances Stebbins, Neighbors Religion, P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke, Va. 24010 by noon Thursday. Please include a number where you can be reached during the day.

Want to know what's going on in the religious community? Get on the Internet and find this listing of Religion Briefs as well as other Neighbors columns in the News section of InfiNet. Call (800) 849-7214 to subscribe.



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