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

DATE: THURSDAY, May 4, 1995                   TAG: 9505040050
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: E-9   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: FRANCES STEBBINS
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

IN RELIGION

BIBLICAL PACIFISM is the theme of an overnight retreat May 19-20 at Camp Bethel Conference Center in Botetourt County. Open to anyone with a commitment to a peaceful lifestyle, it will be led by the Rev. Dr. Dale W. Brown, a retired professor of peace education at Bethany Theological Seminary. Cost of the conference is $55 if registration is made by Friday. Call 362-1816 for more information.

LUTHERAN FAMILY SERVICES, formerly administered from the denominational children's home in Salem, has moved its headquarters to 2609 McVitty Road S.W., freeing space in the former headquarters for the Minnick Education Center. Regional centers now operate in Hampton, Richmond, Harrisonburg, Bedford, Tazewell, Wytheville and Marion.

BETHLEHEM BIBLE COLLEGE, a ministry of Bethlehem Baptist Church, has scheduled its ninth annual graduation service for Monday at 7 p.m. The ceremony will be held at Forest Park Baptist Church, 812 29th St. N.W.

The major speaker will be Irvin Cannaday Jr., assistant principal of Woodrow Wilson Middle School. Music will be by the Virginia Western Community College Choral Ensemble. The college offers degrees and certificates for adults seeking leadership in evangelical Christian congregations.

DONALD BRUBAKER, who was reared in Williamson Road Church of the Brethren, has been licensed to ministry by the Virlina District of that denomination. He will graduate later this month from Regent University with a divinity degree.

ST. JOHN'S EPISCOPAL CONGREGATION will have a procession from the church at Elm Avenue and South Jefferson Street to the Hotel Roanoke on Sunday, starting at 9 a.m.

At 10 a.m., a celebration Eucharist service will begin to mark the completion of a building drive for enlarging and remodeling the 103-year-old building in downtown Roanoke. A brunch will follow. To fulfill all goals of the drive will require $5 million, but a lesser amount will provide for gradual improvements, church staff members have said.

A NEW HABITAT HOUSE is under construction at 825 Kellogg Ave. N.W. under sponsorship of St. John's Episcopal Church and Deliverance Church Ministries. Completion is expected by late June.

VALLEY COMMUNITY CHURCH, a Divine Science congregation, has scheduled an open house beginning at 11 a.m. on Sunday. Refreshments and a tour of the facilities at 5000 Carriage Drive S.W. will follow a message on beliefs of the church by the Rev. Maurita Wiggins, pastor.

THE REV. DAVID ``KIRK'' BROWN, an associate rector of St. John's Episcopal Church for the past three years, will leave the staff to become chaplain of the Episcopal Christ School in Arden, N.C. Brown taught in a similar school before entering theological seminary.

JAMES LELAND, organist at Hollins College, will present a recital Sunday at 4:30 p.m. at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in downtown Salem. The program is free.

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

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by CNB