ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, August 24, 1996 TAG: 9608260032
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-8 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
COLUMN: religion
Members of Our Saviour Lutheran Church in Christiansburg came up with an innovative idea to help relieve hunger in the area a few years ago. The congregation planted a large potato garden which has since grown to harvesting as much as 5,000 lbs of potatoes.
The congregation will celebrate its second "Potato Harvest Festival" Sept. 14. With the help of the Holy Spirit Catholic Church, potatoes from the garden will be bagged and given to needy families and to Christiansburg food pantries, including the Montgomery County Emergency Assistance Program. The festival includes entertainment, bake sales and auction sales. All proceeds are used to support the hunger ministry. The festival will be from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Our Savior property on Cambria Street. Items for the auction have been donated by area businesses. There also will be a canned food drive.
More than 5,000 lbs of potatoes were given away and $1,800 was raised at last year's festival. All proceeds went to assist local hunger ministries and to provide direct emergency hunger assistance. For information, call 382-9662.
PEOPLE
The Voluntary Action Center and the Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers recently selected Rev. Ellet P. Cramer to the positions of executive director (interim) and program director of the two organizations. The Rev. Cramer was ordained in 1976 in the Conservative Baptist Association of America. He has pastored several churches and served as a chaplain in the U.S. Navy. He retired from the Navy in 1991 after 24 years of service.
Cramer moved to Blacksburg in 1994 when his wife, Peggy, enrolled into the special education leadership program at Virginia Tech, where she is completing a Ph.D. Cramer also enrolled at Virginia Tech in the College of Architecture and received masters degree in urban affairs and planning in May.
DEDICATIONS, SERVICES & HOMECOMINGS
There will be a revival at the Cambria Pentecostal Holiness Church Sunday-Thursday at 7 p.m. each evening. The Rev. Shirley Jones will be the speaker. There also will be a benefit singing Friday at 7 p.m. at the church for Archie Shepherd. It will be conducted by the Rev. Everett Shepherd.
Community Christian Church in Newbern will have a homecoming reunion Sunday. Services will be at 8:46 a.m. and 11 a.m. There will be a fellowship potluck meal at 4 p.m. Individuals are asked to bring covered dishes, deserts and drinks. The church quartet will perform.
Congregational Holiness Camp will meet at Shawsville Church on Alleghany Road Sunday-Friday at 7:30 p.m. The Rev. Chet Smith will be the speaker. 268-2152.
The King Singers will perform gospel songs at the Elliston Church of God homecoming Sunday at 1:45 p.m. The Vaughans and several other singing groups and soloists also will perform. Services will be at 11 a.m. 1:45 p.m. service.
Holy Spirit Catholic Church will celebrate Mass tonight at 6 p.m. Services are held at Our Saviour Lutheran Church in Christiansburg. Readings will be Isaiah 22:15, 19-23; Romans II:33-36; and Matthew 16:13-20. 381-0299.
Glenwood United Methodist Church will homecoming services at Barren Springs on Sunday. Worship service will be at 11 a.m. The Glenwood choir will perform. A covered dish luncheon will be served after the service.
Luther Memorial Evangelical Lutheran Church, on the corner of Prices Fork and Toms Creek roads in Blacksburg, will have new worship times starting Sunday. Sunday services will be at 8:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Holy Communion will be celebrated every Sunday at the 11:30 a.m. worship and on the first Sunday of each month at the 8:30 a.m. service. Child care will available during both services. 951-1000.
New Life Foursquare Gospel Church will dedicate its New Life Center, a new church building, Aug. 30. The church also will celebrate homecoming for alumni. Events include a barbecue followed by an evening service with Dr. Helms at 7 p.m.
On Aug. 31, there will be a catered alumni breakfast at 8:30 a.m. Recreation sporting events are planned for the afternoon. The celebration will end with a gospel sing featuring members of various classes from the 1960s to present. 382-7100.
Oak Grove Church will celebrate homecoming on Sunday. The Rev. Leon Alley will be the guest speaker. Sunday school will be at 10 a.m. and worship service at 11 a.m. A catered lunch will follow at the picnic shelter at 12:30 p.m. Gospel music will be provided by the Omega Messengers and the Other Brothers starting at 1:30 p.m. There will be no evening service.
St. Mary's Catholic Church will celebrate Mass today at 5 p.m. and at 8:45 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. Sunday. The readings will be Isaiah 22:19-23; Psalm 138:1-3, 6-8; Romans 11:33-36; and Matthew 16:13-20. 552-1091.
ACTIVITIES & EVENTS
Blacksburg Christian Church will have a basement rummage sale today from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the corner of Tom's Creek Road and Watson Avenue. They youth groups will have a hot dog and bake sale.
The First Christian Church of Radford is supporting the efforts of the Elf Shelf, a ministry that assists needy families during the holiday season. New toys, games and books are being collected by the church to become part of the Elf Shelf Toy Store in December. Parents from the community then will "shop" at the store to "buy" gifts for their children. Call 639-3696.
Bible Study Fellowship International, a non-denominational Bible study, will study Israel and the Minor Prophets this fall. Two class times will be offered. The classes are free.
The morning class will meet Wednesdays, 9:10-11:10 a.m., starting Sept. 11 at First Wesleyan Church on Giles Road in Blacksburg. A preschool teaching program for children ages 2-6 will be offered during that time. For information and registration, call Dolly Thompson, 552-7378; or Elna Ribbe, 552-3437.
The evening class will meet Mondays, 6:55-9 p.m., starting Sept. 9 at Blacksburg United Methodist Church on Church Street. A school program for children in grades 1-6 will be offered. For information and registration, call Joan Humphreys, 382-0175 or Gerry Chenault, 951-3376.
Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Christiansburg will start a program in September for adults who are interested in learning more about the Catholic Church. The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is a series of sessions that inform individuals about the Catholic Church. This also is the process where people are brought into the Catholic Church if they choose. For information, call 381-0299. Holy Spirit Catholic Church also is offering CCD classes this fall. Registration begins after Mass on Saturday. Classes start Sept. 4 at 6 p.m. with a mandatory meeting for parents and children. For more information, call Terry at 381-0845.
St. Jude Catholic Church in Christiansburg will have inquiry sessions for individuals who are interested in receiving more information about becoming Catholic. The sessions will be Tuesdays, starting Sept. 3, at 7 p.m. at the church. 639-5341.
There will be an Intergenerational Water Service Sunday at 10:30 a.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of New River Valley. 951-1720.
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