ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, December 14, 1996 TAG: 9612160018
SECTION: RELIGION PAGE: A-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: STAFF REPORTS
Religious symbols
Dr. Winnifred Sullivan, who holds two doctoral degrees and teaches religion at Washington & Lee University, will speak Sunday at 9:30 a.m. at R.E. Lee Memorial Episcopal Church in Lexington. Sullivan's theme will be "The Creche in the Churchyard: Religious Symbols in Public Places." Sullivan is the author of a book on church-state relationships. Call 463-4981 for more information.
Brethren fund-raising
Delegates to the recent annual meeting of Virlina District, Church of the Brethren, have approved a financial campaign to raise a minimum of $500,000 to support new church development leadership training, assistance to small congregations and the continued upgrading of the Camp Bethel retreat center in Botetourt County. Accepted as new congregations were the Smith Mountain Lake Fellowship and the Concord Church in Cararrus County, N.C. The Pleasant Dale congregation in Botetourt County was officially closed and its members transferred to the Trinity Church near Fincastle.
Sierra Leone support
An attack on hunger in war-torn Sierra Leone has been launched by the Society of St. Andrew, a Christian service community based at Big Island in Bedford County. Through United Methodist clergy in the African country, rice and dried potatoes are being distributed to those who have been displaced by a five-year civil war. The community set a goal of $30,000 and raised $44,000 to send food to those in refugee camps. The Society of St. Andrew is a pioneer in salvaging commercially useless fresh vegetables and distributing them to the hungry through food pantries. Call (804) 836-4892 for more information about its ministries.
Carter memorialized
The late Rev. T. Eugene Carter will be honored with the naming of a new cottage to be ready for occupancy next spring at the United Methodist retreat center, Camp Alta Mons, in Montgomery County. The cottage, which will accommodate up to 10 people, is the former caretaker's home. Carter, who died several months ago, served as superintendent of the Roanoke District of United Methodists as well as a Virginia pastor. Call 268-1308 for reservations.
Jewish intermarriage
The Rabbinical Assembly and the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism are joining in supporting policies to discourage intermarriage of Jewish adults with members of other or no faiths. A statement from the New York headquarters of the rabbinic group says that from one-third to one-half of American Jews intermarry with the usual result being a loss of identity of the Jewish partner. The New York organization, with which Beth Israel Synagogue in Roanoke is affiliated, has adopted a program that starts with discouraging dating of non-Jewish youth, moves to efforts to convert the non-Jewish partner and finally offers opportunities for fellowship and education for partners who do not become Jewish. The goal, said the statement, is to encourage children to love and understand their historic faith.
Cancer memorial
A memorial service for the families and friends of those who have died of cancer is scheduled Sunday at 2 p.m. at West Main Street Church of Christ in Salem. The service for any in Western Virginia who have lost loves ones to cancer is sponsored by a Coping with Cancer support group that meets at the church. Call 366-6498 for more information.
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