ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, December 19, 1996 TAG: 9612200054
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: N-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: FRANCES STEBBINS
PEOPLE
Lee Roesti, a native of St. Cloud, Minn., who holds a doctorate in piano performance from West Virginia University, will begin as director of music at College Lutheran Church of Salem on Jan. 1. He will succeed Mildred Heimlich, who is retiring. Roesti, who also attended Luther College and North Central College, is coming from Hollidaysburg, Pa., in the Altoona area where he directed music at several parishes. He and his wife, Cora, have two daughters in college.
Rodney Ferguson has joined the staff of St. Elizabeth's Episcopal Church as its part-time music director. Ferguson, a retired teacher and a former organist at St. James Episcopal Church, has been serving as interim music director.
The Rev. Susan Emmons Bentley, a graduate of Hollins College who recently returned to the Roanoke Valley from the Chicago area, has become an adjunct rector of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Salem. A graduate of Seabury Western Theological Seminary, Bentley is married to Michael Bentley, of the Virginia Tech faculty; they have three children.
The Rev. George K. Bowers, a retired Lutheran pastor of Roanoke, has become interim minister of Melrose Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
NATIVITY TABLEAUX
Virginia Heights Baptist Church, 2014 Memorial Ave. S.W., Sunday at 7 p.m.
Connelly Memorial Baptist Church, 3907 Hershberger Road N.W., Sunday and Monday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and Christmas Eve from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The outdoor tableau on Christmas Eve will be followed by a candlelight Communion.
St. Paul's Episcopal, 42 E. Main St. in downtown Salem, Sunday night from 6 to 7 in front of the church.
MUSICAL EVENTS
Community Christian Church, 3679 Sandlewood Road, has scheduled a youth program, "What's in a Name," Sunday at 6 p.m.
Bethel Baptist Church, 1601 Colorado St. in Salem, will present "The Hope of Christmas" Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 6 p.m. The Bethel Players and the Sanctuary Choir will be participants.
At Green Hill Church of the Brethren, 2699 Harborwood Road in Salem, the choir will perform the cantata "Wonderful Name" Sunday at 11 a.m.
First Church of the Nazarene, 728 Highland Ave. S.E., has scheduled two programs Sunday. The Adult Choir will sing "Come Celebrate Jesus - A Christmas Invitation" at the 10:35 a.m. service. That night, a carol sing by candlelight will begin at 6.
St. Thomas of Canterbury Church, an Anglican congregation at 4910 Hubert Road N.W., plans a children's creche program Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Social time follows.
Mill Creek Baptist Church, 4355 Lee Highway North in Botetourt County, will present a new cantata, "The Wonders of His Love," Sunday at 7:30 p.m.
The Chancel Choir of Westhampton Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) will sing "Joy - the Gift of God," at the 11 a.m. service. The church is at 2515 Grandin Road S.W.
"Room at the Inn" will be the musical offering at Airlee Court Baptist Church Sunday at 7 p.m. The church is on Hershberger Road at Delray Street Northwest.
At Calvary United Methodist Church, 845 Hemlock Road in Salem, a cantata, "Share the Good News! He Is Born!," will be sung Sunday at 11 a.m.
A Moravian Love Feast, including special music with accompaniment by the Brass Five instrumental group, will take place Sunday at 7:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in downtown Salem. Beth Dechent, harpist, will be guest performer for "This Christmastide," scheduled at 11 a.m.
Jerusalem Baptist Church, 1014 Norfolk Ave. S.W., will present "The Christmas Story" pageant Sunday at 5 p.m.
CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES
St. John's Episcopal Church, South Jefferson at Elm Avenue in downtown Roanoke, plans three services Tuesday at 4, 8 and 11 p.m., with an additional service on Christmas Day at 10 a.m. All will include Holy Eucharist.
At Christ Episcopal Church, 1101 Franklin Road S.W., a family service will begin at 4 p.m. Tuesday, followed by special music at 10:30 p.m. preceding the 11 o'clock candlelight service. A Christmas Day service starts at 11 a.m. All services include contemporary language Holy Eucharist.
St. Paul's Episcopal Church in downtown Salem Christmas Eve worship will begin with a family service at 4:30 p.m. A later service starts at 10:30 p.m. Both include Holy Eucharist and special music. Christmas Day Eucharist begins at 11 a.m.
St. Elizabeth's Episcopal Church, 2339 Grandin Road S.W., has scheduled its Christmas Eve worship at 11 p.m. following a carol sing at 10:30. The Christmas Day worship at 11 a.m. includes fellowship time afterward. Both services include Eucharist.
Christmas Eve worship will begin with a Lessons and Carols service at 5 p.m. at St. Thomas of Canterbury Church, an Anglican parish using the 1928 Prayer Book. Christmas Mass with special music will begin at 11 p.m. The church is at 4910 Hubert Road N.W.
Several Southeast Roanoke churches are uniting for worship at 8 p.m. Tuesday at Belmont Presbyterian Church, 1005 Ninth St. S.E. The Rev. Sam McPhail of Belmont United Methodist will preach, and Communion will be administered.
Peace Presbyterian Church, 4365 Cloverdale Road, plans a service Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. for families. Three choirs of the church will offer music of the Nativity.
First United Methodist Church, Langhorne Place in downtown Salem, has scheduled a Lessons and Carols service Tuesday at 10:30 p.m.
Central United Methodist Church, Colorado at Third Streets in Salem, plans a candlelight Communion Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. Special music will be included.
Highland Park United Methodist Church, 624 Ferdinand Ave. S.W., has scheduled its Christmas Eve services at 3 and 10 p.m. Communion will be part of each, as well as special music.
Three Buchanan churches plan services Tuesday. They include family worship at 5 p.m. at the United Methodist church, candlelight worship at 11 p.m. at the Presbyterian church and Holy Communion at 11 p.m. at the Episcopal church.
Central Church of the Brethren, 416 Church Ave. S.W., plans Communion by candlelight at both its 4 p.m. family Christmas Eve service and at 11 p.m. when the adult choir presents special music.
A candlelight service will begin at 8 p.m. Tuesday at Westhampton Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) at 2515 Grandin Road S.W. "Wonders of His Love" will be its theme.
Green Hill Church of the Brethren, 2699 Harborwood Road in Salem, will have Communion by candlelight on Christmas Eve at its 7 p.m. service.
Bethel Baptist Church, 1601 Colorado St. in Salem, will have a service at 5:30 p.m. Christmas Eve.
Bethany Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), 3115 Fleming Ave. N.W., candlelight communion at 7 p.m.
Send material to Frances Stebbins, Neighbors, P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke 24010-2491 by noon Tuesday. Please include a daytime telephone number.
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