The Faith Connection

"Packing it on" to Fight Hunger

 

If you heard the term “Pack-a-thon,” you might think it had something to do with a certain large university on Hillsborough Street.  But this particular event doesn’t have anything to do with NC State – although I’m quite sure some Wolfpackers will be among the hundreds of people who will be taking part.  So what exactly is a Pack-a-thon?

“A Pack-a-thon is a food packing event,” says Joseph Williams, CEO of the Burlington, NC, based ministry Feed the Hunger.  “Volunteers age five years old and up can come and help package four specific ingredients that they also seal and box.  Then we put them on pallets and then on a container and send them to different countries around the world where there are hungry kids that we help.”

Feed the Hunger has held Pack-a-thons at locations across the southeast.  The next one is scheduled for July 20^th and 21^st at Raleigh’s Providence Baptist Church.  The goal:  a staggering 300,000 meals to be packed for hungry children in Kenya.

“That’s going to take around 1,400 volunteers, Williams told me.  “A packing station has on average around 17 people.  They’re going to have 17 stations (at the church) going simultaneously in three different rooms, in three different shifts.  It’s obviously going to involve a ton of people.”

Here's a video clip that shows how it all works.  More than a thousand volunteers have already signed up for the Providence event, but they could still use more.  Each shift is for two hours, and you can sign up for more than one shift if you wish.  And no expertise is required.

“We do what’s called a table talk at the beginning of every shift, where we walk them through the process,” says Williams, “then we let ‘em go for a good hour and a half to pack as fast as they can.  And it’s a lot of fun.  By the time people’s shifts are over they’re usually surprised that it’s already over and they want to do it again.”

Dehydrated vegetables, soy, and rice are among the foodstuffs that get packed away.  But Williams says the main item is a fortified powder containing 19 essential vitamins and minerals.    

“It was engineered by an executive with General Mills who saw the need of kids around the world and decided to develop this powder that, if it was added to food with the right other ingredients, any child anywhere in the world could not only survive but thrive.”

The taste is pretty bland, but in most of the places that the food packets are delivered the locals will add a spice or sauce to it to give it a regional flavor.

Feed the Hunger is the children’s ministry of the evangelical mission organization New Directions International.  They pack and ship about two million meals a year.  But, as indicated by the organization’s motto “It’s more than a meal,” Williams says food is only a part of what they’re about:   

“There’s an old proverb – not in the Bible, actually, I think it’s credited somewhere in Asia – it says an empty stomach has no ears.  So we can’t expect a child to want to hear about Jesus or even want to hear anything at school if they’re starving.  So it’s meeting the whole needs of the kid:  the spiritual hunger, the physical hunger, and the hunger for an education, all at once.”

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No arguing with the ump – especially when the ump is wearing a clerical collar!  The Office of Vocations from the Diocese of Raleigh is hosting a “Men in Black” softball game and Priestly Vocation Night on Wednesday (July 11^th).   The game will pit a team of priests and seminarians against a team of high school and college-aged young men.  There will also be a picnic and a presentation on priestly vocations.  Bishop Michael Burbidge will be one of the umpires.  More info here. 

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Speaking of Bishop Burbidge, he’s just back from Helsinki, Finland, where he co-chaired the International Dialogue between Catholics and Pentecostals.  The Vatican appointed him co-chair last year.  The dialogue started in 1972 to foster mutual respect and understanding between the two faith groups.  Bishop Burbidge calls the Helsinki sessions "fruitful."

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It’s not often you hear archaeologists use words like “exciting” and “stunning” in describing a find.  But that’s what famed UNC Chapel Hill professor Jodi Magness is saying about the recent discovery of an ancient synagogue in northern Israel.  Read about what makes this ancient house of worship so special at this link.

Faith in the Marketplace

 

Can strong religious faith and successful business practices be compatible?  Dan Cathy believes they are, and he’s bringing that message to the Triangle later this month.  Cathy is President and Chief Operating Officer of Chick-fil-A, the Atlanta-based fast food chain.  The fast-growing chain just opened its first-ever 2-story restaurant earlier this year, in Raleigh’s Cameron Village.  Cathy, son of Chick-fil-A founder Truett Cathy, will be the keynote speaker at the annual Triangle Leadership Breakfast on June 20^th in Cary.  The event is sponsored each year by CBMC, the Christian Business Men’s Committee.  Your Humble Blogger has been asked to emcee the event.  More details about it here.

Dan Cathy is also scheduled to speak the following morning at Raleigh’s Hope Community Church.  More information about that event here.  His topic for both speeches, “Living Out Your Faith in the Marketplace.”

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A coalition of faith groups will put on their walking shoes this Sunday (June 10^th) in Hillsborough, for the Orange Congregations in Mission  Walk for Hunger.  Registration begins at 2pm and the walk will start at 3.  They’ll begin at First Baptist Church on W. King Street and proceed to Gold Park.  Proceeds benefit programs such as Meals on Wheels and Samaritan Relief.

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Duke University’s Muslim Chaplain, Abdullah Antepli, writes movingly of his recent visit to Nazi death camps in Poland and Germany in an on-line blog post.  Imam Antepli has made improved Jewish-Muslim relations one of his major causes.

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When a church on Thomasville, NC, was vandalized a few days ago, a reporter covering the story actually became a part of the story.  Here's the link.

Oldies but Goodies at Local Church

 

One of the area’s most colorful and entertaining church outreaches to the community is coming up again this Friday. The youth and adults of White Plains United Methodist Church in Cary will turn back the hands of time for their annual Oldies Drive-in. They’ll transform the church parking lot into a 1950s style drive-in restaurant -- something they've been doing for 17 years now.

"It's basically the American Grafitti or Happy Days-type of culture and music they they're trying to recreate," says Rob Phillips, the Director of Youth Ministries.

They’ll serve classic “diner” food (with curbside service at your car), and have live music from the 50s and 60s. You’ll also see vintage cars and plenty of poodle skirts and biker jackets. 

"People can actually eat at their car like a classic drive-in," Phllips says, "and then they can get out and walk around to see the entertainment and classic cars."

Even "Elvis" (impersonator Wayne Tindle) will make an appearance.

   Elvis impersonator Wayne Tindle entertains at the Oldies Drive-in     photos courtesy White Plains UMC
 

The event is from 5 to 9 p.m., at a cost of 3 bucks a carload. Pre-1970 vehicles will be allowed in for free! Proceeds will benefit the church's various ministries -- but the emphasis is on fun.

"We call it an outreach event, because we don't really make a lot of money on it," Phillips told me. "It takes easily a hundred volunteers to pull this off. It's an outreach because it brings in a lot of people from the community and it shows the church can be a fun place and a fellowship place."

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It’s been quite a week for Bishop Michael Burbidge of the Raleigh Catholic Diocese. The Bishop and other Catholic leaders from the region have been at the Vatican for what’s called an ad limina visit. The trip is required at regular intervals for every diocese in the world, so that a status report can be presented to the Pope. You can read more about Bishop Burbidge’s visit with Pope Benedict XVI – and see photos – at this link.

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Durham’s Sanctuary United Methodist Church is planning something extra special this Memorial Day. The church will present a long overdue honor to a World War II hero. PFC Joe “Reece” Lyndon Jr. landed at Omaha Beach in the D-Day invasion, fought across France, and ended up a wounded prisoner of war. Although he earned a number of awards for his service and valor, PFC Lyndon never received the Bronze Star that was awarded retroactively to all the recipients of the Combat Infantry Badge.

 

That will all change on May 28^th. Sanctuary UMC and the Combat Infantrymen’s Association will award the Bronze Star to Lyndon’s son, Joe Lyndon III of Durham. It will be part of a service to honor all those who’ve paid the ultimate price in service to their country. The program will run from 1 to 2 p.m.

 

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What matters to former UNC stand-out and future NBA’er Tyler Zeller more than basketball? His faith. Zeller gave an interview recently with his pastor, J.D. Greear of Durham’s Summit Church, before the congregation. Here's the link to the video clip.

 

Day of Prayer, Day of Barbecue, and More

 

Hundreds are expected this Thursday at noon at Halifax Mall, north of the Legislative Building in downtown Raleigh, for the National Day of Prayer.  It will be the 61^st observance of the Day, with the Governor’s proclamation read and area pastors and community leaders leading the prayers.  The rain location is Edenton Street United Methodist Church.  If you won’t be near downtown Raleigh that day, you can go to this link to find an event near you.

 

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Previous Bar-B-Q event at Apex UMC        (photo courtesy Apex United Methodist Church)

The men at Apex United Methodist Church are at it again:  they’ll be cooking up more than 1,000 pounds of pork and 700 chicken halves – plus 1,500 desserts.  The church’s 20^th annual barbecue event will take place this Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., with proceeds going to various missions projects.  Eat in or take out.  Call the church office at (919) 362-7807 for more info.

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The Duke community will say goodbye to a beloved couple this coming Sunday at noon.  The Rev. Dr. Samuel Wells, Dean of Duke Chapel, and his wife, the Rev. Dr. Jo Bailey Wells, are returning to England.  Sam Wells will become the vicar of the St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church in London.   Mrs. Wells will continue in priestly ministry in a still-to-be determined post in London.  The couple both teach at Duke Divinity School, and have been there since 2005.  A public send-off for the family will take place Sunday from noon to 2:00 pm at Duke Chapel.

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Don’t be alarmed if you see Cary Mayor Harold Weinbrecht with a pistol in his hand at Bond Park this Saturday morning.  Mayor Weinbrecht will be the honorary starter for the first annual Purple Cloth 5K and 100-yard Kids Dash, sponsored by Genesis United Methodist Church.

"This is a family-oriented event," says Mo Percy, race coordinator. "We have a 5K race in a pleasant environment, a kid's 100-yard dash, food, music and even a bounce house for the kids!  We hope many people from the community join us.  Participants can walk, run, or stroll."  Proceeds will benefit Dorcas Ministries. 

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After 22 years of military service – including a harrowing “Black Hawk Down” mission in Mogadishu, Somalia, in 1993, Jeff Struecker says one of his most unnerving experiences wasn’t on the battlefield at all.  He says it was in seminary.  Strucker talked about his experiences earlier this month at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he’s now pursuing his doctorate.  You can find the story here.

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A Charlotte-area church made hundreds of friends earlier this month when they gave away thousands of gallons worth of gasoline to drivers.  There were plenty of “smiles per gallon” as a result.  You can see how WSOC-TV covered the story here.

 

 

Too Many Angels?

 

There are going to be a lot more angels in Wake County this Christmas season. But don’t think of that is a good thing. "We saw a huge jump last year as well,” says Haven Sink.

 

Sink is the spokeswoman for the Salvation Army of Wake County. And the angels I’m talking about are children from economically challenged families. The kids will be represented by angel symbols on Christmas trees in the local malls. As we move into the Salvation Army’s busiest season of the year, the faith-based agency’s Angel Tree program is up and running again.

“Last year we went from 5,600 kids (in 2009) to 7,200 kids, just because the economy went south,” says Sink. “And we know it's really not gotten any better this year."

In fact, the Salvation Army says 7,782 children ages 12 and under will be represented by angels this year -- an increase of more than 500. The Angel Tree program helps provide Christmas gifts for those children. Qualifying families are registered to receive a stocking and new clothing, and to visit the Salvation Army’s Toy Shop. The gifts are distributed in mid-December. But those items first have to be donated by the public -- by you.

"We have volunteers who help people choose an angel off the tree," says Sink, "and then those same volunteers can accept the donations that come back, right there at the mall. So people can shop for a child while they're out doing their holiday shopping, and bring those items right back to the Angel Tree location in the mall."

The Salvation Army will need more than 24,000 new toys, clothing items, and stocking stuffers to be donated in November and December. Additionally, the agency will rely on hundreds of volunteers to help with set up and distribution. If you’d like to help, visit their website at www.keepthebellringing.org, and look for the Angel Trees at Crabtree Valley Mall, Triangle Town Center, and Cary Towne Center.

“We do see a huge response from the community every year,” Sink told me, “but with the increase in children registered the past two years, it has been very difficult for us to meet the needs. We provide something for every child that is registered in our system but we do have a hard time making it a very meaningful gift sometimes since we have so many children. It's hard for the community to keep up.”

There are a lot of compassionate people in our area. Let’s see if every “angel” is covered this year.

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Speaking of compassionate people, folks in Carthage are showing their support for a young man who’s fighting a very serious illness – and now that support has gone international. 12-Year-old Cooper Ellington suffers from a genetic condition called VHL disease. Last summer he underwent a 12-hour surgery to remove a tumor on his brain stem, and he’s now involved in intense rehabilitation therapy.

Cooper Ellington and his dad, NC State Trooper Reid Cooper

A Facebook page has been set up --"Praying for Cooper Ellington" -- to help the family with prayers and support. In a short time it’s picked up members from all 50 states and seven other countries. Supporters have also distributed 2,500 "Praying for Cooper" bracelets.

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What’s it like being a Muslim in North Carolina today? Members of the Muslim Student Association at Duke University fanned out across the state to find out. Eight students used their fall break to visit Muslims in several cities and towns, and to record their experiences. You can read about it in their blog at this link.

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I can taste it now. On Friday (November 4^th), Raleigh’s Hayes Barton Baptist Church is having its 4^th annual Barbecue Dinner Missions fundraiser. There’ll be music, fellowship, fun – and of course, lots of ‘cue. Drive-thru, pick-up, and delivery. You can find the details here.

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In a case that could have national implications, the Forsyth County, NC, Board of Commissioners has appealed to the US Supreme Court in their effort to overturn a judicial ban on sectarian prayers at Commission meetings. The issue hit the courts when some citizens objected to the name of Jesus being mentioned in opening prayers at meetings. You can read more about the case here.

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Congratulations to Salvation and Deliverance Church of Tarboro, winner of Verizon’s 2011 "How Sweet the Sound" national choir competition. That’s right – national competition. This past Friday in Los Angeles, that smalltown church choir won top honors against singers from across the country and was given the title, “Best Overall Choir.” What makes them so good? You’ll see what wowed the judges in a video clip from an earlier regional competition they won. I promise you, you’ve never heard Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus quite like this.

 

200 Years of Service in Raleigh

 

A hurricane is coming to the Raleigh area this weekend.  A hurricane of good works.   Edenton Street United Methodist Church, one of the pillars of downtown Raleigh, is launching its annual Great Day of Service once again.

"We have a range of events,” says the church’s Director of Missions Ministries, Renae Newmiller.   “We’ll have about 26 different opportunities for people of all ages and abilities.  While some people may go out and build a Habitat house, others may need to sit and sew diapers for an orphanage in Haiti.  Maybe they’ll sit and help with Stop Hunger Now, or they may be able to make meals and bag lunches and go out and serve people in Moore Square.  Most of (the opportunities) focus on local groups that are doing wonderful work to help people, but we also have some efforts that focus on global initiatives.” 

Saturday will mark Edenton Street’s third Day of Service.  Last year, some 600 volunteers took part, with many continuing their efforts for weeks and months afterwards.  ESUMC is celebrating its 200^th anniversary this year and is doing so by challenging its members to pledge 200,000 service hours in the community and globally.

"That is a challenge to our members just to be really mindful about the call of Christ to be of service to the world,” Newmiller told me.  “It's kind of answering the (biblical) statement, ‘Here I am, Lord, send me.’  If we reach the goal, that would be great.  But it's really not about us.  It's about us getting out there and using our gifts in a way that's in service."

You might say service is in the church’s DNA.  Back in 1831, one of Edenton Street’s earliest ministers, Melville B. Cox, left his appointment there to become the first Methodist missionary to Africa.

Newmiller says last year about eleven percent of the Great Day of Service volunteers weren’t even members of the church.  They just wanted to take part.  Newmiller told me they love seeing new faces.

"We would love to extend the invitation to anybody, because it's just a wonderful way.  Our hope is that people who may be looking for a way to serve, that they don't just do it on one day.  They really get passionate about it and do it on an ongoing basis. "

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Lots of excitement in the Triangle’s Filipino community for an event this Sunday.  The Rt. Rev. Michael Burbidge, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Raleigh, will celebrate a Mass honoring the first Filipino saint and martyr, Lorenzo Ruiz.  It’s scheduled for 1:00 at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Durham.

“It’ll be a very colorful event reflecting the traditions of our culture,” says Maria Romp, one of the organizers.  “It will start at 1:00 with a procession outside, and a bi-lingual Mass in English and in our dialect.”

St. Lorenzo was martyred for his faith in September 1637 and was canonized in 1987.   A crowd of 500 came out for the local Mass last year, and an even larger gathering is expected this time around.

And, oh yes, Romp says there will be a feast of Filipino delicacies afterwards -- with plenty for all.  “We don’t take no for an answer,” she told me.  “If you come, you have to eat!” 

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Another local Bishop has a major event planned this week.  Bishop Michael Curry of the Episcopal Diocese of NC will deliver the Fall Convocation address at Saint Augustine’ s College on Thursday. 

It will take place at 10 a.m. on the campus quadrangle.

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Next Wednesday (September 28^th), tens of thousands of students will gather at their school’s flagpole before classes start for the annual See You at the Pole event.  The student-led prayer gathering reportedly began with a group of Texas high school students in 1990 and spread across the country.  Clayton’s C3 Church will hold a SYATP student rally this Sunday evening at 5 to build excitement for the main event.  

 

 

Celebrating a Trailblazer

 
One of Durham’s most revered figures will be honored this Wednesday evening (June 29^th) at a place with which she was quite familar.  The late Dr. Anna Pauline "Pauli" Murray, the first African-American woman to be ordained as an Episcopal Priest, will be honored in a special service at St. Titus' Episcopal Church. 

The Rev. Murray was a lawyer, scholar, civil rights activist, and historian – in addition to her groundbreaking elevation to the priesthood in 1977.  Bishop Michael Curry of the NC Episcopal Diocese will lead the liturgy Wednesday night, which will include volunteers from all the parishes in the Diocese.  Murray, who was raised by relatives in Durham, died in 1985.  She attended school at St. Titus as a child. 

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Just announced:  popular women’s ministry teacher Joyce Meyer is coming to Raleigh next month.  Meyer is scheduled to appear at the RBC Center August 18 – 20^th.  Admission is free, but seating is first come, first served.

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High energy.  Upbeat.  Infectious.  Those are some of the adjectives used to describe the Israel Scouts, who will be performing in Raleigh Monday night (June 27^th).  Each year, members of the Scouts, called the Tzofim in Israel, tour North America in separate caravans bringing the “spirit of Israel” to Jewish and non-Jewish audiences.  Here's a clip showing what they do.  The enthusiastic young people will be performing at Temple Beth Or Monday from 7 – 8pm.

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Many congregations in our area will hold special events to mark Independence Day weekend.  Fayetteville’s Snyder Memorial Baptist Church will hold a combined “Celebrate America” worship service this Sunday at 10am, with a big church cookout immediately afterwards.  There’s a small charge for admission to the cookout.

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Duke Divinity School’s Faith & Leadership magazine profiles Raleigh pastor Staccato Powell of Grace AME Zion Church.  In just a few short years, Dr. Powell guided that struggling inner-city congregation from fewer than 50 members to more than 1,300 today.  Here's the article.

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Members of Colonial Baptist Church in Cary have been having a lot of fun with the fact that two deer made their way into the church earlier this month.  Surveillance cameras caught the mad scramble that occurred afterwards.  See it here.

Taking the Church on the Road

 

Some Chatham County congregations are taking their churches on the road next Sunday for a day of service.  

Members of Chapel in the Pines and Chatham Community Church will descend on North Chatham School for a much-needed school beautification work day.  The churches will actually forego their normal sanctuary services for the work day.  They’re expecting as many as 200 people to show up for the event, which they're calling The Church has Left the Building.

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Also on May 22^nd, the Triangle’s Jewish community will celebrate Israel’s 63^rd Independence Day.  The Jewish Federations of Raleigh-Cary and Durham-Chapel Hill have teamed up for a big festival, which will take place from 3 to 6pm at the RTP Hilton.  They’ll have Israeli food, music, and dancing.

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Baseball superstar and Raleigh native Josh Hamilton may be taking time off the ballfield, but not from the other great love of his life:   his faith.

The Texas Rangers all-star is helping to promote National Back to Church Sunday, a cross-denominational movement aimed at reversing declining church attendance.  Hamilton, who has been sidelined for weeks with an arm fracture, has given his official endorsement to the back-to-church movement.  He has credited his faith and church with helping him overcome a serious drug addiction.

“God’s word tells us to spur one another on toward love and good deeds, and not give up meeting together," Hamilton says in a statement.  "We are to walk through life with other believers. My family and I have found that church is a wonderful way to do this, so I encourage you to join thousands of Americans as they go back to church on National Back to Church Sunday."

This year’s Back to Church Sunday is set for September 18^th.

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East Chapel Hill High School is going Greek next weekend – courtesy of the folks at St. Barbara's Greek Orthodox Church.  The church is sponsoring its annual Greek Festival at the school, Friday through Sunday.  They’ll have lots of Greek art, souvenirs…and of course, plenty of Greek delicacies.  

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Raleigh’s Western Boulevard Presbyterian Church is bringing back the days of the drive-in theater.  This Saturday night they’ll be showing Toy Story 3 at 7pm and The Blind Side at 9:15 in the church parking lot.  Concessions sold and donations collected will benefit the church’s mission trip this summer.

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With the date rapidly approaching, I thought it’d be a good time to revisit Amber Rupinta's report from a few weeks back about a religious group convinced that this Saturday (May 21^st) is Judgment Day. 

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Beautiful music alert:   Check out this new YouTube clip from Raleigh’s Hayes Barton Baptist Church, featuring visiting singers from Millbrook High School.

Prayers, Festivals...and Flash Mobs?

 

This Thursday, May 5^th, marks the 60^th annual National Day of Prayer, and there are literally dozens of local activities to commemorate it.  Your Humble Blogger has been asked to emcee the Triangle Leadership Breakfast at the Sheraton Imperial, put on by the Christian Business Men's Connection.   Other events will take place at Duke Chapel, J. P. Riddle Stadium in Fayetteville, and numerous other locations.  You can find a Day of Prayer event near you at this link. 

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The Raleigh Rescue Mission celebrates 50 years of service this weekend with the Downtown Raleigh Festival of Hope.  Saturday’s festival will feature live music, food, games, inflatables, and more.   They’ll also offer tours of the Mission every half hour.  The celebration runs from 10am to 2pm.

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Speaking of hope, that’s what superstar-pastor Joel Osteen promises to bring to the Raleigh RBC Center in July.  His Night of Hope event will take place July 15^th, and they’re selling tickets for it now.  Osteen pastors America’s largest congregation, with an average of 43,000 attending Houston’s Lakewood Church each week.

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If they call Apex “The Peak of Good Living,” then perhaps an event coming up Friday may be “The Peak of Good Eating.”  The Men’s Group at Apex United Methodist Church will be whipping up another huge batch of barbecue for sale.  The annual event is in its 19^th year.  Since 1992, the barbecue sales have raised more than $130,000 for the church’s mission outreaches.  They’ll be serving up the chicken and pork ‘cue from 11am to 7pm. 

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The congregation at Raleigh’s Upper Room Church of God in Christ is abuzz over a member’s sudden healing from stage 3 cancer.  The church prepared a video about it.

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You’ve heard of flash mobs.  How about a flash church mob?  Check out this music video showing what happened when Houston’s Second Baptist Church took over a downtown park for an Easter season celebration.  And here's the story behind the clip.

 

A Special Dinner -- for 200 Friends

 

Some 3,300 years ago, Jewish slaves made their way out of Egypt to freedom.  Now in 2011, Egyptians themselves are getting a taste of freedom – an irony not lost on local rabbi Zalman Bluming.

“It’s fascinating,” he told me.  “You know, we (Jews) left Egypt years ago, but we didn't take the Egyptians along with us in terms of our journey towards freedom and direction.  Only time will tell where this will actually go in terms of the Middle East.”

Rabbi Zalman is Executive Director of Chabad of Durham-Chapel Hill, which will celebrate the ancient Israelites’ exodus from Egypt next Monday and Tuesday nights with a community Seder (“SAY-der”).  That’s the ritual meal that marks Passover, and the rabbi says Chabad’s will be the largest in the Triangle.  Advance registration is necessary.

“We celebrate Passover eight days,” he told me.  “The first day celebrates liberation from bondage.  The rest of the holiday celebrates the course of freedom we were directed upon -- the fact that we weren't just liberated people, but were people that created a covenant with God.  Something to be sure that, with this freedom, we wouldn't just find another form of enslavement, another dictator, or another form of oppression that would hold us down. That's my hope and yearning for the people in the land of Egypt and everywhere else.”

The Passover Seder is a multi-sensory experience involving taste, smell, singing, prayers, story-telling, and more.  It’s the most celebrated of the Jewish holidays.   Rabbi Zalman there’s a good reason for that.

“Because more important than the synagogue and the Jewish Community Center is the family, the home.  This is the most celebrated edifice in our community and the ideals that we believe in.  While everybody else builds statues and monuments out of their leaders, our monuments are that of the home and the family, and these have been our citadels and towers.” 

The Chabad Seders will take place next Monday and Tuesday nights at 7:00 at Chapel Hill’s Franklin Inn Hotel.   They’re expecting some 200 people the first night, and about hundred the next.  The Seders are free, with a suggested donation of $28.  All are welcome, particularly college students who would otherwise miss the experience at home.

“Being away from your family at the Seder is a very difficult time for a student, so we try to do as much as possible with a family atmosphere,” says Rabbi Zalman.  “We involve children, and we have the students participating and speaking about different parts of the Seder.  So we really have not just one Seder with 200 people, but we have hundreds of Seders being relived for the sheer experience.” 

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When the senior class at Fayetteville Christian School  heads to the African nation of Zambia tomorrow for a missions trip, they’ll be taking along 44 labors of love, courtesy of Heide Nash.  Mrs. Nash hand-crocheted 44 afghans for the group to take with them and give away to the Zambian people.  She made one for her granddaughter and the 43 others making the trip.

Mrs. Nash’s daughter, Kirsten Speer, suggested the afghan project: 

“I actually got the idea almost a year ago when I was looking at the pictures of last year’s senior class who also went to Africa.  I saw this one picture of a group of children, some without legs, smiling proudly for the camera and wrapped in dingy, seemingly dirty blankets.  I envisioned my mom’s afghans around them, so I told her what I was thinking she could do when my daughter went the following year.  My mom started making them right away!  She was thrilled to do it.”

Mrs. Nash also crocheted 44 crosses to take along.

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Raleigh International Church is expecting another huge crowd this coming Saturday for its annual Hope Connection Event.  The church will be providing groceries, clothing, health care services, haircuts and more – all free.  It’ll take place in the 4000 block of Capital Boulevard, from 10AM to 2PM.  It’s the third year RIC has done this, and Pastor Olden Thornton says, “This year, we hope to be able to impact an ever greater number of citizens in our communities.”

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A special visitor will celebrate Palm Sunday services in Newton Grove this weekend.  The Most Rev. Dr. Katharine Jefferts Schori, who leads the nation’s Episcopal churches, will visit La Eglesia De La Sagrada Familia.  The Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church is making a tour of several congregations in the Diocese of East Carolina, with the Newton Grove stop among them.   She’ll lead the 10:30 AM service.

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400 years old and still going strong.  Duke Divinity School historian David Steinmetz has written a fascinating article on how the King James Version of the Bible came to be, and why it remains so popular.