HEALTH AND EXERCISE IS SENIORS’ TOPIC
“Exercise and Chronic Disease” will be the topic of a free hour-long program scheduled Monday, May 22, at College Lutheran Church, 210 S. College Ave., Salem. It will be led by Stephanie Gillenwater, chronic disease management coordinator for the Salem Family YMCA. The 6 p.m. talk is one of a series of Fourth Monday events especially for senior adults sponsored by Salem Area Ecumenical Ministries. Call Karen Adams at 540-389-4963 for more information.
JOINT VBS SCHEDULED
College Lutheran Church and Salem Presbyterian Church will again jointly sponsor a Vacation Bible School for children in kindergarten through fifth grade. It will be held July 10-14 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Presbyterian church. A nursery will be staffed for the children of volunteer teachers.
SALEM WOMAN HONORED WITH HOSPICE AWARD
Lee Edwards Davis, a member of Central United Methodist Church in Salem, received the Bill Wood Award for her volunteer service with Good Samaritan Hospice when the annual brunch to thank volunteers was held earlier this month. Davis, a magistrate in the 23rd Judicial District, received the annual recognition given a volunteer who is judged on excellence of care, compassion and advocacy in giving meaning and purpose to those judged terminally ill. At the same meeting marking the 25th Anniversary of the hospice volunteers heard from Karen Mayhew, director of patient services, and Becky Harris, now retired from the job of coordinator of volunteers. Mayhew, a staff member for the past 20 years, has announced her retirement.
PRESBYTERIANS MARK 60 YEARS
The congregation of Covenant Presbyterian Church on Deyerle Road SW on April 30 marked 60 years since its organization in 1957. The Rev. Fred Holbrook, who entered the ministry from the church, was guest speaker. Several ministers have served the congregation with the most recent, co-pastors Bob and Dusty Fiedler who retired 18 months ago. Their successor is expected to be chosen soon.
POWER IN SPIRIT PLANS BEING READIED
Following the annual business meeting June 9-11 of Lutheran members of the Virginia Synod, the annual mid-summer Power in the Spirit conference is scheduled at Roanoke College July 13-15. The meeting for education, inspiration and fellowship will this year feature Dr. Timothy Wengert, emeritus professor at church history at Philadelphia Lutheran Seminary, who will be keynote speaker on “Luther’s 95 Theses and Freedom of a Christian.” The Bible study leader will be Bishop Tracie Bartholomew, a former Roanoke pastor, who now heads the New Jersey Synod. She will focus on Joseph of the Old Testament and the Book of Genesis. Besides the Bible studies and public services the conference will include a variety of workshops on topics including “Faith and Politics” and “Refugee Resettlement.”
SERVES 50 YEARS
At Fort Lewis Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Bobbie Morris was recently honored for serving as administrative secretary for the past 50 years. Morris, who began the job in 1967, has worked for six pastors and several more who served temporarily. She received gifts at a reception.
CHORAL SOCIETY DRAWS FULL HOUSE
When the Salem Choral Society presents its next free concert on Sunday, July 2, at 4 p.m., it won’t be at the usual place, Salem Presbyterian, but will move to the newer but much more spacious Shiloh Baptist Church on South Market Street. Last year when the annual patriotic program was held at the usual site, historic Salem Presbyterian, the space become dangerously overcrowded hardly providing even standing room.
There was room for all at the most recent concert held May 7 when the ecumenical choir presented both “Requiem” by the contemporary British composer John Rutter and a half dozen popular songs some of which are associated with New York.
In March many members of the choral group, directed by Reed Carter IV, traveled to New York to present the Rutter work at the famed Carnegie Hall.
-Submitted by correspondent Frances Stebbins