LUTHERAN STAFFER LEAVING
Trent Thompson, minister to youth at St. John Lutheran Church for more than four years, will leave the staff at the end of February. Preparing for eventual ordained ministry, Thompson is returning to corrections work as a deputy sheriff with the Roanoke City Sheriff’s Office and will work with inmates of the jail; he said that will better fulfill his call to evangelize among those seeking Christian commitment. He and his wife Natalie will remain active with the church.
MESSIANIC JEWS MEETING REGULARLY
A congregation of folk who identify themselves as those of Jewish background but who believe Jesus has come as their Messiah is holding weekly Saturday services at 10:30 a.m. The Hope of Israel group meets in the Penn Forest Christian Center, a Wesleyan Church building at 3735 Chaparral Drive near Cave Spring High School. According to its service leaflet, the group uses Jewish terminology and observes the traditional Hebrew holidays. It has scheduled a potluck lunch on March 11 to mark the holiday of Purim. On April 15 at 6 p.m. a banquet to mark the major observance of Passover is scheduled at Holiday Inn Tanglewood. The ritual Seder meal will be led by Sam Nadler of Word of Messiah Ministries. More information is available by calling 540-632-0009.
CHRIST EPISCOPAL MARKING CENTENNIAL
The congregation of Christ Episcopal Church in Old Southwest Roanoke, which includes members from throughout the valley, is marking the 100th Anniversary of its occupying its stone building on Franklin Road. The first event will be Feb. 26, “a festive birthday party.” A musical evening service is scheduled June 4 at 5 p.m. to mark the 125th Anniversary of the founding of the church in 1892.A Homecoming Luncheon is planned for July 30 followed on Easter 2018 celebration of the anniversary of the actual occupancy of the building.
–Compiled by Frances Stebbins