NEW CLERGY COME TO SALEM, DALEVILLE
Among the newly assigned pastors to nearby United Methodist congregations are the Rev. Alan Combs who has been assigned to First United Methodist in Salem, and the Rev.Justin White who is new at St. Mark’s in Daleville.
Combs grew up in Powhatan and is a religion graduate of Hampden-Sydney College as well as of Duke Divinity School from which he took both divinity and theology degrees finishing in 2008. He and his wife Morgan have three children, Mary Alex, Laurel and Walker. The Combses have been most recently in Front Royal.
White, who has come from the Arlington area, is married and has two young daughters.
2 SUMMER CONCERTS SET IN ROANOKE
At Greene Memorial United Methodist Church in downtown Roanoke two summer concerts are planned. On Wednesday, July 19, at 6:30 p.m. Seph Custer, singer, composer and instrumentalist from Franklin County, will present music associated with Crooked Road Worship; he is the lead musician at Rocky Mount Christian Church (Disciples of Christ.) A dinner at 6 precedes the music. On Aug. 2 at 6:30 p.m., a Wednesday, Island Music Trio will present steel drum Caribbean music.
VINTON BAPTISTS CALL NEW STAFF MEMBER
Sarah E. Hurt has begun her service as director of ministries for children and family life at Vinton Baptist Church. She has had a similar part time position at Cave Spring United Methodist Church for several years.
COLLEGE LUTHERANS SET STAFF CHANGES
A former pastor, the Rev. Dwayne Westermann, has been chosen the part time interim at College Lutheran Church in Salem. He will preach three Sundays monthly and will be in the office for four hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Westermann led the congregation from 1987 to 2007 and took early retirement to be deeply involved in mission work in the African country of Tanzania. He and his wife have continued to live in the area. His 20 years of service at the church preceded that of Wynemah Hinlicky who after eight years in the pastorate left in May to join her military husband further south. A call committee has begun its work.
The congregation has also chosen a director of ministries to children, youth and families, Grace Casola, who began her work in mid-June.
SW ROANOKE PARISH PLANS TUESDAY MUSIC
Three Western Virginia organists are performing in coming weeks on Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. at Christ Episcopal Church in Old Southwest Roanoke. On July 18 J. William Greene of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Lynchburg will play. On July 25 the guest organist will be Christopher Bono of Taylor & Boody Organ Builders in Staunton followed on Aug. 1by William McCorkle of Lexington Presbyterian Church.
-Compiled by Frances Stebbins, Correspondent.
