I would like to invite you to The 50th Anniversary of Gospel Baptist Church 5921 Dow Hollow Road, Salem. Our service that day June 23 will start at 10 a.m. The Church was founded 6/23/63 by Pastor Lester Wertz now in Heaven. He pastored The Church for 19 years, and I have pastored it for nearly 31 years. I am thankful that the Church was founded on the right foundation, the Lord Jesus Christ! Our speaker will be Pastor Rudy Holland, and our special music will be by Mark Houser. A covered-dish meal will follow the service. I hope those of you that can will join us. I would like to ask you to share this with any former member you know or anyone you think may have an interest.

– Submitted by Pastor Samuel Huntley, Gospel Baptist Church, Salem

All are invited to celebrate Evening Prayer the first Thursday of the month beginning June 6, at 7 pm, College Lutheran Church, 210 S. College Avenue in Salem.  We will be using a contemporary setting of this ancient church practice of singing, prayer, psalms, scriptures, and quiet reflection.  The service will usually be lay-lead and last 35-40 minutes.  We will specifically be praying each month for the people, leaders, and faith communities of Salem and beyond.  College Church is handicap accessible.  For more information, call Karen at CLC, 540-389-4963.  Come as you are and join us.

– Submitted by Karen Adams

Summer Faith Series: Theology of the Body begins June 2

Theology of the Body will give you a revolutionary and fulfilling vision for life, as it offers a new way to authentically see yourself, your faith, your relationships, and your world!  Our Lady of Perpetual Help, 314 Turner Road, Salem will host this twelve session series in the church’s Family Life Center at 9am beginning on June 2.  For more information, contact Andrea in the church office, 387-0491.

Art & Faith at OLPH on June 6

Join author and educator Louis Bosco for a visual presentation on the ways in which art reveals the meaning of life on June 6 at 7pm at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, 314 Turner Road.  Mr. Bosco holds an MFA from the George Washington University, and an MA in Theology and Christian Ministry from the Franciscan University of Steubenville. He will be available to sign copies of his new book, Images of the Unseen, following the presentation.  The church is located at 314 Turner Road, near Walmart. For more information, contact Andrea in the church office, 387-0491.

Year of Faith Series Continues on June 17

Father Michael J. Herbert will continue the Year of Faith series at Our Lady of Perpetual Help with a special presentation the Vatican II Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation – Dei Verbum on Monday, June 17.  Dei Verbum addresses the following questions: What is Revelation?  When did public revelation end? How is God’s self-disclosure conveyed throughout history?   Who is the author of Sacred Scripture? What is Tradition?  What are the roles of the Holy Spirit and the Magisterium? The presentation will begin at 7pm in the church Social Hall located at 314 Turner Road, near Walmart. For more information, contact Andrea in the church office, 387-0491.

– Submitted by Andrea Sexton, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church

Seeking crafters and artisans for 2013 Fall Bazaar on Saturday, Oct. 19 at Peters Creek Church of the Brethren, 5333 Cove Rd. N.W., Roanoke, VA 24019.

Contact Doris Epperly at (540) 389-6609 or dsepperly@aol.com. Deadline 8/30/13.

– Submitted by Gwen Kropff, Women’s Fellowship Bazaar Committee

Come join us at Living Well Church of the Nazarene’s 2013 Spring Fish Fry on Saturday, May 25 from 4 to 7 p.m.

Living Well Church of the Nazarene is located at 3631 Evelyn Drive in Salem. The cost is free, but donations are welcome. The meal will include fish, fries, dessert and drink.

– Submitted by Todd Sutphin

Photo courtesy of Susan Birckhead

The Women’s Ministry at Fellowship Community Church held a Royal Baby Shower hosted by Patti Hogeboom. All the ladies brought baby shower gifts to donate to the Blue Ridge Women’s Center.

The ladies pictured are as follows:

Back row: Melinda Hartley, Susan Birckhead, Kathy Walker, Patti Hogeboom, Peg Ambrosio, Margaret Bishop, Karen Jones

Front row kneeling: Christy Jones, Peggy Funk

– Submitted by Susan Birckhead

March 17th Windsor Hall was filled with busy people of all ages – 46 participants, to be exact, helping with four projects identified by our Mission Committee to assist people in our community and our world.

We began with lunch and fellowship and then got to work! The children and youth, with adult supervision, facilitated a food drive at two local Kroger stores, collecting peanut butter, tuna, and cereal which was then taken to Rosalind Hills Baptist food pantry, and St. Francis House food pantry. We estimate the value of food to be over $800. We also had a group working on making cards for our prayer ministry team here at Windsor Hills and also cards to be sent to veterans in a local assisted living facility. Great job, everyone!! We also began preparing school kits for Conference and were able to complete more than a dozen, and with extra supplies and cash donations we will make many more. Thank you for your generosity. We also had a team of 5 go to Christ Episcopal Church to assist Family Promise, in preparing the 14 cots for the homeless family members who would be sleeping there that night. It involved cleaning and disinfecting and many hands made light work.

Thank you Windsor Hills UMC! We are answering God’s call to reach out to others in our community and the world.

Submitted by Kris Stutsman

Members of the RHBC Youth Group with their 30-Hour Famine poster.

The Youth of Rosalind Hills Baptist Church (RHBC) will raise money for the hungry and then go hungry themselves by participating in World Vision’s 30 Hour Famine on Friday, April 26.

World Vision’s 30 Hour Famine is a worldwide event designed to raise money and awareness for hunger throughout the world. RHBC youth are raising funds with the knowledge that every $30 they raise can help feed and care for a child for a month. The RHBC Youth have set a goal of $500 and are more than halfway there with a week left for donations. Anyone wishing to donate to their efforts can visit www.30hourfamine.org/donate/ and search for Rosalind Hills Baptist Church.

While taking part in the 30 Hour Famine, RHBC youth will participate in a “cardboard city” which involves sleeping in a cardboard box for the night. Additionally, they will take part in a survivor-like game, Tribe, which will require the youth to find food for their group in a scenario of having left their country, walked for months, and eaten very little.

“Our goal is to give our youth the experience of feeling real hunger, even if just for a day. To help them understand the challenges and needs of others throughout the world,” said John O’Neil, RHBC Minster to Youth.

Funds raised by 30 Hour Famine participants help feed and care for children in communities in need around the globe through World Vision. A portion of the funds raised assist families in need in the United States. Famine funds contribute to World Vision’s response in areas where famine, conflict, and other crises make children vulnerable to hunger and preventable disease.

Since 1992, 30 Hour Famine has raised close to $150 million, representing countless lives saved. World Vision works in nearly 100 countries, helping approximately 100 million people every year. For more information contact, John O’Neil, Minster to Youth, at 344-7888.

- Submitted by Jamie Smith

The 62nd Annual National Day of Prayer will be observed on Thursday, May 2nd in Salem, with a short service in the sanctuary of Salem Baptist Church (across from City Hall) at 12:00 noon. There will be pre-service music at 11:45 a.m., prayers for our city, state, and nation and a reading of the proclamation of prayer. All are welcome to attend.

- Submitted by Brenda Sizer

Come join us at First Christian Church on Friday, April 26 for dinner, dessert and a concert!

A spaghetti dinner will begin at 6 p.m.; a concert provided by Revelation will begin at 7 p.m.; and dessert will follow the concert. The cost is donations to support our camp, conference and general assembly.

First Christian Church is located at 712 Front Ave. in Salem.

– Submitted by Jeanette Maxymiv