Published: January 04, 2008 04:25 pm         

Church Briefs: Saturday, Jan. 5

Editor’s note: Send church-related news items to Church news, Tribune-Star, P.O. Box 149, Terre Haute 47808; community@tribstar.com (e-mail); or (812) 231-4321 (fax). Items must be received eight days before Saturday publication. Please include a contact name and phone number. If sending an event announcement, please list time, date, address and cost; notices will be published the Saturday prior to the event.



Maple Avenue United Methodist

Sunday morning worship is at 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. The Rev. Monty Barker invites you to hear his message titled “A Gift for a King,” which will take a deep look at Matthew 2:1-12. Favorite Christmas hymns and contemporary praise choruses will be sung and Holy Communion will be served. Adult Sunday school Fellowship is at 9:30 a.m. and the children’s Sunday school will meet during the 10:30 service. Nursery care is provided during the 10:30 service in the nursery.

Join us for an inspirational worship service this Sunday.

For more information on Maple Avenue United Methodist Church and its programs, visit www.gbgm-umc.org/maple_ave_umc/ or call (812) 232-7263.



St. George’s Episcopal

Today is St. George’s day to volunteer at The Helping Hands Store in West Terre Haute.

On Sunday, the Rev. Kate Cullinane returns to St. George’s to continue her “faith journey” during adult Christian education, which is from 9:15 to 9:45 a.m. in Taylor Hall. When we last heard from Cullinane through her faith journey, she was just about to begin a seminary internship at a state mental hospital in Hawaii.

Cullinane is the interim director of Christian education and spiritual formation for the Diocese of Indianapolis. She was associate dean and canon missioner at Christ Church Cathedral in Indianapolis for seven years.

Before Christ Church, Cullinane served 12 years as rector of St. Mary’s, a primarily Japanese-American and Belizean congregation in the Koreatown area of Los Angeles. She has spent her 23 years of full-time professional ministry in multicultural contexts as religion teacher, hospital administrator, homeless ministry director, United Way social-service refugee-resettlement agency executive director, and Presiding Bishop’s Fund for World Relief field representative. She served as campus minister and HIV/AIDS education coordinator at Makerere University, Uganda.

She has an master’s in divinity and S.T.M. (spiritual direction) degrees from The General Theological Seminary, New York, and a bachelor’s degree in biology and theology from Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles.

Cullinane also will be celebrant for the 10 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite II.

Coffee hour with food and fellowship follows the 10 a.m. service. All are welcome to attend all activities.

St. George’s Episcopal Church, “the friendly little church on the hill,” is at 1337 N. Smith Place (on Ferguson Hill), West Terre Haute. For more information, contact Judy Buchholz, bishop’s warden, at (812) 533-7078, judybuchholz@ma.rr.com, or www.stgeorgeswth.indydio.org.



Berean Baptist

The adult Bible class will feature the teaching of pastor Dick Triestram with a lesson from Nehemiah rebuilding the wall. It seems the life lessons from Nehemiah are endless with their incisive, right-to-the-heart instruction on how to live victoriously in our present, complicated age.

The 10:30 Worship Hour features the first message in a series by pastor Larry Lilly, titled “The Stewardship of Life.” This sermon will teach the importance of recognizing Christ as the prime principle in our earthly and eternal life. Lilly will explain the meaning of Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 6:20: “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” This passage is often used negatively, but it is really one of the most positive verses in the Bible on learning how to live the abundant life.

The service features great congregational singing, with special singing by The Sounds of Victory and Heather Lopez. A special feature for children is the story/illusion time with Dick and Judy Triestram.

At 6 p.m., Lilly will teach on one of the most horrible scenes in the Bible from all of creation’s perspective. The title is “The Great White Throne of Judgment.” This terrifying scene in the drama of the ages in revealed in Revelation 20. The teaching, while not popular, is that every human being who has ever lived will face the truth that we are accountable for how our life is lived and the experience will be utterly terrifying when the wrong choice concerning life’s most important decision has been made for whatever reason. While there will be no hope at that time, Lilly will shed light on the great hope available to all right now.

The duet Joyful Noise will present special music.

The church is at 6770 N. Clinton St.



Northwest Church of Christ

On Sunday, the church will mark its 35th anniversary with a reunion celebration. The church began Jan. 7, 1973. The first ministers were Dr. James Ringer and George Woodason. On this special day, the sons of James Ringer will conduct our services. Dr. James Ringer Jr. of Decatur, Ill., will present the morning lesson at 10:30 a.m., and Stu Ringer of Houston will lead the singing. There will be a basket dinner and a time of remembrance, beginning at noon. Everyone is welcome to attend, and especially former members, ministers, elders, deacons and trustees. If you are unable to attend and would like to send a card or note, your thoughts will be read at this service. The church building is on U.S 41 North at Florida Avenue. Feel welcome to join us. For more information, call David Grubb at (812) 239-5667.



Unity Presbyterian

Worship at 1207 E Springhill Drive begins 10:30 a.m. All are welcome. We will celebrate Epiphany of the Lord on Sunday with Communion. St. Luke reminds us that Christ came “to give light to those who sit in darkness and … to guide our feet into the way of peace” (Luke 1:79). Let us open ourselves to the light of the Savior and walk in love and peace with one another as the children of God. Happy New Year from the congregation of Unity.

Adult Sunday school begins 9:30 a.m. with Dr. Roland Kohr as leader. Children’s Sunday school follows the Children’s Moment in worship. Child care is available.

Every Thursday evening, we have Praise and Potluck: praise at 6 p.m. with dinner at 6:30 p.m. Choir rehearsal is at 7 p.m. under the leadership of Amie Ellison and Andrea Marlow.

We also have an outdoor sanctuary you may visit for quiet reflection at any time. Call the church office at (812) 299-2206, or visit our Web site, www.unityth.com.



Central Presbyterian

The church at 125 N. Seventh St. will gather for traditional worship at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, which is Epiphany. The sermon will be delivered by associate pastor Alan Harder. The Lord’s Supper will be served. Immediately after the service, the congregation will remove the Christmas decorations from the church; all are welcome to participate. Also following the worship service, members and visitors can enjoy a time of fellowship and light refreshment downstairs in the Fellowship Hall. Sunday school for all ages (adults will be in the peacemaking seminar) begins at 9:30 a.m. Nursery care is provided. For more details, call the church office (812) 232-5049 or visit www.thcpc.org.



First Unitarian Universalist

Congregation of Terre Haute

9:15 a.m. Sunday – Rationalist Free Thinking Group: Discussion group including members of the congregation as well as members of the community. Discussion of current socio-political events and trends. This week’s topic: Look Back on 2007: Good Year or Bad Year? How So?

Sunday, 10:30 a.m. – Founders’ Day Program – Sara Laughlin

January brings the 53rd anniversary of the founding of the local congregation. The event will be celebrated with a look at the history of the group. Laughlin will lead the program and reflect on the value of religious choice.

Laughlin first visited the congregation in 1971. Ten years later, she moved her membership from the First Unitarian Church of Louisville to that of Terre Haute.

Centenary United Methodist

The church at 301 N. Seventh Street invites you to our traditional worship service at 9:30 a.m. Deb Moore Hardin will preach this Sunday and Jennifer Shuck will provide the special music. Sunday school classes for all ages meet at 10:45 a.m. Nursery care is provided during both worship and Sunday school. Ample parking is available behind the church, and the Seventh Street entrance is handicapped-accessible.



Memorial United Methodist

The church is at 2701 Poplar St. in Terre Haute.

Sunday, 8 a.m. – Partners in Prayer will meet in the chapel with the pastors to pray for their work with the church and for their personal and professional needs. Prayer is offered for the members, leaders, activities and programs of our church as we seek to serve God more fully.

8:45 a.m. – The traditional worship service begins. Scripture this week will be Matthew 2:1-12. The tile of the Rev. Scott Johnson’s sermon will be “Aha!”

9:45 to 10 a.m. – fellowship and coffee time.

Sunday school for all ages begins at 10 a.m.

Casual Worship service is at 11 a.m.



Saints Home Church of God in Christ

The church will have a revival Tuesday through Friday. Our guest speaker will be C.B. McCloud III from Rochester, N.Y. Service will begin at 7 nightly. There will be no admission charge, however a free-will offering will be taken. The members of Saints Home extends an invitation to the public to join us.

The church is at 2210 N. 13th St. For more information, call the church at (812) 232-3283.



First Baptist

A traditional worship service is at 9 a.m. and an informal service is at 11:15 a.m. The worship theme for this Sunday is “Growing in Christ: Maturing,” with Scripture text from Luke 2:41-52. Music will be presented by The Sanctuary Choir, with soloist Karen Smith. A children’s story is included at both services, and children’s church, for grades K-3, is during the 9 a.m. service. The service of communion will be observed at both services. Sunday school, with classes for all ages, is at 10:15 a.m.

The evening service at 6 p.m. will be ”Prayers for the New Year” and will include Scripture, music and specific prayers for God’s guidance in 2008. The Wednesday evening schedule, with dinner and programming for all ages, will also resume this week at 6.

First Baptist Church is affiliated denominationally with the American Baptist Churches, USA and is at 4701 E. Poplar Drive. Pastors are Bernie Jackson and Steve Newman. More information is available at www.thfbc.org.



Barbour Avenue United Methodist

Sunday will be a special day in the church at 1401 Barbour Ave. with the McWaites ministering to us in singing during our morning worship, which begins at 10:30 a.m. At 6 p.m., we will be blessed by the Emmanuel UMC Choir performing their Christmas Cantata. Everyone is invited to come and enjoy both our morning and evening services. There is no charge. For more information, call (812) 232-7298.