Temple Kol Tikvah has won a grant to fund teen programs from the Union for Reform Judaism. Meanwhile, Davidson’s St. Alban’s Episcopal Church hosts a giant rummage sale this Saturday morning. At Davidson College Presbyterian Church, they’ve got a bible study beginning this weekend, along with a concert by the N.C. Barqoque Orchestra. And the Lake Norman Christian Business Association is now holding regular lunches and breakfast meetings for networking. Those items an other local church news below.

TEMPLE WINS GRANT FOR TEEN PROGRAMS

Davidson-based Temple Kol Tikvah says it has been awarded a grant to fund teen programs to engage high schoolers, empower them with a sense of ownership for the congregation, and continue their learning beyond their Bar or Bat Mitzvah. Temple Kol Tikvah is one of 20 Reform congregations in North America selected to receive incubator grants from the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ). The program will have 3 broad components:

• Team Building/Leadership: Participants will take part in retreats, charity work and congregational leadership activities to develop and cultivate leadership skills.
• Micro-Grant Empowerment: Small teams of teens will apply for micro-grants of $500-$1500 to work with younger children and deepen their ties to the larger Jewish community.
• Learning: Teens will participate in weekly classes directed by the Temple’s Rabbi, using the high school curriculum from the Institute of Southern Jewish Life (ISJL).

“This grant gives us the resources we need to keep youngsters active in our community after they complete their Bar or Bat Mitzvah. Often high school students are drawn to non-religious activities, especially after all of the hard work that they have put in to become a Bar or Bat Mitzvah,” said Slade Goldstein, Temple Kol Tikvah’s co-president.

“With this grant, we will be able to provide programming that engages, educates and cultivates future leaders that will benefit our congregation and the community at large,” added Len Sadek, co-president.

“We are thrilled to offer these grants to member congregations for the second year,” said URJ’s President Rabbi Rick Jacobs. “We saw how much the grant process inspired creativity last year and were impressed with the results of each of the award-winning initiatives. Together, we are developing and learning innovative ways to engage people in Reform Jewish life.”

SAMARITAN’S FEET GIVES AWAY SHOES

Volunteers from many local churches were involved in last weekend’s big back-to-school shoe giveaway by Samaritan’s Feet at Ada Jenkins Center in Davidson. About 500 youth got shoes at the event. Read a full report with photos, Aug. 13, 2012, “Samaritan’s Feet gives shoes to 500″

ST. ALBAN’S RUMMAGE SALE

St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Davidson will host a huge rummage sale this Saturday, Aug. 18, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The church is at 301 Caldwell Lane, off Concord Road, Davidson. Admission is free.

CHRISTIAN BUSINESS NETWORKING

Lake Norman Christian Business Association hosts regular breakfast and lunch meetings for networking in the area. Here’s the schedule:

• Christian business lunch, every Thursday, 11:30 a.m., Fusion Bowl, Mooresville Town Square, 126 Mooresville Commons Way, Mooresville. Note: The lunches will move to this new location as of Aug. 23.
• Monthly Christian business breakfast, first Tuesday of the month, 8:30 a.m., Acropolis, 20659 Catawba Ave., Cornelius

More information at www.lkncba.org

MOM’S MORNING AT COMMUNITY IN CHRIST

Community in Christ Church in Cornelius is starting a Mom’s Morning program this September, with discussions, exercise and socializing to help moms get away. The program will run Tuesdays, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., at the church, 7621 Norman Island Drive.

Activities will include a Zumba class or video and discussion on alternating weeks. The program and childcare are free. Pre-register at 813-240-5474 or momsmorninglkn@gmail.com

DCPC PICNIC AND OTHER EVENTS

Davidson College Presbyterian Church will host its annual Fall Picnic on the Lawn on Sunday, Aug. 26, following 11 a.m. worship. Join us for this long-standing tradition where we celebrate the beginning of our Sunday School year and welcome Davidson College students! BBQ will be provided by DCPC Campus Ministry. Everyone is asked to bring a delicious a side dish or dessert with ample to share.

A women’s retreat on the theme “Listening to Jesus: Spiritual Practices and the Life of Faith” is planned Sept. 21-23 in Montreat. Kathy Beach-Verhey, a former DCPC associate pastor, will be the guest speaker. The scripture focus will be verses in Luke 10. Contact Sheila Allen (704-655-2735) for more information. Download a brochure at DCPC.org.

Davidson College Presbyterian Church will begin its 2012-2013 Bible Study on “Dispatches to God’s Household: The General Epistles” on Saturday, Aug. 18 from 9 am to noon in the Congregation House on Concord Road. Greg Snyder, Professor of Religion at Davidson College, will give an introduction. Teaching and leading tips will be offered by Linda T. Steber, the church’s Doctor of Educational Ministry. To sign up, call the church office 704-892-5641 or email to to sign up. Registration is $5.

PFLAG (Parents, Friends, and Families of Lesbians and Gays) of Davidson and Cornelius meets on the first Thursday of each month in Room 201 at Davidson College Presbyterian Church. The next meeting is Sept. 6. Meetings run from 7-9 p.m. All are invited to attend this group which offers information and support in a non-judgmental atmosphere.

North Carolina Baroque Orchestra plays a concert Friday, Aug. 17, at 7 p.m. at Davidson College Presbyterian Church Congregation House. The orchestra will take you through the chilly winds of Vivaldi’s “Winter” from the “Four Seasons,” as well as the icy creaking of Purcell’s “Cold Genius” from “King Arthur.” Enjoy also the cheerful strains of Corelli’s “Christmas Concerto.” Rarely heard arias with voice and orchestra by Caldara convey energy, pathos and glorious harmonies to the fore, while Telemann’s “Don Quixote Suite” brings moments from Cervante’s classic tale to a fresh audience. Requested donation $15 general/$10 seniors and students. Kids under 12 free. More information at 704-560-0101.

UNITARIAN SERVICES

The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Lake Norman is now meeting every week, with services Sundays at 11 a.m. in the Lodge at Woodlawn School, off Presbyterian Road north of Davidson. Nursery for children up to 4 years old begins at 10:45 a.m. in the classroom next to the Lodge.

This Sunday, Aug. 19, Bethany Niebauer will give a sermon on “Food is Love.” On Sunday, Aug. 26, the Rev. Amy Brooks will speak on “We Are One,” as the group celebrates its first water communion ceremony. Bring water that you collected from a special place over the summer (or water from your kitchen sink to represent that special water, if you didn’t get a sample!).

Meanwhile, area Unitarians will explore the death penalty issue at a screening of the film “Dead Man Walking” Saturday, Aug. 18, at Piedmont Unitarian Universalist Church, 9704 Mallard Creek Road, Charlotte. Come at 6:30 PM for refreshments and 7-9PM for the movie. A discussion will follow.

METHODIST PLANNING MEETINGS

Davidson United Methodist Church has begun a series of meetings to present the congregation with a conceptual plan for new facilities on its campus, off South Main Street in Davidson. The first meeting was Tuesday, Aug. 14. Others are planned Sunday, Aug. 19, 5 p.m., and Sunday, Sept. 9, at 5 p.m., all in the Fellowship Hall. The church’s Building Study Committee has been working with ADW Architects for the past 18 months to develop a conceptual plan for new facilities on its Davidson campus, and church leaders say it envisions one or two new buildings in the coming years, as well as renovations to existing facilities. Read more in our Aug. 10, 2012, article “Methodist Church meetings to consider expansion plans.”

GETHSEMANE BACK TO SCHOOL DAY

Gethsemane Baptist Church of Lake Norman will hold its annual Back 2 School Community Outreach Event on Saturday, Aug. 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with free school supplies to students in grades K-12, as well as food, prizes and entertainment. The church is at 565 Jetton St. in Davidson. Visit www.gbcLakeNorman.org for more information or call the church office at 704-892-1635.

HAVE NEWS?

Send church news to editor@davidsonnews.net or editor@corneliusnews.net. Listings in this column run on both DavidsonNews.net and CorneliusNews.net.