Mary Margaret Shepherd

Mary Margaret Shepherd said this week she is leaving as interim director of campus ministry at Davidson College Presbyterian Church. Also, local churches have listed a variety of events in the coming days and weeks, from a potluck lunch at Davidson United Methodist Church on Sunday to a ballet performance on Easter at River’s Edge Church. Details below.
SHEPHERD LEAVING DCPC

Mary Margaret Shepherd, the interim Director of Campus Ministry at Davidson College Presbyterian Church, has announced she will be leaving later this spring. Ms. Shepherd has been interim campus ministry director since May 2009 and is the church’s former communications coordinator. A church spokesman said she and her husband, Russ, are moving to Atlanta for his job, with departure sometime after the end of the college school year.

Ms. Shepherd is a graduate of Furman University and began working with DCPC in 2007. She also has served as youth advisor, committee member and Sunday School Shepherd. During summers, she is the summer program director at Camp Winnataska, a Christian camp in Birmingham, Ala. She and Russ have two boys.

DCPC EVENTS

• On Palm Sunday, March 28, Davidson College Presbyterian Church will celebrate the ministry of Associate Pastor Rev. Julie Hill at DCPC, and bestow God’s blessings upon her as she assumes a new ministry at First Presbyterian Church in Albemarle. Julie will preach at both the 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. services. For more about her departure, read our Feb. 9 Church News item, “Rev. Hill leaving DCPC.” ^[1]
• Dr. Anne Blue Wills,, associate professor of Religion at Davidson College and member of Davidson College Presbyterian Church, will speak on “The Founding Fathers and American Civil Religion” as part of the Religion in American History program. Dr. Wills will speak at 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 14, at the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s main branch, 310 N. Tryon St., in Charlotte.
• Fourth Wednesday Green Workshops at Davidson College Presbyterian Church continue each fourth Wednesday at 6:45 p.m. at the Congregation House. DCPC members host a workshop on a practical aspect of being green. On March 24, Dave Sawchak, CEO of Morning Star Enterprises, will teach “Solar Panels 101.” Morning Star Enterprises designs and project supervises solar thermal and photovoltaic systems. Mr. Sawchak is NABCEP Certified and has been designing, installing, and servicing solar energy systems since 1975. He has also guest lectured at colleges and universities across the US and the Caribbean. Call the church office at 704-892-5641 for more information on the Green Workshops.
• DCPC is continuing its series of alternative Lenten worship services every Saturday through March 27. Services are Saturdays at 5 p.m. in Lingle Chapel, featuring contemporary music and old hymns sung in new ways. Words of scripture, liturgy, and song will be projected onto a screen. The service also will incorporate contemporary media sounds and images alongside familiar prayers and creeds. These services are “family friendly” and open to children and adults of all ages, Child care will be available for children kindergarten age and younger.

CHRISTIAN BALLET

River’s Edge Church on Armour Street will host a performance by the Christian ballet company Paradosi on Easter Sunday, April 4, at 10 a.m.

Seattle-based Paradosi ^[2] also will offer a dance workshop on Saturday, April 3, at Kingdom’s Feet Studio in Cornelius. Pre-Registration is required. This workshop is for anyone five years or older. The Paradosi Company dancers will share some biblical foundations for dance as well as practical exercises in various dance techniques.

Rivers Edge Church ^[3] is at 412 Armour St., next to McKinney Academy and Davidson Parks & Recreation. More information: 980-475-1788.

POTLUCK AND DAY OF SERVICE AT METHODIST CHURCH

Davidson United Methodist Church will have a church-wide potluck lunch at noon on Sunday, March 7, in the fellowship hall. Reservations are not required, but participants are asked to bring a dish to serve 10-12 people. For more information, contact Heather Smith ^[4], 704-892-8277.

On Saturday, March 27, Davidson United Methodist Church will host its annual Great Day of Service, with participants helping with a long list of sorting, cleaning, landscaping, painting and other projects at local schools and nonprofit organizations. Registration is now open on the church website. ^[5] Check-in and team meetings are at 8:15 a.m., followed by a service of Holy Communion and Sending Forth at 8:30. The DUMC United Methodist Women will host a bake sale in the fellowship hall before, during, and after the day’s service events. And a take-out lunch will be available, with proceeds going to DUMC’s Community Vacation Bible School.

UU FELLOWSHIP MEETS SUNDAY

The Rev. Dick Weston Jones, an ordained Unitarian Universalist minister and minister emeritus of the Ventura, Calif., UU church, will speak about “How to know your beliefs are right—and others are wrong” at a meeting of UU Fellowship of Lake Norman Sunday, March 7. The meeting is at Ada Jenkins Center, 212 Gamble St. Doors open at 10:30 a.m., with the service starting at 11. Refreshments and conversation follow.

“This doesn’t sound like a standard UU sermon, but it really does have a sensible answer that honors all beliefs,” local UU organizers said in an email promoting the event.

The Rev. Dick Weston-Jones has served in UU ministry for 46 years, following his father, Rev. Robert T. Weston, who was a UU minister for 48 years. More information: uulakenorman.org ^[6].

AGLOW MEETS MARCH 13

Davidson Aglow fellowship will meet Saturday, March 13, at Davidson United Methodist Church chapel, 304 S. Main St..

Coffee and registration at 9:30, meeting begins at 10 for anointed praise and worship, and prayer for the new Aglow leadership.