The UU Fellowship of Lake Norman has a new meeting place as of this weekend, on the Davidson College campus. Meanwhile, Saturday was Davidson College Presbyterian Church’s annual day of service, and Davidson United Methodist Church will have its Great Day of Service next Saturday, March 27. Also below, more news from local houses of worship, a notice about training for chaplains at Lake Norman Regional Medical Center and a Christian ballet for Easter.

UU FELLOWSHIP MOVES

UU Fellowship of Lake Norman will hold its first meeting in a new home Sunday, March 21. The local Unitarian Universalist group now meets in the conference room of Davidson College’s Tomlinson residence hall. Tomlinson is at the corner of Glasgow and Patterson Court Circle on campus, and the entry is in the back.

Doors will open at 10:30 a.m., with the service starting at 11, followed by refreshments and conversation. This weekend’s guest speaker will be Annette Marquis, District Executive of the Thomas Jefferson District of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations. She will talk on “Creeds, Covenants, and Congregations.”

All are welcome regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, ability or economic status. Details: uulakenorman.org or call 704-779-0533.

DAYS OF SERVICE

Davidson College Presbyterian Church’s annual Day of Service was Saturday, March 20. Volunteers were scheduled to meet early in the day to register and worshipl. Then teams left for project sites for a half-day of work on projects at local service agencies.

This coming weekend, it will be Davidson United Methodist Church’s turn. The church will host its annual Great Day of Service Saturday, March 27. Volunteers will help with sorting, cleaning, landscaping, painting and other projects at local schools and nonprofit organizations. Registration is now open on the church website. 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.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS

Davidson United Methodist Church, 233 S. Main St., hosts an artful “Stations of the Cross” during the Lenten season at its chapel on Main Street.

The “stations” are composed of original art work by congregation members Each station has a reading and explanation of the piece of art. This is a meditative experience where each person is invited to walk at his or her own pace through the stations.

The chapel is open Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tables with writing materials are available after your walk for you to journal a response to take with you.

The Stations of the Cross is an ancient “walk” done by Christian pilgrims that dates from the fourth century. The “stations” represent the “walk” of Jesus from his prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane to that moment his body is removed from the cross.

DCPC NEWS

• On Sundays March 21, 28 and April 4 and 11 during the Sunday school hour (9:45 a.m.), Tony Abbott, Dana Professor Emeritus of English at Davidson College, will teach a class on Reynolds Price, one of North Carolina’s most admired novelists. More information in our March 17 news item.
• 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.
• 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.”
• HOLY WEEK AT DCPC – Maundy Thursday, April 1 at 6:30 p.m., worship service with Communion at 6:30 p.m. in the Congregation House; Good Friday, April 2, noon, worship service in the DCPC sanctuary; Saturday, April 3, Easter Vigil, 7:30 p.m., worship service with Communion in the DCPC sanctuary; Easter Sunday, April 4, worship services at 8:30 and 11 a.m. in the sanctuary. The sacrament of the Lord’s Supper will be celebrated at the 8:30 service.
• Davidson College Presbyterian Church announced that Stephanie Rollans will be the church’s new Director of Congregational Life.
• 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. (NOTE: The March 24 on “Solar Panels 101″ has been canceled). Call the church office at 704-892-5641 for more information on the Green Workshops.

CHAPLAIN TRAINING AT HOSPITAL

MOORESVILLE – Lake Norman Regional Medical Center in collaboration with its Pastoral Advisory Council held the first in a series of Volunteer Chaplain Training courses for interested pastors and lay persons January 21, at the Charles Mack Citizen Center. Approximately 100 people attended the training course led by Rev. Larry Pope, Chaplain for Health Management Associates, Inc., Lake Norman Regional’s parent company.

During the first training session, some of the initial topics covered by Rev. Pope included: “How to Improve Hospital Visitation and How to Become a Volunteer Hospital Chaplain,” “Difference between Clergy and Volunteer Hospital Chaplain,” “Routine Visits,” “Good Questions to Ask,” and “Qualities of a Volunteer Chaplain.” In addition to these topics, Rev. Pope also addressed “Advance Directives: Living Will, Health Care Surrogate, and Organ Donation” as well as “HIPAA” and “Hand Washing.”

The next seminar in the series, Advanced Chaplain Training, is planned for Wednesday, March 24, from 10 am to 2 pm at Peninsula Baptist Church, Brawley School Road, Mooresville. Attendance at the first seminar is not required. For more information or to reserve attendance for the advanced training, call Lake Norman Regional Medical Center at 704-660-4023.

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 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 is at 412 Armour St., next to McKinney Academy and Davidson Parks & Recreation. More information: 980-475-1788.

LAKE FOREST EASTER SERVICES

Lake Forest Church is offering four worship services at two locations this Easter Sunday, April 4.

Services will be at the church home on Gilead Road in Huntersville at 8, 9:30 and 11 a.m., with Lead Pastor Mike Moses.

Pastor of Mission Michael Flake will lead a 10 a.m. service at Ada Jenkins Center, 212 Gamble St. in Davidson. The Ada Jenkins Center is one of Lake Forest’s strategic mission partners.

At both Gilead and Ada, Lake Forest will collect grocery items for the food pantry at the Ada Jenkins Center. Guests attending services at either location are encourage to drop off the items at designated locations as they enter Easter worship.

For more information about the services, childcare and a list of pantry items most needed by Ada Jenkins, please visit www.lakeforest.org.

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