Mitzvah Day participants paused for a photo.

GOOD DEEDS ON MITZVAH DAY

Almost 100 people from Lake Norman Jewish Congregation traded a bit of hard work for lots of fun on the group’s first Mitzvah Day Sunday, May 15.  The congregation lent a hand to clearing and beautifying the grounds of the Levine & Dickson Hospice House in Huntersville.

While the word “mitzvah” is often translated as a good deed, is actually means “commandment” or the fulfillment of a commandment.

“This was our first congregation-wide justice project,” said LNJC Rabbi Michael Shields. “It sets the bar for our congregation quite high and challenges us to continue such projects because as Jews this is what we are commanded to do.”
 
Almost 100 LNJC congregants pitched in for the day of work, which also marked the end of the religious school year. 

“There is no more meaningful end to our religious school year than this project,” said Rabbi Shields.  “Over the course of the year we have been teaching what it means to be Jewish; that we are called by God to “tzedek tzedek tirdof”, pursue justice.  Our study and our prayer would have been empty had we not engaged in this mitzvah day and other acts of justice and peace throughout the year.” 

Mitzvah Day at LNJC immediately preceded the Jewish holiday of Shavuot, which celebrates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. 

Rabbi Shields said, “It was quite appropriate that Mitzvah Day fell around the holiday festival of Shavuot. The work of our hands in helping others affirms our faith and re-dedicates us to that sacred covenant with God, with the Jewish People and with humanity.” 

It is customary to eat a dairy meal at least once during Shavu’ot. It wasn’t hard to get the children of LNJC’s religious school to keep that custom. They took a break from weeding and mulching to make their own ice cream!

COMMUNITY COOKOUT

Come and Meet your neighbors at the Cornelius Presbyterian Church’s Annual Community Cookout on Saturday, June 5, from 5 -8 p.m. on the church lawn. Free for the community. Hamburger, Hot-Dogs, Homemade Ice-cream and more will be served. Bingo, games/prizes will be after dinner. Church is located at the corner of West Catawba and Church Street (21209 Catawba Ave) in Cornelius. For more information, contact the church office at 704-892-5577 or visit us on the web at
www.corneliuspcusa.org.

Cornelius Presbyterian Church was established in 1909 and is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. Services are held every Sunday morning at 11:00 AM, with Sunday School commencing at 9:30 AM. Visitors are always welcome! For additional information or to inquire about becoming a member, please contact Reverend Carl Dumford in the church office at 704-892-5577.

UU LAKE NORMAN PICNIC

UU Lake Norman will have a potluck lunch this Sunday, May 30, at Smithville Park, 19710 S. Ferry Street, Cornelius from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Enter on the Smith Circle side.

Bring your own ice and beverage. Bring a favorite dish to share. Plates, cups and utensils will be provided .Park rules prohibit glass.

DCPC EVENTS

WELLNESS LUNCHEON. On Friday, June 11, a Wellness Luncheon will be held at 11:30 a.m. in the Congregation House. This event will feature a nutritionist who will focus on importance of good nutrition and vitamin supplements for those undergoing chemotherapy or with chronic health issues. Everyone is asked to bring a salad to share. Please RSVP to ploner@dcpc.org.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY HOUSE. Davidson College Presbyterian Church has committed to building its fifth Habitat House. DCPC has supported Our Towns Habitat for Humanity homes since 2000, by building, through contributions and construction efforts, homes within our community. Habitat’s mission is “To build decent affordable housing in partnership with families in need and our communities.” This year we will be participating in Our Towns Habitat’s program by building one of four townhome units in the Mills Avenue Community in Mooresville.

INTERCESSORY PRAYER Davidson College Presbyterian Church holds an intercessory prayer service on Wednesdays in DCPC’s Lingle Chapel at 11:30 a.m. The Chapel is also available for individual prayer and meditation.

DAVIDSON UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

All Methodist churches in the Lake Norman District will gather for a day of service to our community on Saturday, June 5. Volunteers are asked to meet at either Huntersville or Broad Street United Methodist Church at 7:30 a.m. for breakfast and sending forth. If you have not yet registered, you can do so at www.impactcommunityevent.org/lakenorman.

BETH SHALOM OF LAKE NORMAN

The June Shabbaton with Rabbi Corey Helfand is scheduled next weekend, June 4-5, at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, 301 Caldwell Lane. Congregants are asked to bring donations of canned and non-perishable foods to services to help both members of our congregation in need and Jewish Family Services.

Those planning to attend are asked to RSVP by Wednesday, June 2. www.bslkn.org

Friday, June 4th – Shabbat Services – 6:30 pm, St. Alban’s – Building opens at 6:15 pm. Services begin promptly at 6:30pm, followed by a catered dinner. ($12 members/$15 non-members/$5 children 6-12/children 5 and under free). We will have a Tish after dinner for those who would like to stay and sing songs. You may bring your own wine/spirits. RSVP online by Wednesday June 2nd.

Saturday, June 5th – Shabbat Services – 9:30am, St. Alban’s – Bar Mitzvah of Michael Keller, son of Joe and Marguerite Keller. Building opens at 9:15 am. Morning services begin promptly at 9:30 am. Junior Congregation for grades 4-6 from 9:30-10:30. Tot Shabbat services for Pre-K-3rd grade from 10:00-12:00. Services will be followed by an Oneg lunch sponsored by the Keller family in honor of Michael’s Bar Mitzvah. No charge; RSVP online by Wednesday,June 2nd if you intend to stay for lunch.

Adult Education/Havdalah – Saturday, June 5th, Time and location TBD – The Shul is alive with the Sound of Music—Understanding the role of Musical instruments in Judaism.

Nitsch (left) and Bechtler

The Bechtler Ensemble – cellist Tanja Bechtler and pianist Paul Nitsch – will help launch a new arts series called “Spirituality in the Arts” with a performance Sunday afternoon at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church.

The program is Sunday, May 9, at 4 p.m. at the church, 301 Caldwell Lane, off Concord Road.

The duo will perform Robert Schumann’s “Foreign Lands and People,” opus 15, no. 1, Samuel Barber’s “Sonata for cello and piano, Opus 6,” Franz Schubert’s “Litanei,” Claude Debussy’s “Sonata for violoncello and piano in D-minor,” and a transcription of Schumann’s “Traumerei.”

Organizers say that through the new series, “our religious and artistic lives will interweave through quarterly offerings of drama, dance, literature, visual arts, and music.”

Ms. Bechtler played with the Charlotte Symphony 1997-2009. She also has performed with storytellers, poets, dancers and rock bands. Mr. Nitsch is McMahon Professor of Music and artist in residence at Queens University in Charlotte. He also is artistic director of Queens’ Friends of Music and executive director of the Swannanoa Chamber Music Festival.

Sunday’s concert is free. Suggested donation is $10. Info: 704-892-0173.

EVENTS AT DCPC

Davidson College will host a Taizé worship service with prayers for healing, and Eucharist on Saturday, May 8, at 5 p.m. in Lingle Chapel. Taizé is an ecumenical monastic community in France which welcomes people from all over the world for retreats involving Bible study and worship. Their music is simple and meditative, with each song sung a number of times, allowing the sung prayer to, in a sense, descend from the head to the heart, becoming a living prayer.

DCPC Worship Service Change: Due to Davidson College’s Commencement at 10 a.m. next Sunday, May 16, DCPC will not hold Sunday school or 11 a.m. worship that morning. Please attend the 8:30 a.m. worship service in the Sanctuary, and join us for our regularly scheduled services resuming on May 23.

BUTTERFLY RELEASE at DCPC: During the spring, the DCPC Weekday Preschool children learned about the metamorphic process that caterpillars undertake in becoming butterflies. As the preschoolers watch and wait for the emergence of the butterflies from the chrysalises, which are hanging in netted tubular bags in our preschool hallways, mark your calendars for the annual Butterfly Release on May 18 at 11:30 a.m. on the front steps of the Sanctuary. All are welcome to attend and enjoy one of the many miracles of God’s creation as we release the beautiful butterflies.

MT. ZION CHURCH FAIR & CONCERTS

All are invited to the Mt. Zion United Methodist Church Ministry and Missions Fair on Sunday, May 16, at the church, 19600 Zion St., Cornelius.

Come join us on the front lawn as we celebrate Mt. Zion UMC and community missions both near and far. From 11am-1pm on the front lawn of the church, there will be booths, displays of ministries at Mt. Zion and from the community and activities for children. Boy Scout Troop No. 10 will be grilling hot dogs and burgers for lunch for a donation to benefit an Eagle Scout Project.

Starting at 1pm, Mick and the Ultras will be offering a free outdoor concert as part of the Cornelius Concert Series. Mick and the Ultras is well known in the Charlotte area for playing classic rock and blues. Lee Maiorano and Pat Cashion, both Mt. Zion members, have played with this group since 2007. Bring a blanket and enjoy the fellowship and music.

In case of bad weather, the Missions Fair, lunch and concert will be held in the Family Life Center. Mt. Zion United Methodist is at 19600 Zion Street, Cornelius, NC. www.mtzionumc.net

INTRODUCTION TO JUDAISM

Beth Shalom of Lake Norman will host a “(Re)Introduction to Judaism Informational Session” Saturday, May 8, 12:45 pm, at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church.

Have you ever wanted to learn more about Judaism? Would you like to have an adult Bar/Bat Mitzvah? If you were born Jewish and want to connect with Judaism in a deeper way or if you are not Jewish and want to learn about basic Jewish practices and beliefs, this might be your chance.

Rabbi Corey Helfand is planning a course for the study of ethics, the Sabbath and holidays, prayer, dietary laws, life cycle events (such as weddings, mourning rituals and birth ceremonies), the Jewish people and Israel. For those who are not Jewish and are looking to participate, this course can serve as part of the preparation necessary for conversion to Judaism or more simply, an introduction to Judaism.

This informational session is simply to provide information, to learn what people would like to learn, and to see if there is enough interest to make this course come to life. Info: email Rabbi Corey at RabbiCorey@bslkn.org.

CPR CLASS AT DAVIDSON UNITED METHODIST

Nurse Diane Jenkins will lead a CPR certification class Thursday, May 13, frm 6:30 to 9 p.m., at Davidson United Methodist Church, 233 S. Main St. The course will follow the standards of the American Heart Association and includes CPR and first-aid information. Cost: $25.00. Register and request childcare in the church office or at The Connect Center after worship services on Sunday, May 9.

HOLY COMMUNION CLASSES: Boys and girls in grades 3-5 who have not taken the classes on Holy Communion are invited to a two-Sunday program at Davidson United Methodist Church May 16 and 23 at 9:30 a.m. Third-graders will meet in their assigned Sunday School rooms. Fourth and Fifth-graders will meet in Room G2. RSVP to Sandy Ferguson (sferguson@davidsonumc.org or 704-892-8277).

PUPPETEER WANTED: A new Puppet Ministry is being considered at DUMC. If you would like to help with the plans and/or if you would like to be a puppeteer, contact Heather Smith (hsmith@davidsonumc.org or 704-892-8277, ext. 245).

The local Jewish congregation says it is “a vibrant religious school based on an established, acclaimed educational curriculum for children ages 4 and up.” They’ll be offering tours, introducing the director and faculty. Children are invited.

Interested families are invited to drop by any time during the open house. A closing session is planned at 6 p.m.   RSVP to Sherry Eckert at 704-895-4016 or sherry@bslkn.org