Saturday, July 25, 1998

Out Front: Special religious events

The first rehearsal for "Alleluia," by Bill and Gloria Gaither will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Pioneer Drive Baptist Church, 701 S. Pioneer.

The worship musical will be presented Sept. 20 at Behrens Chapel at Hardin-Simmons University.

Pioneer Drive music director Fred McNab has invited members of the community to participate in the production, which will mark the 25th anniversary of "Alleluia."

Call 698-9563 for a rehearsal schedule.

THIS WEEK'S VBS

The following churches will have Vacation Bible School this week. To have your VBS listed, fax information to Loretta Fulton, 670-5242.

- Southwest Park Christian Church, 1702 Woodard, Wednesday through Aug. 2, 7-9 p.m., "Write it on My Heart," ages pre-K through sixth grade. Call 692-3145.

- St. Paul United Methodist Church, N. 5th and Beech, "Come to the Storytelling Tree," Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-noon, 672-7814.

BIBLE COLLEGE REGISTRATION

Vision Christian Bible College, 1610 Vine St., will have registration for fall classes Monday through Aug. 7 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Evening registration will be held from 7-9 p.m. on Tuesday and Aug. 4.

Student orientation will be Aug. 18 at 7 p.m. The first night of classes will be Aug. 25 from 7-10 p.m.

The college offers a variety of classes divided into four terms. The first term includes Journey of Israel, Prayer, Romans, How to Write a Paper and The Church Today.

Call 672-6399 for more information.

SPIRITUAL EVOLUTION

Personal essays by esteemed scientists worldwide are contained in a new book published by Templeton Foundation Press titled <I>Spiritual Evolution.<I>

In June, 31 scientists gathered at a symposium to discuss traditional and contemporary assumptions about the incompatibility of science and religion.

For the book, ten scientists in the areas of astronomy, biology, chemistry, genetics, medicine, physics and zoology, from Australia, England, Germany and the United States contributed essays on the experiences that led them to a belief in a Divine Being.

Ecologist and geneticist Charles Birch commented that his studies of science presented him with a mechanistic universe which "provides no clues to the meaning of life and life's fundamental experiences of value."

Birch describes the books he read, the people who influenced him, his personal journey of discovery and his experiencing of God.

The book was edited by John Marks Templeton, retired founder of the Templeton group of investment mutual funds, and Kenneth Seeman Giniger, who heads a New York publishing company and is chairman emeritus of the Layman's National Bible Association.

'GENESIS' HELD OVER

Max McLean's "Genesis" has been held over at the Dallas Theater Center through Aug. 2.

It originally was scheduled through July 19.

Performances are at the center's Kalita Humphreys Theater, 3636 Turtle Creek Blvd.

An original one-man play, "Genesis" features storyteller McLean's acclaimed dramatic portrayal of the first 35 chapters of the Old Testament.

Tickets range from $10-$26. Call (214) 522-8499 for reservations.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

Religion News Service

"There is a new generation that is getting its voice to be heard and that generation is saying to a very large extent: We don't want the baggage of the past. Within Protestantism there is a quiet revolution going on. It is recognizing it has got to come to terms with the genuine feelings of another community."

- Anglican Archbishop Robin Eames, primate of Ireland, on the situation in Northern Ireland in an interview with Reuters at the Lambeth Conference of Anglican bishops.