Gan Israel to hold Walk-A-Thon benefit

The Lubavitch Center for Jewish Education's Gan Israel Preschool and Day Camp will hold a Walk-A-Thon fundraiser at 5:15 p.m. Wednesday at the Lake Elkhorn Pavilion, off Broken Land Parkway. Participants are asked to collect pledges before walking the promised distance around the lake.

A barbecue at the pavilion and a concert by the local band MisMatch are planned.

Information: 410-992-9711.

The center's Men's Club meets at 9 a.m. Sundays for prayers and breakfast at 770 Howes Lane, Columbia. Reservations are not needed.

Information: 410-740-2424.

'Sunday with Sundaes' worship and social

Sisters in Christ, a women's Bible study group at Rockland United Methodist Church in Ellicott City, invites members and nonmembers to attend "Sunday with Sundaes" at 6:30 p.m. July 15 for an outdoor worship service and a "make-your-own" sundae social in the church's Fellowship Hall, 8971 Chapel Ave., Ellicott City.

The church is at 8971 Chapel Ave.

Information: 410-465-1463.

Childbirth class - the Jewish view

Jewish Family services will offer Childbirth B'Yachad: A Childbirth Class with a Jewish Perspective. The six-week session begins July 9.

Information: 410-730-4976.

Women's Day Celebration planned

Hopkins United Methodist Church, 13250 Highland Road, Highland, will hold its Women's Day Celebration at 7 p.m. today and 11 a.m. Sunday.

The guest preacher today will be the Rev. Ladelle Y. Feemster of Emory United Methodist Church, Washington.

The guest preacher Sunday will be the Rev. Stephanie Stratford of Galilee Baptist Church, Suitland.

Information: 410-531-6187.

Sacred Harp Singers to perform Sunday

Christ United Methodist Church and Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbia will present a concert by the Baltimore Sacred Harp Singers at a worship service at 10 a.m. Sunday at Owen Brown Interfaith Center, 7246 Cradlerock Way.

The combined congregations will listen and practice singing in the shape note mode - a system of musical notation in which notes are printed in shapes that match their solfege syllables. The system, which has been used primarily in the South, is designed to facilitate congregational singing.

Everyone is welcome.

Information: 410-381-6329, and leave a message.

Vacation Bible school at Friendship Baptist

Friendship Baptist Church, 1391 Sykesville Road, Sykesville, will offer a one-week sports-themed vacation Bible school from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday at the church.

Youngsters will participate in activities related to the theme "Game Day Central," a sports metaphor for a religious and moral life.

A kick-off rally, with food, games and entertainment, is planned for 6 p.m. Sunday.

Drivers from the Junior Dragster League will show their race cars and talk about how life as a dragster is similar to life in Christ.

Volunteers are welcome.

Information: 410-442-5506. Registration: www.fbcmd.org.

Summer camp set at Bet Yeladim

Bet Yeladim Preschool and Kindergarten will offer a summer camp program for children ages 3 to 5. Storytelling, cooking, art, acting, soccer, basketball, T-ball and hands-on science activities are planned.

Applications are available at Beth Shalom Congregation, 8070 Harriet Tubman Drive and at the Meeting House, 5885 Robert Oliver Drive, both in Columbia.

The weeklong camps extend through the summer.

Registration is also being accepted for the 2007-2008 preschool, full-day kindergarten and parent/child programs.

Information: 410-531-2091, or www.betyeladim.org.

Christian aerobics at two churches

Body & Soul Christian Aerobics is offering eight-week sessions of cardio and strength training set to contemporary Christian music.

A class is offered at 9:15 a.m. Tuesdays and Fridays at First Presbyterian Church in Columbia.

Information: 410-985-7102.

A second class is offered at 9:30 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at South Columbia Baptist Church.

Information: 410-381-4668.

There is a fee; a discount is available for new students.

Church seeks DVDs, CDs, book donations

Shepherd of the Glen Lutheran Church, 14551 Burntwoods Road, Glenwood, is collecting books, videos, compact discs, digital video discs and records for its 11th Media Sale.

Donated items can be left in or around the blue box at the parking lot-side entrance to the church, if rain is not expected.

Tax statement forms are inside the lid of the box.

If a car is parked near the door (and the door is unlocked), donations can be placed on any table inside the church.

Encyclopedias and copies of Reader's Digest or National Geographic are not accepted.

Information: Carole Kramer, 410-442-2475.

If you have an announcement for Religion Notes, send it to howard.religion@baltsun.com or fax it to 410-715-2816.