Shelter program goes until mid-March
The Grassroots center's cold weather shelter program, a project of 14 local churches, began Nov. 19 and is to be available to the homeless in Howard County through mid-March.
Church volunteers provide shelter, meals, transportation, clothes, medicine and laundry services for homeless Howard County citizens and families who cannot be accommodated by the Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center because its shelter is full.
Grassroots provides the county's only shelter for the homeless; the county's Mobile Crisis Team, which responds to psychiatric emergencies and family crises, is also headquartered at Grassroots. Walk-in requests for crisis counseling and 24-hour hot lines also are available.
Participating churches include Atholton Seventh Day Adventist, Bethany United Methodist, Chapelgate Presbyterian, Columbia Community, Christ Memorial Presbyterian, Cornerstone Community, First Presbyterian, Gary Memorial United Methodist, Glen Mar United Methodist, Kittamaqundi Community, Linden-Linthicum United Methodist, Locust United Methodist, St. Paul Roman Catholic and St. John Baptist.
Information: 410-531-6006.
Journeys to offer meditation service
Journeys Community, a nontraditional spiritual group, will offer a meditation service focused on "Developing A Sense of Oneness" at 10 a.m. Sunday in the second-floor auditorium of Vantage House, 5400 Vantage Point Road, Columbia.
An experience of contemplative prayer and an examination of the work of 14th-century mystic Julian of Norwich is planned March 2. "Touched by Laughter," a program using stories, movies and music to create laughter as a healing force, will be held March 9.
The group meets at 10 a.m. Sundays to explore spirituality using music, video, reflection and meditation.
Information: 410-730-6079, or www.journeyscommunity.org.
St. Mark's will host 'thaw-out' concert
Inside Out, a collaborative ministry created by members of local churches, will hold a winter "thaw-out" concert at 7 p.m. March 1 at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 12700 Hall Shop Road, Highland.
The event will feature boardwalk-style food and the beach-inspired Christian music of Bill Mallia. A donation will be requested.
Information: Rick LaRocca, 410-365-1913 or www.insideout worship.com.
Next Generation to sponsor revival
The Next Generation Ministries of Hopkins United Methodist Church will sponsor a Friday night revival on the theme, "Blessings Running Over," at 7 p.m. today.
The Rev. Timothy West of Westphalia United Methodist Church in Upper Marlboro will present the message.
Information or to place an order: 410-531-6187.
Honors dinner set at Lubavitch Center
The Lubavitch Center for Jewish Education, 770 Howes Lane, Columbia, invites the community to its Lamplighter Award Dinner at 6 p.m. Sunday at Kahler Hall, 5440 Old Tucker Row, Columbia.
Joanne Caras, author of The Holocaust Survivor Cookbook and a former resident of Clarksville, will be the honoree.
Couvert is $125 (friend); $180 (supporter); and $360 (benefactor). Reservations are requested.
Information: 410-740-2424 or www .lubavitchofhowardcounty .org.
The center is offering bricks for sale in its newly completed courtyard. The bricks, which can be engraved with a text of the purchaser's choice, can memorialize a loved one, celebrate a child or honor someone important in the purchaser's life.
To submit a request for prayers for someone ill: www. lubavitchofhowardcounty.org.
If you have an announcement for Religion Notes, send it to howard.religion@baltsun.com or fax it to 410-715-2816.