The Rev. Bruce Milne, new minister at Chapel Hill's Unity Center of Peace Church at 8800 Seawell Road, is teaching a series of classes dealing with how to achieve true prosperity amidst the global economic crisis.

"Because the world is experiencing a global economic crisis doesn't mean we have to do the same," Milne said this week. "Our opportunity is to know that God is the true source of our supply."

The class, which started last week, is continuing on Thursdays from 7 to 9 p.m. in the church sanctuary, Nov. 13 and 20 and Dec. 4 and 11.

The book "The Four Spiritual Laws of Prosperity" by the Rev. Edwene Gaines is required and can be ordered in the church bookstore.

"These four laws are just as much a force in our life as is the law of gravity," the pastor said. "They are very simple laws, but none of them are optional. They play a powerful role in your life whether you believe in them or not."

The author of the book lists these laws:

One, you must tithe 10 percent of all that you receive to the person, place or institution where you receive spiritual food.

Two, you must set clear tangible goals.

Three, you must forgive everyone all the time, especially yourself.

Four, you must seek, discover and follow your divine purpose.

"Prosperity is our divine birthright," Milne said. "Come to this class and claim your inheritance."

To register, call the church at 967-1854 or sign up at the church. Suggested offering is $10 per class.

Services at the Unity Center of Peace Church are held on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The pastor describes the church is a diverse community based on the teachings of Jesus, other spiritual masters and the power of prayer while honoring universal truths in all religions.

"Our services provide uplifting music together with messages of positive practical spirituality for everyday living," he said.

Concert to feature church choirs

"Roots in the past, wings to the future," a concert at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 940 Carmichael St., will celebrate 10 years of music ministry under the direction of Roger Petrich, director of music.

The event is set for Sunday at 4 p.m. and will feature the church's choirs, the Celebration Singers and Schola Cantorum, and the Chelsea Chimes, the handbell choir. Also featured and celebrated will be the fine musical instruments at the church, the Zimmer pipe organ, Kawai grand piano and the Malmark handbells.

The concert is free and open to the public.

Author to share tale of tragedy and faith

Local author Barbara Parentini will share her story of tragedy and faith surrounding a life-changing accident in Florida five years ago tonight at 6:30 p.m. at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church, 2016 Mt. Carmel Church Road. She will also be signing the book in which she is a contributor, "One Year Life Verse Devotional." All profits will be donated to the church.

Gift drive to benefit children of inmates

University United Methodist Church, 150 E. Franklin St., is collecting toys and gifts for the children of men housed at the Orange Correctional Center, a minimum-security unit in Hillsborough.

The church works with the Rev. Ken Barker, the chaplain for Alamance-Orange Prison Ministry, who organizes a Christmas gift drive each year. He collects new toys and gift items for children up to 16 years and then provides an opportunity for the men to make selections and wrap their gifts for their sons and daughters. On the last visiting day before Christmas, the men are able to personally present the gifts to their children.

Gifts can be dropped off at the church through Nov. 23. Gifts for toddlers and teenagers are especially needed.

Call the church at 929-7191 for further information.

Buddhist center offers meditation sessions

Meditations to calm the mind, a retreat led by ordained monk and resident teacher Kelsang Tilopa is on tap Nov. 22 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Kosala Mahayana Buddhist center, 711 Rosemary St.

The retreat will center on three guided sessions, watching the mind, practicing patience and cherishing others. The cost is $45.

The center teaches traditional Kadampa Buddhist practice. See www.meditationinchapelhill.org for further information and a full schedule of classes and events or call 619-5736.

L'Arche artwork on display at Duke

Original art by members of the L'Arche community who live in Washington, D.C., is on display during November at Duke Chapel in Durham.

L'Arche is an international network of family-like homes where people with and without disabilities share their lives together.

Jean Vanier, founder of L'Arche, has said, "In our community life, people with a handicap experience a real transformation and discover confidence in themselves. They discover their capacity to make choices and also find a certain liberty and above all their dignity as human beings."

The Duke Chapel exhibit is part of a larger series of events titled "Living Gently in a Violent World," featuring Vanier, who preached last Sunday during the chapel's 11 a.m. worship service.

Minister ordained at Eno River fellowship

Claudia Marple Frost of Chapel Hill was ordained as a Unitarian Universalist minister on Nov. 2 at Eno River Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 4907 Garrett Road in Durham. She has accepted the position of assistant minister for pastoral care at Eno River.

Frost is a graduate of the denomination's Meadville Lombard Theological School in Chicago where she earned a master's of divinity degree.

Participants in the ordination ceremony came from across the country, including the president of Meadville Lombard and two professors from the school, who had roles in the ceremony.

The ordination sermon was delivered by the Rev. Arvid Straube, lead minister of the First Unitarian Universalist Church in San Diego. He was previously the senior minister at Eno River.

Church invites all to Friends Day

Friends Day is on tap this Sunday at New Salem Church, 5030 Old Graham Road, Pittsboro.

All are invited to attend the 11 a.m. service. After worship, the church will hold Bible Buddies Game Day, an afternoon of fun and fellowship on the church grounds. Games and activities will be offered for all ages. Further information and directions available by calling the church at 919-542-4832.

Churches offer holiday gift possibilities

Order a pet portrait during Carrboro United Methodist Church's Fall Market and Bazaar, or choose an unusual gift with a purpose at United Church of Chapel Hill's Alternative Christmas Market, or have a breakfast biscuit and a cup of coffee before you start shopping at the Craft Bazaar at Hillsborough United Methodist.

•Vendors and invited artists from around the area will have booths in the fellowship hall at Carrboro United Methodist, 200 Hillsborough Road, this Saturday, for the annual event sponsored by the United Methodist Women. Doors will open at 7:30 a.m. and shoppers are invited to have breakfast and browse until noon among craft items, including handmade baskets and jewelry. As in past years, an array of baked goods will be available. New this year will be an artist who does pet portraits and who will be taking orders. A sample portrait will be on display.

Proceeds from the event will benefit 12 organizations in the area.

•The annual Alternative Christmas Market at United Church of Chapel Hill on Nov. 22 and 23, is a destination for early holiday shoppers who are seeking fresh and extraordinary gift-giving ideas. For the 19th year, the church will take holiday shopping a purposeful step further by offering a wide range of crafts, services and food items that benefit local, national and global objectives.

"The Alternative Christmas Market has at least two purposes," said Rick Edens, co-pastor. "One, if Christmas gift-giving is a reflection of God's gift-giving to heal creation and reconcile peoples, then the gifts at this market mirror that purpose. Second, giving is an exercise of the heart."

About 25 vendors will display their wares, including Jill's Jewelry (vintage and handmade), One World Market and French Connection.

Leland Little, a local auctioneer, will appraise family treasures in antique road show style Nov. 22 from 10 a.m. to noon. He also will assist in leading a live auction Nov. 23 at 10:45 a.m.

For the second year, the church is hosting the "Art for a Cause" art show that features a variety of media from local artists. All work will be displayed in the church's music room. A share of art show proceeds as well as total market proceeds will be donated to Church World Service, a cooperative humanitarian ministry of 35 Protestant, Orthodox and Anglican denominations with work in more than 80 countries around the world.

Market hours on Saturday are from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Early this month, Church World Service recognized United Church with a special designation as a Millennial Development Founder because of the gift the church made last year from the Alternative Christmas Market. The gift helped to build a PEDRA school in Mozambique. PEDRA is a project of Church World Service that combats the exploitation of young girls and the spread of HIV/AIDS.

•Hillsborough United Methodist, 130 W. Tryon St., will hold its Craft Bazaar this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. A wide variety of crafts and gifts will be for sale as well as coffee, biscuits and baked goods.