The National Day of Prayer on Thursday will be observed by people of faith across the country. The event in Chapel Hill, the second year an observation has been held on the UNC campus, will begin at noon at McCorkle Place, the lawn area between Franklin Street and the Old Well. Look for the American flag.

Prayers will be led by UNC students as well as area pastors.

"It was a great success last year with students praying the most heartfelt prayers for the United States, Chapel Hill and UNC," said Pamela Ransohoff, co-coordinator. "This year we added to the vision by adding pastors to the student prayers and to have a luncheon afterwards at Spanky's for church, business, community and student leaders. Chief of Police Brian Curran will speak," she said.

The purpose of the lunch is to develop relationships in the city, Ransohoff said.

The observance of the National Day of Prayer in Durham will be held at 11:30 a.m. for worship and noon to 1:25 p.m. for prayer on the plaza of the Durham Marriott Civic Center in front of the Carolina Theatre on Morgan Street.

The National Day of Prayer is not a Johnny-come-lately event, but a part of our history. In 1775, the first Continental Congress called for a National Day of Prayer, and Abraham Lincoln repeated the call in 1863. In 1952, Congress established the National Day of Prayer as an annual event by a joint resolution, and the legislation was signed into law by President Harry S. Truman. President Ronald Reagan signed an amended version of the law in 1988, designating the National Day of Prayer as the first Thursday in May.

Chatahm County church begins planning its new facilities

Chapel in the Pines Presbyterian Church, a new congregation now meeting at North Chatham School, is working with architects in Charlotte to determine what the church's needs are currently and what they will be in the future.

"We are excited about ways that we might be able to serve the community through our land," said the Rev. Mindy Douglas Adams, pastor. "We have been in conversation about a community garden, a walking trail, an outdoor amphitheater and a number of other ideas. We hope to begin to use the land long before the first construction begins."

In January, the congregation bought 12 acres on Great Ridge Parkway, the new road off Mann's Chapel Road leading into the Briar Chapel Community.

The church will hold a "Blessing of the Land" service on Sunday, May 17, at 2 p.m. when members will gather on Great Ridge Parkway (about one-third of a mile off Mann's Chapel Road) for lemonade and cookies and a trek into the land. A short service of blessing will be held. Interested persons are invited to join for the unique event.

Annual conference will address spirituality, theology and health

The second annual meeting of the Society for Spirituality, Theology & Health will be held in Durham June 3-5 at the Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club. It is sponsored by the Duke University School of Medicine.

The event is designed to bring together transdisciplinary scholars and interested physicians, clergy, chaplains, nurses and lay persons from the United States and other parts of the world to present and discuss the latest research in spirituality, theology and health.

The keynote and plenary speakers represent a variety of specialties through which researchers and religious scholars are asking questions and doing research and study needed to advance the field.

This second meeting will focus on the intersections of spirituality and health within various cultures throughout the life cycle.

Registration for this event is ongoing and may be done by calling 660-7556.

Hundreds of volunteers serve during 'Day of Service' activities

More than 540 volunteers from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints served 11 agencies in Chapel Hill and Durham on April 25 during an event called "Day of Service."

Volunteers worked at Habitat for Humanity, the food bank, Read Seed, Carrboro Parks and Recreation, the ARC and various other agencies. The LDS volunteers were assisted by members of Orange United Methodist Church.

About 100 volunteers worked at the LDS Church building at 1050 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. to package 20,022 meals for Stop Hunger Now to help eradicate world hunger. Each meal provides food for a family of six.

The Day of Service here in Chapel Hill and Durham was part of a larger effort that spanned the entire southeastern United States. Latter-day Saints congregations in all states sent a combined force of 54,000 volunteers serving 554 projects and contributing 235,260 hours of service.

Amity United Methodist offers multiple Bible study groups

Amity United Methodist, 825 N. Estes Drive, is offering multiple Bible studies, including a lectionary Bible study on Tuesdays, Women's Bible Study with free child care on Wednesdays, a small group study on Thursdays and a study of Luke, Acts and Ephesians on Sunday mornings.

Further information on these studies and other services at the church is available by calling the church at 967-7546 or visiting www.amityumc.org. The Rev. Tuck Taylor Bounds is the pastor.

Please let us know what's going on in your church or faith group, so we can share your news with our readers. E-mail news and announcements to Flo Johnston at fjohnston3@nc.rr.com.