Richard and Jill Edens, co-pastors of the United Church of Chapel Hill, were honored last Sunday on their 30th anniversary at the local church, which has grown from about 150 members when the couple arrived in the spring of 1979 to 850 members who now worship at 1321 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

When they arrived in Chapel Hill, both the Edens were ordained ministers in the United Church of Christ and recent graduates of Yale Divinity School. They brought to the church pulpit an intellectual rigor mixed with passion and a faith-based commitment to serving the Chapel Hill community.

"Under their leadership, UCCH has been a major supporter of the Inter-Faith Council," said Andrew Short, church moderator. "The first shelter for homeless men took the form of portable cots in the church's fellows hall. The church has also been active in Habitat for Humanity, People of Faith Against the Death Penalty and other service and advocacy groups." he said.

UCCH partnered with HUD and New Covenant Church to build Shepherd House and Covenant Place, providing affordable residential facilities for aging adults.

"The Edens have forged connections with churches and communities in the former Soviet Union and Germany," Short said. "In the early 1990s, the UCCH became one of the first Open and Affirming churches in the area, welcoming gay and lesbian people as full members of its spiritual community. Last year, a significant source of local conflict was resolved when the UNC-CH, the town of Chapel Hill and the church joined in a plan to locate the IFC's men's homeless shelter on property adjacent to the church."

The Edens are recognized as national leaders in the United Church of Christ and are frequently sought as speakers on church and spiritual development. The ACLU of North Carolina has honored them for their leadership in advocacy against the death penalty and for gay and lesbian rights. In 2003, the Edens were named to WCHL's 50 people who made a difference in the past 50 years in the Chapel Hill community.

Donna Schaper, senior minister at Judson Memorial Church in New York City, preached at the worship service last Sunday honoring the two pastors.

Talk to focus on ethics, morality

Steven Storch, Durham County assistant district attorney, will discuss the varying traditions of ethics and morality established independent of religious constraints at a Shabbat on May 29, at 7:30 p.m. of the Triangle Congregation for Humanistic Judaism.

Storch taught philosophy classes at N.C. Central University where he earned a law degree. He has worked in the Durham district attorney's office since July of 2007.

Storch's talk will focus on how citizens should live their lives and will be held at Eno River Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 4907 Garrett Road, in the double classroom in the rear building. The public is invited to attend and to bring a dessert to share.

Congregation puts its faith into action

Christ the King, a Moravian congregation that serves members in both Orange and Durham counties, won't be worshipping on Sunday, May 24, at their campus on Hope Valley Road in Durham. Instead the church's 100 or so members will be in downtown Durham from 9 a.m. to noon taking part in Faith in Action.

With hammers and saws, brushes and cans of paint they will take care of repairs at Rainbow Storehouse 66, a daycare facility for adults with mental disabilities located at 706 Rigsbee Ave.

"We won't be at 4405 Hope Valley Road, but will take our skills, our love, our faith and in the name of Jesus Christ, we are going to help some new friends in downtown who have a need for us to come," said Pastor Frank Venable.

Faith in Action is a national movement among mission-minded local churches to make a difference in the community.

Technically, however, the church will keep its doors open on May 24 for the purpose of infant and toddler nurseries and the children's church ministry. There also will be some greeters at the front door and a prayer group in the sanctuary.

Church member Nancy Cox coordinated the planning for the church event.

"My family is personally touched by the church's commitment to serve the Lord by serving others, especially this population of people," Cox said. "My sister, Lori, is mentally retarded and has benefited from Rainbow. The relief the Rainbow staff provides to families like mine, the exceptional programming that engages my sister in meaningful work and lessons, all in a loving atmosphere, is something that cannot be adequately expressed."

"This is a brave step that our church is taking but shows that we get it. Church is more than a place, an event, somewhere we go or do on Sundays. We are the church and we are going to be living Jesus' example of serving in practical ways, with compassion, often to those who need us most," she said.

Aid sought for humanitarian crisis in Pakistan

John Javed, assistant regional director of the Greater Southeast Region of Church World Service, said this week that he has great concern for his family in Pakistan.

"My sister tells me that thousands have been forced from their homes, without any food, shelter or medical care," said Javed, who founded the CWS program in Mansehra, Pakistan, using donations from local communities in the U.S.

CWS has issued an appeal for $100,000 for the humanitarian emergency in Pakistan. This includes $70,696 for shelter kits, family food kits and partner support and $28,863 to replace supplies used from CWS's stock pile.

CWS was one of the primary deliverers of relief and recovery assistance after the 2005 earthquake in Pakistan, said Mary Catherine Hinds, assistant director of CWS, and because of its long-term presence, having worked in the area for 60 years, CWS is in a strong position to help beyond immediate relief. CWS is conferring with the United Nations as to serving as a Humanitarian Accountability Project by expanding its medical outreach through several mobile health clinics to serve families displaced by the current fighting.

To help, call (888) 297-2767.

Send us your Bible School news

Turning the corner into summer always means Vacation Bible School in area churches. Faith in Focus has begun to collect a few announcements that have trickled in, but we're waiting for a long list before attempting to give readers a taste of the variety and scope of these learning experiences that always turn into great fun for the kids.

Many congregations go all out to create innovative and action packed experiences to attract kids. Maybe they should take the word "school" out of the name, since these events might best be described as fun, food and frolic.

If your congregation is now registering or kicking off your VBS soon, send us a news announcement about the theme, any special events and, of course, the place, the time and the dates. Also, is your VBS open to the neighborhood, to kids who might go to another church? Don't worry about how you write it, just be sure the information is accurate and the names are spelled correctly. We'll put it all together.

E-mail your announcements to fjohnston3@nc.rr.com; if you need more information, call 489-7251. Remember, we need at least a week of lead time. You can't ever be too early with your news announcements, but you can be too late.

P.S. Be sure to include the name and address of your church and the name and phone number of a contact person.

Thanks!

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.