It's a given. When you move to Chapel Hill, you expect to be questioned closely about your basketball loyalties. And the new preacher at Binkley Baptist was no exception.

"The first question the Binkley youth group asked me after the congregation voted to extend a call was about my basketball loyalties," said the Rev. Peter Carman, who moved to Chapel Hill in early summer and was officially installed as minister on the first Sunday in October.

"The fascination with college sports as a local religion is something I am studying with great curiosity," said the Yale Divinity School graduate.

Yes, he does plan to attend a Carolina basketball game. Yes, he does wear his Carolina blue T-shirt, even in downtown Durham.

And now that he's passed the first test, let's learn a little more about him. First of all, how does he want to be addressed?

"I prefer just 'Peter' from people of my age," he said. "I figure if it was good enough for a stumbling apostle, it is good enough for me. Some parents are concerned that their children not address adults by first name, so 'Pastor Peter' works pretty well too. Anyone willing to call me 'Brother' is welcome to do so!"

Carman, 51, and his wife, the Rev. Lynn Carman Bodden, are the parents of two sons, Luke, 21, starting graduate school in elementary education in Chicago; and Ben, 19, a junior at Wesleyan University in Connecticut.

Bodden is an Intentional Interim Minister. She serves churches in transition between pastors for periods of 1 to 2 years.

"Lynn is passionate about helping churches work through the tough issues of leadership change. She's one of the finest preachers I know and is currently open to serving a church in transition, hopefully not too far away," Carman said.

So what kind of preacher is Peter Carman?

Here's what he said: "I try to mix it up. One week may be stories; another week will involve some pretty close textual work with the Bible. And this past Sunday I took a break halfway into my sermon and invited the children and youth to have a conversation."

Transition from an urban church in Rochester, N.Y., to one in a college town in North Carolina has been smooth, Carman said.

"The congregation has really rolled out the welcome mat. Of course, there is some adjustment. I haven't learned to say 'Y'all' yet. But the values of people in this congregation and in Chapel Hill, are not far afield from those of the people we lived among in Rochester, New York.

Any surprises at Binkley?

"I think I have been a little surprised by just how energetic and engaged this congregation is," he said. "The people in this church really walk the talk. Sometimes they run and dance it."

Carman said he hasn't been in town long enough to know what everyone is or isn't doing, but he has come to appreciate the cooperative efforts of churches and other faith communities.

"I'm ready to work on interfaith dialogue and relationship-building on a grassroots level," he said. "The deep divide between rich and poor troubles my soul. I am excited that Binkley has an active Earth Ministry concerned with our relationship to the environment.

"We often talk in America as though issues of racial justice and reconciliation were something of the past. That just isn't true. We could certainly use more ministry supporting people of faith who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender. It's one thing to say 'Welcome' personally, but another to live into the ministry of welcome and affirmation.

"Finally, it seems to me that we've gotten kind of quiet about issues of war and peace lately. For people of faith the fundamental questions need to be asked, not only is a war winnable, but is it just and for that matter is any war what we ought to be about? Is war where we should be placing our collective resources as a country? What does our faith teach?"

Holiday boutique opens Saturday

Advent Lutheran Church, 230 Erwin Road, will open its Holiday Boutique on Saturday, Nov. 7, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Unique handcrafted decorating and gift items will be available, including holiday centerpieces, wreaths and floral arrangements. Shoppers can enjoy a cup of tea or coffee as they sample bakery items. Also, register for a chance to win the door prize gift basket.

Proceeds from the boutique will go to Advent's missions and outreach programs.

Judea Reform presents programs

Several activities of note are scheduled at Judea Reform Congregation, 1933 W. Cornwallis Road, Durham.

Dr. Malachi Hacohen, a Duke University associate professor of political science and religion, will lecture on "Reform and Orthodoxy in 19th Century Central Europe" on Friday, Nov. 6, at 7:30 p.m.

The Russian Duo, Terry Boyarsky and Oleg Kruglyakov, will perform on Sunday, Nov. 8, at 1 p.m. in a free concert.

Turning to drama and comedy, Odyssey Stage's Reader's Theatre Under Your Roof will present "Oy!," a comedy by Rich Orloff on Sunday, Nov. 15, at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 at the door.

For those who prefer dancing, Dick Levin & Friends Band will provide live music as they play songs spanning the generations on Wednesday, Nov. 18 at 7 p.m.

All events are open to the public.

Clothes Closet accepting used coats

The Take and Wear Clothes Closet is accepting used coats in good condition and all sizes to be given out in November and December.

The closet, located at Lystra Baptist Church, 686 Lystra Road, a half mile off 15-501, will be open on Nov. 21 and Dec. 5.

Coats may be dropped off at any of the following North Chatham Faith Community churches: Chapel in the Pines Presbyterian, Chatham Community, Lystra Baptist, Evergreen Methodist, Mount Gilead Baptist, Mount Pleasant Methodist and Mount Zion Missionary Baptist.

Sale features Guatemalan weavings

The Church of Reconciliation, 110 N. Elliott Road, will hold its annual Guatemalan weaving sale at the church on Saturday, Nov. 7 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Guatemala Support Group Leaders Bill and Joyce Peck, now in their 80s, made yet another trip to Guatemala in October to buy the weavings to make this year's sale possible.

The annual event has raised thousands of dollars over the past 23 years and all proceeds have been sent to Mam Indians to fund community projects that operate a school for children, run a clinic in San Juan Ostuncalco, fund a micro-loan program to empower women to start businesses and support other programs aimed at reducing the impact of poverty.

This year's sale is dedicated to the work of Rosario Diaz Vicente, director of the Centro Clinico Maya, an outstanding nurse, midwife for 4,238 safe births who trained 90 midwives, organizer of weaving and sewing cooperative for Mayan women, founder and superintendent of a remedial school for non-literate persons and manager of a revolving loan fund supplying micro-loans for Mayan women.

A Guatemalan "Panaderia y Café" offering coffee, tea and delicious baked goods will be open from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. All are welcome and there is no admission charge.

Cantata Choir rehearsals begin

Cantata Choir rehearsals, under the direction of Dr. Daniel Steinert, have begun on Wednesday nights from 7:15 to 8:30 p.m. in the sanctuary of Christ United Methodist in Southern Village. Steinert is the director of music at the church.

The 40-member choir of both church and community members will sing the Song of Mary, or the "Magnificat."

Performances are set for Sunday, Dec. 13, at both the 9:45 and 11 a.m. worship services.

Additional Christmas music will be rehearsed and sung throughout the Advent season and on Christmas Eve for a 7 p.m. candlelight worship service.

Singers from the community are welcome to join the choir.

Jewish Film Festival opens in Cary

The 10th annual Triangle Jewish Film Festival at Galaxy Cinema in Cary will begin Thursday, Nov. 5, with a reception at the RTP Hilton, including the Carolina debut of "Waves of Freedom," a powerful true World War II story of daring rescue. Special guest filmmaker/director Alan Rosenthal will be on had to discuss his film and answer questions.

Featuring a wide variety of genres, the festival continues on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 7-8.

Select screenings will include post-film events.

Galaxy Cinema is at 770 Cary Towne Boulevard.

Celebration service focuses on environment

The local unit of Church Women United will hold a service of celebration on Friday, Nov. 6, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph CME Church, 510 W. Rosemary St. Valerie Foushee will be the speaker for the service that is being planned by the women of St. Joseph.

The theme is "Piecing Earth Together," focusing on the environment and how people are called to work together to be good stewards of the earth.

Church Women United also holds World Day of Prayer services on the first Friday in May and World Community Day on the first Friday in March when all women of faith come together for worship, study and action.