The service will include a special anthem commissioned for dedication Sunday, "Prayer for a Church," written by Zebulon M. Highben of Lansing, Mich. The text is taken from the words inscribed on the door of St. Stephen's Church, Walbrook, London.

The anthem includes the words:

"Lord, make the doors of this church wide enough to receive all who need human love, yet narrow enough to shut out all envy, pride and strife. Lord, make this church a gateway to thine eternal kingdom. Amen."

The Rev. Robert E. Dunham, pastor of University Presbyterian in Chapel Hill, will preach. It was Dunham, who along with a task force from his church and officials from Salem Presbytery, first had the vision for planting a Presbyterian congregation in the North Chatham area.

In January 2005, three Task Force members Bill Browder, Mary Donna Pond and Rickie Howard along with the Rev. Mindy Douglas Adams, associate pastor of University Presbyterian at the time, began meeting over lunch on Fridays to develop a mission statement for a new church, to write a grant proposal and to develop a ministry plan for the new church.

On April 3, the first public meeting for those interested in the new church was held with more than 35 people attending. On March 6, 2006, a fledgling group began worshiping at Captain John's Dockside Restaurant in Cole Park Plaza south of Chapel Hill. In February, 2007, after outgrowing that facility, members began holding services at North Chatham School on Lystra Road.

The church bought land for the new church in January of 2010 and 13 months later broke ground for the new sanctuary and adjacent administration and education building. The new building was designed by Shaw Design Associates in Chapel Hill. The total cost of construction is $1.7 million.

The Rev. Mindy Douglas Adams came to Chapel in the Pines after having served as associate at University Presbyterian for nearly five years. Chapel in the Pines was chartered on May 4, 2008, under the jurisdiction of Salem Presbytery, which also provided the church with its original five-year funding grant.

From its original 33 charter members, the church now averages 140 in worship on Sundays. At the opening of the new church building on Sunday, Dec. 14, and at the Christmas Eve service, 230 persons attended.

A reception will follow the dedication service. All are welcome.

Church anniversary

A crowd expected to number in the thousands, including members from Newhope Church's seven campuses and members of the area community, will gather Sunday, Jan. 22, at the Durham Performing Arts Center to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the church. Parking is free and there's plenty of it.

The fast-growing church at 7605 Fayetteville Road, Durham, will mark the anniversary with an event called Vision Day X, a high voltage program featuring Amina Brown, a nationally know recording artist, and an outdoor DJ providing fun both before and after the service. Also on tap is a BMX bike performance. This edgy extreme sport has evolved to include smaller bicycles on which riders do high-speed stunts using ramps.

Doors open at 9 a.m. with the celebration beginning at 9:45 a.m. The first 250 through the door will receive a free T-shirt along with complimentary coffee and donuts. Gourmet food trucks will be available for after-service lunch purchase. Those who attend can donate to the Coats and Cans Clothing and Food Drive at the event.

Child care will be provided for kids up to elementary age in the Bay 7 building adjoining DPAC. Drop-off begins at 9:30 a.m.

In the past year, the church's pastoral staff has reached out to area government officials and to local agencies for feedback on ways church members and attendees can better serve the central North Carolina area.

Pastor Benji Kelley will challenge Newhope to make a difference in central North Carolina through continued service during the next 10 years in the "Newhope movement," centered around reaching people for Christ, teaching them the Bible and releasing full-devoted followers to serve through ministry.

During the past year, Newhope's membership grew by 335 people, including 213 baptisms. The church now has an average Sunday attendance of about 3,000, counting attendance at all seven of its campuses.

Newhope was organized in 2001 in Chapel Hill, where it met for the first few years before its move to Durham.

Zen class set

A beginning class in Zen practice will be taught by David Guy for six Monday nights from Jan. 23 through Feb. 27 at the Chapel Hill Zen Center, 5322 NC Hwy. 86, 2.5 miles north of I-40 exit 266.

The first night will begin with meditation instruction and a short period of sitting. Students will have a chance to ask questions about their meditation practice and other aspects of Zen practice with the context of the class emerging from students' questions and concerns.

The fee is $60, payable the first night and will be contributed to the Zen Center. Partial scholarships are available.

The teacher has been practicing meditation since 1991 and regularly gives instruction at the Zen Center. He has co-authored two books with Larry Rosenberg of the Cambridge Insight Meditation Center.

For more information, or to sign up, contact David Guy at 919-286-4952 or davidguy@mindspring.com.

Faith and mental illness

Churches, nonprofits and Wake AHEC have united with Faith Connections on Mental Illness to co-sponsor a day-long conference, "Healing Toward Wholeness: Our Faith Communities & Mental Illness."

The event is set for Friday, March 2, at St. Thomas More Church, 940 Carmichael St. Continuing Education credits are available from Wake Area Health Education Center.

Early registration is advised. More than 350 clergy and lay members, medical and mental health professionals and individuals packed last year's sold-out first annual conference to learn more about engaging, encouraging and serving persons who suffer from mental illness and those who care for them.

Keynoting the event will be the Rev. Dr. Craig Rennebohm, world-renowned lecturer, advocate and author of "Souls in the Hands of a Tender God." Rennebohm has turned his own deeply personal struggle with depression into an active ministry of interfaith healing and reconciliation.

His endeavors include working with street gang members in Chicago's South Side, an international interfaith group in war-torn Croatia and Bosnia-Hercegovina and pioneering work with the homeless mentally ill in Seattle with the Mental Health Chaplaincy, which he founded.

A second keynote address will be given by Dr. Michael Fuller, associate professor and Director of Psychiatric Forensic Service at the University of Texas.

Other speakers include the Rev. Dale Osborne of Binkley Baptist Church; and Dr. Beth Melcher, assistant secretary of the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.

Breakout sessions will discuss social justice for the mentally ill and offer insight on how faith communities can support and serve consumers and caregivers.

The cost, which includes lunch, is $15 by Feb. 13; and $25 thereafter. Register online at wakeahec.org or call 919-942-6227.