A community meeting from 3:30 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 13, at Pittsboro United Methodist Church, will focus on how various faiths can join with government and service providers to effectively address multiple needs of Chatham County residents.

The forming of Chatham Interfaith Collaborative will be discussed. Participants will attend two break-out sessions on topics such as Children/Child Care; Programs for Youth; Addressing Mental Health /Substance Abuse; Caregivers and Persons with Chronic Illnesses; Poverty: Circles Initiative; and Living Healthy: Recreation, Exercise and Nutrition.

Lat year, Mark Molitor, facilitator, also led community meetings involving more than 75 representatives of 22 service providers, government agencies and schools, plus 12 churches in the northeast section of the county.

He said that key needs, which could be more effectively addressed through joint efforts, were identified in those meetings. This meeting represents the next step.

"All of this has contributed to the emergence of the Chatham Interfaith Collaborative, which, at this point, may be considered more of a movement than an organization," he said. "It is now intentionally expanding to include the entire county. All who share in its mission are welcome to join in."

The church is at 71 West St. in Pittsboro.

Series on Lent

Two Chapel Hill churches, University United Methodist and Amity UMC, are offering opportunities for deeper reflection having to do with Lent, the season of the church year for soul-searching, repentance and taking stock.

By observing the 40 days of Lent, individual Christians imitate Jesus' withdrawal into the wilderness to spend 40 days before he would begin his public ministry.

Beginning today, a Lenten Lecture Series will be held from 7 to 8:15 p.m. each Wednesday, March 7, 14, 21 and 28 at Amity UMC, 825 N. Estes Drive. Each lecture is self-contained and will be followed by a time for questions and answers.

March 7: "The Explanation of Lent," the Rev. Dr. J. Warren Smith, associate professor of Historical Theology, Duke Divinity School.

March 14: "Sacrifice: Eating and Fasting," Dr. Stephen Chapman, associate professor of Old Testament, Duke Divinity School

March 21: "Theories of Atonement," the Rev. Gray Southern, Durham District Superintendent, United Methodist Church.

March 28: "Hymns of Holy Week, Tim Baker, director of the Ministry of Music, University UMC.

University UMC will also have a sermon series "The Tree of Life" on Sundays throughout Lent. All are welcome.

Study addresses poverty

Hillsborough Presbyterian Church, 102 W. Tryon St., is holding study sessions on the four Wednesdays during March, beginning today from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in Strudwich Hall at the church.

Although Orange County includes some of the wealthiest communities in the state, the most recent U.S. census report shows that more than 6 percent of Orange County families and 14 percent of the county's population live below the poverty line. The sessions will explore reasons and possible solutions.

Presenters and discussion leaders will include representatives from the UNC School of Social Work, the Orange County Work First Program and the Inter-Faith Council for Social Service as well as a teacher from Orange County Schools, a nurse from the Department of Public Health and an activist from the Fairview community in Hillsborough.

The session tonight will focus on an understanding of poverty as viewed from secular and scriptural perspectives. The second session will present personal perspectives on poverty; the third will feature Dan Hudgins of the UNC School of Social Work who will speak on "Public Policy Perspectives on Poverty." In the final session, the group will consider what might be done to reduce poverty.

Gala for songwriters

"MUUsic She Wrote," this year's edition of the Annual Music Gala at the Community Church of Chapel Hill-Unitarian-Universalist, will be at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 10.

Performers will be members and friends of the congregation and the show will feature music written by the likes of Joni Mitchell, Carole King, Lucinda Williams, Avril Lavigne, Tammy Wynette and Janis Ian. Also, the fast-paced musical extravaganza will include segments by a Ukulele Chamber Orchestra, several classical ensembles as well as duets and trios.

"This is not a spoof," said Spence Foscue, member of the music team that produces the popular production. "We want to be good," he said, but he admitted there may be a bit of spoofing since one of the objectives of the show is to have fun.

Glenn Merbach, music director at the church, a talented musician with a background in performance and production, is the director.

The Annual Music Gala has been around for several previous seasons and has always featured a particular theme, Foscue said. Its purpose is not only to entertain, but is to raise funds for a worthy cause that changes each year. One year, proceeds went to earthquake relief. This year, the proceeds will help enhance sound and lighting in the church sanctuary. In previous years, the event has raised between $1,500 and $2,000 and has attracted an audience of about 200.

Admission is free, but those who feel so inclined are asked to make a donation. Refreshments will be offered for sale at intermission.

The church is at 106 Purefoy Road.

Book sale set

The 15th annual Eno River Unitarian Universalist's Gently Used Book Sale is set for 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, March 9, and continuing 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 10 at 4907 Garrett Road, Durham. Free parking.

In the past, this annual event has attracted shoppers from neighboring states as well as from the Triangle, said Linda Jay, who is coordinating the sale. Last year, more than 5,000 books were available, including best-selling cookbooks, children's literature, contemporary and historical novels, mysteries, current events, spiritual, philosophical and self-help. Prices range from 50 cents to $3.

The Eno congregation uses proceeds to support its programs for children, teens and adults, and to feed, clothe and build homes for the homeless, to care for the poor and disabled in the congregation and the community.

CWS seeks aid

Church World Service, working in partnership with International Orthodox Christian Charities, needs $100,000 for emergency supplies for tens of thousands who have been caught in the crossfire between government and opposition forces in Syria.

Emergency kits include blankets, baby kits and hygiene kits for families. The number of displaced people to receive assistance stands at 28,000 now, but could increase to as many as 74,000, said Mary Catherine Hinds, associate director of Church World Service for the Southeast.

"World powers may feel stymied because of the political complexities, but humanitarian agencies cannot stand idly by in the face of so much suffering," she said.

Contact CWS at 888-297-2767 or email jmoran@churchworldservice.org.

Junior to deliver sermon

Duke University junior Kathleen Perry has been selected to give this year's student preacher sermon at Duke Chapel in Durham for the 11 a.m. worship service Sunday, March 18.

She is a Chapel PathWays Scholar and an active member of the Duke Wesley Fellowship. She is pursuing a major in religion and a global health certificate.

Her sermon, "Healing Bitter with Bitter," is based on Numbers 21:4-9. It was selected after being reviewed and nominated by a committee from the Religious Life staff.

Each year the chapel selects a student to preach on Student Preacher Sunday. The selection process is open to any undergraduate who wishes to submit a sermon. Criteria for selection include relevance of sermon to that Sunday's scripture, delivery and appropriateness of subject matter for a chapel service.

Duke Chapel Sunday worship services are open to the public and webcast live at chapel.duke.edu.