The 2008 Straley Series continues Sunday at The Community Church of Chapel Hill, Unitarian Universalist, 106 Purefoy Road.

The Straley Series is an annual series of social justice programs named for longtime community activists and church founders Joe and Lucy Straley.

On Sunday several members of the Orange County Organizing Committee will discuss the committee, a new multi-faith community coalition.

Other events in the series include:

• Aug. 3, The South in Black and White. Members will discuss local author and historian Tim Tyson's course, "The South in Black and White: Southern History, Culture, and Politics in the 20th Century."
• Aug. 10, Youth and Witness for Peace in Nicaragua. Church youth will discuss their experiences going to Nicaragua with Witness for Peace, a grassroots organization whose mission is "to support peace, justice and sustainable economies in the Americas by changing U.S. policies and corporate practices which contribute to poverty and oppression in Latin America and the Caribbean."

The Straley Series is open to the general public.

Each session begins at noon with a light lunch, speakers, questions and answers, and wraps up by 1:30 pm. Childcare will be provided, and donations to help cover lunch costs are invited. To register for childcare or for more information about the series, contact Lucy Lewis at llewis2001@earthlink.net or 929-5983, or Peggy Misch at msmisch@gmail.com or 942-5735.

Church offers tutoring

Free tutoring will be offered this month at Chapel Hill Bible Church, 260 Erwin Road.

Monday Math and Wednesday Wisdom (reading) will be held every week this month from 7 to 8 p.m.

Elementary and middle school ages are welcome. For information, e-mail crissie@biblechurch.org.

Events at United Church

Sunday worship services at the United Church of Chapel Hill, 1321 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., are at 8:45 and 11 a.m. Tim Nonn, national coordinator of Tents of Hope, will preach at both services (see story, this page). Raleigh and Betsy Mann will provide special music for both services.

Living Waters for All God's Children Vacation Bible School will begin Sunday at 10 a.m. This is the third of a four-Sunday series of events for children ages 3-11.

The Summer Adult Series will present "Integrating Your Spiritual and Work Lives" on Sunday at 10 a.m.

Iglesia Unida, Spanish language worship, meets Sundays at 11 a.m. in the new Assembly Hall in the west wing of the building.

The church softball team will play Hillsboruugh United Methodist Church on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. on Field 2.

Sermon Shaping meetings are held on Wednesdays at 7 a.m. in the library. One of the pastors leads a small group in looking at the lectionary texts for the next Sunday.

For information call 942-3540 or see www.unitedchurch.org.

Events at Binkley Baptist

Binkley Baptist Church, 1712 Willow Drive, holds summer worship each Sunday at 10 a.m. through August 31.

A congregational listening session will be held after worship Sunday.

Jay Dunbar will teach sessions of QiGong on Aug. 3 and Aug. 10. All are welcome. The sessions will begin at 9:20 a.m. and end at 9:50 so that everyone has time to move to the sanctuary for worship.

Binkley will hold its annual yard sale on Aug. 16 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Services scheduled

Services of Holy Eucharist at the Chapel of the Cross, 304 E. Franklin St., will be held Sunday at 8 and 10 a.m. and 5:15 p.m. Children's chapel, a service for children aged 2-5, is held during the 10 a.m. service.

Brief services of Evening Prayer will be held in the chapel Monday and Tuesday at 5:15 p.m.

A service of Holy Eucharist will be held at 4 p.m. at Carol Woods Retirement Center.

The Centering Prayer Group meets on Wednesdays at 5 p.m. in the parish house.

Dinner on the Grounds will be held Sunday and Aug. 17 following the 10 a.m. service. Participants are asked to bring a dish to share.

The Chapel of the Cross will offer a three-day training program for people interested in the Godly Play storytelling method. This program is scheduled for Sept. 11-13. Contact Boykin Bell at bbell@thechapelofthecross.org for information or to register.

The Young Adults Group, a joint ministry with Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, meets most Fridays at the Carolina Inn for Bluegrass on the Lawn. Contact John Derrick at jderrick@alumni.unc.edu.

There are several openings in the senior choir. The parish also is seeking a director for the Cantus Choir, the introductory choir for 1st- and 2nd-grade children. For information contact organist and choirmaster Wylie S. Quinn at vquinn@thechapelofthecross.org.

For information on church services and events, call 929-2193 or see www.thechapelofthecross.org.

Classes at Amity UMC

The Rev. Tuck Taylor Bounds leads worship at Amity United Methodist Church, 825 Estes Dr., Sundays at 11 a.m.

Sunday school for all ages is at 9:45 a.m.

Children are studying the "Way of the Child" curriculum. Adult Bible Study is discussing "Images of Christ."

Bible study also is offered on Thursdays from 9:30 to 11 a.m. in a private home. The current class is "Changes that Heal: How to Understand Your Past to Ensure a Healthier Future." Call for directions.

Vacation Bible School for children ages 5-11 will be held Aug. 11-14 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. All community children are invited, and youth and adult volunteers from the community are also welcome. Dinner will be provided. Pre-registation is encouraged but not required.

Call 967-7546 or see amityumc.org.

Events at the Advocate

The Episcopal Church of the Advocate celebrates Holy Eucharist each Sunday at 5 p.m. at the Chapel Hill Kehillah, 1200 Mason Farm Road. A fellowship hour follows the service.

Other activities include a moms-and-tots get-together on Wednesdays; Theology on Deck, a series of lively theological discussions; and Alternative, an inclusive Christian fellowship group for graduate students and young adults (ages 22-35) in the Chapel Hill area. See www.ouradvocate.org.

Advent Lutheran worship

Advent Lutheran Church, 230 Erwin Road in Chapel Hill, is on its summer schedule. Worship service will be at 10 a.m.

All are welcome. For information, call 968-7690 or go to www.adventlutheranch.org.

Buddhist meditation

The Kosala Buddhist Center in Carrboro offers Buddhist teachings, discussion and meditation with resident teacher Gen Tilopa every Wednesday from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Cost is $10. First class is free for newcomers.

Kosala Center is at 711 West Rosemary Street in Carrboro, above the Carrburritos restaurant. For information call 967-1861 or see www.meditationinchapelhill.org.