Lama Kathy Wesley speaks on "Mindfulness and Meditation in Daily Life" at Unity Center of Peace Church, Chapel Hill, on Aug. 22 at 7:30 p.m. On Aug. 23, she will discuss "Bodhicitta: The Awakened Heart of Compassion" in Carrboro at 9:30 a.m. Call 933-2138 for information or visit www.piedmontktc.org.

Advent Lutheran holds worship services 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.

The Advocate holds services, programs

The Episcopal Church of the Advocate celebrates Holy Eucharist each Sunday at 5 p.m. at the Chapel Hill Kehillah, 1200 Mason Farm Road. All are welcome for a fellowship hour with refreshments following the service.

Matthew Wright will lead an adult forum on "Theology and Spirituality of Islam" following worship on Aug. 17.

Each Wednesday at 10 a.m. the church office at 403 Weaver St. hosts playtime and Bible study. At noon there is a celebration of Holy Eucharist.

In mid-August, a second series of English as a Second Language will be conducted on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. The classes are for anyone in the community who wants to improve English skills. Childcare is provided. Volunteers are also needed to assist with registration and childcare.

Discussion of "Juxtaposing the Sacred and the Sacrilegious: St Mark's Gospel and Mark Twain's The Mysterious Stranger" will be held today at 7:30 p.m. on the Weaver Street Deck.

For information about this and other programs of the Advocate visit www.ouradvocate.org.

Amity UMC offers Vacation Bible School The Rev. Tuck Taylor Bounds leads worship at Amity on 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.

Call 967-7546 or see amityumc.org.

Services, events at Binkley Baptist

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

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

The church's next Souper Summer Supper will be held Aug. 27 at 5:45 pm. Cost is $5. Call 942-4964 to register.

Buddhist center offers 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 W. Rosemary St. in Carrboro, above the Carrburritos restaurant. For information call 967-1861 or see www.meditationinchapelhill.org.

Services, events at Chapel of the Cross Chapel of the Cross, 304 E. Franklin St., will hold services of Holy Eucharist 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.

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

The Children and Family Ministry Committee needs new members. Please contact Christian formation director Gretchen Jordan at gjordan@thechapelofthecross.org.

Dinner on the grounds will be held 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.

Jewish Chorale seeks singers

The Triangle Jewish Chorale is seeking singers. The chorale performs vocal works in concert, for special occasions and in celebration of community events.

Membership is open to all who can sing in tune and listen to others at the same time; who want to sing and perform Jewish music in English, Hebrew, Yiddish; who are willing to put in the time to learn their parts; and who are able and willing to attend rehearsals regularly.

Downloadable mp3 files of the parts are provided and fellow chorale members are available to help in the learning process.

Regular rehearsals take place twice per month, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Judea Reform Congregation in Durham.

Members do not have to be able to sight read, but rudimentary knowledge of musical notation is required. Members do not need to be Jewish or be affiliated with any Jewish organization. An audition is required.

The first rehearsal for the fall season is scheduled for Sept. 2.

For information contact Bernard Most at bmost@nc.rr.com or 493-1288. To set up an audition, contact Jane Peppler at jane@mappamundi.com (preferred), or at 383-8952.

Lystra Baptist Church offers free clothing

Orange United Methodist Church, 1220 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Chapel Hill will hosts a "Back-to-School FAN-Fare & Pancake Breakfast Aug. 23, 9-11 a.m. The Family Advocacy Network (FAN), a program of the Mental Health Association in Orange County, will sponsor this second annual Back-to-Schooevent for families of special needs children with emotional, behavioral, or other mental health issues. The event also offers a free workshop for parents on "Organizing for Your Special Needs Child's School Year," including a free organizing binder. School-age children will enjoy a "Crafts and Cartoons" time while parents attend the workshop. Pre-registration is requested and RSVP deadline is Aug. 21. To register, call 919-942-8083, ext. 2, or email julie@mhaorangeco.org.

New Salem offers recovery classes

New Salem Church, 5030 Old Graham Road, Pittsboro, offers Celebrate Recovery classes each Sunday at 7 p.m. Anyone struggling with addictions or compulsive behaviors that make life unmanageable is invited. Light refreshments are available at 6:30 p.m. Celebrate Recovery offers a time of praise, prayer and small group sessions that give participants a safe place to share and a possible turning point.

For information, call 542-4790 or e-mail newsalem.church@yahoo.com.

Straley Series to conclude Sunday

The 2008 Straley Series concludes 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.

Each session begins at noon with a light lunch, speakers, questions and answers, and wraps up by 1:30 p.m. 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.

Events, services 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. The Tim Dyess Quintet will play at both services.

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

The United Church of Chapel Hill Softball Team will play Christ United Methodist at 3:10 p.m. Sunday 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.

The Chancel Choir begins rehearsals on Aug. 27 at 7:30 p.m. in the music room. New singers are welcome.

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

Methodist church collecting school supplies

With the beginning of the school year and the end of summer vacations, University United Methodist Church will resume its traditional school-year schedule of two worship services on Aug. 17. The 8:30 a.m. service will feature weekly communion from Aug. 17 through World Communion Sunday on Oct. 5.

The church is also collecting school supplies for local needy students with the fifth annual Golden Rule Rally. The community is invited to join in this endeavor. A shopping list for each grade level is available at www.chapelhilluumc.org. School supplies will be collected at the church through Aug. 17, and then distributed to those in need.

Last year members and friends of University UMC provided school supplies for 230 children, assuring that they got off to the best start possible when school began. For more information, please call 929-7191.

Outdoor services at Southern Village

Green Chapel invites all to outdoor Christian worship each Sunday morning at 10 a.m. on the Southern Village Green through Oct. 5.

Bring blankets and portable seating to sit under the canopy shade. You can expect donuts, scripture reading, acoustic guitar, dogs, prayer, portable chairs, a few songs, a Carolina blue sky (weather permitting), neighborly company, great preaching, little kids, youth, middle-age people, old people ... just a bunch of people offering themselves in worship of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. See http://www.greenchapel.wordpress.com for more information. Green Chapel is a ministry of Christ United Methodist Church, in Chapel Hill.