An unlikely collaboration between an Old Testament scholar and a bluegrass artist on environmental issues will be unveiled for the first time in the Triangle area at a special benefit concert on Sunday, Sept. 20, at Cedar Grove United Methodist Church in Orange County.

Dr. Ellen Davis, a professor at Duke Divinity School, and Charles Pettee & FolkPsalm will perform in concert at 7 p.m. at the church at 5218 Efland Cedar Grove Road.

Davis will introduce the concert and explain that all proceeds will be dedicated to support production of a new FolkPsalm CD and a Davis-authored booklet, "The Way of Manna."

The concert will feature old favorites as well as some brand new material in FolkPsalm's unique style, a blend of bluegrass and Americana music, which has brought the group repeat performances at MerleFest, Duke Chapel, Shakori Hills Festival and numerous churches throughout the southeast.

FolkPsalm includes Pettee on vocals, guitar, mandolin; Robbie Link on upright bass; Elizabeth Bahnson on fiddle and vocals; Taz Halloween on vocals; Mark Simonsen on percussion; and Brian Bolton on vocals, guitar, banjo.

Pettee, a founding member of Chapel Hill's Shady Grove Band, has been penning songs for the past year based on key texts from the Bible pertaining to food, and to humankind's responsibilities for care of the earth, topics discussed by Davis in her recent book, "Scripture, Culture and Agriculture, An Agrarian Reading of the Bible."

The collaboration began in 2003 when Pettee sought help from Davis, an expert in ancient Hebrew, with his musical interpretations of the Psalms. The collaboration was moved along at a recent conference of Presbyterians for Earth Care, where Davis and Pettee "performed" their mix of Biblical exegesis and Pettee's folk-music interpretations at conference sessions.

The two decided that the time was ripe for a CD-booklet to further individual and group study of this timely and sadly neglected aspect of the Christian and Jewish spiritual traditions.

Donations will be accepted at the door and will be applied to the CD-booklet production. The first two FolkPsalm CDs will be available for purchase, and these proceeds also will go to aid the effort.

Congregation to mark Rosh Hashanah

Kol Haskalah, a Humanistic Judaism congregation (formerly Triangle Congregation for Humanistic Judaism) will hold Rosh Hashanah celebrations beginning on Friday, Sept. 18, the first day of Rosh Hashanah, the High Holy Days of the Jewish New Year.

On Friday from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Rabbi Miriam Jerris of Society for Humanistic Judaism will speak in the sanctuary at Eno River Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 4907 Garrett Road, in Durham.

On Saturday from 10:30 to noon, a children's service will be held, followed by potluck lunch for children and adults from noon to 1 p.m. in the fellowship hall at Eno River. Rabbi Jerris will lead an adult discussion from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

On Sunday at 10:30 a.m., Tashlikh, Duke Gardens. Meet at the gazebo. Rain date is Sept. 27.

For ticket information, call 968-7888 or www.kolhaskalah.org.

Faith and fellowship series begins

Wednesdays Together is a four-week series to nurture both faith and fellowship at United Church of Chapel Hill, 1321 Martin Luther Jr. Blvd.

Beginning today and continuing on Wednesdays through Oct. 7, the series is held from 5:45 to 7:30 p.m. and begins with a simple supper at 5:45 p.m.

The topic of the series is "Immigration and Building the Beloved Community: Sacred Conversations on Race." The classes will use the N.C. Council of Churches study guide "For You Were Once a Stranger: Immigration in the U.S. through the Lens of Faith" and invited speakers to lead the discussions.

Following is the schedule:

•Sept. 16: "Why are we Talking about Immigration?" Chris Liu-Beers, N.C. Council of Churches.

•Sept. 23: "What is the Immigrant Experience in North Carolina?" Hannah Gill, assistant director of the Institute for the Study of Americas.

• Sept. 30: "Story of Human Migration through Time and around the Globe." Mary St. John, Church World Service Refugee Resettlement.

•Oct. 7: "Politically Achievable Goals to Build the Beloved Community." Ilana Dubester interim director, El Centro Latino.

Vice moderator to preach

The Rev. Byron Wade, pastor of Davie Street Presbyterian Church in Raleigh and the vice moderator of the 218^th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA), will preach at Chapel in the Pines in North Chatham on Sunday, Sept. 20, at 10:30 a.m.

Chapel in the Pines Pastor Mindy Douglas Adams said, "Byron is a powerful speaker and a strong representative of the Presbyterian Church. He has a vision for the future of the church that is inclusive, progressive and gospel-driven. We look forward to having him with us on Sept. 20."

As a candidate for vice moderator, Wade wrote, "My hope for the Presbyterian Church is that we continue to be about the mission of Jesus Christ in the world today. Despite waning interest in organized religion, changes in society and various theological views within the church, I believe God's witness in the Scriptures and the believers who are the body of Christ called the church continue to be relevant."

Chapel in the Pines meets every Sunday for worship at 10:30 a.m. in the multipurpose room at North Chatham School, 3380 Lystra Road. Childcare is provided. Sunday school classes for adults, youth and children begin at 9:15 a.m.

"The church welcomes all without regard to gender, race, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability," said Pastor Adams.

Get further information about the church at www.citppc.org or by calling 950-0616.

Music retreat to be held Saturday

A music retreat with Dr. Mary Louise Bringle will be held on Saturday, Sept. 19, at 7 p.m. at United Church of Chapel Hill, 1321 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

Bringle is a scholar, author and hymn writer and will talk about musical praise over the past 100 years. She is the chair of humanities and professor of philosophy and religion at Brevard College where she has taught since 2000. She taught at St. Andrews Presbyterian College in Laurinburg previously.

Her scholarly work bridges the disciplines of theology and psychology. Winner of hymn-writing competitions internationally, her first singe-author collection of hymn texts, "Joy, and Wonder, Love and Longing," was published in 2002.

Call the church for further information about this retreat at 942-3540.