Oak Ridge Today

Free Block Party, Vacation Bible School at Central Baptist this weekend

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Central Baptist Church of Oak Ridge

There will be a free Block Party at Central Baptist Church in Oak Ridge on Saturday. Food, games blow-ups, and music will be provided, a press release said.

The Block Party is from 4-6 p.m. Saturday, June 6.

Central Baptist Church is located at 130 Providence Road.

Vacation Bible School will begin Sunday, June 7, from 6-8:45 p.m. and continue through Thursday, June 11. Classes will be held for all ages, nursery-adults. There will also be an adult Spanish speaking class.

Call (865) 483-7495 for more information or visit www.orcbc.org.

Car, truck, motorcycle show on Saturday to benefit Emory Valley Center

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Calvary Baptist Church and Emory Valley Center Car Show

Submitted photo

 

Calvary Baptist Church will have its first Car, Truck, and Motorcycle Show on Saturday, and the proceeds will be donated to support Emory Valley Center’s Capital Campaign.

The show is scheduled from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, June 6. Calvary Baptist Church is located at 163  North Jefferson Circle in Oak Ridge.

The show is free and open to the public, and it will include fun for the entire family, a press release said. A bounce house, crafts, and activities for children will be part of the day’s event in addition to the show and include local food vendors.

“Everyone is welcome and encouraged to come out and enjoy the variety of cars, trucks, and motorcycles featured in the show,” the press release said. “You can also help choose the winning entries by making a donation to your favorite vehicle. First-, second-, and third-place prizes will be awarded based on which vehicles generate the most ‘votes’ by the highest donations.” [Read more…]

ORUUC free community meal is Friday

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The Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church is inviting everyone to a free community meal on Friday, May 29.

The Stone Soup Ministry team will be serving a homemade meal of meatball and spaghetti soup, garlic bread, lemon bars, and fruit. Dine-in or take-out will be available in the ORUUC Social Hall from 5 to 6 p.m. The church is located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike in Oak Ridge.

Some nonperishable family friendly groceries will be available for free to anyone in need, a press release said. [Read more…]

Education: A path out of poverty

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Chris Whaley

Chris Whaley

“Education: A Path out of Poverty,” will be the theme of an interfaith luncheon at First Presbyterian Church of Oak Ridge at noon on June 5. Chris Whaley, president of Roane State Community College, will be the guest speaker.

The cost of the noon luncheon is $5, payable at the door. The luncheon is open to the public.

Admission to the talk is free. To make a reservation, call the church office at (865) 482-1318 or send an email to fpcadmin@comcast.net.

In the international development community, it is well-known that education is one of the most effective ways to improve the economic growth and potential of a country, a press release said. UNESCO reports that an additional year of schooling will raise income by 10 percent. [Read more…]

Free film on Friday looks at racial injustice, unconscious bias, prejudice

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Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church

A PBS film that looks at recognizing racial injustice and unconscious bias, bigotry, and prejudice will be shown at the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church on Friday.

The community is invited to join the ORUUC group Allies for Racial Equity for the free viewing of the PBS film “American Denial,” a press release said.

The showing will start at 7 p.m. Friday, May 15, in the Social Hall of the church, which is located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike in Oak Ridge.

Following the film there will be time for a guided conversation. The event will last until 9 p.m. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge church goes green

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ORUUC Solar Panels

Rows of solar panels on the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church roof as seen from Oak Ridge Turnpike. (Submitted photo)

 

By Angie Palau

Just in time for Earth Day, Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church is now an active Tennessee Valley Authority Green Power Provider.

The 20-kilowatt installation on the ORUUC sanctuary roof was completed in mid-April by Green Earth Solar, and the solar array has begun to generate clean power for the electrical grid. ORUUC is the first church in Oak Ridge to have solar panels, and indeed is one of the first non-residential buildings in town to have made this investment.

The project was fully funded by private donations from church members and friends and a grant from the ORUUC Endowment Fund. The configuration of the panels allows for expansion of its generating capacity in the future, something that ORUUC anticipates doing. [Read more…]

Church Women United to celebrate friendship, caregiving, human rights

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Anita Henderlight

Anita Henderlight will be honored at the May 1 program of Church Women United for her work in South Sudan. (Submitted photo)

Church Women United invites the public to its celebration of May Friendship Day on Friday, May 1, with a worship program entitled “Journey of the Caregiver.”

The program focuses on caregiving as a task entrusted to us by God.

CWU will also present its 2015 Human Rights Award to Anita Ayers Henderlight, founding director of Africa-ELI, which fosters gender equity, improved economic conditions, peaceful development, and strengthened leadership capacity in South Sudan.

The celebration will be held in the parish hall of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church at 212 North Tulane Avenue in Oak Ridge. Fellowship begins at 11:30 a.m., followed by a brief business meeting and the program at noon. A potluck lunch will be held afterward. Please bring something to share. [Read more…]

Children’s mental health film screening in Oak Ridge on May 7

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Sharon Boudreaux "Hear Our Voices" Poster

Sharon Boudreaux, member of the Grace Lutheran Church Mental Health Ministry team, puts up a “Hear Our Voices” poster. (Submitted photo)

 

In observance of National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day, the award-wining documentary, “Hear Our Voices: Transforming the Children’s Mental Health System,” will be shown at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 7, at the Pollard Auditorium on the Oak Ridge Associated Universities campus at 120 Badger Road. The screening is free and open to the public.

“Hear Our Voices” recounts the journeys of nine children and young people as they fight to overcome mental health issues and reach a place of recovery and wellness. Their stories are framed by comments from leading mental health professionals, who outline the need for change in children’s mental health care, a press release said.

As seen in the film trailer, one story features Naquisha, a 16-year old poet, who, “despite drive and ambition,” is held back by the mental health challenges of bi-polar and post-traumatic stress disorders. Given the opportunity to gather a network of support around herself, she is “taking control of her life and making plans for college and beyond.” [Read more…]

Friday fundraiser benefits Emory Valley Center

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Derrick Michael Tennant

Derrick Michael Tennant

A Friday fundraiser will benefit the Emory Valley Center’s Capital Campaign. Proceeds will benefit the ongoing campaign for a new building to better serve children and adults with disabilities in the community, a press release said.

The Knights of Columbus and St. Mary’s “Spring Love and Laughter” fundraiser is scheduled from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, April 24, in the St. Mary’s Church Gym. It will feature a full-course meal prepared by the organizations.

Tickets have sold quickly, but there are still some available for purchase for $40 each or $70 for two, the press release said. Attendees will be served their buffet-style meal by youth of St. Mary’s Church, laugh with featured inspirational speaker and professional comedian Derrick Michael Tennant, and have the opportunity to participate in a silent auction. [Read more…]

Nick Page to lead music workshop, free community sing at ORUUC on May 2

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Nick Page

Nick Page

Submitted

Anyone who enjoys singing is invited to be part of a vocal community with acclaimed song leader, composer, and author Nick Page at a workshop on Saturday, May 2 at the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church. The workshop entitled “So Much More than Music” will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 2, with a break for lunch from 12-1 p.m.

ORUUC is located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike in Oak Ridge. The cost to attend is $5 for non-ORUUC participants.

On Sunday, May 3, singers of every level are invited to come to a free community sing led by Page that will be held in the church sanctuary starting at 3 p.m. [Read more…]

Free Mental Health workshop at Grace Lutheran on Saturday

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Submitted

“Art Therapy and Mental Health” is an interactive and hands-on workshop that will be hosted by the Grace Lutheran Church Mental Health Ministry on Saturday, April 18, at 10:30 a.m.  The church is located at 131 West Gettysburg Avenue in Oak Ridge.

The workshop is free and open to the public.

The program will be presented by community counselors Emma C. Burgin and Amanda DeDiego, both of whom are doctoral students in counselor education at the University of Tennessee. [Read more…]

Neighborhood cleanup focuses on Highland View on May 2

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Keep Anderson County Beautiful T-shirt

Photo submitted by Mare Martell

Help put the unity back in commUNITY at this year’s neighborhood cleanup hosted by the Oak Ridge Police Department Community Resource Office, the Oak Ridge Neighborhood Watch Program, Keep Anderson County Beautiful, and Central Baptist Church.

All participants will rally in the big parking lot of Central Baptist Church at the Hillside Road side. Sign-in and equipment pickup starts at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, May 2. The event will run from 9 a.m.-12  p.m. This happens rain or shine.

If you have a particular area on which you prefer to focus your attention, please call one of the contact numbers to arrange for the pickup of the trash-filled bags. (The sign-in and equipment pickup applies even for the people who have special requested a particular area before May 2 by contacting Officer Brandan Sharp or Sharon Crane). [Read more…]