Oak Ridge Today

Residents, pastors celebrate ‘In God We Trust’ signs on Anderson County Courthouse

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Bates Family of Lake City TN

The Bates family of Anderson County, including County Commissioner Zach Bates, left, and father and pastor Gil Bates, second from right, and mother Kelly Bates, right, sing “This Land is Your Land” and “God Bless America” during a Tuesday ceremony for new “In God We Trust” signs at the Anderson County Courthouse in Clinton.

CLINTON—In a ceremony that featured pastors, prayers, and patriotic songs, a group of about 150 people watched Tuesday morning as the first of four signs emblazoned with the national motto “In God We Trust” was unveiled at the Anderson County Courthouse in Clinton.

Supporters celebrated the installation of the seven-foot, 180-pound sign as a victory for the majority, a chance to honor the nation’s heritage.

“Whether you agree with this or disagree with this, the democratic process took place,” said Tom Byrge, director of missions for Clinton Baptist Association. “The majority of the U.S. citizens will continue to believe, and will not be ashamed to say, ‘In God We Trust.’” [Read more…]

Oak Ridge UU church has July 14 groundbreaking at new site

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Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church Site

The Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church will have a July 14 groundbreaking ceremony at its new 4.6-acre home in front of the Joe L. Evins Federal Building, at right in background, on Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Moving across town to make way for a new shopping center, members of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church will have a July 14 groundbreaking ceremony at their new home in front of the Federal Building on Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Church members announced in late February that they had purchased a 4.6-acre parcel at Oak Ridge Turnpike and Laboratory Road in front of the Joe L. Evins Federal Building, which is used by the U.S. Department of Energy Oak Ridge Office. They plan to be in a new building there by Thanksgiving 2014. [Read more…]

Free community meal at ORUUC this evening

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Homemade chicken and rice salad, granola bars, and watermelon will be served for the Stone Soup Ministry meal this evening. Anyone in the community is invited to this free meal from 5 to 6 p.m.

The Stone Soup Ministry meal is held the last Friday of every month, at the same time, in the Social Hall of the church. Food is provided by the ORUUC congregation along with financial support from several members of the community. [Read more…]

Green author, activist to speak Aug. 18 in Oak Ridge

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Bill McKibben

Bill McKibben

Bill McKibben, “the planet’s best green journalist,” according to Time magazine and author of a dozen books about the environment, will speak on fossil fuels and climate change in August in Oak Ridge.

The lecture will be at 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 18, at the Oak Ridge High School Performing Arts Center.

McKibben is a founder of the grassroots climate campaign 350.org, which has coordinated 15,000 rallies in 190 countries since 2009 and sponsored a 21-city “Do The Math” tour last fall. The “Do The Math” movie has been shown in numerous cities this past spring and several times at First Presbyterian Church of Oak Ridge, including by a new Secret City Sustainability group of college students. The movie is available online at 350.org. [Read more…]

First Presbyterian Church offers movie nights for middle-schoolers

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“Movie Nights” for Oak Ridge middle school students will be Friday, June 28, at First Presbyterian Church at the corner of Oak Ridge Turnpike and Lafayette Drive. The movie will be “Ramona and Beezus.”

Children ages 10 to 13 are invited to bring their friends to play table games, create crafts, and enjoy pizza and drinks, as well as watch the movie, from 6 to 9 p.m. during the second and fourth Friday of every month, a press release said. [Read more…]

‘Classical June’ at Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church starts Sunday

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Submitted

Always seeking to further the art and appreciation of classical music, Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church Director of Music Wendel Werner has announced that during the month of June various classical pieces will be the featured music during the 10 a.m. Sunday worship services. Everyone is invited to attend. ORUUC is located at 1500 Oak Ridge Turnpike in Oak Ridge.

Featured on June 2 will be a performance of “The Flower Duet” from Léo Delibes’ opera Lakmé sung by Saffron Mills and Anne Scott. On June 19, featured pieces by Schubert and Mozart will be sung by Saffron Mills. Services on June 16 and 23 will feature classical pieces played by Charlotte Bowers and will include some four-hands music played by Charlotte and her mother. On June 30, the feature pieces will be by Bach, Schumann, and Copland sung by Marti Messer. [Read more…]

Musicians to perform as coffeehouse opens second season Friday

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Sumner Byrne

Sumner Byrne

Guitars have been tuned, harmonies rehearsed and dance steps practiced in preparation for Friday’s opening of the second season of the Coffeehouse at First Presbyterian Church. The coffeehouse was started by college students last summer as a musical venue to enjoy together while raising funds for the Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge.

“We had no idea how much fun the coffeehouse events were going to be when we started last year,” said organizer Sumner Byrne, a college student at George Washington University. “It became clear that the young adult crowd needed a place to hang out, listen to some great music, and reconnect with friends who are normally away at school. [Read more…]

Remote Area Medical volunteer meeting in Clinton today

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First Baptist Church of Clinton will be the hosting a second Anderson County Remote Area Medical Expedition Sept. 21 thru Sept. 22 this year.  Their mission is to serve those in need of vision, dental, and medical services.

The Anderson County Remote Area Medical Clinic will be a free medical clinic supported by volunteers and donations. There is an informational meeting this evening for those interested in helping with the two-day event in September. [Read more…]

‘Sister Rolls the Dice!’ a sure bet to entertain

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Sister’s coming, so brace yourself—for an evening of good-hearted fun! The Ulster Project is hosting her newest comedy act, “Late Nite Catechism Las Vegas: Sister Rolls the Dice!” on Saturday, May 18, as the finale to their fundraiser. Sister will appear on stage to “instruct” the East Tennessee audience at St. Mary’s School gym, 327 Vermont Ave., Oak Ridge.

The Naples News calls the new show “sharp, witty and spectacularly brilliant.” [Read more…]

Ruth Queen Smith the featured speaker at Women’s Interfaith Dialogue today

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Ruth Queen Smith

Ruth Queen Smith

Ruth Queen Smith will be the featured speaker at a afternoon meeting today of the Women’s Interfaith Dialogue of Oak Ridge.

Her talk, titled “Ruth, Miriam and the Woman at the Well,” will focus on these prominent women, and how the cultural differences of all three are reflected in Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. Smith is a pastoral associate at John XXIII University Parish. [Read more…]

Homelessness forum on Saturday

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First United Methodist Church and Trinity Out-Reach Center of Hope, or TORCH, are hosting a forum on homelessness from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday.

The free forum will be at First United Methodist Church in Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

ORPD chief to talk to Women’s Interfaith Dialogue on Monday

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James T. Akagi

James T. Akagi

Oak Ridge Police Chief James Akagi will discuss vulnerable populations in the community on Monday.

Akagi will speak to the Women’s Interfaith Dialogue of Oak Ridge at 2 p.m. at Grace Covenant Church.

“He will explore various new ways we as citizens can help and will welcome suggestions from the attendees as well,” a press release said.

Akagi has been Oak Ridge police chief since July 2011. He is retired from the U. S. Drug Enforcement Agency as an assistant special agent in the Oklahoma City District Office, the press release said. He is a native of Kansas, where he formerly served as a police officer. [Read more…]