Oak Ridge Today

Knoxville attorney to discuss women’s suffrage

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Wanda Sobieski

Wanda Sobieski

Knoxville attorney Wanda Sobieski will discuss women’s suffrage during a presentation next week.

The presentation, which is free and open to the public, is titled “The Legacy and Challenges of Women’s Suffrage.” It starts at 10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 7, at Grace Covenant Church at 320 Robertsville Road in Oak Ridge.

Sobieski, who has been deeply involved in the effort to recognize and honor the early 20th century suffragists that won for women the right to vote, will show images from that time and discuss their struggles, relating them to the important contributions of Tennessee women, a press release said. [Read more…]

Forum next week to focus on separation of church and state

Posted at
By 2 Comments

Paul Sharkey

Paul W. Sharkey

The separation of church and state will be the focus of a forum and panel discussion next week in Oak Ridge.

The forum starts at 2 p.m. Sept. 9 at Grace Covenant Church in the Trinity Center on Robertsville Road. It will be led by Paul W. Sharkey, a professor emeritus of philosophy and religion, a press release said.

Sharkey’s presentation is titled “Separation of Church and State: Protect Your Religious Freedom.” He will discuss the country’s founders and their position on the issue, the Constitution’s First Amendment, and the challenges to the amendment that have continued from colonial times to the present day, the release said. [Read more…]

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

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

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…]

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

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

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…]

Women’s Interfaith Dialogue discusses discriminatory and prejudicial thinking Monday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The Women’s Interfaith Dialogue of Oak Ridge will discuss “Discriminatory and Prejudicial Thinking” during a Monday meeting at Grace Covenant Church.

The presenter will be Michele DeRieux. DeRieux has almost 15 years as a certified trainer for the National Coalition Building Institute, an international organization for mediating conflict and celebrating diversity, a press release said.

[Read more…]

Free community meal at Grace Covenant, homeless invited

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

As part of an effort to count homeless individuals and families for the Jan. 24 “Point In Time Count,” or PITC, a free community meal at Grace Covenant Church at 5 p.m. Thursday is open to community members who are homeless, a press release said.

The dinner is being organized by Trinity Outreach Center of Hope, or TORCH, a new nonprofit working to support the most economically challenged in our area and leading the Jan. 24 homeless count in Anderson County.

[Read more…]

Christmastide Choir Festival at First Presbyterian Sunday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

A Christmastide Festival, featuring four church choirs, will be held at 6 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 6, at First Presbyterian Church, Oak Ridge Turnpike at Lafayette Drive. The public is invited.

In addition to the First Presbyterian choir, the choirs from the Grace Covenant, First United Methodist, and Unitarian Universalist churches in Oak Ridge are also singing.

Christmastide is traditionally the period from Christmas Eve to Epiphany, which falls on Jan. 6. This Christian feast day, the last of the Twelve Days of Christmas, commemorates the visitation of the Three Magi (three wise kings) to the Baby Jesus.

It also celebrates the revelation of God the Son as a human being in Jesus Christ, said the Rev. Sharon Youngs, pastor at First Presbyterian Church.

Annual Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service at UU Church on Sunday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church will host an annual Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service on Sunday.

“Clergy and congregations from four area churches will participate in the service to share the simple, yet universal message of ‘giving thanks’ and to lift up the call anew to care for each other and our neighbors,” a press release said.

It said each church has prepared a special musical offering for the service. Participating churches include Spurgeon Chapel AME Zion Church, Grace Covenant Church, Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, and First United Methodist Church.

Everyone who can should bring a non-perishable food item to give to area food banks.

A dessert social will be held after the service in the church Social Hall. The church is at 1500 Oak Ridge Turnpike, and the service starts at 6 p.m.

For more information, call the ORUUC office at (865) 483-6761.