Zvi Bielski, son of World War II hero Zus Bielski, will present his father's story in a lecture on courage and triumph in the face of horror at two locations Friday.
Zus Bielski was one of three Russian brothers who fled to the woods to escape the Nazis during the war, where they built a village for rescued Jews. The Bielskis saved 1,250 men, women and children. Their story is told in the film "Defiance."
Zvi Bielski will speak from 5 to 6 p.m. Friday at the UNC Hillel, 210 W. Cameron Ave, Chapel Hill. He will also speak from 8:15 to 9:30 p.m. Friday at the Duke Freeman Center for Jewish Life, 1415 Swift Ave., Durham. Both talks are co-sponsored by Chabad of UNC and Duke and Jewish Life at Duke.
Awareness of life workshop in Bahama
BAHAMA -- The First United Metaphysical Chapel, 9602 Roxboro Road, Bahama, will host a Tom Nehrer workshop at 1:45 p.m. Sunday. Nehrer is the author of "The Essence of Reality: A Clear Awareness of How Life Works."
The workshop is designed to "illustrate techniques that allow us to reflect our inner nature, which in turn can break negative patterns in real life by changing old belief systems within our own thought patterns and exposing whatever fallacy may exist with the intent of clarifying our own reality."
The workshop aims to be thought-provoking and fun, particularly to the open-minded. Free. Nehrer's book will be for sale. For information, call the Rev. Connie Graddy at (336) 364-1733 or the First United Metaphysical Chapel at 471-0351.
Taize traditional service this Sunday
CHAPEL HILL -- United Church of Chapel Hill, 1321 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd., will host an ecumenical worship service in the Taize tradition at 7 p.m. Sunday.
The quiet, meditative service is named after an ecumenical community in Taize, France. All are welcome.
For information, contact UCCH at 942-3540, ucch@unitedchurch.org or www.unitedchurch.org.
Dinner discussion series at St. Luke's
DURHAM -- St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 1737 Hillandale Road, will begin a seven-week series of contemporary faith-based dinner table discussions Monday.
Held each week from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., the series is open to anyone interested in learning more about the Anglican/Episcopal tradition in an open and inclusive environment.
The series, called the "Via Media Project," aims to further North Carolina diocesan Bishop Michael Curry's call to create a place where all are welcome.
The cost is $30 for St. Luke's members, $15 for guests. Child care will be available. To register or for information, visit www.stlukesdurham.org or contact the Rev. Anne Hodges-Copple at 286-2273 or stlukeep@verizon.net; or Peach McDouall at 471-2734 or peachmcd@vertizon.net.
Heart healthy talk, dinner at Epworth
DURHAM -- In conjunction with its Wonderful Wednesday suppers, Epworth United Methodist Church, 3002 Hope Valley Road, will host a free presentation on "A Heart Healthy Diet" at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.
As part of its ongoing "A Healthier You" series, the event is sponsored by the UNC Wellness Center. The guest speaker is Judy Hinderliter. The community is invited.
Though walk-ins are welcome, call the church office at 489-6557 if you would like to attend.
Dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m. and will be chili, cornbread and dessert. It is sponsored by the Epworth UMC Chancel Choir. Dinner is $4 for adults, $2 for students and children, and free for children 4 and under.
Fun activities will be provided for children who attend with an adult. Reservations for dinner and/or nursery care are needed by 5 p.m. Monday.
Women's forum at Edgewood
DURHAM -- The Women's Ministry of Edgewood Baptist Church will present "Dream Big and Laugh a Lot" Conference from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 24 at Edgewood Baptist Church, 1807 Infinity Road.
The guest speaker is humorist and dramatist Renea Henderson. She uses characters to share comedy and motivational truths and insights to joyful living. She challenges her audience to dream big dreams, set high goals and pursue new horizons. The conference "shares dynamic truth, humor and inspiring music to encourage every heart." The program will be emceed by Robbie Ruffin. For information, contact the church at 471-2664 or www.edgewoodbaptist-durham.org.
Gethsemane homecoming
DURHAM -- Gethsemane Baptist Church, 906 S. Roxboro St., will hold its 89th Homecoming celebration Oct. 25 in honor of late pastor the Rev. V.E. Brown and the late First Lady Ocia M. Brown.
The theme is "Guiding God's People to Greater Things." The guest speaker at the 11 a.m. service is the Rev. Darius J. Jeffries of Faith Missionary Baptist Church in Cocoa, Fla. A homecoming meal will be served immediately following the service.
At 3 p.m., a gospel music program will feature the Sons of New Bethel, Mt. Vernon Baptist Male Chorus of Creedmoor, Mario Elam, the Reddish Family, Bell-Yeager Male Chorus, Markham Chapel Chancellor Choir, Carolyn Taborn Howard, Gethsemane Mass Choir and other choirs.
For information, call associate minister Gussie D. Thompson at 688-4262.
OctoberFest at RTP church
DURHAM -- RTP Community Church, 1727 Ed Cook Road, will hold OctoberFest from 6 to 11 p.m. Oct. 30. Come in costume.
The festival will include a Trunk or Treat, jumping towers, hay rides, pumpkin carving, make your own candy apples, bonfire and S'mores, father/son football game, fashion show, face painting, bratwursts, root beer, barbecue pork ribs, funnel cake, cotton candy, snow cones, pretzels and a bake sale. For information, call 596-4352 or (434) 851-9279.
Braggtown hosts Hallelujah Party
DURHAM -- Braggtown Baptist Church, 3218 Roxboro Road, will hold its annual Hallelujah Party from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31 in the church gym.
The alternative to Halloween event will include inflatable games, hot dogs, a cake walk, cotton candy and prizes. Come dressed up for a night of fun and fellowship for all ages. For more information, call 220-1166.
Anti-death penalty banquet
GREENSBORO -- People of Faith Against the Death Penalty, a nonprofit based in Carrboro, will hold its 15th anniversary awards banquet Nov. 7 in Greensboro.
Activist Jennifer Thompson-Cannino and exonerated Ronald Cotton will be the keynote speakers.
Greensboro resident Brian Goldberg, Greensboro's New Creation Community Presbyterian Church, Raleigh-based Justice Theater Project will receive awards. Keynote speakers are Jennifer Thompson-Cannino and Ronald Cotton, authors of "Picking Cotton," which tells the story of Thompson-Cannino misidentifying Cotton as the man who raped her when she was a student at Elon University. Cotton spent 11 years in prison before being exonerated.
PFADP's mission is to educate and mobilize faith communities to act to abolish the death penalty in the United States. It organizes public events on the death penalty and mobilizes thousands to action on the issue. Next year in Atlanta, PFADP will hold the first national conference on religious organizing against the death penalty this century.
For more information about the banquet or PFADP, visit www.pfadp.org or call 933-7567.
Send items for Belief Briefs to Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan at dvaughan@heraldsun.com.
