St. Titus Episcopal education forums

DURHAM -- St. Titus Episcopal Church, 400 Moline St., will host several guest speakers for its winter Christian education forums, held from 10 to 10:50 a.m. Sundays. The series begins Sunday with a discussion of Epiphany and cake with Deacon Sarah Woodard.

The remainder of the schedule topics and guest speakers: "Turning over a New Leaf in 2010 with Exercise and Nutrition" with Mary B. Wilson of Duke's Live for Life program on Jan. 10; no class Jan. 17; Barbara Lau, director of the Pauli Murray Project on Jan. 24; Piedmont Poet Laureate Jaki Shelton Green, on "Building Community Through Writing and Art" on Feb. 7; Leatrice Martin, health education specialist from Duke Heart Center on Feb. 14; Lisa Gwyther and Edna Ballard of the Duke Hospital Center for Aging, on "Growing Old Gracefully"; and Carolyn Colsher of Duke Home Care and Hospice, on "Preserving our Dignity" on Feb. 28. For information, call 682-5504.

Epiphany workshop at United Church

CHAPEL HILL -- United Church of Chapel Hill, 1321 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, will hold an Epiphany Intergenerational Workshop at 10 a.m. Sunday in its fellowship hall to observe the day the Magi gave their gifts to the newborn Jesus Christ.

The workshop will include stories, songs, crafts and king cake.

Bring your own cake or star-shaped treat to share. For information, visit www.unitedchurch.org or call 942-3540.

Mickey Efird lectures at Duke Divinity

HILLSBOROUGH -- Mickey Efird, professor emeritus of biblical interpretation of Duke Divinity School, will lead the Hughes Lecture Series at Hillsborough Presbyterian Church, 102 West Tryon St., in January for the third year in a row.

Efird taught at Duke for more than 40 years. His interpretation of "The Wisdom Literature of the Old Testament" is the subject of the new series, held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Mondays through Jan. 25.

A reception follows each lecture. Child care is provided. The public is invited. For information, visit www.hillsboroughpres.org.

Conflict resolution event in Chapel Hill

CHAPEL HILL -- The Dispute Settlement Center will hold a free training event, "Proactive Conflict Resolution: Assessment, Strategies, and Solutions" from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Jan. 12 at United Church of Chapel Hill, 1321 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. The center invites pastors, staff and lay leaders to combine practical skills with theological depth for Christians called to be reconcilers and peacemakers. The registration deadline is Tuesday.

Facilitators include the Rev. David Keck and the Rev. Joseph Hensley. Participants will receive training in conflict resolution techniques and learn how to partner with the Dispute Settlement Center to host trainings for their adult and youth members.

There will be a break-out session for pastors and church leaders working with youth, helping families deal with conflict and equipping leadership teams proactively. For information and to register, contact Keck at david.keck@yahoo.com or visit www.disputesettlement.org.

Class on working with at-risk youth

DURHAM -- The Renaissance Education Group's training initiative, The Solomon Institute: A Center for Public Work, will provide an information session from 1 to 4 p.m. Jan. 9 at Northgate Mall Office Area 6, 1058 W. Club Blvd., for faith- and community-based organizations interested in building skills to serve at-risk populations.

The at-risk populations include youth, elders, ex-offenders and their children, those in preparation for healthy marriages, homeless, substance abusers, and families in transition from welfare to work in the Durham, Chatham, Granville, Orange and Person counties.

RSVP to Walinda Turner at 416-1736 or wdturner@email.com.

Send items for Belief Briefs to Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan at dvaughan@heraldsun.com. The deadline is Monday for inclusion in Thursday's briefs.