Peace Tax Fund Lobby Day May 16

The National Campaign for a Peace Tax Fund (NCPTF) is campaigning for the right of conscientious objectors to pay their full federal taxes without paying for the military. On May 16, 2001, as the culmination of a nationwide letter writing campaign, individuals will press their Representatives and Senators to recognize their freedom of conscience and religious practice by passing a bill to enact the Religious Freedom Peace Tax Fund Bill. The bill has been before congress for the past 28 years but has not been passed.

Marian Franz, executive director of the National Campaign for a Peace Tax Fund, said, "We hope that many more members of Congress will embrace these ideas during the 107th Congress, since they cost nothing and will facilitate the freedom of conscience and religion of all citizens."

Individuals may join in the lobby day in Washington D.C. or may write letters to their Representatives and Senators.

For further information on the Campaign for a Peace Tax Fund, contact M-Tax at Friends for a Non-Violent World (FNVW), 651-917-0383.

Religion and Labor Conference

The Twin Cities Religion and Labor Network, one of a growing number of organizations nationwide concerned about justice and opportunities for workers, will hold a conference on religion and labor at Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran church, 1669 North Arcade, St. Paul, Tue. and Wed., May 1 and 2. From our neighborhood, pastors at Bethany Lutheran (on Franklin Ave.), Minnehaha United Church of Christ and Walker Community United Methodist are on the steering committee of the Twin Cities Religion and Labor Network.

Keynote speaker Ms. Kim Bobo says, "Almost half of all new jobs pay less than $16,000 per year; these jobs cannot move families out of poverty. Congregations and faith-based organizations are on the front line of providing soup kitchens and shelters," she adds. "But increasingly, such groups want to be on the front lines of justice for workers so that people won't need soup kitchens and shelters to survive."

The keynote address will begin at 7 p.m. on May 1. Addresses and workshops will begin at 9 a.m. and conclude at 3:30 p.m. on May 2. For more information or to register, contact Bob Hulteen at 612-501-9186.

PHILLIPS
POWDERHORN

Graduation Celebration

A graduation celebration for Elder Keith T. Jenkins, pastor of the soon-to-be-completed Open Door House of Prayer at 28th St. & Portland Ave. S., will be held Thu., May 10, 7 p.m., at Christ Church International, Lake St. & 13th Ave. S.

Two Congregations Journey Together

Beginning Sun., May 13, Todos Los Santos congregation & St. Luke’s Lutheran congregation will worship together at 3751 17th Ave. S. There will be an English/Spanish service at 930 a.m., coffee at 10:30, a Spanish/English service at 11 and lunch after the last service. A joint committee from the two churches will meet throughout the summer to work out the details of the new emerging church organization. By fall they will have become one congregation and are expected to have a new name.

Music at Mount Olive

Mount Olive Music and Fine Arts at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, 3045 Chicago Ave. S., presents renowned guitarist Jeffrey Van in an afternoon recital Sun., May 20, 4 p.m. A free will offering will be taken to support the ongoing Music and Fine Arts Program. A nursery will be available during the performance and a reception will follow in the chapel lounge.

Summer Urban Academy For 1st Through 7th Graders

Calvary Lutheran Church, 3901 Chicago Ave., will hold its 2001 Summer Urban Academy from Mon., June 18 until Thu., July 26. Jointly sponsored by the Minneapolis Public Schools and the Crossroads Foundation, this six-week alternative summer school program focuses on life skills. Classes include reading and math, interest groups such as arts, music and computers, and self-development skills such as conflict solving, self-reliance, care for others and building a positive self-image. Each day students will have time for exploring biblical stories and worship.

Students are in class for four hours a day, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays. On Sunday mornings, students will use their leadership skills as part of the worship service.

To enroll, call the church office at 612-827-2504.

Jazz Coffeehouse

The Baha'is of Minneapolis, 3644 Chicago Ave. S., invite the public to their monthly coffeehouse night on Sat., May 12, 7:30 - 10:30 p.m. Performing this month is the Southside Jazz Ensemble. Refreshments are free.
The public is also invited to attend the regular Friday night presentation/discussion events beginning at 8 p.m. The topics change weekly.

Nordkap Male Chorus

St. Luke's Lutheran Church, 3751 17th Ave. S., presents a concert of Scandinavian and American Literature songs by the Nordkap Male Chorus and the Norwegian Male Glee Club, Sun., May 6, 4 p.m. A free will offering is planned. The building is handicapped accessible. FFI call 612-721-5021.

Food & Clothing

Park Avenue United Methodist Church, 3400 Park Ave. S., offers food and clothing through Cornerstone, open Tuesdays, noon - 4 p.m., and Thursdays, 1 - 5 p.m. Used clothing can be purchased for a small fee and food shelf items are available.

Salem Evangelical Free Church, 3101 14th Ave. S., operates the Clothes Corner, open every Tu., 10 a.m. - noon, selling low-cost clothing and bedding (10 cents or less). Refreshments are served. The neighborhood is welcome.

A Sunday meal, EAT (Eating All Together), is served at 12:15 p.m. Friends and neighbors are invited.

Mount Olive Lutheran Church, E. 31st St. and Chicago Ave. S.,
offers new and used school clothes at very low prices for people who obtain referrals from WIC, Salvation Army, a social worker or another church. The Clothes Closet is located in the church and is open Tuesdays, 10 - noon and 1 - 3 p.m.

A free community luncheon is served the first Saturday of every month at 12 noon.

Free Legal Clinic

Mount Olive Lutheran Church, 3045 Chicago Ave. S., will be the site for the Chicago Lake Legal Clinic, a free service offering assistance for landlord/tenant, domestic, immigration and other problems. The clinic will be open every 3rd Friday of the month from 1 to 3 p.m. Call Donna at 612-827-5919 with any questions.

NOKOMIS

Neighborhood Grief Support Group

Trinity Lutheran Church of Minnehaha Falls, 5212 41st Ave. S., is the site for the Minnehaha Nokomis Grief Support Group's spring series, "Coping With Grief and Loss," Mondays, April 16 - June 25 (no meeting on May 28), 5 - 6:30 p.m. (Refreshments and registration at 4:30.) This group is continuing in its second year to offer grief support to persons who have experienced the death of a loved one. Each weekly session begins with an educational presentation or personal story, followed by small group discussion and support. Nine area churches and CoAM sponsor this program. Persons of all denominations are welcome. There is no fee and participants may join at any time. For a detailed brochure and/or answers to questions, call 612-724-3691.

Blessing of the Animals

Lake Nokomis Lutheran Church, 5011 31st Ave. S., invites everyone to bring their pets to the main church doors on 31st Avenue for the annual Blessing of the Animals worship service Sun., May 6, 11 a.m.

Masterworks Chorale Concert

Lake Nokomis Lutheran Church, 5011 31st Ave. S., will host the Masterworks Chorale from Augsburg College in their spring concert Sun., May 6, 7 p.m.

CoAM Theater and Dinner

CoAM is an ecumenical consortium of 28 South Minneapolis congregations that draws on its own and community resources to minister with and to older adults of the South Minneapolis area.
Through CoAM, the cost for dinner, transportation and a New Fogey Follies production of Yours Truly, GI Joe is $39. The event will take place Fri., June 8, leaving from the Bethel Lutheran parking lot, E. 41st St. and 17th Ave. S., at 12:15 p.m. and returning around 5:30. The matinee will be at Plymouth Congregational Church and early dinner at the Chart House in Lakeville. To join the tour call 612-721-5786.

Jumpin' Jehosophats

Mount Zion Lutheran Church, 57th St. and Chicago Ave. S., invites Twin Cities Single Lutheran Adults to a program featuring the musical group Jumpin' Jehosophats, Fri., May 4, 8 p.m. Instrumentalists and singers perform traditional jazz with sounds of a New Orleans Dixieland band, gospel, jazz and a few originals. A $5 donation is requested. Doors open at 7:30.

MinneHarvest
Minnehaha United Methodist Church, 3701 E. 50th St., offers a MinneHarvest of free groceries--surplus perishables such as produce and breads--the fourth Sat. of each month, 9 - 10:30 a.m.

RIVERSIDE

Women's May Friendship Day

St. James AME Church, 3600 Snelling Ave. S., will host a meeting of Church Women United in Greater Minneapolis, Sat., May 5, 10 a.m. Church Women United is an ecumenical grassroots movement of Christian women in the United States and Puerto Rico focusing on prayer, Bible study, advocacy and action. Out of their concern about the pervasiveness of racism, Christian women in Minneapolis will gather to worship, pray and call for an end to racism as part of their annual observance of May Friendship Day. The $5 cost will include lunch. FFI contact Alyce Lee, 763-561-8853.

Simple Living

Minnehaha United Church of Christ, 4001 38th Ave. S., has organized a Simple Living Group, for those interested in frugal living or just simplifying their hectic lives, which meets the first Wed. of the month, 7 p.m. Call the church at 612-729-7556 for more details.

METRO AREA
Community Alternatives to Violence Workshop
A basic level Alternatives to Violence Project AVP) workshop will be held Fri. through Sun., June 22 - 24, at Paz Christi Catholic Community, 12100 Pioneer Trail, Eden Praire.


The experiential workshops, based on experience developed over a period of 25 years, the use games, discussions, exercises and role-plays to develop conflict resolution skills and explore non-violence as a way of life. Sessions run from 6 - 9 p.m. on Friday, 9 - 9 on Saturday, and noon - 6 p.m. on Sunday. Call Friends for a Non-Violent World (FNVW) 651-917-0383 or Susan at Pax Christi, 952-941-3150, for more information.

Temple of Aaron Spiritual Support

Temple of Aaron Synagogue, 616 S. Mississippi River Blvd., St. Paul, offers "Learner's Minyan" spiritual education, Saturdays, May 5 & 12, 9:10 - 10 a.m.; "Erev Shabbat Live," a lively service, on Fri., May 18, 8 p.m. and a special Young Family Sabbath service on Fri., May 25, 7 - 7:30 p.m. before the Sabbath service at 8 p.m. The public is invited.

Introduction to Judaism

Temple of Aaron Synagogue, 616 S. Mississippi River Blvd., St. Paul, begins its spring session of "Introduction to Judaism" on May 9 and continues on Wednesdays from 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. for a total of 18 sessions. This is free and open to adult men and women of any race, color, national origin or religion. The class is designed for all who are interested in the Jewish experience as well as the basic tenets of the Jewish faith. Co-Senior Rabbis Jonathan Ginsburg and Julie Gordon will lead the study and discussion of the Jewish life cycle, holidays, the Sabbath, Jewish history and concepts such as Zionism, anti-Semitism and the rise of the American Jewish community. For registration, information and materials, call the synagogue at 651-698-8874.

MICAH Annual Meeting

The Metropolitan Interfaith Council on Affordable Housing will hold its annual meeting Thu., May 31, 7 - 9 p.m. at the Skyline Tower, 1247 St. Anthony, St. Paul (just north of I-94 near Lexington Pkwy). MICAH takes action to insure that everyone in our community has a decent, safe and affordable place to live. Its 100 members include Protestant, Catholic, Jewish and Islamic congregations and housing organizations. FFI call 612-871-8980 or check out the website at www.micah.org.

compiled by Elaine Klaassen

Calendar deadline for the Phillips-Powderhorn Edition of Southside Pride (Elliot Park to 42nd St. and 35W to Hiawatha) is the 20th of the month. It will be delivered the first Monday and Tuesday of the following month.

Please direct Religious News & Events comments, story ideas or advertising inquiries to Elaine Klaassen at Fax: 822-0342 or phone 612-729-8540.