PHILLIPS POWDERHORN

Free Senior Lunch
The third Tuesday of each month senior citizens are invited to a luncheon at Ebenezer Lutheran Church, Cedar Ave. and 41st St. The luncheons begin at 12:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall (lower level). Following the meal there will be a short program of music and/or topics of interest and help to seniors. The parish nurse is available for blood pressure checks and consultation. A donation is optional, but first time attenders are always guests. For more information or for a ride, call the church office at 612-72200157. The next luncheon is Jan. 15.

Division of Indian Work Tutors
The Division of Indian Work is looking for responsible and caring adults to tutor American Indian children ages 5 to 17. The volunteer commitment is 1.5 hours a week for 10 to 12 weeks during after school hours. Tutors help children with any homework they may have. For more information contact Andrea Keezer through DIW’s Youth Leadership Development Program at 612-722-8722, x340.

Low-cost clothing
Salem Evangelical Free Church, 3101 14th Ave. S., invites the community to shop at the Clothes Closet every Tuesday, 10 a.m. until noon. Low-cost clothing and bedding are available.

Free Legal Clinic and Free Lunch
On the first Saturday of every month, Mount Olive Lutheran Church, 3045 Chicago Ave. S., hosts the Chicago Lake Legal Clinic at 10 a.m. which is followed by a free community meal at noon. The free clinic offers assistance with landlord/tenant, domestic, immigration and other problems.

Free Community Meal
Galilee Missionary Baptist Church, 3701 14th Ave. S., serves a free community meal from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. the fourth Thursday of the month. The January meal will be on the 24th. Everyone is welcome.

12-Step Recovery
A 12-step recovery group meets Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. at Central Community Church, 3041 4th Ave. S.


NOKOMIS

Martin Luther King Celebration
Oakland Avenue United Methodist Church, 4405 Oakland Ave. S., will host the 14th annual TRUST (church group) Service of Celebration of the Life and Words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at 5 p.m., Sun., Jan. 20. Vivian Jenkins Nelson, co-founder and president of Inter-Race Institute for Interracial Interaction, educator, author and recipient of the Governor’s Commendation for “Building Bridges between People,” will speak during the service.
A soup and sandwich supper will be served following the service. Questions? Call Nancy at TRUST, 612-827-6159.

YMCA Single Parent Family Days
Asbury United Methodist Church, 45th and Bloomington, will host Saturday events for single parent families from Jan. 12 through Mar. 16. Sponsored by the Hiawatha YMCA, the days will begin at 10 a.m., offering free classes, support, childcare and snacks. Call the church at 612-721-5025.

Jazz Brunch
Mount Zion Lutheran Church, 5645 Chicago Ave. S., will hold a jazz brunch Sun., Jan. 13, from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. The neighborhood is invited.

Free Wednesday Suppers
Asbury United Methodist Church, 4501 Bloomington Ave. S., serves free community suppers on Wednesdays at 5:45 p.m. right before evening activities at 6:30. Programs are as follows: Clock enthusiast Bill Gable will demonstrate decorative arts used on clocks in the early 19th century in America, Jan. 9; lawyer Gregg Collins will cover basic information about writing a will, Jan. 16; a video, “Understanding Worship,” will be shown Jan. 23 and Lynn Elling, founder and CEO of World Citizens, Inc., will talk about the peace sites established by the organization, Jan. 30. FFI about the menus or programs call the church at 612-721-5025 .

Lifelong Learning
St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, 4537 3rd Ave. S., offers various learning opportunities in January.
A 4-session series “Loving Touch Parent/Infant Massage” will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Mondays, Jan. 7 - Feb. 4.
A Bible study will explore Paul’s two letters to the Corinthians from 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesdays beginning Jan. 8.
A 12-part video series of “Canticle to the Cosmos” by Brian Swimme will take place at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays beginning Jan. 9. FFI call Katie at 651-639-6209, x3565.
A 3-session workshop designed to promote emotional and spiritual well being through re-programing unhealthy patterns and letting go of discomfort and stress will be held from 6:45 to 9 p.m. on Wednesdays beginning Jan. 9. FFI call Kathryn at 763-546-2786.
Journal and Memoir Writing for Spiritual Insight is a 4-week class held from 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursdays beginning Jan. 17 For cost information and to register call the parish at 612-823-8205.

Wednesday Luncheon
St. Helena’s Council of Catholic Women at St. Helena Catholic Church, 3204 E. 43rd St., is hosting a luncheon in Rowan Hall at noon on Wed., Jan. 23. The cost is $5. Everyone is invited.

MOPS Brunch (Mothers of PreSchoolers)
Mothers looking for encouragement, fun and friendship are invited to get together at MOPS meetings held at Crosstown Covenant Church, 5540 30th Ave. S.,9:15 - 11:30 a.m., the first and third Fridays of each month during the school year. Participants will take part in small group discussion, creative activities and instruction relating to womanhood, marriage, children and the home from a Biblical perspective. The cost per meeting is $3. Childcare is provided for children ages 5 and under. For more information, call the church office at 612-724-3601.

Dealing with Addiction
Minnehaha United Methodist Church, 3701 E. 50th St., hosts Overeaters Anonymous meetings Mondays at 10 a.m.; Adult Children of Sexually Dysfunctional Families meetings Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m.; Al-Anon, Mondays at 5:30 p.m.; Women’s Cocaine Anonymous, Tuesdays at 7 p.m.; and Recovering Couples Anonymous (childcare provided), Mondays at 6:30 p.m. FFI call 721-6231.

Asbury United Methodist Church, 4501 Bloomington Ave. S., holds Cocaine Anonymous meetings in the church parlor from 7:30 to 9 p.m. on Wednesdays. A Cocaine Anonymous recovery group for women will begin in January of 2002. Meetings will take place in the parlor at 7 p.m. on Tuesdays.


RIVERSIDE

Community Drop-in Resource Center
The Walter Ortman Resource Center, a collaboration between WuWa (the AIDS ministry Wake Up We’re Affected) and First Church of God, at 3149 35th Ave. S., was dedicated in December and will open to the public Mon., Jan. 14. It contains a resource library with information about the Christian faith, health and career choices. It will be staffed by WuWa founders, Don and Gerry Anderson, and will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tue. - Fri. WuWa provides support for families infected and affected with HIV and also information about HIV, AIDS, diabetes, STDs and Hepatitis C. FFI call WuWa at 612-729-2581. The number for the church is 612-721-2822.

Grief Support
The Minnehaha-Nokomis Grief Support Coalition’s Winter Series, “Understanding Grief and Loss,” will meet from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Mondays, Jan. 28 - Mar. 25, at Minnehaha Communion Lutheran Church, 4101 37th Ave. S. Registration and refreshments will be at 4:30. Anyone who has experienced the death of a loved one is encouraged to use this excellent neighborhood resource. Persons of all faiths are welcome! Each week a speaker will address an aspect of grief and/or share their own experience. Participants then meet in small groups. There is no fee. Call for a brochure or with questions: 612-724-3691.

Tutoring and Activities for Youth
Ebenezer Fellowship Seventh Day Adventist Church, 3418 E. Lake St., offers tutoring by trained teachers every Wed. from 6 to 7 p.m. for students in elementary and middle schools. On Saturdays, the youth ministry offers a place for youth to participate and feel good about themselves. Call 612-722-1890 for more information.

Martin Luther King Sunday
Minnehaha United Church of Christ, 4001 38th Ave. S. , will celebrat Martin Luther King Sunday on Jan. 20, 2002. There will be a program of spcial music, and te Rev. Ronald Bonner will preach. Minnehaha United Church of Christ is an Anti-Racist, open and affirming congregation. Sunday worship is at 10:30 a.m.

METRO AREA

Martin Luther King, Jr. Convocation
“Answering God’s Call” is the theme for the Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration, sponsored by ISAIAH, the ecumenical coalition of churches. It will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. (registration at 2:30), Sun., Jan. 13, at St. John the Baptist Church, 835 2nd Ave. NW, New Brighton. Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, co-founder of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and an organizer with Dr. King on the campaign to integrate Birmingham, Ala., schools, will speak. FFI/childcare reservations call 612-333-1260, x210.

Peace Exhibit
“Gandhi, King, Ikeda: A Legacy of Building Peace” is an exhibit that celebrates the lives of these peacemakers. It will come to Minneapolis in January. An opening ceremony will be held from 7 to 9 p.m., Mon., Jan. 14, at the Minneapolis Community and Technical College, 14th & Hennepin, downtown. FFI call Howard or Nancy at 651-647-1631.

Free Concerts
The Minnesota Sinfonia will feature music by Mozart and a performance by violinist Yang Zu, prize winner at the 1998 Menuhin Competition at a free concert, 2 p.m., Sun., Jan. 20, at the Basilica of St. Mary.
The Minnesota Youth Symphony will present a concert at 2 p.m., Sun., Jan. 27, at St. Luke Lutheran Church, St. Paul. Call 651-699-5811 for free tickets available on a limited basis.

Support Groups for Welfare-to-Work Women
Discover Support Groups were organized by the Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches to help Twin Cities mothers living on welfare find work. Most of the Discover groups are hosted in urban churches and are run with the help of volunteers from suburban churches.
Discover is not a job training program, but rather a network of support groups teaching self-worth and hope. From there the women begin to look ahead, set goals, and work toward those goals. In 2000, of the 142 mothers who enrolled in Discover, 42 found employment and 23 furthered their education.
Despite successes, coordinator of the program, Paris Gatlin, is concerned about the current employment climate. State economists report that corporate profits are down substantially and unemployment claims in Minnesota are up 80 percent from last year. State officials are watching Minnesota’s welfare rolls for a jump in both families who need first-time help and a return of former welfare-to-work success stories. For more information, contact Paris Gatlin at 612-721-8687, x564.

Responding to Tragedy
The United Methodist Committee on Relief is working with ecumenical partners to provide shelter materials for Afghan refugees in Pakistan. The UMCOR office in Tajikistan is preparing itself to help refugees arriving in that country from Afghanistan. UMCOR is also responding with various ministries to victims in New York City and on the east coast. Financial contributions can be made to UMCOR Advance #901025-3, “Love in the Midst of Tragedy.” To find out more about current UMCOR ministries, please visit the Web site: http://gbgm-umc.org/umcor.

Peace Vigils
Every Wednesday morning, from 7 to 8 a.m., a peace vigil is held at Alliant Tech. Every Wednesday, a nonviolent silent witness for peace meets at the St. Paul side of the Lake Street & Marshall Avenue Bridge from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. FFI call Friends for a Non-violent World at 651-917-0383.

Compiled by Elaine Klaassen