Singles coffeehouse has grand opening tonight

By PHIL ANDERSON

The Capital-Journal

Topeka's newest singles Christian coffehouse will have its grand opening from 7 to 10 p.m. today, when Joel and Kreg, "The Two Classics," perform at JC's Place, 835 S.W. Fairlawn.

The coffeehouse is affiliated with Trinity Baptist Church of Wamego and the Kansas-Nebraska Convention of Southern Baptists. Call 272-9195.

Acapella, a nationally known Christian music group, will be in concert at 7 p.m. today at Wanamaker Woods Church of the Nazarene, 3501 S.W. Wanamaker. The concert is sponsored by the church and Christian radio station KJTY-FM, "Joy 88." There is no charge for admission and a freewill offering will be received.

Julie Russell of Kansas City, Kan., will perform her dramatization "A Pretty Good Mother After All: A Drama for These Times of Growing Income Disparity" at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Topeka, 4775 S.W. 21st.

Russell is co-founder of the Kansas City Servant Leadership School and is board president of Kansans Respond, a statewide organization which educates citizens about economic insecurity, poverty and the plight of the poor.

A faculty member of the Department of Sociology at the University of Missouri at Kansas City, Russell walked across Kansas in the summer of 1998 to draw attention to the struggles facing the poor as a result of welfare-reform initiatives.

The Topeka Youth Players of the Helen Hocker Center for the Performing Arts will present "The Game of Life," a stage production about issues teenagers face, including divorce, acceptance, peer pressure and puberty, at 4 p.m. Sunday at First Congregational Church, 1701 S.W. Collins.

Amy Sander is the play's director. Characters portray themselves and speak directly to the audience. A question-and-answer session follows the play.

Youths ages 8 and older and their parents and grandparents are encouraged to attend. Cookies and punch will be served at the play's conclusion.

The Dove Award-nominated Christian rock group Skillet will be in concert with opening acts State of X and The Elms at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 20 at Western Hills Baptist Church, 2900 S.W. Auburn Road.

Skillet, a Memphis-based band which records on the Ardent- ForeFront label, plays electronica-rock which centers on worship. Its last album, "Hey You, I Love Your Soul" received critical acclaim and charted at No. 8 in the 1998 CCM Year in Review. The group's next album "Invincible" will be released in February. Visit Skillet on the Internet at www.skillet.org.

Tickets for the program are $5 each and are available at the door or in advance at: Christian Book and Gift, 1930 S.W. Wanamaker; RJ Carr's Family Bookstore, 2121 S.W. Fairlawn Plaza Drive; and at Chic- fil-A in West Ridge Mall, 1801 S.W. Wanamaker.

Renovation at Topeka Bible Church will move the congregation's Sunday worship services to the Ramada Inn Downtown, 420 S.E. 6th, beginning Nov. 21.

Two services will be held at the downtown hotel, at 9 and 10:50 a.m., while renovation work proceeds. The project will increase seating in the church's auditorium, widen the platform, improve access and expand the lobby.

During the renovation period, the infant nursery and Sunday school classes for children through adults will be offered at 9 and 10:50 a.m. at the church's main campus at 1101 S.W. Mulvane.

After the renovation project is completed in March, worship services will move back to the church's main auditorium. Call 234- 5545 for more information.

Topeka photographer and poet Gloria Hunter and Annette Norris, a social worker with Shane M. Jones and Associates, will be the featured speakers at a sexual abuse seminar at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 21 at Northland Christian Church, 3102 N. W. Topeka Blvd.

The program is designed for individuals who have been victims of sexual abuse. Call 386-2220 for more information.

The 19th annual Community Thanksgiving Service sponsored by Interfaith of Topeka will be held at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 21 at West Side Christian Church-Disciples of Christ, 432 S.W. Lindenwood. The theme of the program is "United in Gratitude," and reflects the opportunity of members of Topeka's diverse faith communities to join together to express thanks to God for their many blessings.

The program will feature a community choir, which will sing John Rutter's arrangement of "For the Beauty of the Earth." Anyone wishing to participate in the choir can attend a rehearsal from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at West Side Christian Church. Call 272-4387 or 234- 0469 for more information on the choir.

Religious holidays and events this week: Sunday --- International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church; Sunday through Wednesday --- Second World Congress of Families; Wednesday through Nov. 20 --- General Assembly of United Jewish Communities; Thursday through Nov. 20 --- International "Conference on Prayer and Spiritual Warfare."

Religion scene

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