In recognition of National Hunger Awareness Day, Food Bank of Alaska has invited members of the Alaska faith community to come together to celebrate local people who are fighting hunger. Local food pantries will share inspiring stories about their mission to end hunger here. Alaska Theatre of Youth will perform a monologue on hunger. The program will take place 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at God's Greater Holy Temple, 12601 Old Seward Highway. To R.S.V.P., call Ruth Riley-Elvsaas, 272-3663, or e-mail rrileyelvsaas@foodbankofalaska.org.

Baptist Temple will salute Armed Forces

The Memorial Day service at Anchorage Baptist Temple will be a salute to the Armed Forces during the 11 a.m. Sunday service at 6401 E. Northern Lights Blvd. There will be patriotic music, an honor guard and a special program. All active duty military members and retirees are encouraged to wear their uniforms. The evening service at 6 p.m. will include observance of the Lord's Supper. More information is available via the church office at 333-6535 or at www.ancbt.org.

Missionary Conference meeting continues

The Alaska Missionary Conference of the United Methodist Church will have its annual meeting through Sunday in Anchorage. One of the highlights will be the chartering service for the Samoan Fellowship at Turnagain United Methodist Church. The church has been meeting for eight years at Turnagain under the leadership of the Rev. Sailitai Maga. The two congregations have shared the facility and benefited from the cultural interaction. With the formal chartering, the congregation looks forward to striking out on its own. Meanwhile, it will continue to meet at Turnagain as plans develop.

Bishop Ed Paup will preach at the combined worship service at 10 a.m. Sunday at 3300 W. Northern Lights Blvd. The bishop, members of the Superintending Team and those attending will gather for a brunch immediately following the service.

Installation service includes seminars

The Alaska District Council, affiliated with the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, will have an installation service and first council session Thursday through June 5. Day seminars with the theme "Partners in Ministry" will run 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Sheraton Anchorage Hotel, and evening services will be at 7 p.m. at Abbott Loop Community Church. The event will include a special installation service at 7 p.m. Friday at Abbott Loop. Bishop Nathaniel J. Davis Sr. of Seattle and his son, Suffragan Bishop Thomas E. Davis of Christ Temple Ministries, will participate. Speakers include Bishop Carl Stewart of Inglewood, Calif.; Bishop James Tyson of Indianapolis; Bishop A. Glenn Brady of Youngstown, Ohio; and Bishop Theophilus Price of California. Registration fee for the conference is $5. There is a $10 charge for a congratulating breakfast at 8 a.m. June 5 at Sheraton Anchorage Hotel. For information, call 223-3904.

Crusade comes to West High

Lighthouse Christian Fellowship will host the Rev. Mason Betha, formerly known as the musical artist MA$E, for a talk and service at 7 p.m. Friday at West High Auditorium, 1700 Hillcrest Drive. Doors open at 6 p.m. The event, part of Betha's 50-state crusade, is free and open to the public. Betha is the founder and pastor of S.A.N.E. Church International and Mason Betha Ministries in Atlanta. For information, call 1-877-477-7263 or visit www.masonbetha.org.

St. Mary's moves to summer schedule

On Sunday, St. Mary's Episcopal Church will mark the Feast of Pentecost, the descent of the Holy Spirit. To commemorate the miracle of hearing the Gospel in many tongues, parishioners will present scripture readings for the day in different languages. To honor the festive spirit of Pentecost, children will walk in procession with colorful streamers and banners, and parishioners are encouraged to wear the color red, which is associated with Pentecost in the Episcopal Church.

Sunday marks the beginning of the St. Mary's Episcopal Church summer schedule. The new schedule offers three Sunday services: 8 a.m. (traditional service, no music), 10 a.m. (contemporary worship, music by one of church's three music groups) and 6 p.m. (contemplative, contemporary worship, no music). All services will be in the main sanctuary of the church at the corner of Lake Otis Parkway and Tudor Road.

Lama plans June visit to Alaska

His Eminence Shyalpa Rinpoche will give a public talk "Ngondro Transmission: An Introduction to Dzogchen Teachings," at 7 p.m. June 24 at Loussac Library's Wilda Marston Theater. He also will teach the last weekend of June at IASC/Mahayana Center for Tibetan Buddhism.

"The Secret Essence of Padmasambhava" terma (or "treasure text") was originally hidden with the intention that it be uncovered when it would have the greatest power and relevance. It was rediscovered three generations ago and ultimately transmitted to Rinpoche.

To register, call Rena Fohr in Bradford, Pa., 1-814-368-9900 or e-mail Teachings2004@hotmail. com. For more information, call 344-5533 or e-mail spiritma@iasc-ak.org.

Priests to celebrate 25th anniversary

The Rev. Leo Desso, the Rev. Daniel Hebert and the Rev. Michael Shields will celebrate the 25th anniversary of their ordination to the priesthood with a Mass of Thanksgiving at 7 p.m. Wednesday at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, 2111 Muldoon Road. All are welcome to attend the Mass and a reception following in the parish hall.

Shields, who has served for 10 years at the Nativity of Jesus Mission in Magadan, Russia, is in town through June 11. He will serve a memorial Mass for his mother, Betty Shields, on Thursday at St. Anthony Catholic Church. He also will celebrate the daily 9 a.m. Mass at the monastery, a Jubilee Mass Wednesday at St. Patrick Church in Anchorage and will make visits to churches in Wasilla, Palmer and Valdez. In addition, he has put out a call for acoustic guitars for young musicians in Russia; to donate, call Jim Durand, 345-4591.

Grandview plans music for the soul

Grandview Baptist Church will present a concert of worship, praise and drama with Destiny, a music ensemble from Multnomah Bible College in Portland, Ore. It will perform "Praise is the Language of Faith" at 11 a.m. Sunday at 1300 Columbine St. The program is free. Also, the church will sponsor a free vacation Bible school, 9 a.m. to noon June 7-11. (276-6027)

St. Mark Lutheran celebrates Pentecost

St. Mark Lutheran Church's congregation will celebrate Pentecost at its 8:30 and 11 a.m. Sunday services at 3230 Lake Otis Parkway. The Gospel lesson will be read by congregational members in nine languages. All are welcome.

Pentecostal church hosts Power Sunday

Power Sunday will be celebrated on Pentecost at Eastside United Pentecostal Church, with services at noon at the church on the corner of Bragaw Street and Fourth Avenue. The service will include anointed singing, worship and preaching, with luncheon served afterward. For information, call 332-1524.

Vacation Bible school registration begins

Registration is under way for vacation Bible school at First Presbyterian Church. The theme is "Catch the Son and Share God's Light!" The program runs 9:30 a.m. to noon June 7-11. Early drop-off for working parents is available at 7:45 a.m. Registration forms are available in the Narthex or call the church office at 272-6411.

Sunday services will be at 8:15 and 11 a.m. (traditional worship) and 9:30 a.m. (contemporary worship) at the church, 616 W. 10th Ave. The Rev. Peter Loughman will continue his series on spiritual renewal with the sermon "Five Smooth Stones" about how God uses the little we have to overcome the impossible. The Scripture will be 1 Samuel 17:38-58.

Blanchett to be ordained next week

The Rev. Dave Blanchett will be ordained June 6 at Christ Church Episcopal. This weekend, members will observe the Day of Pentecost with Holy Eucharist Rite II at 10:30 a.m. in the building behind Black Elk Leather at 8050 Old Seward Highway. Blanchett will give the sermon and the Rev. Gayle Nauska will be the celebrant. The church is sponsoring the Endless Summer Rummage Sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. each Saturday of June. For more information, call 345-7914.

Jewish center offers Camp Gan Israel 2004

Camp Gan Israel 2004 is being offered by Lubavitch Jewish Center of Alaska for elementary school-age children. The camp is 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday, June 7-18 at Rogers Park Elementary School, 1400 E. Northern Lights Blvd. The program will include field trips for water activities, hikes, horseback riding, songs, games, cooking, storytelling, art activities, swimming, gymnastics and basketball. For information, call camp director Esty Gerenberg, 279-1200.

ONGOING ACTIVITIES

Unitarian Universalist

Matt Zencey and Nathan Zencey will speak on "To Tununak and Back," about Nathan's experience with the Rose Urban-Rural Exchange program, at the 9 a.m. Sunday meeting of Anchorage Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 3201 Turnagain St. The 10:45 a.m. program is "Memorial Day: The Good and the Bad" by William Jamison, professor of philosophy and president of the fellowship's board of directors. Child care is available at 9 a.m. Religious Exploration program for children and youths is at 10:30 a.m. (www.anchorageuuf.org)

Christian Science

"Resolving Conflict God's Way" will air from 8:30 to 9 a.m. Sunday on the Christian Science Radio Sentinel, KBYR Radio (700 AM).

The Christian Science Church service is at 10 a.m. Sunday at 1347 L St. Sunday school for young people up to age 20 is at the same time. Wednesday meetings at 7:30 p.m. include scriptural selections and testimonies of healing. The church in Wasilla has services at the same time at Mile 46 Parks Highway.

The Christian Science Reading Room in the Anchorage 5th Avenue mall is open daily for study and prayer.

THIS WEEK

May 29: Death of Baha'i prophet Baha'u'llah in 1892

May 30: Pentecost, in both the Eastern and the Western traditions of the Christian Church

May 31: Our Lady, Queen of Heaven

June 3: Full Moon (Rose/Berry Moon)