Religion briefs
BY BILL SHERMAN World Religion Writer
Saturday, October 13, 2012
10/13/12 at 3:11 AM
Tulsa dentist collecting items for mission trip
A Tulsa dentist is collecting vitamins, used prescription eyeglasses and new toothbrushes to take to underprivileged communities in Mexico.
Dr. Bert Johnson will collect the items 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday through Oct. 25 at his office at 4715 E. 91st St., suite 110.
A group of medical professionals will leave Nov. 7 to take the items to Rio Bravo, Mexico, on a medical missions trip organized by Asbury United Methodist Church.
Tulsa World reporter earns third-place honor
Bill Sherman, religion writer for the Tulsa World, won third in the nation in the annual Cornell Religion Reporter of the Year contest for midsized newspapers, sponsored by the Religion Newswriters Association.
Peggy Fletcher Stack of The Salt Lake Tribune won first, and Bob Smietana of The Tennessean won second.
Awards were announced last week at the Religion Newswriters Association annual conference in Bethesda, Md.
Church uses chalk to address human sex trafficking issue
Kirk of the Hills Presbyterian will write a web address in chalk on sidewalks and parking lots around town Saturday to promote awareness of the human sex trafficking issue.
The website is shes13.com, sponsored by Oklahomans Against Human Trafficking.
"As a church we have committed to work toward the eradication of slavery around the world. Making people aware of the problem is the first step," said Wanda H. Satrom, with Kirk's human trafficking team.
Broadway actor to star in church's '70 x 7' drama
Broadway actor and former Tulsan Erick Devine will star in an original theatrical production "70 x 7" at 7 p.m. Saturday at Christ United Methodist Church, 3515 S. Harvard Ave.
"70 x 7" is a historical drama set in the last days of Jesus Christ.
Devine, who will play the disciple Peter, graduated from the University of Tulsa and appeared on Broadway in the original productions of "Cats," "Ragtime," "Sid Caesar & Company" and "Seussical."
Temple Israel holds its Shalomfest on Sunday
Shalomfest, Temple Israel's annual celebration of Jewish food, music and culture, will be held noon-6 p.m. Sunday.
The event at 2004 E. 22nd Place will include life-cycle demonstrations: Torah at 1:30 p.m., Bat Mitzvah at 2:30 p.m., wedding at 3:30 p.m. and shofar at 4:30 p.m.
The festival will also have the sale of baked goods, jewelry, books and food; live music; tours of the synagogue; and games and crafts for children.
Church's expansion project to hold groundbreaking
Harvard Avenue Christian Church, 5502 S. Harvard Ave., will break ground after the 10 a.m. service Sunday for a $9 million renovation and expansion.
"The Next Chapter" building project will add a life center with a gymnasium and a two-story education wing. The existing sanctuary will be expanded and renovated.
Ex-St. Louis Cardinals headline golf tourney
Former St. Louis Cardinals baseball players Ryan Franklin, Andy Van Slyke and Rick Horton will be among the celebrity players at the Operation Hope Charity Golf Tournament on Oct. 22.
The tournament will be held at Tulsa's MeadowBrook Country Club, hosted by Tulsan Bob Carpenter, broadcaster for the Washington Nationals and the University of Oklahoma men's and women's basketball teams.
The tournament will raise money for the Tulsa-based Operation Hope, which provides mentoring, employment, housing and transportation to people being released from prison.
For more information, call Libby Meyer at the MeadowBrook Country Club, 918-252-4121.
