SPIRITUAL LIFE IN BRIEF

Published Saturday, September 20, 2008

Local church slates political discussion

Missouri United Methodist Church will hold "Civil Dialogue in an Election Year - A Listening Circle Conference" from 2:30 to 5 p.m. tomorrow for the Friends of Peace Studies’ Faith and Education Collaborative’s eighth community conference at 204 S. Ninth St.

Sarah Reed, president of the Communications Center, will be the keynote speaker. This will be followed by small group listening circles that will include people from different faiths, backgrounds and political beliefs.

This is an opportunity for members of the Columbia community to learn skills to help promote civil political discussions. The cost is $5 per person and registration is required. Send check payable to MUMC, c/o the Rev. Otto Steinhaus, 904 Red Oak Lane, Columbia, Mo., 65203. For more information, contact Steinhaus at osteinhaus@mchsi.com or 442-6886.

Episcopal Church honors new rector

Calvary Episcopal church welcomes the Rev. Paula Robinson to the church in a ceremony at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the church at 123 S. Ninth St.

Originally from Belfast, Ireland, Robinson, "the Rev. Paula," is the first female rector at the church. She has been at the Columbia church since March, and before that she served at St. Andrews in Leonardtown, Maryland.

The Rev. George Smith will preside over the "Celebration of a New Ministry" and a reception will follow in the parish hall.

Karis to clean up downtown graffiti

Karis Community Church will head up a third Downtown Graffiti Clean-Up effort next Saturday. Interested residents should meet at 9 a.m. at the Cherry Street Artisan, Ninth and Cherry Streets, to join the project.

The project - just before the Roots ’N Blues ’N BBQ Festival on Oct. 3 and 4 - is a part of Karis’ growing Shalom initiative giving residents opportunities to serve the city, particularly in the downtown area. The church meets at 10 a.m. Sundays in the Missouri Theatre Center for the Arts, 203 S. Ninth St. For more details, visit www.karischurch.org or www. seekshalom.org. Or contact Rob Gaskin at rob@karischurch.org or 529-0909.

Mormons move to Germany

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) - The Mormon church has consolidated its European headquarters to Germany as it undertakes a bid to increase its membership.

In August, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints consolidated its former western European head office in Birmingham, England, with its central European offices in Frankfurt in Germany.

More than half of the Salt Lake City-based church members live outside the United States, with about 450,000 members living in Europe.