Calvary

Gonzaga will have to choose a different kind of foot apparel this season, because the Bulldogs won't qualify for a glass slipper come March. A Cinderella team that reached the Elite Eight as a No. 12 seed in 1999 and the Sweet 16 as a No. 10 the previous two seasons, Gonzaga is currently ranked 13th in the country, its highest-ever regular-season ranking. "Based on what we've done in the NCAA tournament the past few years and what we've done this year, it would be a joke to be a Cinderella team or a bracket-buster," Gonzaga coach Mark Few said earlier this week.

Calvary Methodist plans events based on spiritual book Calvary United Methodist Church will begin a 40 Days of Purpose Campaign tomorrow that will end Nov. 23. The campaign is based on the book The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. Calvary will kick off the campaign with a tailgate party at 11:30 a.m. at the church, 301 Rowe Blvd. in Annapolis, and a national simulcast will be held from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. During the campaign, participants will read The Purpose Driven Life and explore reasons for existence.

An 1883 altarpiece glows after a painstaking restoration at a downtown Episcopal church. The mother of pearl, the gold-leafed opalescent glass, the colors of an Impressionist painting were there all the time, hidden under four layers of retouching and crude repainting. The sculptural panel depicting the Virgin Mary and St. John is the centerpiece of a six-month refurbishment at Mount Calvary Church, Eutaw Street at Madison Avenue. "Before I started, the figure of St. John resembled actor Tony Curtis.

The Rev. David Carter-Rimbach, With Easter approaching, the world's Christians are focused on the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, a topic more popular than ever because of Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ. Despite criticisms that The Passion is anti-Semitic and too violent, the film has not turned away local moviegoers with its graphic depiction of Christ's final hours on earth. Instead, many say, it has strengthened their faith and curiosity about religion. These Christians say they are approaching Holy Week with a new perspective this year.

GREENVILLE, N.C. - For Doris Ballengee, "Just As I Am" is more than a hymn. It's a fashion statement. The words describe the dress code of sorts at the Salvation Army, where worshippers come wearing everything from suits and dresses to jeans and T-shirts. "We allow them to wear anything," said Ballengee, who attended Presbyterian churches for 60 of her 79 years before joining the Salvation Army. "They're there because they want to honor God. God isn't interested in what they're wearing."

Suspended from a nail,a brown, spiny starfish glistens with gloss,two arms, two legs, spread widethe fifth, a body and face, like a Christ-man on thecross. Tenderly, thumb and index finger trembling,she lifts him into my outstretched palm4&''Mom, is this a real starfish?''She is strangely calm.@2Black painted buttons shine off his diskplateon the undersurface where his mouthonce slurped up food particlesfunneled in synchronythrough long, sweeping tentaclesin perfect, radial symmetry.B4A tiny starfish, a baby Santa holds her hostageshe sighs, traces outlines, in and out, five times.

Mount Airy community churches are holding Lenten lunches and devotional services from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesdays through March 20 at Calvary United Methodist Church. The lunches are free and all are welcome. Child care will be available during services. An offering will be taken each week to support the work of Mount Airy NET, which provides food and financial help to residents in need. The churches that will provide lunch and lead the service are: Locust Grove Church of the Brethren on Wednesday; and Prospect/Marvin Chapel UMC on March 20. Information: 301-829-0358.

BROADWAY arrives in Mount Airy tonight as the Mount Airy Players put on their first musical production. Broadway in Revue features songs from hit musicals such as A Chorus Line, Funny Girl, 42nd Street, Phantom of the Opera, Jesus Christ Superstar and Show Boat. "We didn't want to do a full-scale musical production because of the extremely expensive costs involved in obtaining the production rights," said Ken Berry, director of Broadway in Revue. "But I said, let's try this, a musical revue that will have a great deal of appeal to people."

Ryan Minor took a few steps out of the Orioles' dugout last night, turned to look inside, then jogged slowly to third base. Perhaps he was checking to make sure no one was following him.Eleven days had passed since Minor's promotion from Double-A, and already he was treading on sacred ground. He hoped only to keep from falling.Without warning, Minor took the position that had belonged exclusively to Cal Ripken for the past two seasons, ending a consecutive-games streak that stretched to eternity.