Church Office

A woman was found fatally shot Thursday evening in St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Ellicott City, a man was discovered dead on the grounds nearby and another woman was critically injured by gunfire — turning a quiet, family neighborhood near the historic downtown into a crime scene. Police and SWAT team members swarmed the 3600 block of Rogers Ave., just up the hill from the historic mill town's Main Street, and blocked off a section of the road after receiving a call about 5:20 p.m. from a custodian at the church, who said he'd found two women in a church office suffering from gunshot wounds.

Mt. Nebo will prepare its homemade apple butter on Saturday, Oct. 27. Place your order now. The price is $7.50 per quart. Both regular and sugar-free apple butter is available. To place your order, call Debbie Beard at 717-456 608, leave a message if there is no answer. Everyone is welcome at 962 Flintville Road on Friday, Oct. 21, to join in the preparation of the apples. Or arrive early on Saturday morning (several hours before daylight) and help start the fires, wash the apples and stir the kettles with long-handled paddles.

Action Worship Center, 9805 Lyon Ave. in North Laurel, invites the community to its annual cookout on Sunday, July 22, immediately following the 9 a.m. worship service. There will be games, moon bounces and plenty of food. For more information, call the church office at 301-498-7501.

Action Worship Center, 9805 Lyon Ave. in North Laurel, invites the community to its annual cookout on Sunday, July 22, immediately following the 9 a.m. worship service. There will be games, moon bounces and plenty of food. For more information, call the church office at 301-498-7501.

About the fourth or fifth week of summer vacation, boredom sets in for my children. That's when I need a few tricks up my sleeve.I have found that a good Vacation Bible School program is worth its weight in gold. The programs offer children the chance to meet new friends, make crafts, participate in recreational activities and even learn a lesson or two.St. Stephen's Reformed Episcopal Church on Liberty Road will hold its Bible school from 9:30 a.m. to noon Monday through June 30. Children who will be entering kindergarten through sixth grade may participate in a free sports theme program called "God's Champions."

WHEN IT comes to fun, our community provides activities that will fill the bill for the young and the young at heart.2 Information: the church office, 410-859-0990.Sale of used booksThe Ann Arrundell County Historical Society and the Ann Arundel Genealogical Society are sponsoring a used-book sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Glen Burnie Improvement Association building, Crain Highway near First Avenue.Information: 410-760-9679.Pub Date: 9/27/98

THE Classic Brass Quintet will give a concert at 4 p.m. Sunday at Linthicum Heights United Methodist Church to raise money to help pay for a Habitat for Humanity house church members are planning to build.Admission is free, but an offering will be taken.Craig Duerling, a member of the quintet, said he asked the others if they would like to help, and they agreed."We are not professionals, but we like music and enjoy playing together," he said.The group has been together since 1979 and plays primarily for church services, weddings and some funerals.

The Mount Vernon house spent decades as one of several 19th-century millionaires' mansions. But in the last 25 years, the Patrick Allison House has found another mission. Once a church office, it is now a sanctuary for the homeless where a neighboring congregation once served breakfasts. Its role changed to fit a need, and its rooms are now a year-round residence. The spacious bedrooms house homeless men who have given up drugs and alcohol and are making their way into the workforce, often after release from prison or jail.

A BEVY of activities is taking place in the community Saturday. Take your pick from an auction and Octoberfest, craft shows and a free concert.An international gift shop will be a feature of the Fifth Annual Craft Show and Bake Sale sponsored by Friendship Church of the Brethren, 217 Mansion Road, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.Handcrafted articles by foreign artisans will be available.Many gifted local artisans will be displaying Christmas items, shelves, wreaths and country crafts. Homemade goodies and other refreshments will be sold.

Mt. Nebo will prepare its homemade apple butter on Saturday, Oct. 27. Place your order now. The price is $7.50 per quart. Both regular and sugar-free apple butter is available. To place your order, call Debbie Beard at 717-456 608, leave a message if there is no answer. Everyone is welcome at 962 Flintville Road on Friday, Oct. 21, to join in the preparation of the apples. Or arrive early on Saturday morning (several hours before daylight) and help start the fires, wash the apples and stir the kettles with long-handled paddles.

A woman was found fatally shot Thursday evening in St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Ellicott City, a man was discovered dead on the grounds nearby and another woman was critically injured by gunfire — turning a quiet, family neighborhood near the historic downtown into a crime scene. Police and SWAT team members swarmed the 3600 block of Rogers Ave., just up the hill from the historic mill town's Main Street, and blocked off a section of the road after receiving a call about 5:20 p.m. from a custodian at the church, who said he'd found two women in a church office suffering from gunshot wounds.

The Mount Vernon house spent decades as one of several 19th-century millionaires' mansions. But in the last 25 years, the Patrick Allison House has found another mission. Once a church office, it is now a sanctuary for the homeless where a neighboring congregation once served breakfasts. Its role changed to fit a need, and its rooms are now a year-round residence. The spacious bedrooms house homeless men who have given up drugs and alcohol and are making their way into the workforce, often after release from prison or jail.

Anne Arundel County police said a 44-year-old Severn man driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol struck a church with his van and they found PCP in side the vehicle. John Fox Alder of the 8000 block of Clark Station Road attempted to flee from an officer, crashing into the Korean Methodist Church of Love at 1330 Donald Ave. in Severn on Friday, police said. An officer first approached Alder's white van at about 6:30 p.m. in the 7900 block of Telegraph Road when Alder sped off into a nearby field, striking a flag pole and then the church, police said.

WASHINGTON - The highest ranking woman in the FBI has been hired to police the Catholic Church as it enacts policies aimed at preventing a repeat of the sexual abuse scandal this year that removed hundreds of priests and undermined parishioners' trust. Kathleen McChesney, 51, who has led the FBI's efforts to improve relations between federal and local law enforcement, was named director of the U.S. bishops' Office for Child and Youth Protection yesterday. The creation of the office was a key part of the sexual abuse policy adopted by the bishops in June and revised last week by a joint committee of bishops and Vatican officials.

JERUSALEM - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon declared an end to the first phase of his army's war on Palestinian terror yesterday and withdrew most of his troops from West Bank cities they had occupied for the past three weeks. But soldiers remained poised outside Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's compound in Ramallah and the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, where suspected militants are holed up. Sharon has vowed to continue the sieges until the wanted men surrender. The army pullback meant tens of thousands of Palestinians could leave their homes and begin to rebuild their lives and cities.

The highest court in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), ruling on cases it heard last week in Baltimore, has upheld the right of ministers to perform blessing ceremonies for same-sex couples, as long as it is clear the ritual is not sanctioning marriage. In the decision announced yesterday, the court, known as the Permanent Judicial Commission, said that holy union ceremonies are permitted under the Presbyterians' constitution, called the Book of Order. But it added that "ministers and sessions should take special care to avoid any confusion of such [same sex]

The first frazzled week of school is history and, I must admit, this year's opening has been remarkably smooth.No missed buses so far. My eldest has assumed the chauffeuring duties for her freshman sibling. Coordinating time in the bathroom at 6:45 a.m. has not presented a problem. Yet.Most of the classroom supplies have been bought, but there is that running tab of extras -- lab fees, workbooks, notebooks and calculators -- required to get them through the first semester.I grumbled to an old friend with children in college about the costs, but she scoffed at my whining over a piddling $30 tab and offered to swap it for hers, which seems to be rising as fast as the national debt.

Odenton Elementary School will have a Parent Teacher Association Meeting at 7 p.m. today in the school cafeteria.Details concerning the Santa Shop will be discussed. Also, the class with the highest attendance in October will be announced and will fly the PTA CHAMP banner this month.*Tuesday Night Bible Study at Nichols Bethel United Methodist Church in Odenton will resume on a regular basis beginning at 7:30 tonight.The program, which will run 15 to 20 weeks, will concentrate on the Book of Job, which will be read in its entirety.

WHEN IT comes to fun, our community provides activities that will fill the bill for the young and the young at heart.2 Information: the church office, 410-859-0990.Sale of used booksThe Ann Arrundell County Historical Society and the Ann Arundel Genealogical Society are sponsoring a used-book sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Glen Burnie Improvement Association building, Crain Highway near First Avenue.Information: 410-760-9679.Pub Date: 9/27/98

YOU DON'T have to be a Civil War buff to appreciate the new book for sale at Toomey's Bookshop in the Shipley-Linthicum Shopping Center on Camp Meade Road. It's not just a war book; it's about the life of a city during a war."Baltimore During the Civil War" will interest everyone who wants to know more about Baltimore's history. The events of the past do not seem that long ago in this book, and more than 125 forts, bridges, hospitals and public and private buildings you'll recognize are identified.