Youth Group

Some teens spend their summer working to earn money. But members of the senior youth group at Faith Lutheran Church in Eldersburg used part of theirs paying for the privilege of working.The members used their money -- and later their labor -- to repair the homes of the elderly and disadvantaged people in "Servant Event in Appalachia," a nationwide youth development and service program sponsored by the Lutheran Church's Missouri Synod."We were helping other people, but that wasn't all. We had Bible study every night, and we talked and we had fun and played games and things," said Maria Taylor, 17. "We helped the people there, but the people who worked together helped each other, too."

Eight Florida teen-agers, representatives of a church group that raised funds after the slayings of two Columbia men in their quiet beach community in April, will help dedicate a memorial Saturday at Oakland Mills High School."

The building that once housed the county's first bank and then a Catholic school now will help provide extra space for the expanding parish of St. Paul's Church in historic Ellicott City.Starting next month, the church will embark on a $500,000 construction project that will add 3,000 square feet to the gray stone building, formerly Patapsco National Bank.The project also calls for a garden plaza and conversion of a separate religious education building into a youth group center.The religious education building and the former school, which has not been used since closing in 1966, both occupy the same 7.5-acre site as St. Paul's Church.

Food, frivolity and friendship is what St. Benjamin (Krider's) Lutheran Church is promising at its third annual dinner theater this weekend.Proceeds from the youth group's production of "Two for the Money" will benefit its service and social programs for the next year."

ON WEDNESDAY, Genie Johns will be awarded the Honor Star at Bethel Christian Academy.The teen, a member of the Missionettes, the church's youth group somewhat akin to Girl and Boy Scouts, has attained one of the highest honors the Missionettes gives.Meritorious studentsWe are hurtling toward the finish line in the recitation of the fine scholars at Hammond High who earned certificates of merit, along with their diplomas.Congratulations to Marcus MacFarland Tapscott, Jennifer Marie Tate, Garrett Alan Thompson, David Terrence Tollick, Kellye Elise Townsend, Angela Trinidad Trancucci, Michael Brandt Troup, Erin Leigh Whate, Christina Michele Wilmer, Michelle Diane Zinar and Ari Gene Zytcer.

MANY LOCAL ACTIVITIES have been on hold during the summer, but the calendar is slowly filling up with events.The Pasadena Business Association has set a Meet the Candidates night from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday at Michael's Eighth Avenue in Glen Burnie. State and local candidates have been invited to attend.The cost is $15, with reservations due by today.In addition, organizations in the Pasadena area can join in the PBA's third annual Thanksgiving Parade, set for 2 p.m. Nov. 8.Carol Cross, PBA spokeswoman, said the parade expresses the real spirit of the holidays -- being thankful for what we have and sharing with the less fortunate in the community.

From his seat in a middle pew, the Rev. Clifford Webner got a chanceto see what he looks like behind the pulpit."Do I look that silly up there?" the pastor of Salem United Methodist Church joked Fridayas he watched the youth group imitate his preaching style while practicing the service for Sunday."

The Howard County Conservancy and the Maryland Cooperative Extension -- Howard County will sponsor a program on orchard management and pruning from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at the conservancy, 10520 Old Frederick Road, Woodstock. Gardening specialist Jon Traunfeld will talk about managing fruit trees and demonstrate pruning practices. Everyone is welcome. Participants should meet at the house on the conservancy property at 10 a.m. Most of the program will be outdoors; take or wear boots.

The Annapolis Chorale is getting a younger dimension. The group's director, J. Ernest Green, has been working in recent months to reinstitute the chorale's Youth Chorus. He's appointed a youth director - Laurie Hays - and now he's looking for the talent: singers between the ages of 8 and 18 whose voices have not matured. "This new incarnation will expose the young singers to a broad spectrum of music that includes classical, Broadway and pops, and the standard choral repertoire," Green said.

It will be fun. It will be exciting. It will be for a good cause.Churches, civic organizations and clubs are sponsoring a benefit country fair for the North County Emergency Outreach Network.The fair is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the field across from St. John's Lutheran Church at the corner of Maple and Hammonds Ferry roads. The groups will donate part of the fair's profits to the outreach network.Enjoy games, food and exhibits provided by the St. Christopher's Youth Group, Beta Gamma Sorority, St. John's Youth Group, St. John's Twenties and Thirties Group, Linthicum Shipley Improvement Association and Boy Scout Troop 550.Face painting, pony rides, a moon bounce and a ring toss are on the agenda.