New St. David’s Pastor Active In Outreach

As St. David’s Episcopal Church’s new pastor, the Rev. William Pugliese brings a varied background.

That includes training and five years experience as a Roman Catholic priest and a transition in 1974 to the Episcopal denomination during which he served two West Virginia parishes (a retirement community and an African-American church). He also served as director of an outreach program for the local mountain community.

During his tenure as pastor in Wheeling, W.V., Pugliese and his congregation of 175 established a flourishing Christian education program and cofounded a community free-lunch program.

In Parkersburg, W.V., he led the membership (450) into restoration of its historic buildings and developed a “talent bank” that helped the church to better serve its congregation.

During his last ministry in Warren, Pa., he began a youth choir, established continuing education programs for the parish and community, and again helped start a program to restore the church’s historic buildings.

Pugliese moves to Spokane with his wife, Arlena, and their five daughters. He succeeds the Rev. Peter Stretch, who retired from St. David’s in January 1995 and died last October.

Covenant Players perform

The Covenant Players, an international touring Christian drama group, will perform during Sunday’s 8:45 and 11 a.m. services at Manito Methodist Church, 3220 S. Grand.

The group will present the sermon through drama, chosen specifically for the Manito congregation.

It’s “ancient truths with a modern touch,” said the Rev. John J. Shaffer, church pastor, and will present the opportunity for people to examine their faith in today’s world.

Concert in Coeur d’Alene

Coeur d’Alene’s Trinity Lutheran Church will stage “From the Heart,” a valentine’s concert, at 7:30 tonight.

Pianist Cynthia Haberman and violinist Cathyanne Lavins will perform selections by Debussy, Lanz, Beethoven, Mancini, John Williams and others.

Haberman, director of Trinity’s music ministry, plays at Hayden Lake’s Clark House, and Lavins is a violinist with the Spokane Symphony and executive director of the Coeur d’Alene Youth Symphony.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students. Concert proceeds will go toward purchase of a new piano for Trinity.

Family life seminar planned

First Free Methodist Church, 1725 W. Courtland, will sponsor “Family Life Seminar II” Sunday through Wednesday.

Les and Linda Rose from Christian Family Ministries will be guest speakers for the meetings. Their emphasis will be on the family, said the Rev. Michael Holland, pastor.

“Like many Americans, we are concerned about the deterioration in family relationships,” Holland said. “It’s time to get back to the basics of family living that have made American families so strong in the past.”

The Roses will discuss using God’s plan for today’s family in resolving conflicts, communication and gaining God’s perspective about sex and dating.

They will speak at 8:30 a.m., 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Sunday and at 7 p.m. Monday through Wednesday.

For more information, call 327-9122.

Crusade about hope

The Steve Jamison ministry team will present a series about hope in one’s daily life and relationships as a Christian outreach in Spokane from Sunday through Wednesday. The presentations will be sponsored by the Ridgeview Christian Center, 5610 N. Ash.

Jamison, who conducts the evangelistic crusades, also developed “Jammin’ Against the Darkness,” an outreach program featuring some of the National Basketball Association’s premier players.

Part of this weeks’ series will feature Bob Mortimer, a former drug addict who lost three limbs in a drunken-driving accident. He tells a story of hope for those damaged by alcohol and drug use.

Mortimer uses humor and drama that were featured in the documentary, “Russian Roulette: the Bob Mortimer Story.”

The free programs will be at 9:15 a.m., 10:45 a.m. and 6 p.m. Sunday and at 7 p.m. Monday through Wednesday.

For more information, call 326-2913.

Prayer concert scheduled

All Spokane-area churches are invited to a special monthly City-Wide Concert of Prayer from 7-8:30 p.m. Friday at the King’s Community Church, 5216 S. Grove Road. The Muslim population will be the focus of this month’s prayer time.

, DataTimes