Fund-raisers will benefit Ethiopian monasteries

“ St. Gregorios Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, 2803 N. Lincoln St., is holding a fund-raiser to benefit Ethiopian monasteries in Ethiopia and the Holy Land Saturday from 2 to 6 p.m.

Monks in Ethiopian monasteries help the poor in their home country while living in poverty themselves.

The event will include Ethiopian coffee, food and items for sale.

For more information, call Father Michael Hatcher at 325-6432 or Aimero Desta at 363-0419.

“ On Sacred Grounds Coffee, Tea & Specialty Shoppe, 163 S. Lincoln St., also will hold a fund-raiser for Ethiopian Monasteries with a coffee tasting event Saturday at noon. A class that will discuss the origin of coffee and the subtleties of Ethiopian coffee beans prepared in the traditional manner.

Seating is limited, and the cost is $5.

For more information or tickets, call 747-6294.

Temple, Baptist churches to gather

Temple Beth Shalom, 1322 E. 30th Ave., is welcoming members of the New Hope Baptist Church and the Morningstar Missionary Baptist Church Friday at 7:30 p.m. in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.

The event will include music from the Gospel choirs and members of the Jewish community.

For more information, call 448-0408.

Legislative conference

The Interfaith Council is presenting the Eastern Washington Legislative Conference: Valuing Families Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Spokane, 4340 W. Fort Wright Drive.

The Right Rev. James Waggoner Jr. is the keynote speaker at the conference, which will feature policy briefings on state and federal legislation that will affect low-income communities, motivational stories from local people of faith, and workshops on mental health, local water resources, Darfur, Sudan, hunger, health care and more.

The cost is $20 per person.

For more information, call Diana at 329-1410 or send e-mail to action@interfaithnw.org.

Book workshop

Covenant Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), 5616 S. Palouse Highway, will present a 12-week course to discuss the book “The Heart of Christianity” by Marcus Borg.

The classes will meet Thursday evenings starting today from 7 to 9:15 p.m.

The cost is $60 for the whole course or $5 per class.

Participants must bring their own book.

For more information, call the church office at 448-1311.

Christian singles groups

“ Christian Singles Fellowship is holding its monthly meeting Saturday at 7 p.m. in the fellowship hall of North Addison Baptist Church, 6120 N. Addison St.

The meeting topic is “Running on Fumes,” presented by Larry Totton.

For more information, call 893-2865 or visit www.csfspokane.com.

“ Spokane Christian Singles is offering speed-dating sessions Saturday at 5 p.m. at Old Country Buffet, 9606 N. Newport Highway, for those in their 20s, 30s or 40s.

There also will be a session for singles 45 and older Sunday at 2 p.m. at Old Country Buffet.

The cost is $10 for the first speed-dating session and $7 for any session after that.

Attendees should bring money for dinner, and registration is required.

For more information, call 226-7674.