Peace, justice group to meet Mondays
The new group, Peace and Justice Fellowship, will meet from 6 to 7:30 p.m. the first and third Monday of the month starting in April at 111 Linda Court.
The group plans to study and discuss peace issues (loving others, including enemies) and justice issues (public expressions of just actions).
The group will take a serious look at what the Bible has to say about these issues.
The first meetings will be April 7, April 21, May 5 and May 19. Light refreshments and free child care will be provided. The first book to be studied will be Biblical Pacifism by Dale W. Brown.
For more information, call Lynn and Julie Lehman at 403-9309 or email lynnrlehman57@gmail.com.
Methodists to host Last Supper program
The First United Methodist Church of Durango will hold a Maundy Thursday Service depicting the scene from Leonardo de Vinci’s painting “The Last Supper,” when Jesus reveals to his disciples that one of them will betray him, at 7 p.m. April 17 at the church, 2917 Aspen Drive.
One by one, cast members will respond to the words Jesus has spoken.
Jehovah’s Witnesses to meet in Farmington
Members of the local English Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, as well as members of Aztec, Bloomfield, Chama, Cortez, Farmington, Gallup, Ignacio and Pagosa Springs congregations, will attend a Special Assembly Day at 9:40 a.m. March 30 at the Farmington Civic Center, 200 W. Arrington, in Farmington.
The theme of the assembly, “God’s Word Exerts Power” drawn from Hebrews 4:12, will be highlighted through Bible-based talks, discussions and experiences.
The guest speaker will be Brother Wayne Smith, a representative of the Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Patterson, N.Y.
The public is invited to hear this and other Bible discourses especially prepared for young people, families and seniors. Admission and parking is free. No collections will be taken.
British court rules on Mormon case
SALT LAKE CITY – A British court has ruled that the president of the Mormon church doesn’t have to answer fraud allegations and said a lawsuit brought by a former Mormon leader attempts to manipulate the court to attack the religious beliefs of others.
The decision issued Thursday by Judge Howard Riddle of the Westminster Magistrates’ Court closes the case against President Thomas S. Monson.
Riddle wrote that “the process of the court is being manipulated to provide a high-profile forum to attack the religious beliefs of others. It is an abuse of the process of the court.”
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued a statement Thursday saying that it is satisfied with the decision.
“This case was a misuse of the legal system and should never have been brought,” church spokesman Eric Hawkins said in a statement.
The lawsuit was brought by Thomas Phillips, who left the church in 2004 and now runs a website challenging church history and doctrine.
Pope Francis turns down Hollywood’s ‘Noah’
VATICAN CITY – Actor Russell Crowe and the makers of the big-budget film “Noah” attended Pope Francis’ general audience Wednesday but didn’t get what they most wanted: a papal meeting and photo-op.
Crowe had lobbied hard for a papal thumbs-up for his film and the ensuing publicity a Francis blessing would bring. The film has been banned in much of the Muslim world because of its depiction of the prophet, while U.S. conservatives have complained it took liberties with the Biblical account of the flood.
The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said the request from Noah’s producers for a private audience was immediately turned down.
In an email Wednesday to The Associated Press, Lombardi said there was similarly no scheduled “meet and greet” after Wednesday’s general audience, when VIPs can often get a quick word with the pope.
“They could have been at the audience like anyone else,” Lombardi said. Wednesday’s audience drew an estimated crowd of 80,000.
Herald Staff and Associated Press
