WATERVILLE — “Discovering Our Faith in the Fullness of God,” is the theme of the 17th annual Maine State Charismatic Conference set for 8 a.m. today at Sacred Heart Church, 70 Pleasant St.

The Rev. Richard P. Rice, liaison to the Catholic Charismatic Renewal Service Committee, Portland Diocese, and former pastor in Sanford, Bath and other areas, is the featured speaker.

The day will include talks focusing on how people can discover, or renew, their faith in God, a healing service led by Rice and will close with a Mass of intergenerational healing. Spirit Song Music Ministry will provide music.

The cost is $5 a person, $7.50 a couple or $10 per family. Lunch is not included and participants should bring a brown bag lunch. To register, visit maineholyspirit.org, click on the form.

Also, a prayer gathering “Rise Up, Remnant People” will kick off at 7 p.m. Friday at the church. There is no charge for the evening and people will join for prayer, praise and song. For more information, call Sandi Guillemette at 324-4006.

Children’s program

to begin Wednesday

MADISON — Cornerstone Baptist Church will start a new program Wednesday for children called Patch the Pirate. Patch the Pirate is a Bible-based character-building choir club for children 4 to 11 years old.

The character-building songs of Patch are interwoven with a monthly Bible theme that is reinforced through devotional lessons, motivational games, music and activities and intriguing stories. The program will be offered at 10:45 a.m. Sundays and 6 p.m. Wednesdays.

For more information, call 696-7027.

Barbershop singers

perform Sunday

LISBON FALLS — Maine-ly Harmony, a cappella women’s chorus, will perform at 2 p.m. Sunday at United Methodist Church, 19 School St. Proceeds will benefit the church’s mission projects, including Lisbon Area Christian Outreach.

The chorus, directed by Kathy Greason, of Hallowell, will present a varied musical program in the barbershop style of four-part harmony. Its members hail from all over Maine, including Auburn, Lewiston, Bangor, Levant, Winterport, Damari-scotta, Waterville, Readfield, Fayette, Hallowell, Palermo and other central and coastal Maine communities.

‘People of Faith’

forum Thursday

WATERVILLE — Four Waterville-area clergy will tell how their faith leads them to support issuing marriage licenses for gay and lesbian couples from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Beth Israel Congregation, 291 Main St..

“A rabbi, a priest and a minister…How People of Faith Support Marriage Equality” is a panel for public reflection sponsored by The Religious Coalition Against Discrimination and faith-based supporters of same-sex marriage throughout central Maine, according to a news release. The purpose of these forums, being held throughout Maine, are to encourage thought, dialogue and reflection about Question 1, for both supporters and conflicted people of faith.

Panelists will be the Rev. Karen Byrne of the Winslow Congre-gationalist Church, the Rev. John Baliki of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church of Waterville, and Rabbi Rachel Isaacs of Beth Israel Congregation and Colby College. Kurt D. Nelson, Dean of Religious and Spiritual Life at Colby College, is the panel moderator. He will facilitate a question-and-answer period after the panel presentations.

Refreshments and informal conversation will follow. The public is invited.

Religion news is published every Saturday. To include news, email details to mscommunity@mainetoday.com at least a week before event. Be sure the text appears in the body of the email.

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1027

“God’s Sustaining Grace” is the topic of the Annual Central Maine Ladies Retreat featuring Mrs. Nancy Mankins Hamm at Kennebec Valley Baptist Church, Marston Road, Waterville, on Saturday, October 27, at 8 a.m. The day-long event features begins with registration and coffee/Danish at 8 a.m. followed by three one-hour sessions, lunch at local restaurants, and ends at 2:30 p.m.

As a missionary with New Tribes Missions, Nancy Mankins Hamm lived in the Darien Jungles of Panama for seven years–when Colombian terrorists stormed her home and abducted her late husband Dave and two of their colleagues. For nearly nine very long years, New Tribes Mission and the three “hostage wives” exhausted every avenue available to obtain the release of Dave, Mark, and Rick–only to learn that they’d been martyred by their captors.

During that time Nancy gained audiences with presidents, senators, congressmen, ambassadors, a queen, former hostages, and hostage experts. She appeared on Larry King Live, The Today Show, Focus on the Family, Moody Radio, and many other major television and radio programs. She’s spoken at meetings around the globe.

Nancy is the author of two books: Hostage–The Incredible True Story of the Kidnapping of Three American Missionaries, and The Outcasts, an historical fiction which was inspired by her time living in a remote village in Panama.

Nancy Mankins married Gary Hamm in 2005, and they live in Central Florida. Together, they now enjoy four grown children, their spouses, and nine grandchildren.

The public is invited; the cost of the day-long event is $15. Registrations may be made in advance by sending a check made payable to Kennebec Valley Baptist Church, designated “Ladies Retreat,” and sent to PO Box 704, Waterville, ME 04903-0704. Further information may be obtained by email at bkennebecvalley@roadrunner.comor calling the church at 872-7021.

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