Religion briefs

'Cherish the Children' event set in Perryville

The Altenburg Circuit Lutherans for Life will hold a "Sanctity of Human Life Sunday" with a chili supper and worship service Sunday at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Perryville, Mo. The chili supper will begin at 4:30 p.m. in the fellowship room, followed by the worship service at 6 p.m. in the sanctuary. The chili supper is free, and an offering will be taken during the worship service to help defray expenses. The theme of the event is "Cherish the Children" and will include a sermon by the Rev. Dr. James Lamb, executive director of Lutherans for Life. The Rev. Thomas Handrick, administrative pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church and School, will lead the worship service and present Lamb's sermon. The event is open to the community.

Chili and stew supper at Zion in Old Appleton

A chili and stew supper will be held from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Jan. 27 at Zion United Methodist Church in Old Appleton.

Pro-life prayer vigil to be held Monday

A prayer vigil will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday to coincide with the Washington, D.C., pro-life rally and march (the anniversary of Roe v. Wade) at the Cross Memorial in Cape Girardeau. The memorial is on Mount Auburn Road off Highway 74. Prayer times will be led and talks given starting every 15 minutes. Phone calls will be made to people who are participating in Washington, D.C., to talk and pray with them about the activity there. If parking is not available at the memorial, park at the Voice for Life office at the corner of Bloomfield and Silver Springs roads, or at West Park Mall. A shuttle will be provided. For information, call (573) 824-5546, or e-mail masabo@showme.net.

Essay contest will award three scholarships

The local chapter of Church Women United, in conjunction with the state Church Women United in Missouri, is sponsoring a high school essay contest. The theme is promoting diversity in a more inclusive society where there is equal opportunity, acceptance and dignity for all persons. The contest is open to all Missouri high school students. The essay will be judged on the basis of content, presentation, grammar, punctuation and originality. Two essays from the Cape Girardeau area will be submitted to the state contest. First prize will be $1,500, second prize, $1,000 and third prize $500 -- all in the form of scholarships. The prizes will be awarded at the Church Women United May Friendship Day Celebration on May 4. Information has been sent to all the Cape Girardeau County high schools and high schools in Perryville, Mo. Entries should be submitted to the evaluating committee by Feb. 28. For more information, contact Debra Tracy at 579-3672.

Teens Encounter Christ weekend set for February

A Teens Encounter Christ weekend for male high school juniors and seniors will be held Feb. 24 to 26 at the DePaul Center in Cape Girardeau. Registration deadline is Jan. 29. For a registration form, contact Connie Eichhorn at 335-0645 or e-mail her at ceichhorn@charter.net.