Upcoming events Aug. 31-Sept. 6

Wednesday, Aug. 31

Faith Baptist Church announces a pre-registration time for those youth wishing to attend Awana Clubs this year.  

Staff will be on hand from 5 to 6:30 p.m. today (Wednesday) to register new and returning clubbers.

Registration forms have been mailed out or can be downloaded from www.faithbaptistpr.org .   Parents and youth are asked to enter by the northeast door from the north parking lot or by main foyer of Faith Baptist Church.  

AWANA Clubs is a Bible-centered, youth oriented, weekly club program for youth, ages two years prior to attending Kindergarten through sixth grade.  

First night AWANA Club activities begin at 6:45 p.m. Wednesday, Sept 7, and end at 8:30 p.m.  Parents may also choose to register youth on the first club night they attend during the year.

The clubs will meet weekly at this same time unless canceled by weather or holidays.  Activities for Rock Solid (grades 9-12) and Cornerstone (grades 7-8) youth will begin Sept. 7, also.  

Faith Baptist Church is located on Highway 71, one mile south of the Highway 34/71 intersection.  All youth are welcome to attend.  

For more information, call the church office at 732-1404.

Thursday, Sept. 1

A Century School open house for students in grades K-8 and their parents will be held from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 1.

Students and parents will have the opportunity to meet teachers and classmates, apply for free or reduced lunches, buy milk tickets, take part in PTA activities and purchase Panther apparel.

A gathering of those formerly or presently associated with an airline in any capacity will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 1 at the Y Steak House on Highway 71 north.

This will be an evening of eating and telling stories. All are welcome, no matter job details or airline.

Sons of Norway-Park Rapids will meet Thursday, Sept. 1 with a 6 p.m. board meeting, 7 p.m. general meeting at Riverside United Methodist Church.

Pastor Grant Aaseng will talk about Norway and the Scandinavian lifestyle.

Invite a friend to enjoy this presentation celebrating our heritage. Servers are Wannie Johnson, Lloyd and Carol Schrum, and Jerry and Jan Swedberg

Friday, Sept. 2

As part of the 2011 monthly featured artist program, the Blank Canvas Gallery and Education Center in Park Rapids will host a reception for husband and wife collaborative artists Jon and Lucy Normann from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 2.

Plan to enjoy refreshments and mingle with the Normanns and other artist members at the gallery, 311 Main Ave. S. in downtown Park Rapids.

The subjects and styles of the Normanns' artwork are varied. See a selection of their glasswork and woodturnings, including new pieces not shown before, displayed at the gallery. Find out what their inspiration is and how their experiences as artists and teachers have influenced their work.

Before joining creative forces in 1985, Jon and Lucy had careers in sales and the automotive world.  Lucy started The Lightbenders Glass Studio in Fargo in 1982 and created stained glass windows for homes, churches and businesses and carved glass for doors and sidelights.  

Jon joined The Lightbenders in 1985 and the studio began teaching classes two nights a week, selling retail supplies and continued with the building of new stained glass windows. He also restored century-old church windows and also supplied cabinet builders with decorative glass.

In 2007, Jon and Lucy retired and moved the studio to Island Lake.   

The Normanns use downed or standing dead timber found in the woods, as opposed to new.

Wood in this condition is more interesting than freshly cut green timber, the Normanns said. "The most fun woods to work with are heavily spalted, twisted and knarled, burled...or just plain rotten."  

Tuesday, Sept. 6

Headwaters Center for Lifelong Learning presents Dr. Larry Alderink, professor emeritus, Concordia College, with "The Bible and Qur'an, Jesus and Muhammad" from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 6 at Northwoods Bank's community room.  

Alderink will explain the central teachings, brief histories and points of similarity among Christianity and Islam through their holy books and leaders.

In the realization that Muslims are generally better informed about Jesus than Christians are about Muhammad, Alderink will delve into both leaders' lives and philosophies. Neither leader wrote any of their teachings down themselves so exploring the "Bible" and "Qur'an" adds more dimensions to the discussions.

Alderin taught comparative religions at Concordia College and has been in the education management industry for 36 years.   

He has participated in many of Concordia and Concordia Language Villages' global seminars for adult education and has often traveled with groups to Egypt and Greece.

 For more information or a brochure, contact LuAnne White at 732-7939 or hclife longlearners@yahoo.com .

PEO Chapter T will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 6 in the basement of Citizen's National Bank. 

Renee Brauer and Erna Johnson are hostesses. The program is the "Noisy Auction."  Start looking now for your new or gently used treasures, hand made or home baked items, or a unique service to be auctioned.