Dean Sam Wells of Duke Chapel, who has been appointed Vicar of St. Martin's-in-the-Field in London and will leave the Triangle area this summer, will be the guest preacher at St. Titus Episcopal on Sunday, Feb. 12.

His wife, the Rev. Jo Bailey Wells, will preside at the 8 a.m. service.

This will be the first visit by the Wells couple to the St. Titus pulpit, but denominational and intellectual ties make the pairing a natural one.

In a Dec. 11 article, "My Favorite Saints," Dean Wells' final choice was local hero and former St. Titus parishioner Pauli Murray. He described Murray as "the patron saint of Durham."

St. Titus Episcopal was founded 126 years ago as an African-American mission and was first housed in a rented hall in the Haiti area in the late 1800s.

Now located at 400 Moline St., the church's stated mission is to "serve God and community by opening doors, ears, eyes and hearts as the church ministers to all people."

A coffee hour will follow the service, which is open to the community.

Also on the Wells' upcoming calendar is a Lenten Reflection Day on Saturday, Feb. 25, at The Church of the Holy Family in Chapel Hill.

Sponsored by the churches of the Durham Convocation, the daylong event from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. will be led by Dean Wells and his wife, the Rev. Jo Bailey Wells.

The Lenten Season in the church calendar begins on Wednesday, Feb. 22. This is the season leading up to Easter during which Christians mark the Passion of Christ and are encouraged to spend quiet time in reflection and prayer.

The dean and his wife will lead participants in exploring four characters central to biblical narratives of the first Holy Week. Their presentations will be based on Sam Wells's book, "Power and Passion: Six Characters in Search of Resurrection."

The book was selected by the Archbishop of Canterbury as his "Lenten Book" for 2007. Copies will be available for purchase. A vegetarian bag lunch is included as part the registration fee of $10.

The church is located on the 15-501 bypass around Chapel Hill. Coming from Durham, turn left onto Hayes Road, which runs parallel to the bypass.

Register online with a credit card at lentenreflectionday.eventzilla.net.

Questions may be addressed to Gretchen Jordan at 929-2193.

Fast-growing church celebrates anniversaries

The Summit Church, one of the area's fastest growing congregations, will celebrate two anniversaries on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 11-12.

It's the 50th anniversary of the launch of Homestead Heights Baptist Church in 1962 as well as the 10th anniversary of the relaunch of Homestead Heights as the Summit Church in 2002 under the leadership of Pastor J.D. Greear.

Services will be held at five locations on six campuses.

Ten years ago, the church had one location and about 500 people attending. The congregation now spreads across the Raleigh-Durham area and its services on the weekend attract about 6,000.

Although weekend worship is important at the Summit, the church tends to believe the week is more important than the weekend.

"This is a congregation that does what it takes to reach people with the gospel," said Associate Pastor Rick Langston. "Our mission of making disciples informs our process and is why this church has been so effective over the past 10 years."

The Saturday services are at 4 and 6 p.m. and those on Sunday at 9 and 11 a.m.

Sam James, the founder of Homestead Heights, who left shortly after the church got off the ground to do mission work in Vietnam, will take part in the anniversary celebrations.

Summit locations include 2335 Presidential Drive at Brier Creek, 2031 W. Club Blvd. and 2730 Hillandale Road in Durham, North Raleigh at 5808 Departure Drive, and Cary at 638 Walnut St.

Chocolate tasting set for Saturday

A free chocolate tasting is set for Saturday, Feb. 11, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Durham's One World Market, 811 Ninth St.

The event will feature more than 40 different kinds of chocolate along with samples of homemade confections such as dark chocolate covered toffee, double chocolate cheesecake and fudge brownies.

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, this event has something for all chocolate lovers.

For the purist there is the 85 percent cacao bar from Panama and for the adventurer there is the exotic salt and pepper chocolate from the Dominican Republic.

One World Market is a fair trade, nonprofit store that has served Durham for 20 years. It is mostly volunteer staffed and offers an eclectic selection of jewelry, accessories, décor items and crafts from 60 countries.

Staff members will be on hand during the tasting to answer questions about the origin of the chocolates and the principals of Fair Trade.

Class explores intersection of religion, science

A religion class at Duke University's Osher Life Long Learning Institute will join with hundreds of congregations from 10 countries to discuss the compatibility of religion and science during the sixth annual Evolution Weekend Feb. 10-12.

Sponsored by the Clergy Letter Project, Evolution Weekend is designed to recognize that religion and science, two fields of critical importance to humans, should be seen as complementary rather than confrontational.

"Religious people from many diverse faith traditions and locations around the world understand that evolution is quite simply sound science; and for them, it does not in any way threaten, demean or diminish their faith in God," said Dr. Mark Rutledge, instructor in religion at Duke and the United Church of Christ minister to students. "In fact, for many, the wonders of science often enhance and deepen their awe and gratitude toward God."

During February, the Duke class will discuss selections from the book "Thank God for Evolution" by Michael Dowd and an article by Mark Rutledge "Science, Religion and Evolution."

The Clergy Letters urge school board members to preserve the integrity of the science curriculum by affirming the teaching of the theory of evolution as a core component of human knowledge.

They ask that "science remain science and that religion remain religion, two very different, but complementary, forms of truth."

Seniors invited to 'Celebration of Love'

The Senior Adult Ministry at White Rock Baptist Church has invited all senior adults (62 and older ) to a "Celebration of Love" luncheon on Saturday, Feb. 11, from noon to 3 p.m. in the fellowship hall of the church, 3400 Fayetteville St.

Adults are invited to wear red and white attire and to come celebrate Valentine's Day.

Light refreshments will be served and there will be a hat parade as well as special entertainment.

Register with the church office by calling 688-8136 or at wrbc@whiterockbaptistchurch.us.

Women's luncheon meeting Saturday

Women of the area are invited to the February Luncheon sponsored by Durham Christian Women's Connection on Saturday, Feb. 18, at Croasdaile Village, 2600 Croasdaile Farm Parkway.

Laura Wendell, director of One World Market, will provide information about the nonprofit store on Ninth Street that sells crafts from 60 countries around the world.

Anne Curry, a writer of short stories and poems, is the featured speaker.

Her topic is "Mama said: There Would Be Days Like This!"

She will tell of her difficult childhood and how she has overcome many overwhelming situations.

The cost is $10 and reservations are essential by calling 489-6924 or email to dwomen1@gmail.com.

Organists guild will present recital

The Durham-Chapel Hill Chapter of the American Guild of Organists is presenting its annual members' recital on Monday, Feb. 13, at 7:30 p.m. at Watts Street Baptist, 800 Watts St.

The theme in keeping with Black History Month is "Composers of Color."

The program will showcase music by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Ralph Simpson, Adolphus C. Hailstork and David Hurd.

Among area organists who will perform are Lyn Francisco of St. Joseph's Episcopal in Durham; Dr. Daniel Steinert of Christ United Methodist in Chapel Hill; Tom Bloom of Watts Street Baptist in Durham; Brian Cash of St. Paul's Lutheran in Durham; Jacob Reed, a student at East Chapel Hill High who studies organ with Van Quinn of Chapel of the Cross in Chapel Hill; and Thomas A. Kraska, a member of the organ guild.

Author to discuss questions of faith

Author Andrew Park will lead a discussion based on his book "Between a Church and a Hard Place" during the Faith and Community Class at First Presbyterian on Sunday, Feb. 12

As a young father of two children, Park had no problems teaching his children about ethics, good manners or how to shoot a free throw.

However, when they started asking about religion, he was struck speechless, especially since he was raised in a faith-free family.

His desire to find the answers to his children's questions led him to explore what it means to embrace faith, or not, while still being a good role model and more important, still being true to himself.

His book is the often funny, yet deeply tender, story of that quest.

Park is a former correspondent for Business Week whose work has also appeared in the New York Times, Wired, Slate and other national publications.

He lives in Chapel Hill with his wife, Cristina Smith, and their two children.

The class meets at 9:45 a.m. in Watts-Hill Hall. The church is located at 305 E. Main St. and the public is invited to attend.