The Philharmonic Quintet of New York will perform a benefit concert at First Presbyterian Church Sunday at 7:30 p.m.

The concert is part of the church's series "Music on Main," in which musicians from the city and elsewhere perform in the church's renovated sanctuary, a venue described by church organist Kathy Parkins as a "space friendly for music making."

Since the 2004 renovation, the sanctuary has been chosen for 18 public performances of music, including solo voices, chorus, band, orchestra and choral and instrumental ensembles. The church seeks to assist local and touring musical groups, thus making an even wider range of music available to local audiences.

"The space is a hot item for music," said the Rev. Joe Harvard, pastor. "This is part of the church's ministry -- beauty and compassion," he said.

The Philharmonic Quintet was formed in 2002 by leading wind instrument players of the New York Philharmonic to honor victims of the Sept. 11 attacks. Joe Robinson, former principal oboist of the New York Philharmonic and now artist in residence at Duke University, describes the quintet as "the finest woodwind quintet to coalesce in America in the past 50 years."

Proceeds from the concert will go to "strengthen the music mission of the church," Robinson said.

General admission tickets are $25 with a student rate of $15. Patrons contributing $100 or more to the benefit will receive preferred seating and be invited to a post-concert reception with members of the quintet.

First Presbyterian is at 305 E. Main St.

April Concert to benefit Urban Ministries

Singer/songwriter Kate Campbell will give a benefit performance for Urban Ministries of Durham Friday, April 18, at 7 p.m. in the parish hall at St. Philip's Episcopal, 408 E. Main St.

The daughter of a Baptist preacher, Campbell performs around the country and abroad, including such prestigious festivals as the Cambridge Folk Festival, Philadelphia Folk Festival and Merlefest.

Advance tickets for the concert are now on sale for $15. Children ages six to 12 get in for $8. Checks should be made payable and sent to Strings Attached Productions, P.O. Box 218, Durham 27702.

Urban Ministries, located near St. Philip's Church, provides emergency shelter for up to 150 persons without homes and serves 350 to 400 meals every day. An additional 350 to 400 people receive groceries for in-home preparation every month, and a clothing closet provides clothes to 180 to 220 each month as well.

Presentation to follow DCIA luncheon

Durham Congregations in Action will meet Tuesday at 11:45 a.m. at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 2620 E. Weaver St.

Marcia Owen of the Religious Coalition for a Nonviolent Durham will present the program, titled "Reconciliation or Violence: The Future of Durham."

Lunch is served at noon. The business meeting and program that follow are usually over by 1 p.m.

How those who lived off the land saw the Word

Dr. Ellen Davis, professor of Bible and Practical Theology at Duke Divinity School, will speak on the topic "Reading the Bible through Agrarian Eyes" Sunday at 1 p.m. in room 0012 Westbrook.

Lunch will be served at no charge starting at 12:30 p.m. Davis will explore themes of land, creation and care of the earth.

The event is open to the public.

From Russia with love, a free concert this week

PSALOM, a Russian vocal quartet from St. Petersburg, will perform Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Cole Mill Road Church of Christ, 1617 Cole Mill Road.

The concert is free. Those attending can enjoy Russian tea and desserts at 6:30 p.m. The quartet sings music based on the Psalms and composed by ensemble founder/member Konstantin Zhigulin. In previous shows in Durham, the group has performed English versions of songs originally composed in Russian.

Community dinner will be a first for city

The inaugural Durham Community Dinner will be held Sunday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Durham Armory, 220 Foster St., in downtown.

Inspired by the success of the Orange County Community Dinner, a group of volunteers created a planning committee in July 2007. Members were enlisted from the arts, academic, religious and industrial sectors of the city.

The celebration is planned to highlight Durham's remarkable history and its diverse social and ethnic communities.

One goal of the dinner is to offer free tickets to families in Durham through sponsorships with various social service organizations and individuals. The event has partnered with numerous restaurants, community organizations and performance groups in order to do this.

Based on ticket sales and interest around the city, organizers say the event may well attract more than 400 diners.

School shooting, gun rules the focus of event

A protest against the ease of obtaining guns in the U.S. will be held noon Wednesday on the front steps of Duke Chapel. This is part of a national protest as the country marks the anniversary of the murders last April 16 on the campus of Virginia Tech.

Marcia Owen of the Religious Coalition for a Nonviolent Durham said this week that in communities all across the country, including four other North Carolina campuses, groups of 32 people are gathering to lay down for the few minutes it takes to buy a gun in the U.S.

"I invite you to represent one of the 32 victims at Virginia Tech or one of the 32 Americans murdered by guns every day in the U.S. Our witness will send the simple message that it is too easy to buy a gun in America. Twenty-two people, including six teenagers, were shot to death last year in Durham."

Hosts for the protest are the Rev. Nancy Ferree-Clark at Duke Chapel and the Rev. Jeanette Stokes at the Resource Center for Women and Ministry in the South.

Participants are asked to wear black.

Calvary UMC, how does your garden grow?

The Community Garden at Calvary United Methodist is starting its third growing season in Old North Durham.

Garden coordinator Larry Kroutil said more people have shown interest in having their own space to grow a garden.

"We are delighted to offer space, particularly if they don't have good conditions for a garden where they live," he said.

The garden will hold its third annual spring plant sale on April 19 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. In response to high demand last year for the herb basil, Kroutil said he is raising three different varieties for the sale. Also for sale are several varieties of tomatoes, including heirloom and organic tomatoes, other vegetables and herbs, as well as flowers and house plants.

The church is at 304 E. Trinity Ave. on the corner of Elizabeth Street.