To that end, the congregation is now looking to buy the old St. Mary's school property, a 32-acre site, which is about a mile from the church. The vision is to expand ministry, perhaps to begin a preschool, community activities for seniors, day camps, sports camps, summer camps and retreats, and to reach out to a growing Hispanic community.

"We have no other option," Echols said, "since there is no land available around the church."

The school site has six buildings that have already been inspected by an engineer and found in sound condition, he said. The property is owned by the Catholic Diocese of Raleigh. The school, previously located there, was closed about two years ago, Echols said.

The church has agreed to pay $1.5 million for the property and expects to make a final decision by the first week in July.

"We are very excited about this opportunity," the pastor said. "We held an open house and got feedback from the community. There is a lot of interest in a daycare and preschool for the area."

Organized in 1895, Ebenezer built a new sanctuary in 1999 and paid off a $2 million debt in less than five years. Right now, worship attendance is between 350 and 450 on Sundays, Echols said. The sanctuary seats 600.

"We are already using 80 to 85 percent of our space and they say that a church needs to be looking toward doing something when growth reaches that point," he said.

Housing development in the area is booming, he said, with a recent announcement that 350 new homes will be built on Terry Road.

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Springs of Life Bible Church of Durham will dedicate a new building at 5301 Guess Road on Sunday during the 10:30 a.m. worship service.

The congregation of 110 adults, teens and children is led by Pastor Stan Geyer.

The new building with a sanctuary that will seat 300 and a fellowship hall large enough to seat 200 for fellowship dinners was built at a cost of $1.2 million. The church is moving in debt-free, said the pastor.

Springs of Life bills itself as "A Reformed Southern Baptist Fellowship." Geyer said this means the church encourages "the recovery and proclamation of the biblical gospel that its Southern Baptist forefathers held dear."

On Sunday, during the dedication, Phil Casey will speak on what "Reformed Southern Baptist Fellowship" means. Other speakers will include Ray Best, who will give the history of the church; Chris Combs, who will talk about the church's passion for missions; and Brad Bradley, who will talk about the importance of prayer in this church. Four members, Nancy Pearson, CK Oon, Denise Sewell and Clark Green, will speak on what it means to be a part of this church family.

Springs of Life began 10 years ago in northern Durham County under Geyer's leadership.

***

The N.C. Boys Choir and Chamber Choir will end theIR 35th season in concert at Duke Chapel on Sunday at 7:30 p.m.

Included on the program will be works by Bach, Mozart, Mendelssohn, Faure and Rutter. Treble soloists will sing arias by Handel from "Samson" and "Jeptha."

The choir is under the direction of William Graham and Scott Mann, and is accompanied by Josh Waldron, a recent graduate from the N.C. School of the Arts.

Tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for children 12 and under, are available at the door or at the following locations: Pearson Music Co. on Chapel Hill Boulevard in Durham; Brook Mays Music Co. on Walnut Street in Cary; and Burrage Music Co. on Green Road in Raleigh.

***

Immaculate Conception Church, the city's oldest and largest Catholic congregation, will host a multicultural celebration on Friday at 7 p.m. The event is part of the church's centennial celebration.

It will focus on the many groups that make up the church, especially those of African, Filipino, Indian, Latino and Vietnamese heritage. Each group will have a 10- to 15-minute presentation, including music and possibly a dance or a reading. The evening will end with a light reception highlighting foods from each of the featured heritages.

The Durham community is invited to this celebration.

Immaculate Conception regularly welcomes worshippers of all faith communities to services in English and Spanish offered at the church, 810 W. Chapel Hill St. Weekend Masses are held Saturdays at 5:30 p.m. and Sundays at 7:45, 9:30, 11:15 a.m., 1 p.m. (Spanish) and 5 p.m. (Spanish).

Weekday Masses are held each day at 8:15 a.m., except on Wednesdays when the Mass is at noon.

***

Miss Mollie's School of Grace at Grace Lutheran Church, 824 N. Buchanan Blvd., completed its first year of operation and held a graduation for five 4-year-olds recently.

Children from diverse cultures and backgrounds, including Hispanic, Korean, Vietnamese and Indian, were among the children enrolled this year. Also, two sets of twins who were helped to attend through the Nicholas Wheeler Vivian Scholarship Fund. The fund was set up by church members in memory of their son, one of triplets who died after three months of life.

Miss Mollie's School will hold open house on Monday and on July 6 and Aug. 14 from 10 to 11 a.m. for prospective students and their parents. The school will also offer three two-week camps for children ages 2 to 4 during the summer.

"We believe that our half-day preschool is a unique combination of creative expression, learning through play and most importantly, awakening small minds and hearts to the love of God," said Jean Sam, director.

More information is available by calling the church at (919) 682-6030.

***

The public is invited to the rededication of the Urban Ministries Center, 410 Liberty St., in downtown, on Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m.

Local leaders, including state Sen. Bob Atwater and Durham Mayor Pro Tem Cora Cole-McFadden, will join the Urban Ministries board, local clergy and others in celebrating the $500,000 renovation of the 11,000-square-foot building. A reception, open house and guided tours of the campus will follow the brief ceremony.

The renovation provided air conditioning in the gymnasium portion of the building, created new facilities for the food pantry and clothes closet, created a new reception and waiting room, added three private offices and added a second floor in half the gymnasium, which created an additional 2,700 square feet of space for future programs.

The project was funded through support of hundreds of individuals, businesses and congregational donors and by a loan from Self-Help Credit Union.

DTW Architects provided architectural services, and C.T. Wilson Construction Co. was the general contractor.

Sacred Grounds, sweet music

Following is the schedule of concerts offered at Sacred Grounds Coffeehouse, 2700 N. Roxboro Road, during the summer.

* Today: Danny Smith & Friends, Contemporary Christian singer.

* June 17: Karen Creel, Southeast native with voice for God.

* June 24: Don Smith & Friends, bluegrass/Appalachian music.

* July 8: Brien Barbour, Singer/songwriter with wide range of musical styles.

* July 22: Gone Fishing, Contemporary Christian group with Southern feel.

* Aug. 12: City Folk, Americana music.

All concerts begin at 8 p.m. and are free to the public. The coffeehouse is a ministry of St. Paul United Methodist Church.