Jim Lore, treasurer, said this week that the total stands at nearly $190,000. And money keeps coming in.

"I expect it will exceed $190,000 when we finally finish," he said.

This means that Durham's Walk will move up the ladder to become the second-largest CROP Walk in the country, with only Charlotte's raising more money and having more walkers.

At registration on the day of the walk it was apparent that about 25 percent more people were signed up, Lore said. The estimated number of walkers last year was 3,200. The estimate for this year's was about 4,000, he said.

The money raised during this annual event go to feed hungry people around the world, as well as in the Bull City. Twenty-five percent of the money stays in the local community. In Durham, that amount is distributed by Durham Congregations in Action as grants to local ministries and programs that feed hungry people.

The annual CROP Walk began in Durham in 1979. That first year it raised $16,597. Every year the amount has increased, and for the first time in 1995 the walk netted more than $100,000. Last year's total was $158,145.

The cumulative fundraising total since 1979 is $2,475,412, and the amount donated to hunger-fighting programs in Durham during those years is $618,853.

The CROP Walk is a project of Church World Service, a cooperative humanitarian ministry of 35 Protestant, Orthodox and Anglican denominations, providing sustainable self-help and development, disaster relief and refugee assistance in more than 80 countries.

Book discussion at First Presbyterian

The Rev. Richard Lischer, professor of preaching at Duke Divinity School and a minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, will discuss his book, "The End of Words: The Language of Reconciliation in a Culture of Violence," at First Presbyterian Church on Sunday at 9:45 a.m.

Lischer is considered one of the outstanding English-speaking preachers and a noted author whose earlier book, "Open Secrets: A Memoir of Faith and Discovery," was highly regarded. This new book was originally presented at the Lyman Beecher Lectures at Yale University.

The public is invited to attend. The discussion will be held in Watts-Hill Hall at the church, located at the intersection of Main and Roxboro streets in downtown.

Who's in the pulpit at Duke Chapel?

The following is lineup of preachers who will lead the Sunday worship services at 11 a.m. at Duke Chapel during the summer months:

* June 25: J. Kameron Carter, assistant professor in Theology and Black Church Studies at Duke Divinity School.

* July 2: Sam Wells, dean of the chapel.

* July 9: Greg Jones, dean and professor of theology at Duke Divinity School.

* July 16: Craig Kocher, assistant dean of the chapel.

* July 23: Ellen Davis, professor of Bible and practical theology at Duke Divinity School.

* July 30: Sam Wells, dean of the chapel.

* Aug. 8 and 13: Preachers to be announced.

* Aug. 20: Craig Kocher, assistant dean of the chapel.

* Aug. 27 and Sept. 3: Sam Wells, dean of the chapel.

Getting Vocal

The Vocal Arts Ensemble of Durham, 32 volunteer singers under the direction of Rodney Wynkoop, director of Duke Chapel music, will present its 10th anniversary celebration concert at 7 p.m. Sunday in Duke Chapel.

This year's concert will feature a commissioned piece called "Love Song" from Canadian composer Imant Raminsh. The work is a setting of a poem by Rilke, and it features violinist Eric Pritchard of the Ciompi Quartet. The ensemble will also reprise the Thomas Tallis 40-voice motet "Spem in Alium" and sing highlights from the past 10 years' concerts.

Tickets are available at the door.

Retiring with honors

Members and friends of Bethesda United Methodist Church will honor retiring Rev. Wil Jackson with a covered-dish luncheon in the church fellowship hall after the 10:55 a.m. Sunday service.

Jackson came out of official retirement with the North Carolina Conference of the church in April 2002 to serve the church on a short-term basis. During his four-year tenure, attendance doubled and new studies and programs were initiated.

The church, located at 2309 S. Miami Blvd., will welcome a new pastor, the Rev. Norma Walters, on July 2.