Michelle Malone, a folk/blues/rock artist, will kick off this season's "Strings Attached" series of benefit concerts sponsored by St. Philip's Episcopal Church.

Her concert is set for Friday, Sept. 12, in the parish hall at the church, 408 E. Main St. As in the past, Strings Attached concerts will benefit Urban Ministries of Durham.

Malone has earned critical acclaim in national reviews. Her concert in Durham will feature guitar, harp, vocals and entertaining stories culled from her tours.

Long a fighter for social justice, Malone, a native of Atlanta, puts action into her words. Besides playing benefits and drawing attention to worthy causes, she has traveled to Chiapas, Mexico, to witness the struggle of the Zapatistas, has run the Paris marathon for the Leukemia Society, and has biked eight weeks with Team Earth Challenge from Georgia to Nevada in protest of nuclear waste dumping at Yucca Mountain, Nevada.

The Strings Attached concert series was started in 2003 but experienced a nearly two-year hiatus while the church parish hall was undergoing expansion.

St. Philip's former rector, Scott Benhase, set up the concert structure, said Rebecca Radisch, a founding member of Strings Attached.

"It was set up to ensure that, unlike many benefits in which performers are asked, if not expected, to donate their art, our performers get 50 percent of ticket sales with Urban Ministries getting 100 percent of [the church's] 50 percent," she said.

Strings Attached also donates all profits from refreshment sales.

Radisch estimates the series to date has probably donated more than $10,000 to Urban Ministries.

A majority of concert-goers come from outside the St. Philip's community, she said. "So we believe another important aspect of our benefits is raising awareness of our UMD neighbor to those persons who don't frequent our block in the heart of Durham. Ultimately, Strings Attached is simply part of St. Philip's 'Faith in the City' commitment."

Refreshments, including beer donated by Triangle Brewing Co., will be available at the concert. Parking is free and monitored.

Advance tickets are on sale now for $15, $8 for children six to 12 years old. Checks should be made payable and sent to Strings Attached Productions, PO Box 218, Durham NC 27702. Day-of-show tickets, if available, will be $20. Call (919) 682-5708 for more information.

Urban Ministries, a close neighbor of St. Philip's, provides food, clothing, shelter and counseling to people in need. Every night, Urban Ministries provides emergency shelter for up to 150 persons without homes, and every day it serves 350 to 400 meals to hungry people.

10-week series gives quick study of Judaism

An "Introduction to Judaism," will be taught at 10 Wednesday-night sessions this fall at Judea Reform Congregation, sponsored by Triangle Rabbis. The series will begin on Wednesday, Sept. 10, and continue through Dec. 3.

The sessions, open to members of a synagogue as well as non-members, will begin at 7 p.m. and last from 60 to 90 minutes. Leaders will be local rabbis, including John Friedman of Judea Reform, Leah Berkowitz of Judea Reform, Michael Goldman of the Duke Freeman Center, Steve Sager of Beth El, Jen Feldman of Chapel Hill Kehillah and Frank Fischer, former director of N.C. Hillel. Also leading one of the sessions will be psychologist Dr. Ben Landman.

All sessions will meet at Judea Reform Congregation, 1933 W. Cornwallis Road. The cost of the course is $25 per person for members of any synagogue and $50 for non-members, plus the cost of the textbook.

Registration will take place during the first session.

Unity classes focus on spiritual development

Unity Spiritual Life Center has announced a series of classes designed to build a solid foundation for spiritual healing on a personal and professional level.

Classes on Sept. 7, Oct. 19 and Nov. 9 will be held from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the center, 2604-H Carver St.

Spiritual leaders at the center are Bil and Cher Holton, inspirational speakers who are well versed in Unity principles. An integrative healing ministry and an environmental ministry are just two of 12 ministries at the center.

Prayer/meditation services are held every Wednesday at noon, as well as Sundays from 9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. before the regular services at 10:30 a.m. Also, a healing meditation service is held on Mondays at 7 p.m., and seminars and classes are often scheduled on Wednesday evenings.

Call (919) 471-3504 for more information.

Do you home school? Here's a support group

Christian Home Educators of Greater Durham will start the school year with the annual kickoff meeting Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Grace Baptist Church, 1004 N. Mangum St.

All persons interested in home-school or joining this group are invited. Seminars on "Writing for the Younger Set," "Teaching the five-paragraph essay" and "Odyssey of the Mind" will be presented. An opportunity to sign up for involvement in field trips, fellowship and enrichment will be available.

More information is available at www.cheagd.org.