"Divining America: Religion in American History," a humanities series sponsored by the Durham County Library in collaboration with the National Humanities Center, will begin on Sunday, Sept. 14, at 3 p.m. at the main library, 300 N. Roxboro St.

Scholars from Duke University, Duke Divinity School, UNC-Chapel Hill and Elon University will discuss religion from a historical perspective. All events in the series are free and open to the public.

The opening event, a panel discussion moderated by Jim Wise, local historian and Durham News reporter and columnist, will focus on how Durham's religious institutions have changed over time and on future trends in religion.

Panelists include R. Kelly Bryant, Charles Cooper, the Rev. Joe Harvard, Len Rogoff and Yonat Shimron.

The second in the series of 11 lectures is titled "Deism and the Founding of America" and is set for Thursday, Sept. 25, at 7 p.m. at the main library.

Deism, the concept that a supreme god created the physical universe but does not interfere with it, was a belief that became prominent in the 17th and 18th centuries. Brendan Pietsch, a Ph.D. candidate at Duke University, will discuss the rise and decline of Deism's popularity and its impact on American values.

Additional lectures are scheduled in October and November.

Breakfast and bluegrass to start the day

This event introduces a variety of fall programs and also will give congregation members and visitors an opportunity to meet the church's new co-pastors, the Rev. Ginger Thomas and the Rev. Roger Owens, a husband-wife team that arrived in July.

Chapel preps students for return to school

Holland Chapel AME Zion Church in Apex will sponsor "Back 2 School Blast Weekend 2008" on Saturday, Sept. 13, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Featured guests will be Tonya Blount-Royalty of Sister Act 2, gospel rap artist "Cappelio" and Chris Martin from Kid-N-Play. Other attractions will be games for children and "Get Real" sessions for youth.

No registration fee is required, but those who wish to attend should call the church to sign up. The church is at 360 Burgess Road in Apex. The office number is (919) 362-7821. Dr. Jace L. Cox is the host pastor.

Duke's Chapel UMC celebrates homecoming

Duke's Chapel United Methodist, not to be confused with Duke Memorial United Methodist (downtown) or Duke Chapel (on the Duke campus), will celebrate its 168th anniversary and homecoming on Sunday, Sept. 14, at 11 a.m.

Duke's Chapel, 807 Old Oxford Highway, was started by "Uncle Billy" Duke, the itinerant preacher and brother of Washington Duke, who was the father of tobacco barons James and Benjamin Duke.

Duke's Chapel was built as a prototype of Duke Chapel on the campus, using stone from a Hillsborough quarry, which was later chosen for the university chapel.

The Duke's Chapel building was constructed in 1927; the campus chapel dates to 1932.

The homecoming speaker will be the Rev. Ralph Fleming, who served Duke's Chapel from 1980 to 1986. He and his wife, Ruth, are retired and living in Bluffton, S.C.

"After the service, all are invited to join us in the fellowship hall to break bread together and enjoy a covered-dish luncheon," Collier said.

Soul Cafe ushers in new season of concerts

The Soul Cafe Music/Arts Series will kick off its season with Pierce Pettis, a folk songwriter and musician, on Friday, Sept. 12, at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $8.

The cafe is a project of Duke Memorial United Methodist Church and is in the back of the church at 504 W. Chapel Hill St.

In addition to musicians of note, the cafe will offer a Faith and Politics series in October.

"We are extremely excited about a new season at the Soul Cafe," said the Rev. Frank Newsome, the church's minister of youth. "We feel that the cafe is going to a new level this season with the caliber of the musicians and the speakers."

PathWays ministry opens its doors

The PathWays House at 1115 W. Chapel Hill St. is holding an Open House on Sunday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. to celebrate the beginning of its third year as a presence in the West End Neighborhood.

Neighbors and friends from the Duke University campus and Durham community are invited. Light refreshments will be served.

PathWays is a ministry of Duke Chapel dedicated to journeying with students to discern God's will in their lives. Participants, usually undergraduate students or recent graduates, are chosen each year to live as residents in the PathWays House. Each participant works for some nonprofit group in the city.

This year's group of five will be commissioned on Sunday during the 11 a.m. service at Duke Chapel. They are Jayne Swank, Brandon Hudson, Miry Rodriguez, Leigh Edwards, Christian Pilaart and Phil Corrigan.

The Rev. Abby Kocher, community pastor on the Duke Chapel staff, works with the students in a pastoral relationship, equipping and guiding them and leading retreats throughout the year.

"As someone who lives in the West End myself," Kocher said, "I along with the house residents seek ways of being involved in the life of the neighborhood."

All sing along at St. Stephen's Episcopal

The congregation and choir of St. Stephen's Episcopal, 82 Kimberly Drive, will sing together their very own setting of portions of the Mass on Sunday during the 10:30 a.m. service. The church commissioned Daniel E. Gawthrop to compose a new setting of the Mass as part of the church's year-long 50th anniversary celebration. Faculty brass from UNC-Chapel Hill will join St. Stephen's musicians for the premiere.

Prelude music by Gawthrop will begin at 10 a.m. The composer will attend the service as well as a reception afterward.