The Duke Chapel Choir will give a benefit concert for a teen member of the Congregation at Duke Chapel at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 7.

Michael Arneson, 15, the son of Judy and Ken Arneson of Chapel Hill, suffered a traumatic head injury last June when he fell from his bicycle. He was in a coma for several weeks at UNC Hospitals and then was transferred to the Shepard Center in Atlanta.

The Arneson family has been very active in the congregation's children's ministry, youth groups and has served in leadership roles on other committees, said Karen Witzleben, vice president of the Duke Congregation Council.

Because of what members describe as "amazing progress," Michael is home and back in school at East Chapel Hill High where he is taking two courses, calculus and Latin IV.

"He has made miraculous strides in regaining his strength and cognitive skills," Witzleben said. "We want to help the family with ongoing medical expenses, so we are thrilled that this November fund-raising concert is coming to fruition."

All the proceeds will go to Michael for his continuing medical needs.

The one-hour concert, titled "In That Great Getting' Up Mornin,'" will include many of the Arneson's, the choir's and the Congregation's favorite anthems and hymn tunes. The choir, its conductor Rodney Wynkoop, organist David Arcus and harpist Anita Burroughs-Price are all volunteering their time and talent for the effort.

Neighbors and friends of the family are helping with ticket sales, which are now under way.

Tickets that are 100 percent tax deductible are $25. Checks for tickets and/or donations should be made to The Congregation at Duke Chapel with "concert" in the memo line.

Tickets will be available each Sunday after the 11 a.m. worship service at the chapel. They also are available at the Regulator Bookshop on Ninth Street in Durham, at Womancraft at Eastgate Shopping Center in Chapel Hill and at the office of the Congregation at Duke Chapel, office hours Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Free meditation talk

The Durham Shambhala Center and the Buddhist Community at Duke University will host author and Buddhist teacher Dr. Judith Simmer-Brown, who will give a free public talk on meditation and relationships on Friday, Oct. 9, at 7:30 p.m. at the Sanford Institute of Public Policy. The program is titled "Romantic Fantasy, Everyday Disappointment, Meditation and Relationships."

The public lecture will provide an introduction for a weekend program Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 10-11, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Duke School, 3716 Old Erwin Road.

The event will include guided meditation, talks and discussion groups, loving kindness practice and meditation practice. Participants will explore the expectations of love relationship and how through meditation to work more closely with masculine and feminine energy, independence and intimacy.

Cost of the weekend program is $175 ($100 for students) and is open to all. People may attend with a partner or alone, in love or out of love.

For more information, contact Tekla Jachimiak, Durham Shambhala Center co-director at 688-8744 or teklajb@hotmail.com.

Afternoon jazz

Ira Wiggins and the N.C. Central Jazz Ensemble. just back from the Newport Jazz Festival, will offer an Afternoon Jazz Jam on Saturday, Oct. 10, from 2 to 5 p.m. at Shepard Middle School, 2401 Dakota St.

The event is sponsored as a fundraiser by the N.C. Central University Presbyterian Campus Ministry. The ministry serves students of all faiths, supporting students on their faith journey and providing opportunities to serve the campus and community.

Tickets are $15 for adults, $5 for students 9 years old and older. Refreshments will be available. Call 667-9709 for further information.

Children's Sabbath

Children's Sabbath 2009 will be observed across the country on the weekend of Oct. 16-18

Durham Congregations in Action is urging faith-communities in Durham to participate and to use a prepared bulletin insert, available by contacting DCIA at 688-2036 by Oct. 12 to have inserts delivered to their congregations for use that weekend.

The insert explains the "cradle-to-prison pipeline" and offers opportunities in Durham for individuals and congregations to rescue children through mentoring, parenting education, childcare, healing families separated by prison and substance abuse prevention.

"We can affect the lives of children and make Durham a better community by observing the Children's Sabbath," said Spencer Bradford, executive director of DCIA.

'A Healthier You'

Epworth United Methodist, 3002 Hope Valley Road, is offering a free, personal health assessment on Wednesday, Oct. 7, at 6:30 p.m. This is part of the church's ongoing "A Healthier You" series.

Assessments will be made in regard to cholesterol, blood pressure, body mass index and activity level. Individual counseling also will be available. This screening is being sponsored by the UNC School of Medicine. The cholesterol test will be given before supper. To be assured of a time slot to get the test, call to reserve a time between 5:10 and 5:40 p.m. The church office number is 489-6557.

Supper will be served at 5:30 p.m. The menu is vegetable soup, salad and dessert. Prices are $4 for adults and $2 for students and children. Children under 4 are free.

Reservations for dinner and/or nursery care are needed by Monday, Oct. 5 at 5 p.m. Call the church office.

'Precious Moments'

The Durham Christian Women's Connection will hold its October program and luncheon on Saturday, Oct. 17, in the Croasdaile Village Commons dining room, 2600 Croasdaile Farm Parkway.

The program will begin at 9:45 a.m. and will be followed with a buffet lunch. The special feature is a presentation by Frank Bednaz, owner of Once & Again Consignment Shop. The speaker is Audrey Payne, a twin who shares her story of "Problems Produce Precious Moments."

Reservations are necessary by calling 489-6924 or e-mail dwconnection@ymail.com before Wednesday, Oct. 14.

Animal blessings

Several congregations have announced Blessing of the Animals services for this weekend.

Calvary United Methodist, 304 E. Trinity Ave. in old North Durham, will hold its blessing service today at 11 a.m. in the church yard. Pets must be tethered or in a crate.

All are invited to bring dogs, cats, caged animals or others, furry, winged, scaly, whatever, to enjoy an hour of worship and fellowship and getting to know one another's family and receiving a blessing.

Parkwood United Methodist will hold its service on Sunday, Oct. 4, at 2 p.m. on the front lawn of the church at 5123 Revere Road.

"All creatures great and small are welcome to receive a blessing," said the Rev. Bob Kretzu, pastor. "Our event will include music, prayers, scripture and message, photography, a veterinarian, animal rescue groups and pet retailers."

All animals must be safely secured and owners are requested to clean up after them.

Duke Chapel's annual Blessing of the Animals will be held on Sunday, Oct. 4, at 3 p.m. on the Chapel Quad.

The Rev. Meghan Feldmeyer, director of worship at the chapel, will lead an animal-focused liturgy and there will be a performance by the Durham Children's Choir. Rain date is Oct. 11 at 3 p.m.

Fall festival today

McMannen United Methodist is holding its annual Fall Festival today from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on the church grounds at 4102 Neal Road.

Featured items will include freshly baked goods, crafts, gospel and bluegrass music, a yard sale and a silent auction. Take-out orders of Brunswick stew and barbecue will be available for $7 a quart. Take-out meals and sit-down meals in the fellowship hall will include Brunswick stew, barbecues, chicken and dumplings, slaw, hushpuppies and homemade desserts served from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under.

Joseph conversations

A series of Interfaith Conversations about the character of Joseph in the Book of Genesis in the Bible and in the Koran will begin on Thursday, Oct. 8, from 7 to 8 p.m. at Epworth United Methodist, 3002 Hope Valley Road.

The studies that will continue each Thursday during October is sponsored by Durham Congregations in Action. Discussion leaders will include David Winer, Jewish; Abdul Waheed and Amr Jamal, Muslim; and Emily Wilson-Hauger and Spencer Bradford, Christian.

Brief introductory remarks will be given each evening from the different faith perspectives, followed by general discussion and questions by participants regarding the texts from Genesis and the Koran.

The study is free and open to the public, but registration is requested by calling 688-2036 or email dcia@dcia.org.

Sacred music event

An evening of Sacred Music with Shantala, Benjy and Heather Wertheimer, an ecumenical musical event at Patanjali's Place in downtown Durham, is set for Wednesday, Oct. 7, at 7:30 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m.

Patanjali's Place, a community yoga space, is located at 700 Foster St.

In a description of the event, Benjy's said, "It is a participatory experience, a magical way of coming together in community to open our hearts and sing to that which we love the most. It is a meeting ground of two yogas that until recently were nearly unknown in the West: Naada Yoga (the yoga of sound and vibration, recognizing vibration as the source of all) and Bhakti Yoga (the yoga of love and devotion)."

The event is described as a celebration and although there is no guided meditation, participants are asked to honor a period of silence after each chant.

Most of the event will be call-and-response singing in Sanskrit, involving some chants that have been around for many hundreds of years.

Tickets in advance are $12 and $15 at the door. Call 475-1355.

Overcoming anxiety

A second series of Empowerment Lunches and Workshops will begin on Thursday, Oct. 8, targeting folks who live and work downtown, at Trinity United Methodist, 215 N. Church St.

The series is scheduled for the second Thursday of each month from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. A box lunch is available The sessions are free but you must register at 683-1386 or www.trinitydurham.org.

The topic for the first session is overcoming anxiety, "Nothing to Fear, But Fear Itself." The presenter will be Dr. Robin H. Exum-Calhoun

Asbury yard sale

Asbury Temple United Methodist, 201 S. Alston Ave., will hold a yard sale in the church parking lot today from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Proceeds from the sale will help with ministries of the church.