news-record.com

GREENVILLE -- She began her day at a 7 a.m. breakfast sponsored by the city's Human Relations Council and has been working in her half-unpacked office at Congregation Bayt Shalom since. Over the course of the day, she met with synagogue members, taught an adult education class and planned for today's Yom Kippur service.

The comedy of Mary Wessling:

My, how time flies when no one is laughing. 

But that's soon to  change because I am presenting my next comedy show on Friday, Oct. 23, 
around 7 p.m. at the Green Bean in beautiful downtown Greensboro,  
North Carolina - home of the Fighting Quakers, Spartans, Aggies,  
Bennett Women, Pride, and GALs.
 

For now here are the details:

  * this show is a fundraiser for Joseph's House  so  
bring your spare bills and change

* this show will feature some of the best comedy a middle-aged broad  
who works full time can write and perform

* this show is not recommended for anyone under 16 because research  
shows most people under that age do not find me funny

* the lovely establishment where this show will take place features a  
wide selection of wine, beer, sodas, teas, coffees and water - all at  
reasonable prices

* the event will feature some free food and plenty of mingling before  
and after the show. (Please, minimize the mingling during the show.)

* my best audience so far has been the one that shows up ready to  
laugh.  Don't break this chain or you will have 22 months of so-so luck.

If you can't make the show,  please consider making a donation
 

These neighbors keep calling the police -- one hates to go home after work on Wednesdays because of  the music associated with Bible study.

Today's email chatter:

On the eve of the first Muslim prayer gathering on Capitol Hill, Christian leaders have called a national conference call to pray for the country tonight:

“It is critical that the church in America understands the times and what needs to be done now,” says Lou Engle, president of TheCall to Action.   “There is a great spiritual conflict with a rising tide of Muslim influence.  Our President has recently honored the Muslim holy days of prayer and fasting.  We advocate for understanding of this religion, but we must have spiritual discernment as to the spiritual dark powers that are being invoked into our nation."

If this is true, does it have to be an indictment on religion, as well?

One survey says 15 percent of the population identifies with "no religion," and that's expected to overcome Catholics, now 24 percent of the population.

UPDATE: Bishop Peter Jugis of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte, which includes the greater Greensboro area has released a statement regarding the flu season asking parishioners who are sick to stay at home and those in worship to avoid holding hands:

"Those persons who suspect they have been exposed to the virus should not drink from the chalice at the time of Holy Communion. Christ is received whole and entire in the consecrated Host and in the Precious Blood. As regards the reception of the Sacred Host, the communicant retains the right to receive either on the tongue or in the hand. If pastoral need suggests it, pastors may suspend the practice of holding hands, and the handshake at the sign of peace, and drinking from the chalice."
 

Bishop Michael Burbidge of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Raleigh has asked that church members refrain from shaking hands and from drinking out of a common cup during the celebration of the Eucharist. The request will affect all churches in the 54-county diocese, which stretches across Eastern North Carolina, beginning Oct. 4.

Bishop Peter Jugis of the Diocese of Charlotte, which covers much of the Piedmont, has made no such request, according to David Hains, communication director, told me.

"Traditionally we let the pastors make this decision, parish by parish," Hains said.

An 'under contract' sign has been put up at Asbury United Methodist Church. The buyers have declined to identify themselves through their real estate agent -- but signs announcing Shalom Community Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) also went up on the property this weekend.

“I heard people laughing so hard that the sound of their laughter made me smile,” Imam Badi Ali would later say.

Smiles fuel this breaking of the day’s fast during the month-long Ramadan religious observance, which ends at sundown Saturday.

Check out a photo gallery of a special dinner for refugees breaking a daily fast here.

Women are given three special assignments in sacred Jewish texts — and Marianna Mintz is nearly elbow deep in eggs, water, yeast and more than a dozen cups of flour to fulfill one of them.