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Some congregations will place white roses on the altar Sunday , to represent remembrance.

Others will recite the names of departed parishioners and friends, read scripture or sing special hymns as part of a special hospice Sabbath during regular worship times. More than 80 area churches are joining Hospice of the Piedmont (www.hospice-careconnection.org ) in the observance.

“This is a day set aside to remember loved ones who are no longer with us, especially those who have passed away during the year,” said hospice chaplain Jeanette Robertson . The hospice organization is also supplying participating churches with memorial bookmarks that include “29 Ways to Care for Someone Who is Grieving.”

Robertson says that hospice Sabbath is also an opportunity for faith groups to learn more about Hospice of the Piedmont’s mission — to provide comfort at the end of life.

Hospice Sabbath also marks the beginning of National Hospice and Palliative Care Month.

“Not only do we care for our patient’s physical pain, we help them and their families through the emotional and spiritual pain associated with the end of life,” she said.

Congregations can get the memorial bookmarks until they run out by calling 889-8446 .

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The Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro on Monday will kick off the annual campaign for the Thanksgiving Fund. The fund provides a Thanksgiving holiday meal to needy residents who otherwise might not receive one.

The campaign will last through Thanksgiving Day.

People may contribute to the fund by going to www.cfgg.org or mailing a check, payable to The Community Foundation, to Thanksgiving Fund, c/o The Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro, 330 S. Greene St., Suite 100, Greensboro, NC 27401.

Last year, the Thanksgiving Fund drive raised $12,000 to make 4,000 Thanksgiving holiday meals available to Greensboro’s homeless, hungry, homebound and elderly poor.

The meals are prepared by and served at Greensboro Urban Ministry, as well as delivered to the homes of those who are housebound.

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This is going to be swanky and charitable: a red-carpet affair.

A portion of the $25 ticket price for synerG ’s 2009 Fall Ball will go to the Partners Ending Homelessness initiative, aimed at ending local chronic homelessness. SynerG is a young adult leadership initiative under the umbrella of Action Greensboro with a mission to attract, engage and connect young professionals to Greensboro.

The ball, where men are encouraged to wear ties and dress coats and women their finest style, is 8 p.m. to midnight Nov. 14 at Studio B, 520 S. Elm St., Greensboro. The evening will include a disc jockey and charity raffle.

To purchase tickets online, go to http://synerg.org and click on upcoming events.

For more information on the organization, go to www.PartnersEndingHomelessness.org or contact Jehan Benton, director, at 889-6105, Ext. 1133, or jehan.benton@familyservice-piedmont.org.

Contact Nancy McLaughlin at 373-7049 or nancy.mclaughlin@news-record.com