Fellowships

Child Evangelism Fellowship, a nondenominational training organization for Christian teachers, is hosting an appreciation banquet Oct. 2 at 6 p.m. and invites anyone interested in taking its classes to attend. The fellowship is a 62-year-old nonprofit organization that provides classes on teaching the Gospel as well as continuing education. Tickets cost $10, including dinner. The banquet will take place at Calvary Church of Santa Ana, 1010 N. Tustin Ave.

The coordinator of the moderate Cooperative Baptist Fellowship has predicted that changes in the Southern Baptist Convention's statement of faith will prompt as many as 5,000 churches to leave the denomination and join the fellowship. "I am convinced there are thousands of Baptists that believe in our core values and share our vision and want to become part of CBF," said Dan Vestal, coordinator of the fellowship, at its General Assembly in Orlando.

Around the time of her 75th birthday, my grandmother announced she was giving up men. When my brother and I asked what precipitated this -- she had always enjoyed a steady stream of "companions" -- she said that the other half of the species had lost its luster. A specific turnoff: One of her male companions died during a visit at her house. She was -- naturally -- utterly dismayed. "Such a lack of tact," she said with Old World disgust. In general, though, she was just sick of men.

May Fellowship Day will be celebrated separately at two churches on Friday. The theme for both services is "To Pray Is to Listen." Church Women United of the Newport-Mesa-Irvine area will celebrate their annual May Fellowship Day starting 9 a.m. at the United Presbyterian Church of the Covenant, 2850 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa. The program is designed to bring together women of various Christian denominations to gather strength from mutual experiences and to share issues of concern.

The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, formed 10 years ago as a moderate alternative to the Southern Baptist Convention, has appointed another woman to its top leadership position. Donna Forrester is the first ordained woman and fifth woman named to lead the 1,800-church fellowship in Greenville. She has been the minister of pastoral care and counseling at Greenville First Baptist Church since 1989.

Re "Keeping the Faith at Disney," Dec. 15. I would like to thank John Dart for a very gracious and thorough article on the Christian fellowship groups at the Walt Disney Company. I attended both the candlelight ceremony at Disneyland and the Glendale Bible study group he visited, and I believe he presented a very fair and positive portrayal of the dilemma we as Christians face with regard to defending our company to our friends who choose to support the boycott. Thanks, John, for helping to balance the issue.

After several years of delays that have frustrated eager fans, moviegoers might soon be able to return to Middle-earth. Warner Bros., its subsidiary New Line Cinema and partner Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer appear to be close to greenlighting the hugely anticipated two-part "Lord of the Rings" prequel "The Hobbit," according to several people familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss it publicly....

Kobey's Swap Meet founder Monte Kobey died early Tuesday of complications resulting from AIDS. He was 54. Kobey, who built his swap meet into one of the state's most successful flea markets, contracted the AIDS virus from a tainted blood transfusion during open heart surgery in 1984. Since its founding at the Midway Drive-In in 1977, Kobey's Swap Meet has become an institution for many San Diegans.

MUSIC Ready your best cape and Hobbit-feet for this orchestral event featuring music from "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. " More than 200 musicians will perform Howard Shore's Oscar- and Grammy-winning score while the film plays behind them. Honda Center, 2695 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim 7:30 p.m. Sat. $28.50-$142.50. hondacenter.com.