GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) -- A copy of the Bible written by hand, one verse at a time, by more than 31,000 people throughout the United States is on the auction block.

 

Christian book publisher Zondervan said Thursday it's selling the book on eBay and donating the proceeds to Biblica, a group that translates, produces and distributes Bibles.

 

The leather-bound three-volume handwritten Bible has 2,200 pages.

 

 

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The longtime leader of the Minnesota Council of Churches is taking over as the president of the National Council of Churches.

 

The Rev. Peg Chemberlin was officially installed during a service at St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral in Minneapolis. She is a native of Waconia, Minn., a minister in the Moravian Church of America, and has led the Minnesota council for the last 14 years.

 

 

 

 

Star Staff

 

Dr. Jim Royston, the pastor of First Baptist Church, Elizabethton, will be the speaker at the Annual Community Thanksgiving Service set for Memorial Presbyterian Church on Sunday, Nov. 22, at 6 p.m.

 

Dr. Royston's text will be First Thessalonians 5:16-18: Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

 

Dr. Royston says he defines "thanksgiving" as "basically an attitude of thanksgiving which is best expressed through thanksgiving and living in a relationship to God and in a spirit of gratefulness for all He provides and all He's done for us."

 

Although "sometimes we don't live like it," Dr. Royston says America is "a blessed people."

 

Being thankful in all circumstances "is actually a way to fulfill God's will in our lives," Dr. Royston said.

 

Dr. Royston says he is "very thankful for getting to serve a good congregation like here at First Baptist and a community like this. I think Elizabethton is a wonderful town...A community like this is a blessing.

 

"I've been blessed with a great family and an opportunity to serve the Lord throughout life and in reasonably good health on my part most of my life. I've gotten to go a few places and do some things in ministry that I never dreamed I'd get to do. I'm grateful to God for that."

 

Royston has served as the pastor of several congregations in North Carolina and Tennessee. He retired in 2005 after working for eight years as the Executive Director-Treasurer of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. He has consulted, led conferences and spoken on numerous college and seminary campuses around the country.

 

Royston is a founding member and partner in the Columbia Partnership, a Christian Leadership Coach training group. He was the founding visionary behind the creation of the Hollifield Leadership Center in Hickory, N.C. Upon his retirement in 2005, North Carolina Baptists named the main conference building for him and his wife.

 

Royston is a graduate of Carson-Newman College and he holds M.Div. and D.Min. degrees from Southeastern Seminary. He has completed several continuing education programs, including the School of Pastoral Care at North Carolina Baptist Hospital.

 

A Johnson City native, Royston married his high school sweetheart, the former Jeannie Hoilman. He has served in the ministry for more than 35 years.

 

 

JOHNSON CITY -- Several area churches and community leaders have planned a pre-Thanksgiving dinner for the Johnson City homeless, elderly and others who desire a home-cooked Thanksgiving treat.

 

The dinner will be held at St. Paul AME Zion Church, 201 Welbourne St. (at the corner of Millard St.), Saturday, Nov. 21, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

 

Churches which wish to pick up meals for the sick and shut-ins in their congregations must contact Dr. Marian H. Whitson by 5 p.m. today. Dr. Whitson needs the following information: Name of the church, the number of meals being requested and the name of the person picking up the meals.

 

This special project is sponsored by the Fix-A-Meal program of the Board of Christian Education of St. Paul AME Zion Church. The Rev. Dr. Calvin Crocker is the pastor.

 

For more information, call Dr. Whitson at 434-9066, fax her at 434-4208, or e-mail whitsonm@att.net and type "Thanksgiving Dinner" in the subject line.