Lending a hand -- literally -- in the restoration of its Torah has kept members of Congregation Beth Yam focused this week.
Neil Yerman, a Torah scribe, has been guiding the hands of 90 members of the Hilton Head Island congregation to put the finishing touches of the restoration of the synagogue's 100-year-old Torah.
"During the process the scribe really writes and we hold the quill with the scribe," said Ted David, president of the congregation. "He is actually doing the writing. It is a very precise activity."
A Sefer Torah is a copy of the Torah written on parchment by a specially trained scribe under strict requirements. Beth Yam's Torah is made of animal hide and the writing is done with a quill. David described the 304,805 letters in the scroll as beautiful.
"They are like works of art," he said. "Some of them have crowns on them to beautify some of the letters."
Yerman was commissioned to complete the repairs, including fixing letters that are cracked as well as restoring tears and re-sewing seams.
"Some of them had not experienced this," David said. "Many had not even seen a Torah close up before."
The final step is mounting the Torah on the rods that are used to roll it. The congregation's new Torah will be dedicated at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
TABERNACLE BAPTIST CHURCH
The 3-Mile Fun Run/Walk for Christ for all ages begins with registration from 7-7:45 a.m. today at the church, 911 Craven St., Beaufort. The run starts at 8 a.m. Registration fees are $10 for ages 14 and older and $5 for ages 13 and younger.
Details: 843-524-0376, 843-524-1893
CAMPBELL CHAPEL AME CHURCH
The Jake and Ida Martin Scholarship Golf Tournament is today at the Eagle's Pointe Golf Course in Bluffton. Tee time is 1 p.m. Registration is open for all levels. A tournament awards cook-out will follow at the church, 26 Boundary St., Bluffton. Money raised supports the church scholarship program. The tournament began when Pastor Issac W. Wilborn began the golf event as a scholarship fundraiser for the church's college students.
Details: Lamar Burt, 843-705-3883; Claryce Allen, 843-706-3745; Mike Miranda, edfund@hughes.net
UNION BAPTIST CHURCH
A fundraiser continues from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. today at the church's fellowship hall, 1708 Old Shell Road. The menu will include chicken, fish and rib dinners served with sides and dessert. Chicken dinners are $8, and ribs or fish dinners are $10. Wing (fried or hot) and fish baskets served with french fries and roll or bread will also be offered. Wing baskets are $5 and fish baskets are $6. Money raised will go to the church's building fund.
Details: 843-524-8589
EL SHADDAI MINISTRIES
Columbia El Shaddai Ministries of Walterboro and Chosen Vessels Women of War will present "The Making of A Woman Titus 2" from noon-4 p.m. today at Longhorn Steakhouse, Walterboro. Prophetess Denesse Spence will speak. Cost is $11 and includes meal and workshop materials.
Details: Rosa Middleton, 843-838-4444
FIRST AFRICAN BAPTIST CHURCH
The Beaufort High School Gospel Choir will present a concert at 6:30 p.m. today at the church, 1414, Ribaut Road, Port Royal.
Details: 843-322-2000
CENTRAL OAK GROVE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH
The church is accepting donations for flood victims. To schedule a drop off, call Carolyn Campbell at 843-681-6018 or 843-422-1225. The church is at 161 Mathews Drive, Hilton Head Island.
THE LINK
The Link church is collecting supplies for tornado victims in Joplin, Mo. Baby supplies and hygiene products are needed for Disaster Relief, a Christian-based disaster response ministry that the Red Cross invites in times of need. Items will be collected through Sunday and dropped off at 1053 Otter Circle, Beaufort. Services are at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at the YMCA, 1801 Richmond Ave., Port Royal.
Details: 843-592-1352
UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP OF BEAUFORT
The church will commemorate the memory of men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military at a Memorial Day Service at 10 a.m. Sunday. Those attending are invited to bring photos, mementos and stories of loved ones to be recognized during the service. The church meets at 178 Sams Point Road, Lady's Island.
Details: 843-838-1399
UNITY IN ACTION FELLOWSHIP OF CHURCHES
Fifth Sunday Fellowship services will be held at 11 a.m. Sunday at Servants of God International Outreach Tabernacle. The Rev. Jacqueline Crawford will speak. Dinner will be served after services. The church is at 2754 Trask Parkway, U.S. 21, Grays Hill.
Details: 843-846-6017
UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CONGREGATION OF THE LOWCOUNTRY
Dr. Doris Hammond will speak at 10 a.m. Sunday. Her sermon is titled "In Search Of The Fountain Of Youth." The church is at 110 Malphrus Road, Bluffton.
Details: 843-837-3330
THE SHEPHERD'S HOUSE MINISTRIES
The fifth Sunday Fellowship Explosion will be at 6 p.m. Sunday. Apostle Gregory Brunson of Church of the Harvest of Rincon, Ga., will speak. The church is at 15 Sheldon Baptist Church Drive, Sheldon.
Details: Patricia Middleton, 843-252-5530
FIRST ZION MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH
Angela Tennison, a Bluffton native, will be the keynote speaker at at 10 a.m. Sunday. She attended Michael C. Riley Elementary and Hilton Head Island Middle and High schools. Tennison was a field organizer in the Barack Obama presidential campaign and has since gone on to work for Obama in White House Operations. The church is at 10 Robertson St., off Wharf St. in old town Bluffton.
Details: Anne Cooke, 843-757-3417; Julie Cordrey, 843-705-2509
WOMEN'S PRAYER
Catching a Vision, the final prayer workshop in the series by Katie Williams, is from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Tuesday at Community Bible Church, 638 Parris Island Gateway, Beaufort. The discipleship course in prayer is led by Elsie Stevens and Janie Johnson.
Details: 843-524-2738, 843-987-0033
PORT ROYAL BAPTIST CHURCH
The Kiddie Affair Fashion Show begins at 5 p.m. June 4 at Port Royal Baptist Family Life Center, Pinckney Boulevard, Port Royal (near Beaufort Naval hospital). Tickets are $10 for ages 13 and older and $2 for ages 12 and younger. Money raised benefits Helping Hands with Love, a Christian day care at the church.
Details: 843-521-1173
PORT ROYAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
A spaghetti dinner fundraiser will be from 4:30-6:30 p.m. June 4 at the church, 1602 Columbia Ave., Port Royal. Tickets are $7 for adults (ages 12 and older) and $3.50 for children younger than 12.
Details: 843-524-2005
CANAAN MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH
The Transportation Ministry is sponsoring a Summer Fun in the Sun Trip to Orlando, Daytona and Tampa, Fla., departing at 4 p.m. June 23 and returning June 25. Activities will include a visit to Busch Gardens. Details: Albert Black, 843-597-1908; Kelvin Simmons, 843-540-9859. Youth groups are invited.
The Male Chorus of the Canaan Missionary Baptist Church will celebrate its anniversary at 6 p.m. June 4. The church is at 908 Trask Parkway, Sheldon.
Details: 843-846-4175
BEAUFORT AGLOW COMMUNITY LIGHTHOUSE
The church will celebrate its annual Father's Day meeting at 11 a.m. June 4 at the Port Royal Medical Center (second floor conference room), 1320 Ribaut Road, Port Royal. The Rev. John Dortch, an associate minister at the St. Paul Baptist Church and a retired U.S. Army officer and lawyer, will speak. He is the author of "Memoirs of the Prodigal Son: The Road to Redemption."
Details: 843-290-5563
