Faith digest

ACROSS THE AREA

Ramadan begins

Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting, charitable giving and prayer, started Friday.

Today marks the first day of a monthlong fast in which Muslims abstain from food, drinks and smoking from dawn to dusk.

The fasts are traditionally broken with large family or community meals after sundown.

Islam teaches that the Quran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad during Ramadan.

The end of Ramadan will be celebrated in September with the festival Eid.

Christian dance

Ga-Lina Christian Singles will dance tonight at the Elks Augusta Lodge, 205 Elkdom Court.

The weekly dances include lessons from 7 to 8 p.m., followed by dancing from 8 to 11 p.m. The cost is $10. Call (706) 863-1214.

Back-to-school bash

An annual Back-to-School Bash will be from 6 to 8:30 p.m. today at Richardson's Lake, 919 Richardson's Lake Road, Warrenville.

The event, sponsored by Heights Church in Clearwater, includes swimming, food and door prizes. Admission is free. Call (803) 593-3054 or see heightsweb.org.

Prayer breakfast

Tuesday's Mayor's Prayer Breakfast is scheduled for 8 a.m. at The Salvation Army Worship Center, 2020 Gardner St.

The event, held by Lts. Michelle and Lee Wilson, includes the Rev. Greg Young, Matt Aitken, who works in prison ministry, and Augusta Mayor Deke Copenhaver. RSVP at knixon@ augustaga.gov or call (706) 821-1833.

Surrender

Victory Productions presents its seventh stage play, Surrender, at 3 and 6 p.m. today at Hillcrest Baptist Church, 3045 Deans Bridge Road.

The event is free. Call (706) 627-3436.

Catholic radio dance

From 7 p.m. to midnight Friday, a dance will raise money for St. Paul Radio, which is trying to start a Catholic radio station in Augusta.

The dance is at Julian Smith Casino, 2200 Broad St. Admission is $20. Shag lessons are from 7 to 8 p.m. Call (561) 707-5018.

Financial freedom

Rise Up to Financial Freedom is the second in a series of events at Curtis Baptist Church to help women in the community.

From 8:30 a.m. to noon Aug. 29, women will gather at the church, 1326 Broad St., for bagels and coffee, followed by seminars on finance. Tickets cost $5 in advance or $7 at the door. Call (706) 722-7348.

ACROSS THE U.S.

Haggard's wife plans memoir about scandal

CAROL STREAM, ILL. --- Gayle Haggard, the wife of disgraced pastor Ted Haggard, plans to write a memoir, Why I Stayed, according to Tyndale House Publishers.

"This is my story of choosing to love my husband through some of the most difficult challenges any marriage could face," Mrs. Haggard said in a statement.

The Rev. Haggard resigned as pastor of New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colo., and as president of the National Association of Evangelicals after a male prostitute from Denver alleged a cash-for-sex relationship with him in November 2006. The Rev. Haggard confessed to "sexual immorality."

He has since said that he has worked with counselors and no longer has sexual desire for men.

Mrs. Haggard's book is scheduled for release in January.

850 sisters will unite under one province

BEAVER FALLS, PA. --- The Felician Sisters in the U.S. and Canada are setting up a new headquarters in western Pennsylvania.

The Roman Catholic sisters have organized a province in North America that includes about 850 women from Moon Township, just west of Pittsburgh; and others in Rio Rancho, N.M.; Livonia, Mich.; Buffalo, N.Y.; Chicago; Lodi, N.J.: Enfield, Conn.; and Mississauga, Ontario.

The women's religious order had said the merger was needed to deal with its diminishing ranks and aging membership.

Pittsburgh Bishop David Zubik plans a Mass on Nov. 21 to celebrate the reorganization, which will bring the sisters under the authority of a single province in North Sewickley Township in Beaver County, about 25 miles northwest of Pittsburgh.

The Felician Sisters were founded nearly 154 years ago.