Gerald W. "Gerry" Vance, a former Marietta College professor, has published a new book, "The Unpaved Road: My Search For An Intellectually Responsible Religion."
Vance taught educational psychology at Marietta College from 1965 to 1985, when he reached the mandatory retirement age of 65.
Upon retirement, Vance decided to write a book to himself about his religious beliefs. "The Unpaved Road" is the result.
Vance has a bachelor of arts degree from Ohio Wesleyan University, a master of arts in psychology from the University of Connecticut, and a bachelor of sacred theology from Boston University. He has been a minister for churches in Ohio, Massachusetts and Connecticut. In addition to being a professor at Marietta College, he has also taught psychology at Worcester Junior College in Massachusetts, and Guilford College in North Carolina.
He and his wife, Grace, withdrew from the Methodist church in 1955 and joined the Society of Friends (Quakers).
Copies of the book can be ordered from Authorhouse, 1663 Liberty Drive, Suite 200, Bloomington, Ind.; or online at Authorhouse.com. They are also available at amazon.com, barnes&noble.com and at local bookstores.
Planning for kids summer program
Marietta First Church of the Nazarene is gearing up for its summer children's program.
This year's WIGBY (Wednesdays In God's Back Yard) program will be kicked off with a week of vacation Bible school from June 8 through 12.
The VBS program, "Son Rock Kids Camp," is for children from age 3 through sixth-graders. Each evening will begin at 6 p.m. and end at 8:30 p.m. There will be music, games, snacks, crafts, skits and a story time.
To pre-register children, call the church office from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays and 8 a.m. to noon Fridays.
For more information or to register: Church office at 373-5406.
Date for annual VBS now later in summer
The usual June date for the annual vacation Bible school sponsored by First Presbyterian Church and Christ United Methodist Church in Marietta is being moved to later in the summer.
The two churches are teaming up for a "Crocodile Rock" vacation Bible school from 9 a.m. to noon each day, Monday through Friday, Aug. 3 to 7, at 501 Wooster St.
Children in the community from 3 years of age to those who have completed the fifth grade are invited to join the churches for an exciting "bayou adventure."
The week will include music, crafts, games, a Dockside Drive-In, a Bible Bayou, and a snack shack. Children will also be on the lookout each day for "God sightings." The mission project for the week will benefit the Back Pack project in Marietta.
Registration forms are available at either church.
Send church news to Janet Gossett in care of The Marietta Times, P.O. Box 635, Marietta, Ohio 45750. Information can also be e-mailed to jgossett@mariettatimes.com, faxed to (740) 376-5475 or submitted through the Virtual Newsroom on the Times' Web site, www.MariettaTimes.-com. Deadline for information for the Focus on Faith page is noon Tuesday each week for that Saturday's edition.
