Prayer service planned
Mercy Fort Smith, 7301 Rogers Ave., will host an interfaith prayer service at 2 p.m. today in the hospital's St. Edward Chapel. The service will officially open the display of a hand-written, "hand-illuminated" Heritage edition of the St. John's Bible, currently on loan to the hospital from the Hill Museum and Manuscript Library at St. John's Abbey and University in Collegeville, Minn.
The Bible took 11 years to complete and is the first of its scale in more than 500 years. The St. John's Bible incorporates many of the characteristics of its medieval predecessors: It was written on vellum using quills, natural handmade inks, hand ground pigments and gild such as gold leaf, silver leaf and platinum. It was created by scribes in a scriptorium in Wales under the artistic direction of Donald Jackson, one of the world's foremost calligraphers.
The Bible will be on display at various locations inside the hospital through March 14. It also will be displayed at Mercy Orthopedic Hospital, 3601 S. 79th St.; Mercy Tower West, 6801 Rogers Ave.; and Mercy’s four hospitals in Ozark, Paris, Booneville and Waldron.
Call (479) 314-6613 for a schedule of display times and locations or for information.
Writing award deadline nears
Poets and Writers magazine is accepting applications through Monday from Arkansas poets and fiction writers for its 2018 Maureen Egen Writers Exchange Award. Winners will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to New York City to meet with literary professionals including editors, agents, publishers and writers.
Visit https://www.pw.org/about-us/maureen_egen_writers_exchange_award for complete guidelines and information.
Civitan to hold ribbon cutting
The newly formed Fort Smith Civitan Club will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new meeting space at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Abilities Unlimited, 3305 Kibler Road in Van Buren. A former boardroom at Abilities Unlimited has been designated for Civitan Club use. Members meet at noon on the first and third Wednesday each month.
Visit Civitan.org or the Fort Smith Civitan Club page on Facebook for information.
Volunteers needed for 2018 event
Volunteers are needed to assist with the 2018 Night to Shine prom for people with special needs at 6 p.m. Feb. 9 at West-Ark Church of Christ, 900 N. Waldron Road. Sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation, the event creates a prom-night experience for attendees, and volunteers are needed to help make it happen. Visit fsnighttoshine.org/ or call the church at (479) 452-1240 for information or to sign up as a volunteer.
Health-related mini-grants available
The Blue and You Foundation, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, is accepting applications through March 15 for $1,000 mini-grants offered to organizations working to grow vegetable gardens, teach healthy habits, build playgrounds to encourage active children, provide medical supplies or otherwise improve the overall health of Arkansans. Visit www.BlueAndYouFoundationArkansas.org to apply or for information.