Retirement reception

Retirement reception
YOUNGSTOWN -- West Side Baptist Church is honoring the Rev. Dr. Marvin and Peggy Strom with a retirement reception at 3 p.m. Dec. 15. The Stroms have served for more than 39 years in American Baptist churches in Indiana and Ohio, including 10 years at West Side Baptist. Reservations are required. Call (330) 799-9382.
First sermon offered
YOUNGSTOWN -- Minister Sandra L. Moss-Robinson will preach her first sermon at Everlife Worship Center at 5 p.m. Sunday. She has been married for 16 years to the Rev. Denis M. Robinson Sr., Everlife's assistant pastor. She is the co-owner of San-Dee's Child Care Training Services, Robinsong Productions, and president and co-founder of Systems of Help Unlimited.
Pastor to speak
BELOIT -- Dr. Earl Bailey of Word for the World Ministries will be at Beloit Evangelical Friends Church at 10 a.m. Dec. 1. He continued his ministry after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1978. Call (330) 938-2378.
Christmas program
WASHINGTONVILLE -- The Christmas musical "Sing of the Wonder" will be performed at 7 p.m. Dec. 1 in Robbins United Methodist Church. An offering will be taken and refreshments will be served afterward.
Family concert
NORTH LIMA -- A family night concert featuring the group Captive Free will be at 7 p.m. Dec. 1 in Good Hope Lutheran Church. An offering will be taken.
Christmas concert
BOARDMAN -- A free Christmas concert will be given by the 80-voice Beaver Valley Choral Society at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 7 in Calvary Baptist Church. An offering will be taken and refreshments will be served afterward.
Evangelist performs
MERCER, Pa. -- Evangelist Eddie Phillips will appear at 10:45 a.m. and 6 p.m. Dec. 8 and 6:30 p.m. Dec. 9, 10 and 11 in Mercer Free Methodist Church. Music will be provided by the gospel group From the Heart. Phillips has been a full-time minister for the Free Methodist denomination since 1978. Call (724) 662-2163.
Pastor named
ROCK CREEK -- The Rev. Gregory Fedor has been appointed pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Rock Creek, Ohio, by Bishop Thomas Tobin of the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown, effective Nov. 14. Father Fedor had been serving as temporary administrator at the parish. He is also pastor of St. Mary Parish in Orwell, an assignment he will keep.
Lessons and carols
YOUNGSTOWN -- A Festival of Lessons and Carols will be presented at 7 p.m. Dec. 1 in St. Columba Cathedral. Music will be provided by the cathedral choir under the direction of Daniel Laginya, the Sheet & amp; Tube Brass Quartet, and organist Joseph Petros III. The program is free. A reception will follow.
Award winners
YOUNGSTOWN -- Dr. Phyllis Cooper and Mr. Ken and Mrs. Vicki Pavalko recently received Voice of Hope Awards from the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown.
Cooper, an active parishioner at St. Luke Parish, Boardman, received the Voice of Hope Award for Justice. She serves as the chairperson for the social concerns committee, and has organized an ecumenical birthday party for area foster children. She also serves as a member of the ACTION core team, a faith-based group of about 25 organizations that work on a variety of social justice issues.
Mr. and Mrs. Pavalko, parishioners at Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Youngstown, received the Voice of Hope Award for Charity. The Pavalkos are the founders of The Touched by Nathan Foundation, a nonprofit organization created in the name of their son, Nathan, who was born in 1997 with a rare chromosomal problem. Nathan lived 40 days. The Pavalkos then created an organization to help meet the needs of families of babies who have serious health problems and are not expected to live.
Advent programs
VILLA MARIA, Pa. -- Villa Maria Retreat Center, a ministry of the Sisters of the Humility of Mary, is offering a number of programs to celebrate the season of Advent.
From 9 to 11 am. Dec. 3, there will be a morning of prayer, "Coffee & amp; Contemplation: Advent Waiting." There is no charge.
An art and spiritually program, "Christmas Blessing Cards" on making cards by hand, will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 4. The $20 cost includes art materials and a hot lunch.
An afternoon of Advent prayer and concert, "We Wait In Joyful Hope," will be from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Dec. 8. It will feature folk musicians from the Church of Notre Dame in Hermitage, Pa. Proceeds will benefit Prince of Peace Center in Farrell, Pa.
At 7 p.m. Dec. 10, the musicians from Church of Notre Dame will provide music for the Advent Taize & acute;. There is no charge.
"Fall Into Advent," a weekend retreat conducted by the Rev. Harry Cain of Weston, Mass., will be Dec. 13-15. The $100 cost includes lodging for two nights and six meals. Pre-registration is required. Call (724) 964-8920 ext. 3241.
Weekend events
NILES -- Elder G.L. Evans II of Canton and the gospel group Anointed Voices of Canton will be at Alpha & amp; Omega Ministries at 7 p.m. Friday.
At 6 p.m. next Saturday, Minister Steve Nelson of Akron will be the guest speaker and the special music will include Gospel Change of Farrell, Pa. Nelson will also speak at 11 a.m. Dec. 1. The events are free.