SERVICES

SERVICES
Church Women United of the Youngstown area will celebrate World Day of Prayer on Friday. The theme for the day is "In Faith, Women Shape the Future." Services will be at the following churches: 11 a.m. at Canfield United Methodist, North Jackson Federated and Vienna Presbyterian churches; noon at Grace Lutheran Church in Hubbard and Calvary United Methodist Church in North Lima; 1:30 p.m. at Columbiana United Methodist Church; 2 p.m. at Struthers Presbyterian, with a social at 1:30 p.m.; 6 p.m. at Holy Trinity Baptist Church, Youngstown; and 7 p.m. at West Side Baptist Church, Youngstown.
Calvary Temple Worship Center, U.S. Route 422, New Castle, Pa., will host a Latino Night at 6 p.m. Sunday. The speaker will be the Rev. Juan Fernando, the pastor of Eglesia de Jesus Christos, a 10,000-member church in Resistencia, Argentina.
The Catholic Diocese of Youngstown has announced that in its six counties, 452 men, women and children are preparing to become members of the Catholic Church at Easter. Some 198 will receive the sacraments of baptism, confirmation and the Eucharist at the Easter Vigil on April 10. The other 254 who were baptized earlier in other Christian traditions will make a profession of the Catholic faith and receive the sacraments of confirmation and the Eucharist at the vigil. The 254 have been participating in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, a process through which they become familiar with the teachings of the Catholic Church and the Catholic way of life. On Sunday, all 452 people will celebrate the Rite of Election at 2 p.m. at St. Columba Cathedral, Youngstown, or at 2:30 p.m. in St. Joseph Church, Canton. They will be presented to either Youngstown Bishop Thomas J. Tobin at St. Joseph or to Bishop Benedict C. Franzetta, retired auxiliary bishop of Youngstown, at St. Columba Cathedral. During the Rite of Election, godparents, sponsors and members of the assemblies will attest to the readiness of the 452 for the sacraments of initiation. The candidates will then continue their final preparation for Easter.
Liberty Bible Church, 2111 Sodom-Hutchings Road, Vienna, will host Efraim Goldstein from Jews for Jesus, who will discuss "Christ in the Passover" at 7:30 p.m. March 15. The presentation will discuss the Jewish holiday and Jesus' last supper.
Southside Presbyterian Church, 102 W. 2nd St., Niles, and First Presbyterian Church, 890 Church Hill Road, Girard, will co-sponsor a free basic Bible study focusing on the Old Testament. The six-week class begins at 7 p.m. Sunday at Southside. Refreshments will be served. Call (330) 505-1192. On Sunday, a sermon will be given at the two churches based on the unique perspectives of "silent witnesses" to the Crucifixion. They include a thorn from Jesus' crown of thorns, Jesus' robe, a nail that was driven into his hand, the spear that pierced his side, the shroud that wrapped his body, and the stone that covered his grave. The service is at 9:30 a.m. at the Southside church and at 11 a.m. at First Presbyterian.
First Presbyterian Church, 3654 Main St., Mineral Ridge, will have dinner at 6:15 p.m. and a brief worship experience at 7 p.m. on the theme "The Paths to Calvary" Wednesdays during Lent. Each week, there will be a costumed monologue of a person describing his encounter with Jesus as he traveled to Calvary. At 7 p.m. Thursdays, there will be a study of the novel "Pilate" by Paul L. Maier. The cost of the book is $10 at the church office.
Holy Name Catholic Church, 613 N. Lakeview Ave., Youngstown, will have a Communal Penance Service with Sts. Peter & amp; Paul, St. Stephen of Hungary, Our Lady of Hungary and Sts. Cyril and Methodius churches at 11 a.m. March 12. The service will consist of hymns, prayer, a gospel reading and a brief homily followed by individual confessions. A free luncheon will follow. Make reservations before March 9 at (330) 799-8873.
The Shrine of Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted, 517 S. Belle Vista Ave., Youngstown, and the Queen of the Holy Rosary Prayer Group will have a Rosary Cenacle at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. Refreshments will follow.
BLACK HISTORY
Higher Praise Covenant Church's youth group will perform a salute to blacks as part of Black History Month at noon today at Imperial Skilled Care Center, 4121 Tod Ave. N.W., Warren. There will also be a soul-food luncheon.
Morning Star Baptist Church, 707 Willow St., Youngstown, will have a Black History musical tribute with area musicians and singers at 4 p.m. Sunday. Professor Wilbur Ervin will be a guest.
HEALTH
Otterbein United Methodist Church, 1128 State Road West, Warren, has been awarded a grant to sponsor a parish nursing workshop from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 13. The workshop is open to nurses, pastors and others interested in starting or expanding health ministries at their churches. Nurses can receive credit hours. Registration is $20. Call (330) 847-7072.
Hoyt Street Church of God in Christ will present Men's Conference 2004 at the Renaissance Place, 1948 Palmyra Road, Warren, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. today. Speakers will discuss men's physical, spiritual and financial well-being.
First Christian Church, 33 N. Arlington Ave., Niles, will present Wonderfully Made, a weight-loss support group for women. The group is meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday nights. Walking aerobics will be at 6:45 p.m., and Bible study is at 7 p.m. Tuesdays. Call (330) 652-5839.
SOCIAL
The SAM Network is providing a number of singles events. Call (330) 783-6297 for information. The events include:
UFirst Friday, 6:45 p.m. Friday, North-Mar Church, 3855 E. Market St., Warren.
UBowling, 2 p.m. March 14, Crest Lanes, U.S. Route 422, Warren.
USkating, 6 p.m. March 18, Champion Roller Rink, 5040 Mahoning Ave. (Kid-friendly event)
UGame night, 7 p.m. March 20, North-Mar Church.
UDinner, 6 p.m. March 23 at El Torero, Elm Road.
ULunch, 1 p.m. March 28, Ruby Tuesday's in the Eastwood Mall. (Kid-friendly event)
The 2004 Gospel Hip Hop Jam will be presented at Rhodes Arena on Sunday by the University of Akron's athletics department with Salem Communications' WFHM 95.5 FM and WHK 1220 AM in Cleveland. The concert will begin immediately after the Akron-Kent State men's basketball game, which starts at 2 p.m. Scheduled artists are: God's Child, Judah E & amp; the Beatlab, D'Nell and Soul Suhvivaz. Tickets for Sunday's game are $10-15; there is a limited number of $5 seats available for church groups of 25 people or more. Call (888) 992-5766.
Sts. Cyril & amp; Methodius Church, 185 Laird Ave. N.E., Warren, is sponsoring a bus trip to Cincinnati on March 24 and 25 to see a Vatican display. The tour will include visiting the Bible Museum and the Cathedral Basilicas of the Assumption, a replica of the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris. It will also include the comedy production "Nunsense." The $199 cost includes the hotel and three meals. Call (330) 369-4286.
OUTREACH
Niles Knights of Columbus members will pass out membership literature after Masses at Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St. Stephen churches March 6 and 7. Men age 18 and older are invited for coffee and doughnuts after the service.
The Benedictine Sisters of the Byzantine Church at Queen of Heaven Monastery, 8640 Squires Lane N.E., Warren, will have an afternoon of spirituality from 1 to 5 p.m. March 20. The Rev. Elias Rafaj will speak on "Seeing the Face of God: Icons and the Resurrection." The Mystery of Reconciliation will be available, and vespers will be at 4:10 p.m. Call (330) 856-1813.
YOUTH
St. Jude Catholic Church, 180 Seventh St., Columbiana, through its youth ministry will have a "30 Hour Famine" from 11 a.m. today through 7 p.m. Feb. 29 to raise awareness of poverty and hunger by raising $360 to feed one child for a year. Donations may be made at Taco Bell, Arby's, the Sandwich Factory, Pamida, or the church activity center.
Church Hill United Methodist Church, 189 Church Hill-Hubbard Road, Youngstown, will have a children's fair with games and prizes from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 6. The fair is for children in preschool through grade school and their parents. Tickets are 25 cents each. Lunch will be for sale. Call (330) 759-0118.
OTHER
GodQuest will have a nondenominational Christian Silent Retreat for men April 30-May 2 at The Comfort Inn South in Mansfield. The director is the Rev. William Lewis of Massillon. Retreats for women are March 19-21 at The Ursuline Center, Canfield; April 30-May 2 at Spruce Hills Inn and Cottages, Mansfield; Sept. 3-5 at The Olmsted Manor, Ludlow, Pa.; and Nov. 12-14 at The River's Edge Inn, Huron. Call (330) 832-3400.