CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

Children's ministry
HUBBARD -- The Valley Children's Ministry Network will hold a children's worker brunch at 9 a.m. March 25 at The Gentry, 116 E. Liberty St. Guest speaker will be Sally Sell, children's ministry leader, who will speak on "Connecting Children's Ministry." Registration is required by March 20 by calling (330) 792-3000. Suggested offering is $5.
Rosary cenacle
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Shrine of Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted, 517 S. Belle Vista Ave., and the Queen of the Holy Rosary prayer group will hold a rosary cenacle at 6:30 p.m. March 8. The rosary will be said during the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. Refreshments will follow in the social hall.
Events at Westminster
NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. -- Al Staggs, a performance artist from New Mexico who was a Baptist minister for 24 years, will present "Theologians in Residence: Clarence Jordan and Dietrich Bonhoeffer" at 11:40 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday in Wallace Memorial Chapel of Westminster College. The morning event will focus on Jordan, author of "The Cotton Patch Version of Matthew and John." In the evening event, Staggs will portray Bonhoeffer, a Lutheran pastor who spoke out against Germanys' treatment of Jews. The events are free.
New pastor welcomed
POLAND -- The Rev. Cindy Peel began her duties Feb. 15 as pastor of Woodworth Church of the Brethren, 30 E. Western Reserve Road. The Rev. Miss Peel, originally from Stow, is a lifelong member of the Church of the Brethren. She is a graduate of Ohio State University and Bethany Theological Seminary, Richmond, Ind. Miss Peel served Marion Church of the Brethren for 12 years.
Penance service
YOUNGSTOWN -- A communal penance service is planned at 11 a.m. March 9 at Sts. Peter and Paul Church, 421 Covington St. A free luncheon will follow in the social hall. Reservations should be made by calling (330) 799-8873 by March 6.
Lenten activities
WARREN -- St. Joseph Church, 420 North St., will offer a Lenten series 7 to 8 p.m. Mondays, starting March 6, with James Johnston.
Lenten lunch series
YOUNGSTOWN -- St. Patrick Church, 1420 Oak Hill Ave., will sponsor a Lenten lunch series from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesdays at the rectory. The events will include homemade soup. Programs will be the Rev. Carl Kish, pastor of St. Robert Bellarmine, "Discovering Inner Space," March 7; Sister Pauline Dalpe of Catholic Charities, "Helping Others Through Grief," March 14; and Rabbi Franklin Muller of Congregation Rodef Sholom, "Women of the Bible: A New Look at Eve." Mass will be at 11:30 a.m. Tuesdays. For information call (330) 743-1109.
Missionary speaker
AUSTINTOWN -- Beth Ferrell, United Methodist missionary to Sierra Leone, West Africa, will be guest speaker during the worship service at 9:30 a.m. March 5 at Smith Corners United Methodist Church, 3000 S. Canfield-Niles Road. Ms. Ferrell, who has a master's in nursing from Kent State University, was director of nursing at Twin City Hospital in Dennison before becoming a missionary. From 1989 to 1999 she served at the Chicque Rural Hospital in Mozambique. In late 2001, she re-established the Manjama United Methodist Health Center in Sierra Leone. A casserole dinner will follow Sunday school at noon.
Women's day service
YOUNGSTOWN -- Phillips Chapel Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, 718 Albert St., will hold its annual women's day service Sunday. Sister Carol Hewlett of Phillips Chapel will speak at the 11 a.m. worship. Evangelist Tracey Dawson of New Bethel Baptist Church will speak at 4 p.m. The musical group Revelation also will perform.
Children's fair
LIBERTY -- A children's fair for those in preschool through fourth grade is planned from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 4 at Church Hill United Methodist Church, 189 Church Hill-Hubbard Road, Youngstown. There will be games, prizes and food. Tickets are 25 cents. The family-oriented event is geared to introducing children to church.
Gospel artists
WARREN -- The Couriers, a gospel music ministry, will appear at 10:30 a.m. March 5 at Glenn Christian Church, 5540 Parkman Road. The group, based in Easton, Pa., began its ministry in 1955.
Bible study offered
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Rev. Dr. D. Larry Kline, senior minister at Trinity United Methodist Church, 30 W. Front St., will teach a four-week Bible study course at 2 p.m. March 9, 16, 23 and 30 at International Towers, 25 Market St. At the first session, a syllabus of Scripture readings will be distributed. Refreshments will be provided.
Seminar on prayer
NILES -- Pleasant Valley Church, 2055 Pleasant Valley Road, will hold a free seminar titled "Attack Lamb" at 7 p.m. Friday and at 9 a.m. next Saturday. Instructor Mark Geppert, president and founder of the South East Asia Prayer Center, based in Oakmont, Pa., will speak on praying to improve your life and impact your community.
Presbyterian gathering
KENT -- Rich Ufford-Chase, General Assembly moderator of the national Presbyterian Church USA, will be keynote speaker for a gathering of area Presbyterians scheduled from 2 to 7 p.m. March 5 at Kent Presbyterian Church, 1456 E. Summit St. The Rev. Kay Roberts, host pastor, will welcome intergenerational delegations from Presbyterian churches in the Akron-Warren-Youngstown-Salem-Lisbon area.
50th anniversary
BOARDMAN -- Boardman Baptist Church, 1207 Shields Road, will mark its 50th anniversary March 5. There will be a worship service at 10:45 a.m. followed by a dinner at Calvary Baptist Church, 1463 Shields Road. Those planning to attend the dinner are asked to call Boardman Baptist, (330) 792-6781. The dinner will be followed by a celebration program at 2 p.m.
Church anniversary
YOUNGSTOWN -- The 66th anniversary of Holy Temple Church of God in Christ, 161 Early Road, will be observed at 6 p.m. Sunday. Elder Eddie Jackson of Bibleland Church of God in Christ, Hubbard, will speak.