Submit services for Christmas

Submit services for Christmas

The Vindicator will run a listing of area services that are open to the public in observance of Christmas Eve, Dec. 24; Christmas Day, Dec. 25; New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31; and New Year’s Day, Jan. 1, 2009. The list will run Dec. 20.

The deadline to submit information is 5 p.m. Dec. 17. Information should include the denomination and name of the church, address, city or suburb, time of Christmas Eve or Christmas Day services, your name, and a phone number for verification.

Send the information to Religion desk, The Vindicator, 107 Vindicator Square, Box 780, Youngstown, Ohio 44501-0780; by fax to (330) 747-6712; or by e-mail to religion@vindy.com.

Concert at church

BOARDMAN — The Wade Raridon Singers, a 26-voice choir, will present a free concert of music for Advent and Christmas at 4 p.m. Dec. 14 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 119 Stadium Drive. Music by Bach, Vaughan Williams, Gibbons, Billings and Rachmaninov will be featured.

Directed by Dr. Wade Raridon, retired Dana School of Music professor, the group has attained a reputation for excellent performances of quality choral literature. A CD recording of past Christmas concert selections is available.

Musical worship

WASHINGTONVILLE — “Together for Christmas,” a worship experience for the community of faith in music, will be presented by Robbins United Methodist Church Choir and friends at 7 p.m. Dec. 14 at the church, 100 High St. A love offering will be accepted. Refreshments will follow in the fellowship hall.

Memorial service

WARREN — McFarland and Son Funeral Home, 271 N. Park Ave., will have a holiday memorial service at 3 p.m. Dec. 14 to offer support to those who have recently lost a loved one. Guest speaker will be the Rev. David Black, pastor of Calvary and Covenant Presbyterian churches. Light refreshments will follow.

Community Christmas

MINERAL RIDGE — Mineral Ridge Community Parish Association will sponsor a community Christmas celebration at 7 p.m. Sunday at First United Methodist Church, 3711 Main St. This year’s celebration, “The Essence of Christmas” was written by Janet Grafton. She has assembled more than 25 community youth who will lead the service of readings, special music and drama.

Day of reflection set

YOUNGSTOWN — Pupils at St. Christine School, 3125 S. Schenley Ave., will mark the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on Monday with an afternoon of reflection. Fifth-graders will prepare the celebration of the Eucharist with Monsignor David Roberts as celebrant and special music by Barbara Singler, music teacher. Each grade will spend the afternoon involved in activities and art projects centered around the life of the Blessed Virgin.

Hosting a Taiz prayer

VILLA MARIA, Pa. — Villa Maria Education and Spirituality Center will host a Taiz prayer from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the Magnificat Chapel. The Taiz prayer service is based on a ritual developed by an ecumenical community in France dedicated to prayer and simplicity.

Refreshments will be served after the service. Participants are welcome to stay for refreshments and stop in to see the Nativity display consisting of cr ®ches from around the world. There is no registration or fee, , but an offering will be accepted. For information, call (724) 964-8920, ext. 3241, or visit www.humilityofmary.org/calendar.asp.

Christmas praise music

NILES — The Bridge, a contemporary praise and worship band, will be sharing in worship leadership at 10 a.m. Sunday at Southside Presbyterian Church, 102 W. Second St. Classic Christmas and inspirational praise music will be featured.

‘Believe’ holiday musical

CANFIELD — Move Over Broadway Productions Inc. will present a holiday musical, “Believe: Angels and All Children,” at 7 p.m. Friday and Dec. 13 and 14 at St. Michael Church, Route 46. The free musical celebration will feature Advent and Christmas music, dance and a musical retelling of the Nativity story in a theatrical setting. This is an ecumenical production suitable for all ages.

Director is Marlene Menaldi Strollo, with musical direction by Jodine Pilmer and choreography by Nick Opritza, Melanie Williams and Joanna Andrei.

This production will benefit St. Michael Family Life Center Building. A free-will offering will be accepted at intermission when a 50/50 drawing will take place. For information, call (330) 533-8789.

City Prayer Team

YOUNGSTOWN — The City Prayer Team of Youngstown will have a prayer assembly at 10 a.m. today at Fifth Avenue Community Church, 1361 Fifth Ave.

Night of Prayer

YOUNGSTOWN — Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 343 Via Mount Carmel, will host a Night of Prayer for Life from 6:30 to 10 p.m. Monday, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. The observance will include Mass at 7.

The service is being held in conjunction with the 19th annual National Night of Prayer for Life, which brings together people from across the United States as they pray for life. The service will begin with the patriotic rosary for America, Rachel rosary for those who have experienced abortion, Divine Mercy Chaplet, prayers, hymns and a special Holy Hour with benediction at 8.

There also will be a blessing of roses and distribution and veneration of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

The National Night of Prayer always takes place on the feast of the Immaculate Conception and before Dec. 9, which commemorates Our Lady of Guadalupe’s first appearance in Mexico to Juan Diego, who eventually became a saint. Our Lady of Guadalupe’s appearance to Juan Diego in 1531 began the conversion of 9 million Aztec Indians to Catholicism.

Program on grief

NEW WATERFORD — Abundant Life Fellowship will host a public seminar to help people cope with the Christmas season after a loved one’s death. “GriefShare: Surviving the Holidays” will be from 10 a.m. to noon Dec. 13 at the church at 46469 state Route 46. Registration that day will begin at 9:30 a.m.

The seminar features video interviews with top Christian experts on grief and recovery topics as seen from a biblical perspective, and personal testimonies from people who have experienced the holidays after bereavement.

Leaders will be Betty Welker and Jay Radman, church members. Part of the seminar includes support group discussion of materials presented. Those attending will receive a free book with more than 30 daily readings.

Child care will be provided for children up through fifth grade. The seminar is free but the deadline to sign up is Monday. Contact the church office at (330) 457-7317.

Feast day Mass planned

YOUNGSTOWN — A feast day Mass honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas, will be at 7 p.m. Friday at St. Columba Cathedral, 54 W. Wood St. This special Mass is sponsored by the Hispanic Ministries of St. Columba Cathedral, Santa Rosa de Lima Church in Campbell and St. Brendan and St. Patrick churches. The Mass will be celebrated in Spanish and English.

All are welcome and invited to bring a rose to offer to Our Lady of Guadalupe. Refreshments will be provided after Mass in St. Columba Hall.

Holy Supper pageant

CAMPBELL — A pageant highlighting the customs and traditions of a Holy Supper as practiced by Carpatho-Rusyn families on Christmas Eve will be presented by members in costume and with a colorful kitchen stage setting at 4 p.m. Dec. 14 at St. Michael’s Byzantine Catholic Church 463 Robinson Road. The Youngstown-Warren Carpatho-Rusyn Society is the sponsor.

The Holy Supper, Svjaty Vechur/Velija, will include 12 traditional foods, homemade including mushroom soup. St. Nicholas will give “golden coins” to those attending. Ethnic and religious items will be available and Christmas Carols and music will be featured. Tickets are available from Jim Basista at (330) 544-0107 or Ken Stanislaw at (330) 788-8032. The cost is $15 for adults and $7.50 for children.

Healing drum circle

VILLA MARIA, Pa. — Villa Maria Education and Spirituality Center will conduct a healing drum circle from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday. Facilitator will be Jason Lynn, a musical instructor. There is no registration or fee required; an offering of $5 will be accepted. Participants may bring their own drums or use ones provided. For information, call (724) 964-8920, ext. 3241, or send e-mail to cwilpula@humilityofmary.org.

Presenting Nativity Night

WARREN — Howland Community Church, 198 Niles- Cortland Road S.E., will present a Nativity Night from 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 13 with more than 75 Nativity sets on display. A live Nativity also will be featured on the church lawn. The event will feature children’s crafts, cross-stitched angels, refreshments and candlelight meditation.

Guest speaker scheduled

EAST PALESTINE — Phil Bartholomew will be guest speaker at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at First United Presbyterian Church, 107 W. Rebecca St. The church also will host “A Night of Christmas Music” at 7 p.m. with participation from community churches and schools including choirs, bands, solos and duets. Refreshment and fellowship will follow.

Christmas musical

NILES — First Baptist Church, 26 E. Church St., will present the Christmas musical, “Emmanuel — Celebrating Heaven’s Child,” at 6 p.m. Sunday and 7 p.m. Monday. Adult and children’s choirs will be featured. A nursery for infants will be available.

Program for women

COLUMBIANA — Pastor Mark Plegge, minister of music at Abundant Life Fellowship in New Waterford, will present an inspirational program for women from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 13 at Das Dutch Village Inn. The cost is $15 and includes brunch. Call Linda Sferra at (330) 482-3565 or Darlene Peddicord at (330) 457-1428.

Pacesetters event

LIBERTY — Pacesetters, a Christian outreach ministry, will present a Christmas banquet musical at noon today at the Holiday Inn MetroPlex. There will be music by Michael Vance and Gladys McCorvey. Tickets are $20 at the door.

Kids Klub program

ELLSWORTH — Ellsworth Presbyterian Church, 11171 Akron-Canfield Road, will present a Kids Klub program for children from 4 to 11 years old from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday and Dec. 17. Activities will be stories, songs and a craft. Parents may stay and participate in short seminars — Wednesday on pandemic flu outbreak and Dec. 17, yoga and meditation.

Founding pastor to speak

YOUNGSTOWN — The Rev. Paul Coleman, founding pastor, will speak on “Why Bethlehem?” at 10:45 a.m. Sunday at Christ Church, 1933 Canfield Road.

Crossing Paths

HUBBARD — Crossing Paths, a local television ministry founded by Donald Reed Sr., will have its Christmas banquet at 6:30 p.m. Friday at the Brentford House, 737 Myron St. Special guests will be Bob and Shelly Zwingler, who speak on how Christianity plays a role in their business. Jim Leas will minister in music. The event is free but reservations are required. Call (724) 981-7777.

Human rights award

YOUNGSTOWN — The third annual Human Rights Celebration, “God’s Wisdom Honors Children,” sponsored by Church Woman United of Youngstown, is planned at 10 a.m. Dec. 13 at Elizabeth Baptist Church, 1210 Himrod Ave.

The Church Women United Human Rights Award is a national award that is given locally to deserving individuals. This year’s honorees are Attys. Staughton and Alice Lynd and the Rev. Lonnie and Florence Simon.

CWU members are reminded to bring a dish to share and a gift for the adopted Christmas family for Protestant Family Service. For more information, call Shirley Megown at (330) 792-4117.

Vespers at college

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. — Westminster College will continue a long-standing tradition with the presentation of “The Gifts of Christmas” at Christmas vespers at 7 p.m. Sunday in Orr Auditorium. The annual worship service includes music from a variety of vocal and instrumental ensembles, liturgical dancers, Scripture readings and “Twelve and More,” the message from the Rev. James R. Mohr II, college chaplain.