Submit services for Christmas

December 13, 2008 at 12:00a.m.

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. Wednesday.

Information should include the denomination and name of the church, address, city or suburb, time of service, 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.

Christmas cantata

YOUNGSTOWN — Lockwood United Methodist Church, 4570 Lockwood Blvd., will present a Christmas cantata at the 11 a.m. worship service Sunday.

Christmas musical

YOUNGSTOWN — “Welcome to Our World,” a Christmas musical by Boardman United Methodist Church praise choir, will be presented at 4 p.m. Sunday at West Austintown First United Methodist Church, 6749 Mahoning Ave. A reception will follow the concert.

Lessons and carols

BOARDMAN — A procession with lessons and carols is planned Dec. 21 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 119 Stadium Drive. The prelude will begin at 10:10 a.m. and worship at 10:30.

There will be music by the Edelweiss Quartet, pageantry of a costumed processional, Christmas carols and biblical readings. The presentation will include anthems by two local musicians on the faculty of Youngstown State University. They are Larry Harris, director of music at First Presbyterian Church in Youngstown, and Dr. Daniel Laginya, director of music at St. Columba Cathedral in Youngstown. The presentation will also include the spiritual “Here’s a Pretty Little Baby” with string bass, congas and flute.

Living nativity

NILES — A living nativity will be presented from 7 to 9 p.m. Dec. 20 and 21 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 56 N. Chestnut St. It is the 36th year for the event, which features live animals. Refreshments will be provided.

Special music

MINERAL RIDGE —The First Presbyterian Church, 3654 Main St., will present an evening of music at 7 p.m. Sunday. “Christmas with Friends,” a free concert, will feature Rosemary Minghetti, soprano; Anita Miller, alto; Eric McClellan, tenor; Damian Tarantine, bass; Brendon Considine, violin; Stephen Cline, piano and French horn; and the Rev. Mark Phillips, organ.

A freewill offering will be received to benefit Niles Community Services, which provides assistance to economically disadvantaged residents of Niles, Mineral Ridge and Weathersfield Township. A reception will follow the concert.

Novena prayers

NORTH JACKSON — National Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon, 2759 N. Lipkey Road, will have novena prayers after the 5:30 p.m. liturgy on weekdays and after the 5 p.m. liturgy on weekends from Dec. 15-23.

First Friday

BOARDMAN — The First Friday Club of Greater Youngstown will meet Jan. 8 at Antone’s Banquet Centre on Market Street. Featured speaker will be Dr. Susan Stangl, who will present “The Transformative Power of Gratitude.” She is a research professor from Murraysville, Pa. The luncheon is from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The cost is $15.

Live Nativity

YOUNGSTOWN — Zion Lutheran Church, 3300 Canfield Road, Cornersburg, will offer a live nativity with presentations at 5:30, 6, 6:30 and 7 p.m. Dec. 21.

The annual tradition at Zion began in 1979 and focuses on keeping Christ in Christmas.

Those attending may stay for fellowship and a free soup and sandwich supper.

Guest speaker

HERMITAGE, Pa. — Bishop Jim Erb, overseer of the Antioch International Ministries and recent senior pastor of Pleasant Valley Evangelical Church in Niles, will be the guest speaker at the Living Word Church, 1109 East St., at 10:30 a.m. Sunday.

Nativity night

WARREN — Howland Community Church, 198 Niles-Cortland Road S.E., will hold a Nativity Night open house from 5 to 8 p.m. today.

The display will feature more than 75 nativity sets. There will be children’s crafts, refreshments, a live nativity on the front lawn, a quiet candlelight meditation and more.

Artist speaker

EAST PALESTINE — Sheryl Biddle, local artist, Sunday school teacher and member of the Chancel Choir, will be the guest speaker at First United Presbyterian Church, 109 W., Rebecca St., at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, the third Sunday of Advent.

Biddle, daughter of a Reformed Presbyterian pastor, attended art school in New York and Bible college in Kansas.

Outreach ministry accepting donations

YOUNGSTOWN — Tiffany Noel is director of two sites operated through Agape International Ministries, a Christian outreach ministry.

Locations are 17 E. Chalmers St. and 289 Norwood Ave.

The ministry sponsors food distributions and has Bible studies. It will sponsor a summer vacation Bible school. The organization also is involved in prison ministry.

The ministry is accepting donations of nonperishable food, furniture and clothing, which benefit the needy.

For more information, call Noel at (330) 534-8260.