Speaking on book

Speaking on book

BOARDMAN — Jim and Dorothy Chapon Kazel will be at St. Charles Borromeo Parish at 7 p.m. Wednesday to speak about the book, “The Voice: A Missionary’s Call to Giver Her Life,” by Dorothy Chapon Kazel and Sr. Mary Ann Flannery, S.C.

The book contains letters from Jim’s sister, Sister Dorothy Kazel, to her family and friends during the time when the civil war in El Salvador was escalating.

Sister Dorothy was martyred, along with three other missionaries, on Dec. 2, 1980.

Books will be available for autographing after the talk.

The cost is $15 each.

Light refreshments will be served.

Society meeting

BOARDMAN — The Society of St. John Chrysostom, Youngstown-Warren Chapter, will present “An Introduction to the Filioque Controversy,” a talk by Dr. Peter Gilbert, Orthodox theologian, at 11 a.m. Dec. 5 at St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church, 7781 Glenwood Ave.

The society of is an ecumenical organization of Catholic and Orthodox clergy and laity.

Christmas concert

LIBERTY — The Wade Rairdon Singers will present a free concert of Christmas music at 4 p.m. Sunday at Church Hill United Methodist Church, 189 Church Hill-Hubbard Road.

The program will include holiday songs including carols such as “The Holly and the Ivy” and choral classics of the season such as “Victoria’s Ave Maria.”

Refreshments will follow.

Nativity display

Villa Maria, Pa. — The Sisters of the Humility of Mary will host the fourth annual nativity display from noon to 5 p.m. Dec. 5, 6, 12 and 13 at Villa Maria Conference Center.

This special Advent exhibit represents more than 70 nativities from personal, family and community collections.

Musical entertainment will be featured and artists include Father Vit Fiala, cello; Jim Meese, piano; Kirk Kupensky, Celtic harp; Dr. Nancy DeSalvo and students from the Westminster College piano department; Sisters Toby Lardie, Paulette Kirschensteiner and Kathleen Cannell, violinists; and St. James, St. Camillus and New Bedford Presbyterian Choirs.

Free will offerings will be accepted.

Light refreshments will be served.

For more information, call (724) 964-8920, ext. 3348.

Advent retreats

CANFIELD — Interested in preparing for the celebration of Christmas in a way that will allow you to anticipate the birth of Christ in a meaningful way rather than getting lost in all the commercial side?

A mini-Advent/Christmas-time “Retreat in Daily Living” will be offered the weeks of Dec. 6 and 13 and Jan. 3 and 10 at the Ursuline Center, 4280 Shields Road.

The cost is $50 for the four-week retreat experience, payable to the Ursuline Center.

For information and registration, call (330) 533-3831 or (330) 799-4941.

Christmas party

NEW WATERFORD – Abundant Life Fellowship, 46469 state Route 46, is planning a Christmas party Dec. 7 for area families who are or in the past have been involved in foster-parenting programs in Columbiana and Mahoning counties.

The goal of the free event, which will start at 5:30 p.m., is to show appreciation for area foster families.

The evening will include dinner, entertainment, games and gifts for the children.

Tim Hupp, a deacon at the church, is overseeing the event. He and his wife, Sherry, have been foster parents for six years.

Area foster families who want to participate can contact Hupp at (330) 426-3824 by Wednesday to register.

Guests at Calvary

YOUNGSTOWN — Pastor Loran Mann and the Pentecostal Temple Church of God in Christ mass choir of Pittsburgh will join Bishop Norman L. Wagner and Calvary Ministries International, 1812 Oak Hill Ave., at 6 p.m. Sunday.

Drive-through nativity

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — Kings Chapel United Methodist Church, 861 Old Pulaski Road, (corner of Old Pulaski Road and Wallace Drive), will sponsor its 16th annual “Drive Thru Nativity” from 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 5.

There will be 11 scenes set up around the church parking lot and features live actors and animals.

It is free.

For more information, visit www.kiweumcharge.org.

Holiday concert

YOUNGSTOWN — Wade Rairdon Singers will present a holiday concert at 2 p.m. Dec. 6 at St. Patrick Church, 1420 Oak Hill Ave.

The free program will feature a variety of seasonal numbers, including Advent and Christmas selections.

A free-will offering will be accepted.

Pastoral anniversary

YOUNGSTOWN — The Ebenezer Life Center Church of God In Christ, 566 W. Indianola Ave., will honor Pastor Ernest L. Walker and co-pastor Lenora Walker in an 18th pastoral anniversary celebration at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday.

A banquet is planned at 6 p.m. Dec. 5 with guest speaker Pastor Melvin Trent of New Beginnings Outreach Ministries. A service will be at 5 p.m. Dec. 6.

Advent activities

MINERAL RIDGE — Members of First Presbyterian Church, 3654 Main St., will light a candle in the Advent wreath Sundays during the season. Caroling will be at 1 p.m. Dec. 6 at Briarfield at the Ridge and to church members’ homes.

A children’s program will be presented during the worship service Dec. 13.

After worship there will be a potluck lunch.

On Dec. 20, the sanctuary will be decorated with poinsettias, given by the congregation in memory and in honor of loved ones.

Children are collecting gloves, hats and scarves for Niles Community Services and people who receive food from the Community Food Cupboard.

The congregation will also buy gifts to be given to youth who attend the Needle’s Eye in Youngstown.

Deacons and youths made and sold ornaments with funds benefiting Niles Community Services.

Concerts ends celebration

BOARDMAN —St. James’ Episcopal Church, 7640 Glenwood Ave., will host the Salem Youth Chorus in a program of sacred music at 4 p.m. Sunday.

The program “I Will Sing with the Spirit” will feature music by Billings, Finzi, Rutter, Palestrina, Stainer, Mozart and Matthias.

The 20-member chorus of 14- to 18-year-olds is directed by Jon Simsic.

The ensemble has released two CDs, “Morning Has Broken” and “Evening Reflections,” and a Christmas CD will be released this month.

This special program will mark the final event of St. James’ two-year celebration of its bicentennial. St. James’ is the oldest parish in the Episcopal Diocese of Ohio.

A free-will offering will be received to benefit the Salem Youth Chorus as they embark on a musical tour of the United Kingdom in 2010.

After the concert, the Episcopal Church Women of the church will host a reception in honor of St. Andrew, since his Feast Day is Monday.

Rosary cenacle

YOUNGSTOWN — The Shrine of Our Lady, Comforter of the Afflicted, 518 S. Belle Vista Ave., and Queen of the Holy Rosary Prayer Group will have a rosary cenacle at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the shrine.

Refreshments will follow.

Traditional novena

CAMPBELL — St. Lucy and Santa Rosa de Lima, two Roman Catholic parishes, share the church and facilities at 394 Tenney Ave.

St. Lucy, established by Italian immigrants, will begin a nine-day novena to the parish patroness, Santa Lucia, on Friday.

Prayers will be offered at Mass at 8 a.m. for nine days before her feast Dec. 13.

On the Feast Day, Mass will be at 5 p.m. followed by an Italian celebration of food and music.

Santa Rosa de Lima will begin it traditional Advent novena of prayer and song known as “Los Aguinaldos” on Dec. 16.

Mass will be celebrated in Spanish at 7 p.m. every night for nine consecutive evenings.

After Mass, members will gather for refreshments and music in the church hall.

Night of worship

YOUNGSTOWN — Professionals Partnering with Christ is planning a service, “Worshipping the King,” at 6 p.m. Dec. 5 at Ford Recital Hall of DeYor Performing Arts Center.

Thirteen churches with praise teams and pastors will participate.

Movie to be shown

NORTH LIMA — North Lima Mennonite Church, 90 Mennonite Drive, will show a new Veggie Tales film, “Saint Nicholas,” at 6 p.m. Dec. 6.

Family, friends day

YOUNGSTOWN — Grace Evangelistic Temple, 1026 Shehy St., will have family and friends day at 11 a.m. Sunday.

Christmas concert

CAMPBELL — St. Joseph the Provider Church, 633 Porter Ave., will host a free Christmas concert featuring POP (Power of Praise), a Catholic Christian band, at 7 p.m. Dec. 5.

Guest speaker

YOUNGSTOWN — Jim Johnston will speak on the O’Antiphons at 7 p.m. Dec. 15 at St. Patrick Church social hall, 1420 Oak Hill Ave.

Dinner will be at 6:15 p.m.

Reservations are due by Monday; call (330) 747-6712.

Appointment made

YOUNGSTOWN — Bishop George V. Murry has appointed Monsignor Kenneth Miller as administrator of Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, 400 Lincoln Park Drive, effective Friday.

Monsignor Miller was ordained June 18, 1977, after completing seminary studies at Mount St. Mary Seminary in Cincinnati. He served as associate pastor at St. Joan of Arc Church in Canton and was a faculty member at Central Catholic High School in Canton and Ursuline High School.

Monsignor Miller was Vicar for Catholic education and executive director of the diocesan Department of Pastoral and Educational Services. He was named Chaplain of His Holiness by Pope John Paul II.

He served as pastor of St. Louis Church in Louisville, and most recently served as associate principal at Ursuline. He serves on the diocesan Priests Retirement Board.

Study of faith

YOUNGSTOWN — St. John’s Lutheran Church, 1729 Mahoning Ave., will present St. John’s Academy, a series of study of faith.

Pastor Gary Schreckengost will lead the video study and discussion that will begin at 6 p.m. Wednesday with a salad and sandwich supper.

A $5 weekly donation covers the meal and materials.

For details, call (330) 792-7462.

Taiz prayer

VILLA MARIA, Pa. — Villa Maria Education and Spirituality Center will have Taiz prayer from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the Magnificat Chapel at Villa Maria Community Center.

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.

For information, call (724) 964-8886 or visit www.villaprograms.org.

Brunch speaker

COLUMBIANA – Cheryle Herr of Lisbon will speak at the Reaching out Woman to Woman brunch from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 5 at Das Dutch Village Inn.

Herr, who with her husband, Don, has been in ministry in the Columbiana County Jail and federal prison in Elkton, works full time at the Family Recovery Center in Lisbon. She is a member of Fellowship of the Beloved in Hanoverton and has authored the book “My Father’s Voice.”

The brunch costs $15, and reservations are due by Wednesday with Darlene Peddicord at (330) 457-1428 or Linda Sferra at (330) 482-3565.

Church anniversary

YOUNGSTOWN — Jerusalem Baptist Church will mark its 92nd anniversary Sunday.

The 11 a.m. service will feature former Youngstown resident and The Rayen School graduate Tawana Lewis-Wheeler. She is interim director for the People’s Community Wellness Center, which serves the uninsured population of Montgomery County, Md. She recently returned from a missionary trip to India.

The 4 p.m. service will feature the Rev. J. Dwayne Heard and the Elizabeth Baptist Church along with the Rev. Emmitt Nevels and the Nevels Temple Church of God in Christ.

The Rev. D.H. Anderson Sr. is host pastor.

Coffeehouse at fellowship

BOARDMAN — Sounds and Grounds, a coffeehouse, will be open for the first time from 7 to 10 p.m. today in a newly-remodeled setting at Glenwood Christian Fellowship, 7872 Glenwood Ave.

Acoustic guitarists Zach Jenkins of Boardman High School and Billy Tentler of Poland High School will perform at 8 p.m.

“The Gallery at Glenwood,” located inside and adjacent to the coffeehouse, features the creative photography of Youngstown native Dionne Wright.

Several members of the church contributed donations and their talents to remodeling its fellowship hall, complete with a coffee bar and fireplace.

For information, call the Rev. Nathan Doyle at the church, (330) 726-2643.