Presentation focuses on Orthodox church

October 10, 2009 at 12:00a.m.

LIBERTY — Father Ken Bachofsky, professor of sacred Scriptures at Christ the Saviour Seminary, will give a free presentation titled “The Orthodox Church: Its Worship and the Bible” at 7 p.m. Thursday at St. Mark Orthodox Church, 3560 Loganway.

Refreshments will be served after the forum.

Marriage help

BOARDMAN — Retrouvaille helps couples experiencing difficulty at all levels of distress from disillusionment to deep misery. For confidential information about, or to register for the Youngstown program beginning with a weekend on Oct. 23-25 at the Holiday Inn South, call (800) 470-2230, or go to HelpOurMarriage.com.

Kirkin ‘o’ the Tartans

BOARDMAN — A kirk is a Scottish word for church, and a tartan is the traditional pattern of unevenly spaced stripes crossing at right angle woven into a woolen fabric that distinguishes the various Scottish Clans. Thus, the Kirkin ‘o’ the Tartans is the traditional blessing of the tartans by the clergy.

Westminster Presbyterian Church, 119 Stadium Drive, will have its version of this service at 10:30 a.m Oct. 25 during their usual worship service. It is a moving, yet light-hearted experience. There will be the opening sounds pipe and drum to the roll-call of the clans.

A McConnell Scottish Dancer also will participate. After the service, a traditional Scottish tea will take place in the Gathering Room. Attendees are invited to wear their tartan, which reflects Scottish heritage. Call (330) 758-4513 for additional information.

Open house at mosque

YOUNGSTOWN — The Islamic Society of Greater Youngstown will have an open house Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. at Masjid Al-Khair mosque, 1670 Homewood Ave. From Interstate 680, take the Indianola Avenue/Shirley Road exit. Ethnic foods, henna, face painting, jewelry and a handicrafts sale will be featured, as well as free blood pressure and glucose monitoring. Members of the Muslim community will conduct tours of the mosque and answer questions about Islam. The event is open to the public.

New pastor at church

CANFIELD — Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 550 N. Broad St., is welcoming a new pastor. Vicar Rebecca R. Richie will be ordained and installed at a festival worship at 10:30 a.m. today. The Rev. Elizabeth Eaton, Bishop of the Northeastern Ohio Synod, will conduct the ordination and installation service. Clergy from throughout the NEO Synod will attend, and a reception will follow.

Vicar Richie graduated with distinction in May from the Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia, with a Master of Divinity degree. She received the Atonement Lutheran Church of Asbury Park, N.J., Preaching Award from LTSP. The honor goes to a senior seminarian who exhibits “exceptional potential” in the field of preaching, along with a strong potential for ministry.

Vicar Richie also has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Muhlenberg College and a master’s degree in pastoral counseling from Moravian Seminary in Bethlehem, Pa. She served her internship in 2008 at Gateway Trinity Lutheran Church in Fort Myers, Fla. While in college, her varied work experience included: a caregiver at Christ the Ascension Child Day Care Center, an internship with a behavioral-health organization and a counselor with Catholic Charities.

Music is a passion for her. She plays flute, piano and guitar. She is from Weatherly, Pa., where her mother, father and older brother reside.

Weekend retreat

CANFIELD — The Ursuline Center, 4280 Shields Road, will have a weekend retreat, “Enlightenment and Self-Creation,” at 1 p.m. Oct. 24 and at noon Oct. 25. Workshops will consist of four sessions and group meditations: The Process of Self Creation, The Law of Attraction, The Law of Deliberative Creation and The Law of Allowing.

The cost will be $95 per person for workshop and meals only; $135 per person for workshop, meals and overnight accommodations; $230 per couple for workshop, meals and overnight. Meals will include a dinner Saturday evening and continental breakfast Sunday morning. Assistance with costs is available by calling Vince at (330) 783-0387.

For reservations, call Pat at NOW Creations at (330) 788-9965. Registration deadline is Oct. 19.

Anniversary services

YOUNGSTOWN — Throughout the month of October, Third Baptist Church, 1177 Park Hill Drive, will have special services to mark the 135th anniversary of the founding of the church. The church is the oldest black Baptist church in the city, dating back to 1874. The month also marks the anniversary of its current pastor, The Rev. Dr. Morris W. Lee, who has led the congregation for the past 49 years.

The public, especially past members of the church, is cordially invited to attend the 10:45 a.m. worship services Oct. 18. Past members of the church, in many respects, have played a vital part toward the longevity of the church.

On Oct. 17, a special gathering of all the descendants of the Rev. Pleasant Tucker, founder of Third Baptist Church, are invited to attend a special reunion dinner in the church Fellowship Hall. Through the use of genealogy, contact has been made with descendants of at least six of the eight daughters the Rev. Tucker and his wife, Eliza Jane, had.

The first generation surnames include: Thomas, Parker, McGriff, Washington/Lee, Howard/Lee, Moore (Tansmore), White and Woods. They are still seeking to make contact with the other descendants.

For more information on the church anniversary, contact the church at (330) 743-0640, or Stacey Adger at (330) 518-1733.

Honoring Mendelssohn

POLAND — At 7 p.m. Monday, the Youngstown Chapter of the American Guild of Organists will host a program on the music of Felix Mendelssohn at Poland Presbyterian Church, 2 Poland Manor, celebrating the composer’s 200th anniversary. The program will include organ, piano and vocal selections and is open to the public.

Janie Wright seminar

YOUNGSTOWN — The Janie Wright Mission of Union Baptist Church, 528 Lincoln Ave., will present its third seminar from 4 to 6 p.m. Oct. 20 at the church. Lisa Solley from the Area Agency on Aging will talk about Long Term Planning, Healthy Living Program, Senior Wellness and other programs.

The purpose of the seminar is to increase awareness of the services provided by the Area Agency on Aging. Call the church at (330) 746-1217 if you are interested in attending. The deadline for reservations is Thursday.

Bowlings to perform

HUBBARD — Chestnut Ridge Church of God, 7125 Chestnut Ridge Road, will present one of gospel music’s well-known couples, Mike and Kelly Bowling, at 6 p.m. Oct. 18. The doors will open at 5 p.m. Seating is limited to 340. Tickets for the evening are $10 each. For more information, call the church at (330) 534-0084.

Tickets may be purchased through the church or the following Christian book stores: Heaven On Earth in Boardman, (330) 726-0369; Family Christian Store in Boardman, (330) 758-1774; A New Beginning in Warren, (330) 372-4111; and J.M.J. Spiritual Connections II in Youngstown, (330) 270-5657.

Hurting Mothers reunion

GIRARD — The Hurting Mothers Project will have a reunion from 2 to 4 p.m. Oct. 25 at Our Way Home Christian Fellowship, 429 Ohio Ave. Please RSVP to (330) 759-5108, cell (330) 301-0844, or e-mail soulreach@yahoo.com. All are welcome and can bring a friend.

Fall Sports Kickoff

YOUNGSTOWN — Teen Ministry will have a Fall Sports Kickoff on Oct. 24 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Shrine of Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted, 517 S. Belle Vista. Bring your favorite outdoor game, or if it rains, bring your favorite board game and your friends. For more information, call Cindy at (330) 718-2160 or George at (330) 565-6354. Teen Ministry is sponsored by Our Lady of Hungary Church, St. Stephen of Hungary Church, Saints Peter & Paul Croatian Church and Saints Cyril & Methodius Church.

Meetings with reverend

HERMITAGE, Pa. — Miracle Valley Church, Valley View Road, invites the public to attend special meetings with the Rev. Woody Woodson at 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Oct. 25 and 7 p.m. Oct. 26 and 27.

Rev. Woodson has traveled in full-time ministry for more than 30 years. He covers more than 100,000 miles coast to coast ministering about 200 times each year. He has been on Christian radio and television programs that have aired in more than 20 nations. He majored in New Testament at Oral Roberts University.

He preaches in a straight- forward manner, with a fiery message to motivate the church to action for God. Nursery and Kids church will be provided for age 3 months to 12 years. For more information, call (724) 962-5400 or go to miraclevalleychurch.com.

Men of God celebration

YOUNGSTOWN — Triedstone Missionary Baptist Church, 2045 Jacobs Road, will have a Men of God celebration at 7 p.m. Oct. 28, 29 and 30 with speaker Dr. Leonard King of the United Missionary Ohio State Convention in Irvington, N.J.