‘Taste of Maronite Rite’

‘Taste of Maronite Rite’

YOUNGSTOWN — Dinner and Doctrine, sponsored by the Catholic Connection, will present a program, “A Taste of the Maronite Rite: Ancient, Eastern, Catholic,” on Jan. 25 at St. Maron’s Maronite Church, 1555 S. Meridian Road.

A buffet dinner will be served in Antioch Hall at 5:45 p.m. at a cost of $10 and a presentation will follow at 7 p.m.

The Rev. Gary George, a Redemptorist monk, will conduct a tour and speak about the Maronite rite: How is it the same as the Roman rite, and how does it differ?

Reservations are required for the Eastern-style dinner; call (330) 533-7681 by Monday.

The program is free and requires no reservation.

Recovery program

BOARDMAN — Trinity Fellowship Church, 4749 South Ave., will sponsor a Celebrate Recovery ministry designed to assist individuals dealing with life-controlling issues including drug or alcohol addiction, over-eating, co-dependency and depression.

A.J. Platt, associate pastor, will lead the new ministry, which is Bible based.

The first session will be from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday and will include coffee and desserts along with a time of worship and group discussions.

Four groups will be offered: women’s addiction, men’s addiction, women’s co-dependency, and men’s co-dependency.

For more information, visit www.tfcyoungstown.com or call the church office at (330) 782-9051.

Day of Prayer

YOUNGSTOWN — The second annual Day of Prayer and Penance for Life is planned from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at St. Columba Cathedral, 154 W. Wood St.

The program will be co- sponsored by the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Division 6; Women United for Life and St. Columba parish.

The rosary will be recited at the beginning of each hour.

The Rev. John Keehner, cathedral rector, will preside at benediction at 7 p.m.

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament will be ongoing throughout the evening.

Confessions also will be heard.

Refreshments will be served in the hall.

Prayer breakfast

YOUNGSTOWN — St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church will sponsor a prayer breakfast at 9 a.m. Jan. 23 at Gibson Heights-Second Presbyterian Church, 755 E. Dewey Ave.

Guest speaker will be Madonna Chism Pinkard.

Donation is $10.

For information, call (330) 782-2214 or (330) 240-7421.

Concert at church

BRACEVILLE — Braceville United Methodist Church, 577 Park Road S.W., will sponsor the Songsters Quartet in concert at 7 p.m. Jan. 24.

Ministerial association

FARRELL, Pa. — Shenango Valley Ministerial Association will sponsor a celebration service at 4 p.m. Sunday at Valley Baptist Church, 500 Sharon-New Castle Road, where the Rev. Richard Roberts is pastor.

Speaker will be the Rev. Clevon Dukes of New Hope Baptist Church and special music will be provided by the Community Choir directed by Phyllis Bolling and 3MC Mighty Men of Greater Morris Chapel.

Church votes to leave

ROANOKE, Va. (AP) — Members of a Roanoke church have voted to leave the country’s largest Lutheran denomination over its policy to allow gay clergy.

Pastor Mark Graham of St. John Lutheran Church said members voted 350-104 in favor of the split from the national Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

At its annual convention in August, ELCA delegates voted to lift a ban that had prohibited gay and lesbian pastors who were not celibate from serving as clergy. The new policy is expected to take effect in April.

will allow such individuals to lead ELCA churches as long as they can show that they are in committed, lifelong relationships.

The vote last Sunday affirmed a ballot held in September that called for St. John to join the smaller Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ.