Area Lenten programs

Lenten drama

NILES

First Christian Church of Niles (Disciples of Christ), 33 N. Arlington Ave., will present “It Is Finished,” its 37th annual Lenten dramatization of the last days of Jesus Christ, at 7 p.m. Palm Sunday and Maundy Thursday.

Musical interludes for the performances begin at 6:45 p.m. Child care is available.

An open communion will be offered to all.

After the free performance, refreshments will be served in the fellowship hall.

For more information, call the church office at 330-652-5839 or visit www.firstchristianniles.org.

Under the guidance of director Jeff Crowley and the Rev. Cynthia Klingemier, this dramatic staging has grown from a smaller presentation featuring church members portraying Jesus and his disciples at the Last Supper to a production encompassing various elements from Jesus’ last days on earth.

Soloists are Stevie Paris, Jenny Long, Barb Balash and Amanda Crago and members of the church choir.

Journey with cross

YOUNGSTOWN

Ambassadors for Christ, an organization of churches on the East Side of Youngs-town, will gather at noon Good Friday at We Walk by Faith Bible Church, 1636 Himrod Ave., for the 10th annual journey with the cross.

After a gathering prayer, participants begin the walk with a large wooden cross with each person being given the opportunity to carry the cross. Walking along in song, the group will periodically stop for prayer as the Stations of the Cross reflections are read by one of the pastors.

The journey will start at We Walk by Faith Bible Church and follow Oak Street toward downtown Youngstown. It continues left onto Wick Avenue, left onto Commerce Street, left on East Federal Street and over the bridge to Wilson Avenue, concluding at St. Stephen of Hungary Catholic Church.

Transportation will be provided back to the starting point.

Member churches are Mount Sinai Missionary Baptist Church, Mount Zion Baptist Church, St. James Church of God in Christ, St. John African Methodist Episcopal Church, St. Stephen of Hungary and We Walk by Faith. The group organized in 2000.

Annual service

YOUNGSTOWN

The Gospel Choir of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, 110 Funston St., will host its annual “Seven Steps to the Cross” service at 4 p.m. Sunday.

Speakers will be Myrtis Williams of Union Baptist Church; Ann McKee of Christ Centered Church; Kelvin Jordan, Second Baptist in Farrell, Pa.; DeMaine Kitchen of Rising Star Baptist Church; Darlene Wilson of Triedstone Baptist; and Sherman Moore and Connie Timpson, both of Antioch Baptist Church. The choir will sing and Yet Praize, dance ministry, will perform. Tammy Taylor is chairwoman and the Rev. Ernest Ellis, pastor.

Prayers in Motion

SHARON, PA.

The Journey to Adulthood Class at St. John’s Episcopal Church will sponsor a Good Friday prayer walk at noon starting in the church sanctuary, 226 W. State St.

The group will travel to 12 local sites where people in the Shenango Valley are positively addressing critical social issues.

At each station, participants will read Scripture, pray and sing.

‘Whatever’ play

YOUNGSTOWN

New Vision New Day Ministry, 1970 Everett Ave., will present “Whatever,” the gospel hit play, at 6:30 p.m. Good Friday. It was written and produced by Pastor Robert Moore Jr. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. Call 330-788-7740 for more information.

Resurrection morning

youngstown

All the King’s Men, a citywide all-men’s prayer command, will meet at 6 a.m. Easter Sunday inside the rotunda of Mahoning County Courthouse, 120 Market St.

Passover feast

youngstown

Bread of Life Church of God in Christ, 702 Cameron Ave., will present Rabbi Robert Specter of the Rock of Israel Ministries of Fairfield for a Passover feast celebration at 7 p.m. Good Friday with a Messianic point of view. Tickets are $5. Call missionary Avis Santiago at 330-272-5479 or Pastor Rocco Wellington at 330-329-2201.

Annual procession

YOUNGSTOWN

The second annual Good Friday procession is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. starting at First Presbyterian Church, 201 Wick Ave. Participants will process and pray through the city.

The procession will include several stops that are modern-day stations of the cross.

The event is sponsored by Midwest Spirituality Center, Dorothy Day House and the Diocese of Youngstown Office of Social Action.

For more information, contact Pat Lowry at 330-727-6137.

Ordination planned

BOARDMAN

St. James’ Episcopal Church, 7640 Glenwood Ave., will be the site of the ordination of the Rev. Christopher Zeke Coughlin to the Sacred Order of Priests at 10:30 a.m. Saturday. Presiding will be the Right Reverend Arthur B. Williams, Jr.

A reception will follow.

Father Coughlin was ordained to the Transitional Deaconate on June 5, 2010, and has been serving as associate rector at St. James since September. He is involved in youth ministries at St. James and in the Southeast Mission Area from Warren to Steubenville. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Cleveland Heights, is his sponsoring parish.

Father Coughlin graduated from Indian Creek High School, Wintersville, in 1995; attended The College of Wooster, where he earned a degree in religious studies in 1999; and earned a master’s of divinity degree at Bexley Hall Seminary in Columbus in May 2010. He previously was a computer programmer.

His wife, Lisa, is a general surgery resident at Northside Medical Center.

Father Coughlin will celebrate the Eucharist for the first time on Palm/Passion Sunday at 10 a.m. at St. James.

Gospel concert

CANFIELD

Old North Church, 7105 Herbert Road, will host a gospel concert at 6 p.m. today with Lynn Royce Taylor, evangelist-singer in contemporary worship. Doors open at 5.

Concert at church

AUSTINTOWN

Terry and Diane McCabe, acoustic musicians, will present a concert at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at Austintown Baptist Church, 1180 S. Raccoon Road.

An offering will be taken.

100th anniversary

YOUNGSTOWN

St. Maron’s Maronite Church, 1555 S. Meridian Road, will have a Palm Sunday candlelight procession, liturgy and parish celebration at 11 a.m. to celebrate the 100th year. Families will carry candles and palms.

‘Passion Play’

austintown

Highway Tabernacle Church, 3000 S. Raccoon Road, will present “Passion Play” at 7 p.m. Palm Sunday, 3 and 7 p.m. Good Friday, 7 p.m. Holy Saturday and 7 p.m. Easter Sunday. The performance features dramatic scenes, live animals and cast and crew of nearly 200. Childcare will be provided for infants through kindergarten.

A free-will offering will be taken with funds going to help rescue victims of human trafficking. Doors open 45 minutes before each presentation.

Film on Good Friday

AUSTINTOWN

Log Cabin Ministries, 565 North Canfield Niles Road (state Route 46), will present Mel Gibson’s film “The Passion of the Christ” at 7 p.m. Good Friday.

There is no cost to attend. Refreshments will be available. The presentation is part of the regular Friday night movie series at Log Cabin Ministries.

Men’s Day

YOUNGSTOWN

Phillips Chapel Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, 718 Albert St., will host a pre-Men’s Day musical program at 4 p.m. today with various choirs. James Smith is chairman

Men’s Day program will be at 11 a.m. Sunday with guest speaker, minister Edward Kornegay of Elizabeth Baptist Church; Smith and Cecil Carnathan, chairmen; and the Rev. Amariah McIntosh, host pastor.

Men’s Rally

HERMITAGE, Pa.

Youth speaker David Kohout will address a Men’s Rally in the Valley volunteer meeting set for 6:45 p.m. Monday at Grace Chapel Community Church, 4075 Lamor Road.

Kohout is the executive director of Talk is Cheap, a nonprofit organization that focuses on building character, establishing confidence and providing hope in the lives of young people.

For information, visit www.mensrally.org.

Labyrinth available

YOUNGSTOWN

First Presbyterian Church, 201 Wick Ave., will have a labyrinth available through Easter Sunday in Helen Chapel when the church is open. The labyrinth is an ancient spiritual exercise sometimes called “prayer in motion.” It takes about 15 minutes to complete the labyrinth.

Drama planned

NILES

Praise Assembly of God Church, 1004 N. Main St., will have a special Palm Sunday service with Jan Trummer presenting the drama, “The Best of Mary’s Love,” at 10:30 a.m.