Gospel Song Fest
Gospel Song Fest
youngstown
Total Praise Choir of The Alpha and Omega First Baptist Church, 3120 Winton Ave., will sponsor a Gospel Song Fest at 5 p.m. March 3.
The celebration will feature soloists, choirs, male choruses and musicians from Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley.
For information, call the church at 330-743-5986.
First Friday
Boardman
Sister Helen Maher Garvey will be the featured speaker when the First Friday Club of Greater Youngstown meets Thursday at Antone’s Banquet Centre, 8578 Market St.
Sister Garvey, coordinator of History Project for the Leadership Conference of Women Religious —Women & Spirit: Catholic Sisters in America, will speak on “The Contribution of Women religious to the U.S. Church.”
The luncheon is from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The cost is $15.
For reservations, call 330-533-1023 or visit www.firstfridayclubof- greateryoungstown.org.
Taiz service
villa maria, pa.
A Taiz prayer service is planned from 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday in 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. Taiz is a Christian interdenominational prayer form that incorporates music, Scripture and silence. Musicians from the Church of Notre Dame, Hermitage, Pa., will provide music. Refreshments will follow.
For information or directions, call 724-964-8886 or visit www.villaprograms.org.
Musical event
youngstown
The male chorus of New Bethel Baptist Church, 1507 Hillman St., will host a musical celebration at 5 p.m. Sunday. The event will feature local male choruses and gospel groups.
Parables of Jesus
mcdonald
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 618 Ohio Ave., will host the Rev. James Walker as he presents the Parables of Jesus during sessions from 7 to 8 p.m. March 4-6.
Parables of the lost sheep, lost coin and lost son in the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 15, will be discussed. Father Walker is pastor of Sts. Cyril and Methodius Church and St. James Church in Warren.
Refreshments will follow in the church hall.
Lenten Wednesdays
youngstown
Historic Lutheran Church of St. John, 1429 Mahoning Ave., will sponsor Lenten Wednesday programs next week, and March 7, 14 and 21. St. John’s Academy study and and discussion will be at 10:30 a.m. followed by chapel Eucharist at 12:05 p.m.
Meditation session
new castle, pa.
Spiritual Path Church, 2041 Moravia St. Ext., will host a meditation session at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. For information, call 724-971-3435 or email nfo@spiritualpathchurchinc.com.
Studies North
liberty
The role of feasts and fests in the traditions of Jewish, Christian, Islam, Hindu and Bahai are being explored by the Jewish/Christian Studies/North group. The next session will be March 7 at Temple El Emeth, 3970 Logan Way, with Fran Amer of the office of worship in the Diocese of Youngstown. The group gathers at 12:30 p.m. with the study at 1.
Becoming Catholic
youngstown
In the six-county Diocese of Youngstown, 328 men, women and children are preparing to become members of the Catholic Church at Easter.
At the Easter Vigil on April 7, 124 people will receive the sacraments of baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist and 204 people, who have already been baptized in other Christian traditions, will make a profession of the Catholic faith and receive the sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist.
On the first Sunday of Lent, they will celebrate the Rite of Election at 2 p.m. at St. Columba Cathedral, 154 W. Wood St., or 6 p.m. St. Joseph Church in Canton. During these rites, they will be presented to Bishop George V. Murry.
The candidates will continue their preparation for Easter.
Girl Scout Sunday
hermitage, pa.
St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, 159 Todd Ave., will celebrate the centennial of Girl Scouting by hosting a special Girl Scouts Sunday service on March 11.
Pastor David Williamson will present two free patches — a Girl Scout Sunday patch and a 100th anniversary patch — to every Girl Scout, Cadette, Brownie, Daisy and leader in uniform. Refreshments will be served at 10:30 a.m., with worship beginning at 11.
The church also will offer classes for interested Scouts and adult partners so that Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Venturing Scouts, Brownies and Girl Scouts can earn their God and Country awards this spring. For information, contact the pastor at 724-342-2310 by Monday.
Lenten parish mission
youngstown
St. Christine Church, 3125 S. Schenley Ave., will host a Lenten parish mission from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday through Tuesday on “No Greater Love Reflection on the Seven Last Words of Jesus.”
Presenter will be Friar Johnpaul Cafiero, a Franciscan priest of the Sacred Heart Province of Chicago/St. Louis.
A free-will offering will be taken for Franciscan Ministries.
New website for diocese
youngstown
The Diocese of Youngstown has a new website, www.doy.org.
Monsignor Robert J. Siffrin, vicar general and moderator of the Curia, led the committee.
Matthew Pecchia, director of information-systems services, provided technical expertise.