Send newsletter to Religion desk

January 4, 2014 at 12:00a.m.

All churches, synagogues, mosques and ministries are invited to send their newsletters to The Vindicator. Send to Religion Desk, The Vindicator, P.O. Box 780, Youngstown, OH 44501-0780.

Electronic versions may be sent to religion@vindy.com.

The newsletters provide a valuable source of information on services and activities at area places of worship. For more information, call the Religion desk at 330-747-1471, ext. 1245.

Orthodox services

YOUNGSTOWN

Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church, 53 Laird Ave., will celebrate Christmas with the Right Rev. Bishop Dr. Mitrophan of the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Eastern America.

Christmas Eve matins followed by the blessing of the yule log will be at 6 p.m. Monday, and Christmas Day Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ Divine Liturgy will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday.

Church luncheon

struthers

Pilgrim Baptist Church, 67 McClure St., will host the annual Sister-to-Sister Luncheon from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 15 at The Georgetown, 5945 South Ave.

The theme is “Put On Your High Heels and Follow Jesus” with Lynette Frost as speaker.

Tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for students from 12 to 21 years old. Tickets may be obtained from Virginia Fannings at 330-755-9675 or Patricia Greene at 330-759-7070. No tickets will be available at the door.

Organ recital

WARREN

Organists Chad Pittman of Church of the Savior and Mark Thewes of Westbrook Park United Methodist Church, both in Canton, will present a free recital at 7 p.m. Friday at Christ Episcopal Church, 2627 Atlantic St. NE.

The organ console will be visible so all can watch as the performers play. Of special interest will be a duet played with the organists’ feet titled “Waltzing Matilda” by Australian composer Robert Ampt. This work is six movements in length and is played entirely by the feet of both performers. The program will end with a duet version of Wagner’s famed “Ride of the Valkyries.”

Winter concert

LIBERTY

Unity Centre for Spiritual Living, 1226 Naylor Lloyd Road, will present the annual winter concert “A Harp in Winter” at 7:30 p.m. Friday. It will feature Kirk Kupensky, music director and harpist, and the Rev. Vit Fiala, a Franciscan priest and cellist who is director at the Shrine of Our Lady, Comforter of the Afflicted in Youngstown.

Kupensky has studied harp with the former first chair harpists of the Cleveland, Berlin and London philharmonic orchestras, and has made numerous appearances as recitalist and concerto soloist in the U.S. and in Europe. He was featured soloist at the World Harp Congress in Paris.

Father Fiala studied with Karel Pravoslav Sadlo, the founder of the Czechoslovakia Cello School and Stanislav Apolin, a renowned European cellist. He has played with the National Opera and Chamber Players, both of Brno, the capital of Moravia, and the Aus Symphony Orchestra in Prague, both in Czechoslovakia. He also was the Concert Master with the symphony in Prague. In 1990, he became a member of the Order of Friars Minor, also known as the Franciscans.

The performance is free and open to the public, but donations will be accepted.

For information, call the center at 330-539-0122, or visit www.unitycentre.org.

Prayer assembly

YOUNGSTOWN

Youngstown City and Regional Prayer Team will meet at 10 a.m. Jan. 11 at Fifth Avenue Community Church, 1361 Fifth Ave. Prayer leaders are Larry and Betty Stephens.

Groening lecture

canfield

Arlene Barkan, leader of the Youngstown and Cleveland communities of Bruno Groening Circle of Friends, will present a 90-minute lecture at 6 p.m. Thursday at Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 550 S. Broad St. The session is taking place at, but is not affiliated with, the church.

The free lecture is based on the teachings of Groening, a German healer and teacher.

For information on the Groening lecture, contact Barkan at 330-372-3144, or send email to arlenah3144@aol.com. Visit www.bruno-groening.org/english.

Praise service

southington

Southington United Methodist Church, state Route 305, in the town center, will have a praise and worship service at 7 p.m. today.

Casual dress is permitted, and refreshments will follow.

Blessing of waters

YOUNGSTOWN

The Eastern Orthodox Clergy Association of Mahoning Valley will conduct a Blessing of the Waters service at 3 p.m. Monday at Lake Glacier (lower parking lot off Glenwood Avenue) at Mill Creek MetroParks.

The service takes place on the Feast of Theophany or Epiphany.

Christmas concert

BOARDMAN

The music ministry at St. Charles Borromeo Church, 7345 Westview Drive (Route 224), will present its annual Christmas concert at 3 p.m. Sunday.

Technology event

YOUNGSTOWN

“Technology for the New Evangelization” is the theme for a conference planned from 10 a.m .to 3 p.m. Jan. 16 at St. Michael Family Life Center, 300 N. Broad St., Canfield, sponsored by the Diocese of Youngstown Offices of Information Technology and Religious Education.

Sister Susan Wolf will present “Websites and Social Media, Online Tools for the New Evangelization.” Our Sunday Visitor Offertory Solutions, another sponsor, will offer workshops on “Great Parish Websites,” “Social Media in 15 Minutes a Day” and “Engaging Parishioners in an Annual Plan for Offertory and Communications.” Local presenters join them in offering workshops on blogging and podcasting, free online tools, Facebook, using devices and Google mail, PowerPoint, file sharing in the cloud, youth and social media, Excel and Access, Twitter, special events and more.

Sister Susan is a member of the Notre Dame Sisters of Chardon, Ohio. She is an Internet and social-media strategist and consultant and founder of Catholic Web Solutions.

Conference Exhibitors include Catholic Web Solutions, Our Sunday Visitor Offertory Solutions, Catholic publishers, diocesan offices and more.

The $25 per person registration includes lunch, morning refreshments and parking. Registration is expected by Wednesday, and participants are eligible for religious education certification credit.

To register, contact the Office of Religious Education at 330-744-8451, or go to www.doy.org.