Blue Christmas

Blue Christmas

MINERAL RIDGE

A Blue Christmas service is planned at 5 p.m. Sunday at First Presbyterian Church of Mineral Ridge, 3654 Main St. The service will feature prayer, Scripture and music.

The service is geared to those facing a loss or challenge of any kind – a death in the family, health issues, relationship problems and job insecurity or unemployment.

‘Handling the Holidays’ program

BOARDMAN

“Handling the Holidays” can be challenging when you have lost a loved one, whether recently or years ago.

Westminster Presbyterian Church, 119 Stadium Drive, will host a light lunch after the 10:30 a.m. service for participants to watch a special DVD dealing with grief and hope. Guests will meet in the parlor and may enter through the main church door.

Special service

KINSMAN

Kinsman United Methodist Church, 8362 Main St., will conduct Blue Christmas services at 2 and 7 p.m. Monday to acknowledge grief, sadness and hurting that can accompany this season but remembering hope.

Participating congregations are Kinsman Chapel Christian Missionary and Alliance and Kinsman Presbyterian. Dress is casual. Everyone is welcome.

Kinsman UMC will have a Service of Lessons and Carols at 11 a.m. Dec. 27; the story of carols will be featured.

Christmas program

CANFIELD

Touch Heaven Canfield Church, 10 Skyline Drive, will conduct a special service at 10:15 a.m. Sunday with communion and Christmas program.

Event for students

CANFIELD

On Sunday, Canfield United Methodist Church, 27 S. Broad St., will conduct “The Sights and Sounds of Christmas,” a Christmas experience for students (preschool to 21 years old) in the community with special needs.

The Christmas experience will be welcoming and accessible to all multiple disability students. The program will be a multisensory Christmas experience including a Nativity dress-up, farm-animal petting, cookie decorating and tasting, music making and sensory toy playing.

The Rev. Susan Brown is senior pastor.

The first program will take place at 3 p.m. and is open to students of Canfield, Austintown, Poland, Western Reserve and South Range school districts. Students from Youngstown, Boardman and other local schools are welcome at 4:15.

The programs are identical and will focus on experiencing the love of God and the Christmas story through the use of the five senses.

The program is designed by a group of educators who are part of the CUMC congregation.

Christmas message

YOUNGSTOWN

Faith Fellowship Church of God, 388 E. Midlothian Blvd., will host Dr. Jack G. Bridge, retired pastor, who will deliver a Christmas message at worship at 10:45 a.m. Sunday.

Music will be arranged by Laura Anzevino. Pastor Jonathan Mitchell will direct the service.

Pastor appreciation

YOUNGSTOWN

The Place Where the Lord Provides Christian Center, 104 W. Evergreen Ave., will celebrate the pastoral appreciation and birthday of Bishop Salina Covington, at 3 p.m. Dec. 27. A dinner will follow. All are welcome. For information, call 330-788-7777 or 330-881-9865.