Send details on animal blessings

Send details on animal blessings

The traditional blessing of animals celebrates the life of St. Francis of Assisi, whose Feast Day is Oct. 4. St. Francis is known for his love of all creatures. He is the patron saint of animals and the environment.

A listing of pet blessings will be published next Saturday on the Religion page. Send information to the Religion desk, The Vindicator, 107 Vindicator Square, Box 780, Youngstown, Ohio 44501-0780; by fax to 330-747-6712; or by email to religion@vindy.com.

Christian retreat

VILLA MARIA, PA.

A retreat for Christian artists and crafters and anyone who expresses themselves creatively is planned Nov. 6-8 at Villa Maria Education and Spirituality Center.

The “BlueWind Retreat” will be led by writer and teacher Lora Zill, who will offer sessions on “Create: Satisfying Our Longing To Feel God’s Pleasure” and “The Presence of the Word in Creativity.”

Ben Beck, director of SansMOCO Art Gallery in Greenville, Pa., will lead a session on “Matching Our Form and Content.” He is a graduate of Thiel College.

Zill, a teaching artist with Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, has taught extensively as an artist-in-residence in public and charter schools. She is a conference speaker and teaches at Gannon University and in Allegheny College’s program for gifted public school students.

For the retreat schedule, cost and information, contact Zill at 814-382-8667 or send email to lora@thebluecollarartist.com. There is a downloadable pdf of the brochure on the website, www.thebluecollarartist.com/bluewind-retreats.

First Friday Club

boardman

Kevin Keil will be the featured speaker when the First Friday Club of Greater Youngstown meets Thursday at Antone’s Banquet Centre, 8578 Market St.

He is a composer of instrumental and vocal pieces and director of music at Christ the King Catholic Church in Tampa, Fla.

His topic will be “Music as a Healing Force in our Lives.”

The luncheon is from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The cost is $16. Reservations must be made by calling 330-720-4498 or visiting www.firstfridayclubofgreater-youngstown.org.

Blessing of animals

LIBERTY

Liberty Presbyterian Church, 1451 Churchill-Hubbard Road, will host a blessing of the animals worship service from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. next Saturday in the pavilion. St. Francis of Assisi Feast Day is Oct. 4. He is remembered for his generosity to the poor and his love for animals and nature. He is considered to be the patron saint of animals because of his Canticle of Creatures.

Participants are encouraged to bring their pets to this service. Pets should be leashed crated or placed in other suitable containment.

For information, call 330-759-1556.

Women in White

warren

York Avenue Church of God, 872 York Ave. SW, will conduct the annual Women in White Day at 5 p.m. Sunday on the theme, “Women of Faith Glorify God.”

Speaker will be Minister Lisa Parker and host pastor is the Rev. Eric U. Brown Sr.

Christian education

YOUNGSTOWN

A Christian education, Sunday school in-service workshop is set from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Oct. 10 at Greater Friendship Baptist Church, 646 Lakewood Ave., on the theme, “It’s Not about Me!”

There will be a continental breakfast and lunch for $15. To make a reservation, call the church at 330- 743-5084.