Brooks to get degree

Brooks to get degree

YOUNGSTOWN

Columbus, Christian International Bible College, a distant learning/online Christian Education institution, will conduct a graduation ceremony June 25 at Mountain of the Lord’s Fellowship, 1477 Copley Road, Akron, with guest speaker Bishop Langford Floyd.

Sophia Brooks of Youngstown will receive an honorary doctorate degree. Brooks, an internationally known soprano, studied at Youngstown State University’s Dana School of Music in the 1950s and the Cleveland Institute of Music. She also was host of WKBN’s “Expressions;” she worked at WKBN from 1981-95.

Brooks has described herself as a “church musician.” She has performed as a classical musician in selections by Bach, Beethoven and Mendelsohn. In the late 1960s and into the ’70s, Brooks was a soloist with the Youngstown Symphony Chorus and worked with the late John Krueger and Franz Bibo. In the early ’60s, Brooks was a soloist at First Presbyterian Church, St. John’s Episcopal Church and First Christian Church.

During the 1950s, Brooks toured with Wings Over Jordan throughout the United States. She was a soloist and also served as assistant director.

Organ recital

BOARDMAN

Dr. Brian Driscoll will present an organ recital at 11:15 a.m. Sunday on the newly installed organ in the chapel at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 119 Stadium Drive.

The concert is “An Eclectic Program of Short Organ Works” and is dedicated in memory of his grandparents. Composers represented will be Buxtehude, Pachelbel, Parker, Milhaud, Langlais and Howells.

Morning refreshments will be offered 30 minutes before the recital.

Driscoll, son of Wade and Sandy Driscoll and a graduate of Boardman High School, has a master’s of music and doctorate of musical arts degrees in organ performance from the University of California, Los Angeles. From 2005 to 2014, he was director of music at The Church of the Epiphany, Oak Park. He teaches at Santa Monica College, directs the Chamber Choir and coordinates the Applied Music Program. Driscoll is on boards of directors of the Association of Anglican Musicians and Red Door Vineyard.

This event is free and open to the public. A free-will donation will be collected.

Church anniversary

YOUNGSTOWN

New Bethel Baptist Church 1507 Hillman St,, will celebrate its 92nd anniversary at 5 p.m. June 26 with Pastor Walter Arrington and the Peoples Baptist Church in Canton as special guests.

The theme is “Anointed and Appointed for A Kingdom Assignment.” The program will feature the presentation of new 50-year members, dedication of memorial bricks to be placed in the prayer garden and a video tribute honoring deceased members.

New Bethel was organized in 1924. Before moving to its present location, it was located at 1125 Manning Ave. and 209 Reserve St.

The late Rev. Lonnie K.A. Simon was pastor from 1962 to 1995. He retired after 33 years of service. The current pastor, the Rev. Kenneth L. Simon, was called in 1995.

Speaker at luncheon

YOUNGSTOWN

Greater Ebenezer Baptist Church, 1232 Hill St., will host its first missionary, women in white, luncheon at noon Monday at the church with minister Stacey Claritt as speaker.

Samuel G. Holmes Jr. is pastor and Judy Jackson is missionary president.

Speaker planned

HERMITAGE, PA.

Ingolf Schmidt, who grew up as an atheist in East Germany, will speak at a service at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at Miracle Valley Church, 2119 Valley View Road. He became a Christian in 1978.

Childcare will be provided for 3- to 12-year-olds.