Fallsnewspress.com - Worship News (March 7)

Bethany United
Church of Christ

Bethany United Church of Christ invites the community to Sunday worship services at 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. with Church School for all ages at 9:15 a.m. The first Sunday of each month, Bethany's volunteer nurses offer blood pressure tests in the lounge during social hour.

The church offers a variety of worship opportunities during this holy season. Join the congregation March 10 at 6:30 p.m. for soup/bread and the study, "Why Do Good People Suffer?"

During March, the Mission Committee will be supporting the Harvest for Hunger Food Drive to benefit the Akron Canton Regional Foodbank. Every Sunday morning in March, please bring donations of canned and dry goods.

The building is wheelchair accessible with handicapped parking. For information on Bethany UCC, its ministries and activities call 330-923-5277.

The church is located at 1235 Broad Blvd.

United Presbyterian Church

The theme for the worship services for 2010 is: "Experiencing the Living God: Knowing His Will -- Living Your Purpose." The message this week: "Wind in Your Sail," a message about God's initiative to guide.

The traditional service starts at 8:30 a.m. and the New Creation contemporary service starts at 11 a.m. The Educational Hour, including "Amazement Park" for elementary school age children, is from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. Child care for babies and toddlers is available throughout the Sunday morning activities. Parking is available on church property. All are welcome.

The "God-Sightings" Bible discussion group will take place March 8 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Church Parlor.

U.P.C. is participating in an inter-church bowling league at Tallmadge Lanes, Monday evenings, beginning at 6:45 p.m.

PrayerLab will meet March 9 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. PrayerLab is a ministry that focuses in on participants' prayer needs and helps participants grow in effective prayer. No agenda or liturgy so as to be Spirit-led.

Wednesday Night ALIVE!, March 10 from 5:15 to 7:30 p.m. is a family-oriented program that offers spiritual growth opportunities for all ages. A family-style dinner is included. This is a ten week program and is open to all. For more details and for registration, please contact the Church Office.

On March 12, members and friends of U.P.C. have the opportunity to work with Springtime of Hope, a ministry to the homeless at St. Bernard's in Akron. For more information, please call the church office.

On March 13, the U.P.C. Free Soup Lunch will take place in the Fellowship Hall, serving anyone who comes, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

On March 13, U.P.C. will host a Bunco Game Night in the Fellowship Hall, beginning at 7 p.m.

The church is located at 2819 Hudson Drive. For more information, call 330-923-9735 or e-mail office@cfupc.org.

First United Methodist Church

Maurice Duruflé's Requiem will be performed at First United Methodist Church, 245 Portage Trail, on March 7 at 7 p.m. The Chancel Choir of First Church combines with the choir from Westlake United Methodist Church to perform one of the great choral masterpieces of the 20th Century. Under the direction of Andy Call from West Lake, with Dean Wagner from First Church, organist and orchestra, this concert will be a spiritually uplifting experience. A free-will offering will be taken and baby-sitting will be provided.

Attorney Barbara Weinschenk will present Elder Law Part II at the Going Strong meeting on March 11 at 1 p.m. at First Church. Weinschenk will cover executor responsibilities and Medicaid planning, covering the basic duties of a person handling the estate of a person who has passed away and the basics of Medicaid planning and preserving assets. All are welcome. Going Strong is a group of active retired persons that meets once a month at First Church. For more info, call the church at 330-923-5241, ext. 210.

Kids in grades 4-6 are invited to an afternoon at Inflatable Insanity. WC3, a group for kids that age at First Church is going there on March 14 from 12:45 to 3:15 p.m. The cost is $10 and guys are asked to bring a bottle of pop or juice and gals bring a snack. Permission slips and Inflatable Insanity release forms are due at the church by March 10. Both forms are available at the church or on the Web site, firstchurchcf.com. For more info about the outing or about the activities of WC3, call 330-923-5241, ext. 218.

Grandview United Methodist Church

Grandview United Methodist Church, 2315 Phelps Ave., invites neighbors and friends to spend some time in worship with the congregation during this Lenten season. Lent is a time of preparation for Easter, which is the celebration of Jesus' resurrection.

The church's Sunday worship service is at 10:30 a.m. The sanctuary is wheelchair accessible. For more information, call 330-923-2442.

Redeemer Lutheran Church

Redeemer Lutheran Church, 2141 Fifth St., invites the community to join the congregation this weekend at one of its three services to worship and praise the Lord and Savior. Saturday at 6 p.m. is a contemporary service. Sunday at 8:45 a.m. is the traditional service and at 11:15 a.m. is another contemporary service. The community is also invited to join the congregation at 10 a.m. on Sundays for its "Kids of the Kingdom" and adult Bible studies. This weekend, Pastor Keith Johnson will be starting his four-week sermon series on "Having a Faith That Works!"

During the season of Lent, the church will have Wednesday services starting at 7. Each week the church will be visited by a person who played a role in the final days of Christ's life. Nicodemus, Barabbas, Pilate, the Thief's Father, Judas, and Mary will each visit during the Lenten season.

Northminster Presbyterian Church

The Northminster Presbyterian Church, 104 W. Portage Trail Extension, invites community members to join the congregation during the Lenten Season by attending the church's Wednesday Bread and Broth Series and Study, each Wednesday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The study will conclude on March 24. The evenings will begin with a light supper (bread and broth), followed by a study led by the Rev. Stephanie Crossland with a discussion format. Each study will focus on one person around Jesus' ministry at the time of His death. Each study will be self-contained.

During the Lenten Season, the Rev. Crossland will focus her worship themes around "Faces Around the Cross" at each 10:30 a.m. Sunday morning worship service, including "The Woman Who Washed Jesus' Feet," "Judas Iscariot," "Pontius Pilate" and "Servant Girl from Caiaphas' House." The Maundy Thursday Tenebrae Communion Service will take place on April 1, with the Rev. Crossland speaking on "Faces Around the Cross -- Ours." On Easter Sunday, the morning worship service will focus on "Faces Around the Cross -- Mary Magdalene."

The next spaghetti dinner is March 12 from 5 to 7 p.m. The dinner includes spaghetti with marinara, chunky meat sauce or special Alfredo sauce, salad, bread, dessert and coffee, punch or tea. The cost is $7 for adults, $3.50 for children 6-12, and free for children 5 and under.

The Northminster Book Club continues to meet on the third Monday of each month at 1:15 p.m. in the church lounge. Anyone who is interested is encouraged to come to the next meeting March 15.

The Northminster Craft Guild meets every third Wednesday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Their next meetings will be March 17 and 20. Come to one or come to both, and bring your current project and a sack lunch for fun and fellowship.

For more information, call 330-928-8885.

St. John's Episcopal Church

A Lenten Study entitled The Sign of Jonah began on Feb. 25 and will continue each Thursday through Lent. The parallels between Jonah in the whale and Christ in the tomb have raised curiosity in Christians since the early church. Jonah in the whale commits himself to the purpose of God. Join the group at 6:30 each week in the undercroft.

The annual book sale for St. John's is March 20. Many books are here waiting for the big day. To donate any books, leave them in the undercroft, call the office or call Dick Scourfield for a pick-up at 330-920-1754. The sale will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The men's monthly breakfast will be March 10 at 8:30 a.m. St. Margaret's and St. Monica's meet on March 11. AA meets Monday at 7:30 and Friday at 8 p.m.

The church is located at 2220 Second St. Handicap access is available.

Pilgrim United Church of Christ

Pilgrim United Church of Christ, the historic church on the corner of Broad Boulevard and Second Street, welcomes one and all to join the congregation for worship on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Adult Bible class takes place at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, 10 a.m. on Tuesdays, and Wednesdays at 7 p.m. Pastor Kirk Bruce will be continuing his series of sermons leading to Easter. The sermon for March 7 is titled "Does Anybody Love Me?" followed by the sermon on March 14 titled "Can Anybody Really Hear Me?" There will be a free community lunch March 11, served at 11:30 a.m. The Cubs in Pack 3186 who meet every Tuesday, are busy carving, painting and making their racers ready for the Pinewood Derby on March 16 at 7 p.m. at the church. Parents of the children who will be participating in the Pageant on Palm Sunday are reminded to make sure their children are at the rehearsals March 14 and 21 when they will be learning the "Lord's Prayer" in sign language. The Emotions Anonymous group will celebrate its 23rd anniversary March 11 at 7:45 p.m. For information about this group, contact Dave at 330-849-0849. Visit the Web site at www.pilgrimcf.org. to view information about the church and the activities going on each week, or call the church at 330-928-4847.