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Religion news

CHRISTMAS CONCERT: First Baptist Church, 2640 S. Canal St., Newton Falls, will host the Joyful Connections Community Choir at 10:45 a.m. Sunday. The choir, under the direction of Maria Fish, is made up of singers from the Warren / Youngstown area and was formed this past summer. The choral presentation will include a number of traditional Christmas selections.

CONCERTS SET: The Canfield Community Concert Band will perform at 3 p.m. Sunday at Zion Lutheran Church, 3300 Canfield Road, Youngstown. The free concert will feature festive holiday songs. The band is also scheduled to perform at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Copeland Oaks Retirement Community, 800 S. 15th St., Sebring.

CHRISTMAS CONCERT: Westminster Presbyterian Church, 119 Stadium Drive, Boardman, will host a free community Christmas concert at 4 p.m. Dec. 7 with the 50-plus member Canfield Community Concert Band.

HOLIDAY DISPLAY: Every Saturday from 6 to 8 p.m. through Dec. 20, Canfield Christian Church, 123 S. Broad St., will host free cookies and coffee or hot chocolate to those who want to stop in after viewing the Christmas displays around the city, including light displays on Fairview Avenue in Canfield. There will be a live nativity, Journey to Bethlehem, 3 to 5 p.m. Dec. 7 put on by church members.

WINTER WONDERLAND: Mecca Community Church, 5920 Phillips Rice Road, Cortland, will host the fifth annual Winter Wonderland walk-through from 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 15 to 20. There will be more than 100 trees on display decorated by local residents, church members and local businesses. This is a free event unless guests want to try to win a tree and buy tickets or purchase the church’s traditional ornaments.

Events planned are a Guess Who event with Bob and Cat Critters Dec. 16, Candy Car-A-Van at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 19, which is similar to Trunk or Treat, but Christmas style, and free drive-in movie, “The Polar Express,” at 7 p.m. Dec. 20.

BREAKFAST WITH BISHOP: Breakfast with the Bishop will be 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Michael Church Family Life Center in Canfield in honor of Giving Tuesday. There will be a Mass at 8 a.m. at the church. Breakfast, catered by A La Cart Catering in Canfield, begins at 8:35 a.m. Guests are asked to bring canned goods to support Catholic Charities basic needs assistance programs and stock the agency’s food pantries. Cost is $35 per person. All proceeds benefit local families in need. RSVP at www.ccdoy.org.

QUARTET EXTRAVAGANZA: Phillips Chapel COGIC, 3903 Jacobs Road, Hubbard, will host a Quartet Extravaganza at 5 p.m. Sunday. Musical guests will include The Anointed Horner Singers of Canton, the Mighty Golden Wonders of Warren, and Faith Hairston and the Chosen Vessels of Cleveland.

TAIZE PRAYER: Villa Maria Education and Spirituality Center will offer Taize Prayer at 7 p.m. Tuesday. The theme is Advent and will feature a service of prayer, song and contemplation by candlelight. Taize is a form a Christian prayer originating from the ecumenical Christian community of Taize in France. Music ministers will be Daniel Laginya and Barb Zorn. For information, call 724-964-8886 or visit the website at vmesc.org. The program is free.

GINGERBREAD FEST: Champion Presbyterian Church, 4997 Mahoning Ave. NW, will host a Gingerbread Fest at 4:30 p.m. Dec. 7.

FAREWELL EVENT: Howland United Methodist Church will host a farewell to Pastor Matt Darrin at 10 a.m. Dec. 21. Darrin has been reassigned to another church starting in January. He and his family will be at the church Dec.21 when a church cantata will take place.

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CHURCH HOSTS CONCERT: Cortland Church of the Nazarene, 293 E. Main St., Cortland, will host guest evangelist and singer Jerry Garcia at 10:45 a.m. Sunday. Garcia was born and raised in Adrian, Michigan. He is living his dream, singing the music he loves and raising and nurturing special needs children together with his wife, Sarah. As a family, they travel sharing their testimony with audiences all across the country. A covered dish dinner will follow the service in the fellowship hall.

FIRST FRIDAY: The First Friday Club of Greater Youngstown speaker series will meet at noon Dec. 4 at Avion on the Water Banquet Center, 2177 W. Western Reserve Road in Canfield. Guest speaker is Joseph Carocci, Ph.D., chair of and professor at the Youngstown State University Dana School of Music. Carocci will present “The Interplay of Culture and Cognition in Musical Understanding.” Saxophonist, composer and educator, Carocci serves as the director of the Dana School of Music and University Theatre at Youngstown State University. Carocci is also a frequent presenter at national and international conferences on improvisation, jazz pedagogy, musicians’ health and arts leadership.

There will be an opportunity for participants’ questions following the talk. Lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m., with the presentation beginning at noon. The cost is $25. Call by Thursday at 330-720-4498.

Reservations are limited. Visit www.firstfridayclubofgreateryoungstown.org

POLKA MASS: The Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel-St. Anthony of Padua Parish will host a Polka Mass at 4 p.m. Saturday at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 1125 Turin Ave., Youngstown. The celebration includes an indoor Polka Mass featuring Rex Taneri and his orchestra.

The Mass is free and open to the public. Following the service, all are invited to continue the celebration with an evening of entertainment, dancing and fellowship. Meals are available for dine-in or takeout at $15 per person. For tickets or more information, contact Rick at 330-727-8243 or or the parish office at 330-743-4144.

THANKSGIVING SERVICE: Mount Sinai Missionary Baptist Church, 329 S. Forest St., Youngstown, will host a Thanksgiving service at 10 a.m. Thursday with the Rev. Gerald Wilkins, church pastor.

THANKSGIVING EVENT: The Alpha and Omega SDA Church, 1247 Woodland Ave., Warren, will host a Thanksgiving praise celebration at 10 a.m. Thursday. Those attending the meal are asked to RSVP by Sunday at 440-781-5343.

FOUNDERS DAY: First Presbyterian Church of Warren on Mahoning Avenue will host Founder’s Day at 10 a.m. Sunday, where longtime members of the church congregation will be recognized.

BREAKFAST WITH BISHOP: Breakfast with the Bishop will be 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Dec. 2 at St. Michael Church Family Life Center in Canfield on Giving Tuesday. There will be a Mass at 8 a.m. at the church. The event will support Catholic Charities Basic Needs Assistance Programs. Cost is $35 per person. All proceeds benefit local families in need. RSVP at www.ccdoy.org.

QUARTET EXTRAVAGANZA: Phillips Chapel COGIC, 3903 Jacobs Road, Hubbard, will host a Quartet Extravaganza at 5 p.m. Nov. 30. Musical guests will include The Anointed Horner Singers of Canton, the Mighty Golden Wonders of Warren, and Faith Hairston and the Chosen Vessels of Cleveland.

TAIZE PRAYER: Villa Maria Education and Spirituality Center will offer Taize Prayer at 7 p.m. Dec. 2. The theme is Advent: A service of prayer, song and contemplation by candlelight. Taizé is a form a Christian prayer originating from the ecumenical Christian community of Taize in France.

Music ministers will be Daniel Laginya and Barb Zorn. For information, call 724-964-8886 or visit our website at vmesc.org. The program is free.

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TRIBUTE TO VETERANS: Westminster Presbyterian Church, 119 Stadium Drive, Boardman, will host a concert and free bag lunch at noon Sunday and a tribute to the armed forces. The program will feature the combined choirs of Boardman United Methodist and Westminster Presbyterian churches. Local veterans will participate in the procession and recession of the flags.

101 YEARS: Valley Missionary Baptist Church, 405 Depot St., Niles, will celebrate its 101st anniversary with a musical program at 3:30 p.m. Sunday.

105 YEARS: Niles Trinity Lutheran Church, 56 N. Chestnut Ave., will celebrate 105 years at 10 a.m. Nov. 16.

VETERANS DAY: St Paul Lutheran Church, 2860 E. Market St., Warren, will host a Veterans Day program at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

QUARTET EXTRAVAGANZA: Phillips Chapel COGIC, 3903 Jacobs Road, Hubbard, will host a Quartet Extravaganza at 5 p.m. Nov. 30. Musical guests will include The Anointed Horner Singers of Canton, the Mighty Golden Wonders of Warren, and Faith Hairston and the Chosen Vessels of Cleveland.

PASTOR HONORED: Grace Methodist Church in Warren recognized its pastor, Barry French, at a recent appreciation luncheon to mark his years of service to the church and for his compassionate care and guidance.

GOSPEL GROUP: Living Lord Lutheran Church, 851 Niles Cortland Road, will present the Hamilton Road Trio gospel group at 6 p.m. Saturday. A free-will offering will be taken, but the concert is free.

INSTALLATION: Champion Christian Church will host the installation ceremony for the Rev. Vanessa Bostick at 10:30 a.m. Nov. 16. She grew up in Texas and is a third-generation Disciple of Christ.

DAY OF HOPE: Local Catholic organizations will come together to commemorate the Jubilee of the Poor with an outreach event for individuals and families experiencing the effects of poverty. A “Community Day of Hope” will take place 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 15 at St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish-Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 3020 Reeves Road NE, Warren. Youngstown Bishop David J. Bonnar will offer a blessing and engage with attendees.

GOLD MASS: The Diocese of Youngstown will host the third annual Gold Mass Nov. 23. All parish directors, musicians and anyone involved in liturgical music within the Diocese of Youngstown are invited. A concert featuring choral and instrumental music will begin at 3:45 p.m., followed by Mass at 5 p.m. at St. Columba Cathedral, 154 W. Wood St., Youngstown. If you are interested in participating in the concert before the Mass, or singing or playing for Mass, contact Youngstown Diocesan Director of Music and Cathedral musician, Ralph Holtzhauser at rholtzhauser@youngstowndiocese.org or 330-744-8451, Ext. 212. The Diocese of Youngstown is bringing back the Cecilia Project for the 2025-26 church year.

PROGRAM SET: Villa Maria Education and Spirituality Center will offer a one-day presentation with Ilia Delio, noted author and lecturer, titled “The Christic Self: What it is and Why it Matters.” This special presentation will take place 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Nov. 15. The talk will explore Teilhard de Chardin’s notion of the Christic self, looking at its formation, significance, and the bigger question of whether the Christic self makes a difference to world evolution. Do our beliefs and spiritual practices really make a difference?

Cost is $105 and includes program, lunch and refreshments. Program information and registration are available at vmesc.org or 724-964-8886.

TAIZE PRAYER: Villa Maria Education and Spirituality Center will offer Taizé Prayer at 7 p.m. Dec. 2. The theme is Advent: A service of prayer, song and contemplation by candlelight. Taizé is a form a Christian prayer originating from the ecumenical Christian community of Taizé in France. Music ministers will be Daniel Laginya and Barb Zorn. For information, call 724-964-8886 or visit our website at vmesc.org. The program is free.

Religion news

ESTHER CIRCLE HELPS: The Esther Circle of Central Christian Church Disciples of Christ chose the Trumbull County Society of St. Vincent de Paul as its winter fundraising project in an effort to assist the local population in need. The Esther Circle raised funds to provide four sleeping jacket carryalls that fold into a jacket or a sleeping bag and are portable. Each one cost $175. The Esther Circle went on a tour through the society’s three buildings at 2431 Niles Road. The Esther Circle is a group of ladies that meet monthly to raise and disperse funds from the church, which was founded in 1803. Now in its 95th year of operation, the society maintains four pantries, has the assistance of more than 200 volunteers daily, personal and private and business donations, and grants, without the assistance of federal or state funding. People interested in supporting St. Vincent de Paul can call Sean Keating at 234- 223-2933 ext. 102.

TRIBUTE TO VETERANS: Westminster Presbyterian Church, 119 Stadium Drive, Boardman, will host a concert and free bag lunch at noon Nov. 9 and a tribute to the armed forces. The program will feature the combined choirs of Boardman United Methodist and Westminster Presbyterian churches. Local veterans will participate in the procession and recession of the flags.

GOSPEL GROUP: Living Lord Lutheran Church, 851 Niles Cortland Road, will present the Hamilton Road Trio gospel group at 6 p.m. Nov. 8. A good will offering will be taken, but the concert is free.

DAY OF HOPE: Local Catholic organizations will come together to commemorate the Jubilee of the Poor with an outreach event for individuals and families experiencing the effects of poverty. A “Community Day of Hope” will take place 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 15 at St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish-Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 3020 Reeves Road NE, Warren. Youngstown Bishop David J. Bonnar will offer a blessing and engage with attendees.

GOLD MASS: The Diocese of Youngstown will host the third annual Gold Mass Nov. 23. All parish directors, musicians and anyone involved in liturgical music within the Diocese of Youngstown are invited. A concert featuring choral and instrumental music will begin at 3:45 p.m., followed by Mass at 5 p.m. at St. Columba Cathedral, 154 W. Wood St., Youngstown. If you are interested in participating in the concert before the Mass, singing or playing for Mass, contact Youngstown Diocesan Director of Music and Cathedral musician, Ralph Holtzhauser at rholtzhauser@youngstowndiocese.org or (330) 744-8451, ext. 212. The Diocese of Youngstown is bringing back the Cecilia Project for the 2025-26 church year.

PROGRAM SET: Villa Maria Education and Spirituality Center will offer a one-day presentation with Ilia Delio, noted author and lecturer, titled “The Christic Self: What it is and Why it Matters.” This special presentation will take place 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Nov. 15. The talk will explore Teilhard de Chardin’s notion of the Christic self, looking at its formation, significance, and the bigger question of whether the Christic self makes a difference to world evolution. Do our beliefs and spiritual practices really make a difference? Cost is $105 and includes program, lunch and refreshments. Program information and registration are available at vmesc.org or 724-964-8886.

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