NEW PASTOR: Grace Methodist Church, 1725 Drexel Ave. NW, Warren, will welcome its new pastor at 9:30 a.m. March 15. Pastor Charles “Chuck” Campbell and his wife, Annette, will serve the church after having served since 2016 at Delightful Evangelical Congregational Church in Southington, which has closed.

Church members and friends are welcome to a meet and greet. Former members of Delightful Church are also welcome. Pastor Campbell will share about his ministry and his family at 10:15 a.m., followed by the worship service at 11 a.m.

RETIRING PASTOR: Pastor Barry French, minister at Grace Methodist Church, 1725 Drexel Ave. NW, Warren, is retiring on March 8 with a breakfast to honor him at 9:30 a.m. He and his wife, Sharon, came out of previous retirement to serve and lead Grace through a time of transition. Pastor French will preach his final service at 11 a.m.

LENTEN SERIES: St. Patrick Church, Hubbard, will host a Lenten Mission “Finding Hope-Reflections from the Wizard of Oz” 6:30 to 8 p.m. nightly March 15 to 17. The presenter is Friar Johnpaul Cafiero.

The mission will look at the different characters and aspects from the “Wizard of Oz” and show how this story relates to the spiritual journey through Lent to Easter. Cafiero will provide insights about faith and relationship to God with stories and real-life experiences.

THE STORY TOUR: Pleasant Valley Church, 2055 Pleasant Valley Road, Liberty, will host The Story Tour at 6:30 p.m. March 21 with the Allan Scott Band. Launched in 2021, The Story Tour was created for the hurting, broken and addicted to share the hope-filled truth that with Jesus, your story isn’t over.

Since then, The Story Tour has ministered to more than 40,000 people at 110 events across 25 states. Each night features real-life stories of what God can do in a life, the encouraging music of the Allan Scott Band and meaningful times of ministry.

The Story Tour is interdenominational and open to the public. VIP tickets are $42 and general tickets are $14 in advance and $18 at the door. Groups of 10-30 can get tickets for $10 each.

VOCATION EVENTS: The Diocese of Youngstown is hosting a series of Praise & Worship Nights for Vocations at various sites within the diocese through June. These nights are meant for people to pray for an increase in vocations to the priesthood, diaconate and religious life.

• 7 p.m. March 26 at St. Columba Cathedral, 154 W. Wood St., Youngstown.

• 7 p.m. April 30 at Divine Mercy Parish-St. Mary Church, 206 Cherry Road NE, Massillon.

• 7 p.m. May 28 at Our Lady of Peace Parish-Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 1200 E. 21st St., Ashtabula (bilingual celebration)

• 7 p.m. June 25 at St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish-Blessed Sacrament Church, 3020 Reeves Road NE, Warren.

ORGAN CONCERT SERIES: St. Columba Cathedral in downtown Youngstown will present an organ concert series at the church. Below is the schedule and the featured organists:

• 6:30 p.m. March 13 — Anais Payerne of France, who will mark her U.S. debut.

• 6:30 p.m. April 24 — Tim Elder.

• 6:30 p.m. May 1 — Maurice Clerc of France.

• 6:30 p.m. June 26 — Loreto Aramendi of Spain.

The performances are free and the public is welcome. For more information, contact Ralph Holtzhauser at rholtzhauser@youngstowndiocese.org.

JEWISH-CHRISTIAN STUDIES: Villa Maria Education and Spirituality Center is offering an ongoing series Jewish Christian Studies-101 with the Rev. George Balasko 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesday in person and via Zoom. The Zoom link will be available on the center’s website at vmesc.org.This month’s topic is the “Role of Suffering.”

The program will be in the Mother Madelaine Room. The Bible education series is an opportunity for Christians to reflect on the Scriptures using video resources from various scripture scholars. A free-will offering will be accepted.

Participants need not attend all of the programs in this series. Registration is not required.

Program information is available at vmesc.org or call 724-964-8886.

TAIZE PRAYER: Villa Maria Education and Spirituality Center will offer Taize Prayer at 7 p.m. March 24.

The theme for the free program is Lent. 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 vmesc.org.

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD: Samaritan’s Purse has collected shoebox gifts filled with toys, school supplies and hygiene items for children around the world.

Since 1993, more than 244 million children in more than 170 countries and territories have received an Operation Christmas Child shoebox. In 2025, a record number of shoeboxes were packed with the intention of sharing God’s love with children around the world.

In Trumbull and Ashtabula counties, 11,128 boxes were collected from 94 churches. The Great Lakes Region (four states) packed 1,046,855 boxes.

The United States sent 10.9 million boxes and worldwide, 12.2 million boxes were collected and distributed to children.

Any organization wishing to participate by packing boxes in 2026 can contact Yvonne Woodworth at ymwoodworth@yahoo.com for additional information.