WOMAN’S DAY: Grace AME Church, 1137 Main Ave. SW, Warren, will celebrate Women’s Day 9:30 a.m. Sunday during worship. The theme is “Bloom Where You Are Planted.” Evangelist Connie Weaver will be the speaker. Sister Althea Day and first lady Valerie Floyd are the co-chairpersons. Rev. Shane K. Floyd is pastor. Weaver is a Youngstown resident, and her ministry carries a special anointing for women and children, especially those who have endured hardship. Weaver openly shares her testimony of surviving 36 years as a battered woman and how God protected her.

THE STORY TOUR: Pleasant Valley Church, 2055 Pleasant Valley Road, Liberty, will host The Story Tour at 6:30 p.m. Saturday 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 person’s life, the encouraging music of the Allan Scott Band and 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.

EASTER PALOOZA: Champion Presbyterian Church, 4997 Mahoning Ave. NW, Warren, will host Easter Palooza 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday. There will be an Easter story and an egg hunt.

EASTER STORYTIME: Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 2985 Center Road, Poland, will have an Easter storytime at 10 a.m. March 28 with storytime, snacks and crafts.

GIRARD MINISTERIAL ASSOCIATION: The Girard Ministerial Association has set its Lenten services schedule: 7 p.m. Wednesday at Shepherd of the Valley, Liberty, 7 p.m. April 3 at Girard Methodist Church; and 7 a.m. April 5, sunrise service at Tod Park.

ORGAN RECITAL: Christ Episcopal Church, 2627 Atlantic St. NE, Warren, has rescheduled its Black History Month concert celebrating the legacy of the African American composers through the grandeur of the pipe organ. Organist Ralph Holtzhauser will perform at 7 p.m. March 27 in a program dedicated to music that reflects historical depth and contemporary vitality. He serves as diocesan music director for the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown and as music director at St. Columba Cathedral. The concert is free.

IT IS FINISHED: Niles First Christian Church, 33 N. Arlington St., Niles, will offer a re-enactment of the Last Supper at 7 p.m. April 2 for Maundy Thursday. There will be a reception following the service.

FIRST FRIDAY: The First Friday Club of Greater Youngstown speaker series will present Kerry Alys Robinson, president of Catholic Charities USA in Washington, D.C. She will present “People of Hope: Reflections on the Power of Service and Encounter” April 9 at Avion on the Water Banquet Center, 2177 W. Western Reserve Road in Canfield. Robinson became the second layperson and second woman ever to lead the organization. Lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m., with the presentation beginning at noon. The cost is $25. Call by April 2 at 330-720-4498. Reservations are limited. Visit www.firstfridayclubofgreateryoungstown.org

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. Thursday 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. 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.

TAIZE PRAYER: Villa Maria Education and Spirituality Center will offer Taize Prayer at 7 p.m. Tuesday. The theme for the free program is Lent. A service of prayer, song and contemplation by candlelight, Taize is a form of 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. In 2025, a record number of Operation Christmas Child 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. Any organization wishing to participate by packing boxes in 2026 can contact Yvonne Woodworth at ymwoodworth@yahoo.com for additional information.

PERSPECTIVES FROM THE GOSPELS: Villa Maria Education and Spirituality Center will offer “Why the Cross? Insights and Perspectives from the Gospels” with Lisa Marie Belz 6:30 p.m. March 27 to noon March 29.

In the ancient world, the cross was regarded with horror as the cruelest, most humiliating and most tortured way to die, a form of execution commonly reserved for the lowest of the low, for the most despised criminals and slaves.

Cost is $240. Program information and registration are available at vmesc.org or 724-964-8886.

Religion news

CHURCH 105: Friendship Baptist Church, 1954 Brier St. SE, Warren, will celebrate its 105th anniversary at 10:30 a.m. Sunday during the morning worship.

NEW PASTOR: Grace Methodist Church, 1725 Drexel Ave. NW, Warren, will welcome its new pastor at 9:30 a.m. Sunday. 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.

GIRARD MINISTERIAL ASSOCIATION: The Girard Ministerial Association has set its Lenten services schedule: 1 p.m. Wednesday at Guiding Light Presbyterian Church, 7 p.m. March 25 at Shepherd of the Valley, Liberty, 7 p.m. April 3 at Girard Methodist Church; and 7 a.m. April 5, sunrise service at Tod Park.

WOMAN’S DAY: Grace AME Church, 1137 Main Ave. SW, Warren, will celebrate Women’s Day 9:30 a.m. March 22 during the worship. The theme is “Bloom Where You Are Planted.” Evangelist Connie Weaver will be the speaker. Sister Althea Day and first lady Valerie Floyd are the co chairpersons. Rev. Shane K. Floyd Ph.D., is pastor. Weaver is a Youngstown resident and a 1982 graduate of East High School who was raised in the church under the guidance of her mother, Pastor Willie Mae Taylor. She serves under the leadership of Pastor William Guy Burney and Minister Valerie Burney of Word in Action Ministries.

Her ministry carries a special anointing for women and children, especially those who have endured hardship. Weaver openly shares her testimony of surviving 36 years as a battered woman and how God protected her.

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 Sunday to Tuesday. 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.

DISTRIBUTION: Trinity Lutheran Church, 2742 North Road, NE , Warren, will host a maternity closet distribution 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday for those in need of diapers, wipes and baby clothes.

FIRST FRIDAY: The First Friday Club of Greater Youngstown speaker series will present Kerry Alys Robinson, president of Catholic Charities USA in Washington, D.C. She will present “People of Hope: Reflections on the Power of Service and Encounter” April 9 at Avion on the Water Banquet Center, 2177 W. Western Reserve Road in Canfield.

Robinson became the second layperson and second woman ever to lead the organization. She previously served as founding executive director and global ambassador of Leadership Roundtable, helping foster transparent, accountable leadership across the Catholic Church in the U.S. for nearly two decades.

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 April 2 at 330-720-4498. Reservations are limited. Visit www.firstfridayclubofgreateryoungstown.org

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.

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. In 2025, a record number of Operation Christmas Child 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.

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

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