×

Religion News

Christmas Day services and Masses today include:

• St. Columba Cathedral, 159 W. Rayen Ave., Youngstown, 10:30 a.m.;

• Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 4490 Norquest Boulevard, Ausitntown, 10:45 a.m.;

• Our Lady of Mount Carmel Basilica, 343 Via Mt. Carmel, Youngstown, 10 a.m. and noon. New Year’s Eve Mass 5 p.m. Friday and New Year’s Day Mass, noon Jan. 1;

• St. Angela Merici, 397 S. Jackson St., Youngstown,

9 a.m.;

• St. Anthony Church, 1125 Turin Ave.,Youngstown, 10 a.m.;

• St. Joseph Catholic Church, 4545 New Road, Austintown, 9 a.m.;

• St. Michael Byzantine Catholic Church, 462 Robinson Road, Campbell, liturgy 11 a.m.;

• St. Patrick Parish, 357 N. Main St., Hubbard 8:30 and 10 a.m. at the church parish center. The 8:30 a.m. Mass will not have music;

• SS. Peter and Paul Church, 421 Covington St., Youngstown, 10 a.m.

• Blessed Sacrament Parish, 3020 Reeves Road NE, Warren, 8:30 a.m. in church gymnasium;

• Christ Episcopal Church, 2627 Atlantic St. NE, Warren, 9 a.m.;

• Niles First Christian Church Disciples of Christ, 33 N. Arlington Ave., hymns and carols service, 10 a.m.;

• SS. Cyril and Methodius Parish, 185 Laird Ave NE, Warren, 11 a.m.

FIRST FRIDAY CLUB: The First Friday Club of Greater Youngstown Speaker Series will continue into 2022 with a luncheon at noon Jan. 6 at Avion on the Water Banquet Center, 2177 W. Western Reserve Road in Canfield.

Speaker is Tina Whitehead, volunteer with Sabeel, a Palestinian Christian Peace and Justice Movement. Whitehead will present “Hope in the Absence of Hope.”

There will be an opportunity for participants’ questions to follow. Lunch is served at 11:30 a.m. with the presentation beginning at noon. The cost is $18. Call by Friday at 330-720-4498. Reservations are limited.

TRIAL SERMON: Community Church of God in Christ, 310 Austin Ave. SW, Warren, will have minister Erwin Sutton do a trial sermon at Sunday morning worship.

BIBLE STUDY: Immaculate Heart of Mary, Austintown, will host a Peacemaking and Nonviolence Bible Study Wednesdays Jan. 5 to Feb 2. Sessions will be in the church rectory.

BOAR’S HEAD: Tickets are on sale for the 60th annual Boar’s Head and Yule Log Festival. The festival, one of the longest running such festivals in the country, will take place 1:30 and 4 p.m. Jan. 9 at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 323 Wick Ave., Youngstown. Performance tickets are $10 each.

The festival is a unique offering of praise to Jesus Christ at his Epiphany and features the Boar’s Head and Yule Log Festival Choir and Brass. There will be 100 parishionersdressed in medieval costume as well as other surprises.

Tickets may be purchased by credit card online at www.stjohnohio.org., in person in the church office from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, or by mail by sending a stamped, self-addressed envelope to the church, ATTN: Boar’s Head, 323 Wick Ave., Youngstown, OH 44503-1095. Include a note indicating performance time and number of tickets and make check payable to “St. John’s Episcopal Church.” Include a phone number. The deadline for orders via mail is Thursday. Call the church at 330-743-3175.

CHRISTIAN WOMEN’S LUNCHEON: The Youngstown South Christian Women’s Connection will host its monthly luncheon 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Jan. 12 at Avion on the Water Banquet Center, 2177 W. Western Reserve Road, Canfield. The theme is Happy New Year and will feature a presentation by Linda Stanko and Suzy Fritch from Beautiful Curiosities. Music will be provided by Ginny Queen, and the speaker will be Bill Rotar of Columbiana, whose topic will be “Victory through Adversity.”

The cost is $17 and includes lunch. Reservations are needed by Jan. 5 by calling Connie at 330-788-2340 or Patty at 330-332-2789. New members are welcome.

To submit an item for the Religion section, email to religion@tribtoday.com. Items are needed by Wednesday for the Saturday paper.

Religion news

LIGHTS OF CHRISTMAS: Pleasant Valley Church, 2055 Pleasant Valley Road, Liberty, will host the Lights of Christmas outdoor light display and live Nativity 5 to 9 p.m. today. Music and children’s activities will be presented. The story of Jesus will be shown in a drive-thru display with a petting zoo.

CANDELIGHT EVENT: The Unity Spiritual Centre, 1226 Naylor Lloyd Road, Liberty, will host a Christmas candlelight service 7 p.m. Thursday. The service will be filled with the songs and lights of the Christmas message.

CANTATAS: Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 4490 Norquest Blvd., Austintown, will host an ecumenical Cantata 4 p.m. Sunday. The Voices of Joy Ecumenical Choir will present the cantata “Bethlehem’s Child.” In addition to the cantata, the choir also will present additional songs. The choir is made up of vocalists from Christ Our Savior, St. Charles and IHM parishes.

• Champion Presbyterian Church, 4997 Mahoning Avenue, will host a cantata at 10 a.m. Sunday featuring the choir.

• Girard Baptist Church, 7 E. Kline St., will hold a Christmas cantata 11 a.m. Sunday.

• Howland United Methodist Church will host a choir cantata 10 a.m. Sunday. The Christmas Eve candlelight service will be 7 p.m. Friday.

LESSONS AND CAROLS: Christ Episcopal Church, Atlantic Street, Warren, will host the annual Christmas Festival of Lessons and Carols holiday program at 6 p.m. Sunday. The event will include carols of the season and feature the parish choir, children’s choir and hand-bell choir and a professional chamber orchestra. A reception will follow.

BLUE CHRISTMAS: Good Hope Lutheran Church, 12030 Market St., North Lima, will host a Blue Christmas worship 7 p.m. Sunday. There will be an emphasis on candles with people invited to light a candle in memory of someone or to mark an event in their life.

A Christmas Eve candlelight worship will be 7 and 11 p.m. Friday.

CHRISTMAS EVE: First Presbyterian Church, Mahoning Avenue, Warren, will host a Christmas Eve candlelight service 7:30 p.m. Friday.

CHRISTMAS MASS: Hubbard St. Patrick Parish will host a Christmas Eve Mass 4 p.m. Friday at Hubbard High School auditorium. Bishop David Bonnar will be the celebrant. There will be a Christmas midnight Mass at the parish center and Christmas Day Mass at 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. Dec. 25 at the parish center. The 8 a.m. service will not have music.

CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION Life Church, 610 S. Leavitt Road, Leavittsburg, will host a Christmas Eve service 6 p.m. Friday. The theme is “Reaching Others with the Message of Christ.”

FINAL SERVICE: Pastor Lizzie Weed of Grace United Methodist Church, 1725 Drexel Ave. NW, Warren, has been called to be full-time pastor at Palmyra United Methodist Church. She will preach her final sermon at Grace at 11 a.m. Sunday. The congregation will host a farewell reception following the service.

CHAPLET OF DIVINE MERCY: Catholic Funeral and Cemetery Services of the Diocese of Youngstown will offer The Chaplet of Divine Mercy at all four cemeteries 3 p.m. every Friday. The Chaplet will be said at alternating cemeteries.

The first Friday of the month will be at Calvary Cemetery, Youngstown; the second Friday at Resurrection Cemetery, Austintown; the third Friday at All Souls Cemetery, Bazetta; and the fourth Friday at Calvary Cemetery, Massillon.

HELPING OTHERS: Earlier this holiday season, Harvest Point Church in Liberty participated in the Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child. This organization partners with churches worldwide to collect shoeboxes filled with toys, school supplies and hygiene items for children around the world. Since 1993, more than 188 million children in more than 170 countries and territories have received the shoebox gifts.

COFFEE AND CONTEMPLATION: Villa Maria Education and Spirituality Center, 2067 Evergreen Road, Villa Maria, Pa., will offer the ongoing series Coffee and Contemplation 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday. Sessions in this series, held once per month, provide participants with input from a presenter and includes time for reflection and discussion.

Barbara O’Donnell, HM, will present this month’s session “God Among Us: Light, Love, Truth, Hope.”

The program will be conducted via Zoom. Cost is $7.

Registration and further information are available online at vmesc.org or by calling 724-964-8886.

BLUE CHRISTMAS SERVICE: Boardman United Methodist Church will host a Blue Christmas Service at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. This service acknowledges the holiday season can be difficult for many persons who have suffered any kind of loss in the past — loss of a loved one, a job, a relationship, a move, or anything that causes one to reflect on how things once were. This service affirms the loss and allows people to move forward into the holidays with hope and a greater sense of peace.

FIRST FRIDAY: The First Friday Club of Greater Youngstown Speaker Series season will continue into 2022 with a luncheon at noon Jan. 6 at Avion on the Water Banquet Center, 2177 W. Western Reserve Road, Canfield.

Speaker is Tina Whitehead, volunteer with Sabeel, a Palestinian Christian Peace and Justice Movement. Whitehead will present “Hope in the Absence of Hope.”

An opportunity for participants’ questions will follow. Lunch is served at 11:30 a.m. with the presentation beginning at noon. The cost is $18. Call by Dec. 31 at 330-720-4498. Reservations are limited.

RETURN TO CHURCH: The congregation of St. James Episcopal Church will return to its historic building in Boardman Park, at the St. James Meeting House, at 10 a.m. Sunday.

The meeting house has been decorated by the Holborn Herb Growers Guild.

The people of St. James have been gathering as a community to worship God since 1809. For 142 years, from 1829 through 1971, people met in what is now known as St. James Meeting House. In 1972, the new building was consecrated on Glenwood Avenue.

BIBLE STUDY: Immaculate Heart of Mary, Austintown, will host a peacemaking and nonviolence Bible study Wednesdays, Jan. 5 to Feb 2. Sessions are held in the church rectory.

KWANZAA: First Presbyterian Church in Warren will host a special service highlighting Kwanzaa at 10 a.m. Dec. 26. As part of the service, members of the Voices of Micah will share an overview of Kwanzaa, which first started in 1966. The service also will highlight the hymns of Advent and Christmas.

To submit an item for the religion section, email to religion@tribtoday.

com. Items are needed by Wednesday for the Saturday paper.

Religion news

BREAK THROUGH THE DARKNESS: “Break Through the Darkness” will be held 2 p.m. Sunday at Zion Lutheran Church, 3300 Canfield Road. Masks are required. It will focus on change in people’s lives including death of a loved one, an illness, COVID-19, divorce or other tragedies. The non-denominational service is for people who are experiencing any kind of grief.

LESSONS AND CAROLS: The congregation of St. James Episcopal Church will return to its historic building in Boardman Park, St. James’ Meeting House, at 10 a.m. Sunday for its service of Advent Lessons and Carols.

The ancient liturgy begins with a bidding prayer, followed by a series of scriptural readings interspersed with choral presentations and hymns. It has become the tradition of St. James’ to hold this service during Advent each year. The historic St. James’ Meeting House has been decorated by the Holborn Herb Growers Guild.

The people of St. James have been gathering as a community to worship God since 1809. For 142 years, from 1829-1971, people met in what is now known as St. James’ Meeting House. In 1972, the new building was consecrated on Glenwood Avenue.

CHURCH MUSICAL: Niles First Baptist Church will hold a Christmas musical “Emmanuel” 6 p.m. Sunday.

LIGHTS OF CHRISTMAS; Pleasant Valley Church, 2055 Pleasant Valley Road, Niles, will hold the “Lights of Christmas” outdoor light display and live Nativity from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday and Dec. 18. There will be music and children’s activities, The story of Jesus will be shown in a drive-thru display with a petting zoo.

CANDLE LIGHTING: Corner House Christian Church, 6954 Chestnut Ridge Road, Hubbard, will take part in the worldwide candlelighting 2 p.m. Sunday. The event is coordinated by Compassionate Friends, the nation’s largest self-help bereavement organization for families who have suffered the loss of a child, when candles will be lit to remember the memories of children who have died. The event is held annually the second Sunday in December. Music and a Power Point will be presented.

FINAL SERVICE: Pastor Lizzie Weed of Grace United Methodist Church, 1725 Drexel Ave. NW, Warren, has been called from the church to be full-time pastor at Palmyra United Methodist Church. She will preach her final sermon at Grace 11 a.m. Dec. 19.

CHAPLET OF DIVINE MERCY: Catholic Funeral and Cemetery Services of the Diocese of Youngstown will offer The Chaplet of Divine Mercy at all four cemeteries 3 p.m. every Friday. The Chaplet will be said at alternating cemeteries.

The first Friday of the month will be at Calvary Cemetery, Youngstown; the second Friday at Resurrection Cemetery, Austintown; the third Friday at All Souls Cemetery, Cortland; and the fourth Friday at Calvary Cemetery, Massillon.

HOLY FAMILY: Holy Family Parish in Poland hosted “Advent Family Sunday” in November. The afternoon included a short lesson on the history of the Advent Wreath, refreshments and Christmas music. The Advent Wreaths and decorations were also provided, as well as a blessing of the Advent Wreaths by Deacon Andy.

FREE LIVE DRIVE-THRU NATIVITY: Bazetta Christian Church, 4131 Hoagland Blackstub Road, will have a drive-thru Nativity to be presented 4 to 7 p.m. December 19 at the church. The free, live, drive-thru event depicting the true meaning of Christmas will feature re-enactors and live animals, including camels. A dress rehearsal is set for 2 p.m. today.

COFFEE AND CONTEMPLATION: Villa Maria Education and Spirituality Center, 2067 Evergreen Road, Villa Maria, Pa., offers the ongoing series Coffee and Contemplation scheduled to be held once a month on Tuesdays, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. beginning Dec. 21. Sessions in this series provide participants with input from a presenter and includes time for reflection and discussion.

Barbara O’Donnell, HM, will present this month’s session “God Among Us: Light, Love, Truth, Hope.”

The program will be conducted via Zoom. Cost $7.

Registration and further information are available online at vmesc.org or by calling 724-964-8886.

BLUE CHRISTMAS SERVICE: Boardman United Methodist Church will hold a Blue Christmas Service 6:30 p.m. Dec. 21. This service acknowledges that the holiday season can be difficult for many people who have suffered any kind of loss in the past. Loss of a loved one, a job, a relationship, a move, anything that causes us to reflect on how things once were. This service affirms the loss and allows us to move forward into the holidays with hope and a greater sense of peace.

FIRST FRIDAY: The First Friday Club of Greater Youngstown Speaker Series season will continue into 2022 with a luncheon at noon Jan. 6 at Avion on the Water Banquet Center, 2177 W. Western Reserve Road in Canfield.

The scheduled speaker is Tina Whitehead, volunteer with Sabeel, a Palestinian Christian Peace and Justice Movement. Whitehead will present “Hope in the Absence of Hope.”

There will be an opportunity for participants’ questions to follow. Luncheon is served at 11:30 a.m. with the presentation beginning at noon. The cost is $18. Call by Dec. 31 at 330-720-4498

Reservations are limited.

To submit an item for the religion section, email to

religion@tribtoday.com. Items

are needed by Wednesday for the Saturday paper.

Religion news

APPRECIATION PRAYER: Mount Gilead Baptist Church, 2821 Hillman St., Youngstown, will host a pre-appreciation prayer luncheon 2 p.m. today for the Rev. Clifford Kimbrough. The theme is “Giving God the Glory” with guest speaker Minister Jacqueline Rivers-Richardson. Ticket donation is $25. Call 330-330-0076 or 330-518-6651.

CANDYLAND: Vienna United Methodist Church, 4265 Warren-Sharon Road, will have a life-sized Candyland 2:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 11 and noon to 6 p.m. Dec. 12. The event is free. There will be games, cookies and cocoa.

ST. NICHOLAS NIGHT: St. Robert Church in Cortland will host a St. Nicholas Night 6 p.m. Wednesday in the parish basement. Children of all ages can attend and discover the story of St. Nicholas, the precursor to Santa Claus. There will be a surprise guest. The event is free.

RETREAT OFFERED: Villa Maria Education and Spirituality Center will offer Empty Bowl “Anything Other Than God: A Retreat on the Longing for God” with Cheryl Rose from 7 p.m. Friday to 5 p.m. Dec. 11.

In this sixth Empty Bowl retreat, participants will look at the soul’s journey toward God, considering significant steps and stages in the contemplative journey, including the Dark Night.

Cost is $135 with registration required. Attendance at a previous Empty Bowl retreats is not necessary. Program information and registration are available at www.vmesc.org or 724-964-8886.

NORTH ROAD CHRISTMAS: Blessed Sacrament Parish, Reeves Road, Warren, will host “North Road Christmas” 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today. It will feature a pancake breakfast, hot chocolate bar, Santa photos, carriage rides, a petting zoo, craft show, cookie walk, kid’s craft shop and a nativity display. A live Nativity pageant presented by students of the parish will begin at 1:30 p.m.

CHAPLET OF DIVINE MERCY: Catholic Funeral and Cemetery Services of the Diocese of Youngstown will offer The Chaplet of Divine Mercy at all four cemeteries 3 p.m. every Friday. The Chaplet will be said at alternating cemeteries.

The first Friday of the month will be at Calvary Cemetery, Youngstown; the second Friday at Resurrection Cemetery, Austintown; the third Friday at All Souls Cemetery, Cortland; and the fourth Friday at Calvary Cemetery, Massillon.

MINISTRY PROGRAM: Word of Life Christian Center, 127 Wasser Road, Greenville, Pa., will host the ministry of the Rev. John Merola at 10 a.m. Sunday.

CHURCH CONCERT: First Baptist Church of Niles, 26 E. Church St., will host a Christmas concert with Timothy and Hosanna Noble at 7 p.m. Sunday.

CHRISTMAS REMEMBRANCE: A Christmas ornament remembrance prayer service will be held on the Feast Day of St. Nicholas, 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, at all four of the Diocesan cemeteries: Calvary Cemetery in Youngstown Resurrection Cemetery in Austintown, All Souls Cemetery in Bazetta and Calvary Cemetery in Massillon.

The Christmas of Remembrance Event will include families hanging ornaments on a Christmas tree in remembrance of a deceased loved one, singing by local choirs and a brief prayer service. Light refreshments will be available. All are welcome. Families can bring an ornament from home or one can be supplied for them. The event is designed to help our families dealing with the grief of losing a loved one during the Christmas season, especially for the families that lost loved ones this year.

FREE LIVE DRIVE-THRU NATIVITY: Bazetta Christian Church, 4131 Hoagland Blackstub Road, will have a drive-thru Nativity to be presented 4 to 7 p.m. Dec. 19 at the church. The free, live, drive-thru event depicting the true meaning of Christmas, will feature re-enactors and live animals, including camels.

COFFEE AND CONTEMPLATION: Villa Maria Education and Spirituality Center offers the ongoing series Coffee and Contemplation once a month on Tuesdays. The next session will be 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Dec. 21. The program will be conducted via Zoom. Cost is $7.

Speaker is Barbara O’Donnell. Sessions in this series provide participants with input from a presenter and includes time for reflection and discussion. This program will be rooted in the writings of Robin Wall Kimmerer.

Registration and further information are available online at vmesc.org or by calling 724-964-8886.

BLUE CHRISTMAS SERVICE: Boardman United Methodist Church will host a Blue Christmas Service 6:30 p.m. Dec. 21. This service acknowledges that the holiday season can be difficult for many persons who have suffered any kind of loss in the past. This service affirms the loss and allows participants to move forward into the holidays, with hope and a greater sense of peace.

To submit an item for the religion section, email to religion@tribtoday.com. Items are needed by Wednesday for the Saturday paper.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $2.99/week.

Subscribe Today