Hundreds of volunteers are working at Grace Brethren Church’s Norton campus this weekend to prepare 125,000 meals for the global hunger charity Feed My Starving Children.
Each meal, called a MannaPack, is specially made for digestive systems in malnourished bodies. The dehydrated meals were developed by food scientists from food companies including General Mills and Pillsbury for Feed My Starving Children. The faith-based Minnesota nonprofit donates the meals to missions that operate orphanages, schools, clinics and feeding programs in nearly 70 countries.
Last year, 657,000 volunteers in 33 states packed 163 million meals for the charity. The local food-packing event runs through 1:30 p.m. today at the church at 3970 Cleveland-Massillon Road. More information about the church can be found at www.graceohio.org.
In other religion news:
Events
Canton Christian Women’s Connection — The Fairways, 1500 Rogwin Circle SW, North Canton. 11:30 a.m. Feb. 20. The monthly luncheon, You Deserve a Break Today!, will be held. Men are also invited. Speaker will be Joe Abraham, who will explain why getting what you don’t deserve can be a good thing. The North Canton business ChoreChaser will be featured, with a description of services provided and ways they can help around the house. Music provided by instrumentalist John Fenton. For required reservations or free nursery, call Sherry at 330-837-6552 or email debra_ely@hotmail.com by Feb. 16. The $13 cost includes lunch.
Christ Is The Answer Ministries — 379 E. South St., Akron. 10:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Sunday. Family & Friends Day will be held. Guest speaker is the Rev. Rodney Bowden of Rooted in Christ Community Church. 330-376-1869.
Diocese of Youngstown — 144 W. Wood St., Youngstown. The deadline is Friday to nominate high school juniors and seniors active in their parish or diocesan Catholic school for the 16th annual Eagle of the Cross awards. Nominations must be postmarked by Wednesday or delivered to the diocesan Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry by 3 p.m. Friday. 330-744-8451.
Diocese of Youngstown — 144 W. Wood St., Youngstown. Bishop George V. Murry has appointed the Rev. Stephen Zeigler as pastor of St. Ambrose Parish in Garrettsville and St. Michael Parish in Windham, and the Rev. Jeffrey Stealey as associate pastor of St. Paul Parish in North Canton. Both appointments are effective March 1. 330-744-8451.
Mount Lebanon Baptist Church — 180 Edward Ave., Akron. 4 p.m. Sunday. The ushers and nurses will be celebrating their Emphasis Day. Guest speaker is Judge James Green from Columbus. 330-376-6378.
New Exodus Christian Fellowship Church — 1063 S. Arlington St., Akron. 5 p.m. Feb. 15. Celebrating the church’s first anniversary, sponsored by the Pastor’s Aid Committee. 330-785-3478.
Queen of Heaven Church — 1800 Steese Road, Green. 8:30 a.m. Tuesday. A Solemn Eucharistic Day of Adoration will begin with Mass, followed by morning prayer at 9:05 a.m. The Perpetual Adoration Chapel will be closed from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. as Adoration, interspersed with devotions, will be held in the church until vespers at 7 p.m. Devotions will consist of: the rosary with Joyful Mysteries at 10 a.m., the Angelus and midday prayer at noon, rosary with Sorrowful Mysteries at 2 p.m., Divine Mercy Chaplet at 3 p.m., rosary with Luminous Mysteries at 4 p.m. and the rosary with Glorious Mysteries at 6 p.m. It will conclude with vespers, consisting of a procession with area priests and children of the Parish School of Religion, benediction and a homily by the Rev. Joseph O’Donnell. A social will follow in the gathering space. 330-896-2345.
Second Baptist Church — Williams on the Lake, 787 Lafayette Road, Medina. 4 p.m. Feb. 16. Celebrating the 94th church anniversary with dinner, music, silent auction and fellowship. Keynote speaker will be the Rev. Stephen D. Sullivan, moderator of the Northern Ohio Baptist District Association. Tickets $25 for nonmembers, $15 for ages 12 or younger. For information or to purchase tickets, contact K. Michele Howard at 330-636-1591 or Helene D. Barnes at 330-813-0019 by Sunday.
Performances
Faith Baptist Church — 775 W. Main St., Wilmot 10:30 a.m. Sunday. Danny Funderburk, former tenor for the Cathedrals, Singing Americans, Perfect Heart and Mercy Way, will perform Somebody Touched Me, I’ve Just Starting Living and others during morning worship. Freewill offering. 330-447-4339.
Grace Baptist Church — 704 N. Firestone Blvd., Akron. 6 p.m. Sunday. Tenor Danny Funderburk will perform. 330-773-7884.
St. Sebastian Parish — 476 Mull Ave., Akron. 4 p.m. Sunday. Benjamin Bachmann, canon director of music at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, will present an organ concert. Free to the public. 330-836-2233.
St. Sebastian Parish — 476 Mull Ave., Akron. 4 p.m. Feb. 16. Singers Companye, under the direction of Dr. Samuel Gordon, with collaboration from Miller South School for the Visual and Performing Arts choirs, will perform Mass of the Children by John Rutter. Adults $18, seniors $12. The first two children of a paying adult will be admitted free and each additional child will be $5. 330-836-2233, www.singerscompanye.com.
Speakers and classes
Walsh University — 2020 E. Maple St., North Canton. 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday and Feb. 27. The Theology Lecture Series will discuss The Marks of the Church. On Thursday, the topic will be What Is It to Be Catholic? and on Feb. 27 it will be What Is It to Be Apostolic? Sessions are free to the public and will be held in Barrette Business and Community Center. Free parking is available adjacent to the center. Sessions are eligible for credit in Walsh Lifelong Learning Academy and are recognized by the Dioceses of Youngstown and Cleveland for religious education credit. For more information, call 330-244-4734 or email jspitzer@walsh.edu.
St. Francis Xavier — 606 E. Washington St., Medina. 3 p.m. Feb. 9. Dr. Ray Guarendi, clinical psychologist, author and host of the nationally syndicated radio show The Doctor Is In, will speak about parenting, marriage and other family matters. Free to all. A reception will follow in the Xavier Room, where attendees can meet Guarendi and purchase his books. The talk is jointly sponsored by the parish’s Marriage Ministry and Stewardship Committee and is scheduled to coincide with World Marriage Day. 330-725-4968.
The deadline for Religion Notes is noon Tuesday. Items must be in writing. Please fax information to 330-996-3033, email it to religion@thebeaconjournal.com or send it to Religion, Akron Beacon Journal, 44 E. Exchange St., Akron OH 44309