The monthly luncheon of the First Friday Club of Greater Akron will feature four local Catholic high school seniors who will share their thoughts on “Encountering God” on March 14.
Leah Sadinski, a parishioner at St. Matthew Parish in Akron, will represent Archbishop Hoban High School. The coed high school in Akron is part of the Holy Cross tradition (www.hoban.org).
Renee Dollard, a parishioner at St. Basil the Great Parish in Brecksville, will represent Our Lady of the Elms. The independent, all-girls high school is rooted in the Dominican tradition (www.theelms.org).
Derick Whiddon, a parishioner at St. Matthew Parish, will represent St. Vincent-St. Mary High School. The coed school was formed in 1973 when the two oldest Catholic schools in Akron merged (www.stvm.com).
Michael Gladstone, a parishioner at Holy Family Parish in Stow, will represent Walsh Jesuit. The coed Jesuit high school is located in Cuyahoga Falls (www.walshjesuit.org).
The First Friday Club, which is in its 15th year, is a Catholic organization that strives to bring the best Catholic thinkers, teachers and leaders to the Akron area on a monthly basis to share insight on issues that affect church, family, work and community life. The club’s luncheon, which typically attracts about 175 people, takes place at the University of Akron’s Quaker Station, 135 S. Broadway.
Cost of the luncheon is $15 per person. Doors open at 11:15 a.m. The hourlong program begins at noon.
Prepaid reservations can be made by sending a check to the First Friday Club of Greater Akron, 795 Russell Ave., Akron, OH 44307.
For more information, call 330-535-7668 or go to www.firstfridayclubofgreaterakron.org.
In other religion news:
Events
Akron-Canton Shambhala Center — 1707 Front St, Cuyahoga Falls. 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. Shambhala Day: Year of the Wood Horse. Join with the sangha to celebrate the Tibetan New Year, the most important annual community gathering. The day will feature an address from Sakyong Mipham in the afternoon. The center is also requesting donations of paper products (towels, tissues, toilet paper and napkins) as part of the Warrior’s Winter White Wipeout.
Catholic Charities of Summit County — Guy’s Party Center, 500 E. Waterloo Road, Akron. 11 a.m. Thursday. The Women’s Board will host its 26th annual Fashion Show/Luncheon Fundraiser with a silent auction, raffle and bake sale. Cost: $20 per person. Proceeds will benefit programs that address societal needs of children and families, persons with disabilities, older adults and the poor in Summit County.
The Church of God — 200 Cole Ave., Akron. 10:30 a.m. Sunday. Family and Friends Day will be held. Breakfast will be served at 9:30 a.m. the first Sunday of each month. Call early for a ride at 330-724-8177.
Clearview United Methodist Church — 1733 Massillon Road, Springfield Township. 8 to 11 a.m. March 8. Boy Scout Troop 304’s annual pancake breakfast. $5 donation.
Cottage Grove Evangelical Congregational Church — 3133 Cottage Grove Road, Coventry Township. 7 p.m. Wednesday. A traditional Ash Wednesday service will be held. The Rev. Gary Brown, conference minister of the Great Lakes Region, will bring the message. The Rev. Robert Shuey, church pastor, will administer the ashes, and the Lord’s Supper will be observed. 330-644-5616.
First Church of Brethren — 1812 Marigold Ave., Akron. 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. today. All-you-can-eat soup supper plus desserts. Adults $6, children ages 12 and under $4. 330-773-6010.
New Millennium Baptist Church Ministry — 906 E. Tallmadge Ave., Akron. The annual Women’s Fellowship Prayer Breakfast will be served. Theme is Women Working and Praying Together. Speaker will be the Rev. Harriette Mingo of Columbus. Tickets are $15 per person.
Oak Hill Presbyterian Church — 2406 Ardwell Ave., Akron. 8:30 and 11 a.m. Sunday. Everyone is invited to attend Back to Church Sunday, particularly those who haven’t been to church recently. There will be free breakfast and fellowship at 9:30 a.m. 330-784-2432, www.oakhillpresb.com.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help — 342 S. Chillicothe Road, Aurora. 10 a.m. March 8. Parish Lenten Retreat Day. It will conclude with a 4:30 p.m. Mass. Greg Kandra, a deacon in the Diocese of Brooklyn, will be retreat facilitator. He is a veteran broadcast journalist who was with CBS News for 26 years as a writer and producer. He writes a popular religious blog, The Deacon’s Bench. Lunch will be served. Childcare available. The public is invited. $15 per person, $12.50 for seniors and $25 per couple. For reservations, call 330-562-8519 or visit www.olphaurora.org by Tuesday.
Queen of Heaven Church — 1800 Steese Road, Green. Ashes will be distributed on Ash Wednesday during the following Masses: 8:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. at the church, and 1 p.m. at Greenview Inn, 4000 Massillon Road. Stations-of-the-Cross devotions will be held Wednesdays during Lent at 9:05 a.m. through April 16 and Fridays at 7 p.m. through April 11. On Good Friday, Stations of the Cross will be at noon. 330-896-2345.
Queen of Heaven Church Parish Life Center — 1800 Steese Road, Green. Lenten dinner served Fridays through April 11. Carryout or dining room service, 4:30 to 7 p.m. Dinners with coffee/tea and sides: fried or baked cod, $9; fried shrimp, $11; cod/shrimp combo, $11; pierogies, pizza or macaroni and cheese, $6; children’s dinner, $5. Other sides include one piece of baked fish, $4; two pieces fried fish, $4; one slice cheese pizza, $2; all other sides, $2. Other beverages and desserts available. 330-896-2345.
St. Phillip’s Episcopal Church — 1130 Mercer Ave., Akron. 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. A pancake supper will be served. Adults $5, ages 10 and under $2.50. 330-535-7295.
South Arlington United Methodist Church — 790 S. Arlington St., Akron. 8:30 to 11 a.m. today. Breakfast fundraiser will be held. Homemade cinnamon rolls available. 330-724-1334.
Westminster Presbyterian Church — 1250 W. Exchange St., Akron. 7 p.m. Wednesday. Ash Wednesday service. Ashes will be given to everyone in attendance. All ages welcome. 330-836-2226.
Performances
Akron-Summit County Public Library Auditorium — 60 S. High St., Akron. 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. The Firestone Park Community Center will present a live reading of an original play written by Tyron Hoisten, 22, of Akron. Titled The Baby Experience, it tells the endearing and comical story of a young couple expecting their first child. The play will be read by Hoisten, Billy Soule, Myron Lewis, Shelia Smith and several other Akron natives. Free admission. 330-375-2806.
Christ Episcopal Church — 118 S. Mantua St., Kent. 10 a.m. Sunday. The church will celebrate its first Gospel Blues Mass, a traditional Sunday morning service featuring worship music played by Elder Eli and the Kingdom Blues Band. Gospel songs will be used as hymns, all blues style. The band includes Bob Goldthwaite on guitar and fiddle, Amanda Morrison-Blair on fiddle, Dave Howard on guitar and mandolin and Liz Smith-Pryor on vocals. 330-256-894.
Faith Baptist Church — 775 W. Main St., Wilmot. 4 p.m. March 8. The Saturday Sing will present Southern Gospel music. Featured artists will be the Cole Family from Rittman, Darrie Stobie from Sandusky and host group Four By Grace. Refreshments and fellowship to follow. Freewill offering. 330-447-4339.
Mount Calvary Baptist Church — 442 Bell St., Akron. 7 p.m. March 11. An Evening of Healing, Praise & Worship featuring the Howard University Gospel Choir. Singer Jennifer Mekel will appear. Freewill offering. 330-253-3711.
Speakers and classes
Haven of Rest Ministries — 175 E. Market St., Akron. 1 p.m. Tuesday. The Women’s Auxiliary program will feature Jan Markowitz, program/music director and afternoon radio host at WNPQ-FM The Light 95.9 in Canton. Her topic will be God Knows the Plans He Has for You. A light luncheon will be served at noon. 330-535-1563, email rrose@havenofrest.org.
Unitarian Universalist Church of Akron — 3300 Morewood Road, Fairlawn. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 8. A Community Singing Circle and Workshop in the tradition of Kay Gardner, musician and healer, will be presented by UU Women in Action as part of a celebration of International Women’s Day. The workshop will be March 8. Sacred Singing is a spiritual practice, not a form of entertainment for an audience. It is intended to create a bridge to the quiet, contemplative mind and connect with the Divine. Workshop cost is $35. A community circle is open to the public from 7 to 8 p.m. Friday. Freewill offering. Both events are presented by Shelly Graff from Cincinnati. Call Linda Hale at 330-239-3429 or RSVP at uuwakron@gmail.com.
Walsh University — Barrette Business and Community Center, 2020 E. Maple St., North Canton. 7 to 8:30 p.m. March 10. Steven Edelson from Walsh’s DeVille School of Business will present a lecture focused on how the principles of Gaudium et Spes, the Catholic Church’s pastoral constitution from Vatican II, provides direction to the business world. Free to the public. Free parking adjacent to the center. Sessions are eligible for credit in Walsh’s Lifelong Learning Academy, which 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.
Walsh University — Barrette Business and Community Center, 2020 E. Maple St., North Canton. Rabbi John Spitzer will present an interpretive Bible study series, known as Midrash, as part of the Walsh Lifelong Learning Academy. Four interactive sessions will explore Hebrew Bible themes from Genesis and Exodus in the Old Testament. Sessions are free to the public from 7 to 8:30 p.m. On March 13, the topic is What is Midrash? On March 20, Creation and Destruction; March 27, Redemption and Exile; and April 3, Revelation. 330-244-4734, or jspitzer@walsh.edu.
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.