A special training program on child abuse and neglect is being offered by Summit County Children Services to the faith community.
The free program, called “Protect Your Church…Protect Your Children — complying with Child Abuse & Neglect Reporting Laws,” is 6 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at Celebration Church, 688 Dan St., Akron. It is being presented as part of the 27th annual Child & Family Awareness Month celebration. The theme of the month is “A Family is a Tool That Can Fix Everything.”
The training program will be facilitated by Lisa Hamilton–Green, a licensed social worker and community educator for Summit County Children Services. In addition to information about mandated reporting rules, the program will cover indicators of child abuse and neglect, mental health and substance abuse issues, and how to prevent child abuse. Participants will also receive educational materials that can be shared with their congregations.
To register, call 330-379-2090 or go to www.summitkids.org.
In other religion news:
Events
Dominion Family Church — 90 W Thornton St., Akron. 4:30 p.m. Sunday. Family & Friends Day will be held. 330-252-2277, www.dominionfamilychurch.org.
Family of Faith United Methodist Church — 800 E. Market St., Akron. 5 to 6:30 p.m. Friday. Creamed chicken with biscuits and Swiss steak dinner. Adults $9, ages 4-12 $5. Carryout available. 330-376-2141.
Full Gospel Tabernacle — 939 Utica Ave., Akron. Friday. All-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner will be served. Includes salad, roll, dessert and beverage. Adults $7, ages 3-12 $4, under age 3 free. 330-794-4420.
Grace United Church of Christ of Loyal Oak — 3285 Cleveland-Massillon Road, Norton. 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. today. A Swiss steak dinner will be served restaurant style with salad and dessert buffet. Tickets $9 at the door, $8.50 in advance, kids $4.50 and $4. Order tickets at 330-825-3259.
Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church — 1225 Vernon Odom Blvd., Akron. From Friday through April 6, the 100 Women in Red 3-Day Event will be held. A 7 p.m. Friday service will feature the Rev. Theresa Farr of the host church, devotional speaker is the Rev. Michelle Harris of Becoming a Light Ministries in Akron and the guest speaker is Shannon Banks of Greater New Life Church of God in Christ in Sandusky. On April 5, there will be an 11 a.m. luncheon and service. Speakers are the Rev. Marlisa Young of Agape Love Ministries International in Sandusky, the Rev. Deborah Parmer of True Deliverance Baptist Church in Akron and the Rev. Arnisa Johnson of Greater Galilee Baptist Church in Barberton. At 10 a.m. April 6, guest speaker is Flora Dees of New Hope Baptist Church in Akron. Cost for the luncheon is $10. For tickets, call 330-864-6635.
MorningStar Baptist Church — 1360 Newton St., Akron. 11 a.m. Sunday. Celebrating the annual Women’s Day. Speaker will be Etta Gant. Women are asked to wear while and yellow. 330-733-1022.
New Millennium Baptist Church — 906 E. Tallmadge Ave., Akron. 10:30 a.m. Sunday. Celebrating the 14th annual church anniversary. Theme is Giving God Our Best. Guests are the Rev. Justin Kidd and Antioch Baptist Church from East Chicago, Ind.
Rooted In Christ Community Church — Findlay Community Learning Center, 65 W. Tallmadge Ave., Akron. 7 p.m. today. Spring Revival will be held. Speaker will be the Rev. Derwood Lockett. 330-376-7533.
True North Ministry — Silver Lake Country Club, 1325 Graham Road, Silver Lake. 6 p.m. April 24. The annual banquet will be held. Mission of the ministry is to liberate imprisoned youth. Tickets are $40 each. To attend, call 330-954-1692. http://truenorthministry.org.
Performances
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church — 50 N. Prospect St., Akron. 7:30 p.m. April 5. The Cornell University Women’s Chorus will appear in concert. 330-836-9327.
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church — 1361 W. Market St., Akron. 4 p.m. Sunday. Benefit concert for the England Trip to Ely Cathedral in July, with the Choir of Men and Boys and the St. Cecilia Choir of Girls. Free-will offerings for the choirs’ travel fund. Music by Child, Friedell, Martin, Noble and Sowerby. Reception to follow.
St. Sebastian Parish — 476 Mull Ave., Akron. 7 p.m. Sunday. A Lenten concert will feature the choirs of St. Seastian Parish and St. Hilary Parish, along with a chamber orchestra. They will perform Shadows: A Service of Tenebrae. It focuses on seven episodes in the passion and death of Jesus. Free and open to the public. 330-836-2233.
Speakers, classes, workshops
First Friday Club of Greater Akron — at Quaker Square Grand Ballroom, University of Akron, 135 S. Broadway, Akron. Noon April 11. Father Clarence Williams, pastor of St. James the Less Catholic Church in Columbus, will address the topic Relational Dysfunction: Getting Rid of “Stinking Thinking.” Father Williams is the founder of the Institute for the Recovery from Racism. Cost of the luncheon is $15. For prepaid reservations, send a check to First Friday Club of Greater Akron, 795 Russell Ave., Akron, OH 44307. For information, call 330-535-7668 or visit www.firstfridayclubofgreaterakron.org.
Haven of Rest Ministries — 175 E. Market St., Akron. 1 p.m. Tuesday. The Women’s Auxiliary program will feature the Rev. Jeff Kaiser, Haven of Rest’s executive director, speaking on 2013 — A Year in Review. At 10 a.m., there will be an opportunity for shopping to support the ministry. A light luncheon will be served at noon with the program at 1 p.m. 330-535-1663 or email rrose@havenofrest.org.
Hamilton Luncheon Forum — St. Michael the Archangel Parish, 3430 St. Michael Drive NW, Plain Township. 11:30 a.m. Thursday. Bishop George V. Murry, head of the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown, will discuss Catholic School in the 21st Century. Cost of lunch is $12. 330-649-1231.
St. Hilary Parish — 2750 W. Market St., Akron. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Dr. Kurt Keljo will present Muddling Toward Sustainability: What Can One Person Do? and Dr. Jeffrey Dick will speak on An Overview of Utica Shale Development and Assorted Environmental Concerns as part of the Lenten Speakers Series. It is co-sponsored by Faith Lutheran Church. Soup supper will be served at 6 p.m. followed by evening prayer at 7 p.m. with the presentation from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. No charge. Free child care. Reservations suggested. 330-867-1055 or church@sthilarychurch.org.
Stow Presbyterian Church — 4150 Fishcreek Road, Stow. 7 p.m. Wednesday. Rick Sands, owner of Great Harvest Bread and creator of the Bread 4 Haiti project, will wrap up the Wednesday Night Speaker Series. Free and open to the public. 330-688-6935.
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.