Local Mormons in the Akron district, or stake, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will gather next weekend for their semiannual conference at the Latter-day Saints chapel, 106 E. Howe Road in Tallmadge.
Elder Michael John U. Teh, president of the Philippines area of the denomination, will be special guest at the conference. He is the second Filipino to serve as a general authority in the church. Teh, 41, earned his undergraduate degree in business administration at De La Salle University in Manila.
Both sessions of the conference — 7 p.m. April 19 and 10 a.m. April 20 (Easter Sunday) — are open to the public. Saturday’s session is limited to those who are 12 years old and older.
Latter-day Saints’ stake conferences take place every six months. They include talks by church leaders on a variety of topics from the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has nearly 12,500 members in Northeast Ohio. The Akron stake is made up of 10 geographical wards, including Akron, Canton, Wooster and Medina.
The church functions with lay clergy and has no paid or professional clergy at the congregational level. The denomination, commonly referred to as the Mormon Church, was founded in 1830 in upstate New York and is headquartered in Salt Lake City.
For more information about the church, go to www.mormon.org.
In other religion news:
Holy Week events
Canton Baptist Temple — 515 Whipple Ave. NW, Perry Township. Holy Week schedule: At 7 p.m. Friday Good Friday service. At 6 p.m. April 19 and 10:15 a.m. Easter Sunday there will be identical services with choir, orchestra and special music. Child care available at both evening services. On Sunday, the 9 a.m. children’s Sunday School and Adult Bible fellowships will operate on their normal schedule. 330-477-6267.
Christ is the Answer Ministries — 379 E. South St., Akron. 3 p.m. Sunday. Nikeland Nichols of P.U.S.H. Inc. will minister at the service. 330-376-1869. At 7 p.m. Friday, Sharon Eatmon of Greater Heights International Ministries in Detroit, Mich., will be guest speaker for Good Friday worship service.
Cottage Grove Evangelical Congregational Church — 3133 Cottage Grove Road, Coventry Township. 7 p.m. Friday. Good Friday service will be held. Stations of the Cross will be the focus and The Lord’s Supper will be observed. 330-644-5616.
Diocese of Youngstown — at St. Columba Cathedral, 159 W Rayen Ave., Youngstown. 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. About 1,000 people representing the 87 parishes, missions and schools of the six-county diocese will gather to demonstrate unity. Bishop George V. Murry will be principal celebrant. On Thursday at 6 p.m., Holy Thursday will be celebrated. At 3 p.m. on Good Friday, Bishop Murry will preside at Passion of the Lord and Veneration of the Cross Service. Holy Saturday will take place at 3 p.m. with Blessing of the Easter Food. The Easter Vigil will be at 8:30 p.m. Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord Masses will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., featuring the Cathedral Choir. The usual 4 p.m. Mass will not take place. 330-744-8451.
Goodyear Heights Community Church — 464 Brittain Road, Akron. 7 p.m. Friday. Good Friday Communion Service will be held. Special music by the children’s choir, followed by communion. Child care provided. 330-733-6664.
Grace United Church of Christ — 13275 Cleveland Ave., Lake Township. Holy week services: Palm Sunday worship with palms at 10:45 a.m.; Maundy Thursday Tennebrae Service of Shadows with communion at 7:30 p.m.; on Good Friday, the sanctuary will be open from noon to 3 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. for individual prayer and reflection with devotional material provided; Easter Sunrise service at 7 a.m. Sunday led by youth group with pancake breakfast immediately following, and Easter Worship Celebration at 10:45 a.m. 330-699-3255.
Holy Trinity Anglican Church — 55 Atterbury Blvd., Hudson. Holy Week services: Palm Sunday at 10 a.m. with Holy Eucharist; Maundy Thursday at 7 p.m. with Holy Eucharist; Good Friday Tenebrae Service at 7 p.m.; The Great Easter Vigil Saturday at 8:30 p.m.; and Easter Sunday service at 10 a.m. with Holy Eucharist. 330-342-0429.
Mogadore Christian Church — 106 S. Cleveland Ave., Mogadore. Holy Week services: Maundy Thursday at 7 p.m. with Holy Communion; Good Friday services at 7 p.m.; on Easter Sunday, 8:30 a.m. traditional worship with communion, 9:30 a.m. breakfast and fellowship in the social hall and 10:30 a.m. contemporary worship with communion. 330-628-3344.
Queen of Heaven Church — 1800 Steese Road, Green. Holy Week services, Monday through April 19. Masses on Monday and Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., Tuesday at 8:30 and 9:30 a.m. at Greenview Inn. Confessions Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, 9 to 10 a.m., and Monday and Wednesday, 5 to 5:30 p.m. On Holy Thursday, The Lord’s Supper Mass at 7 p.m., confessions for one hour after Mass, Adoration until 11 p.m. On Good Friday, Stations of the Cross at noon, Liturgy of Lord’s Passion at 3 p.m., confessions 9 to 10 a.m. and after noon and 3 p.m. services for one hour. On Holy Saturday, confessions 10 to 11 a.m., Blessing of Food at 3 p.m., Vigil Mass with baptism and adult choir at 9 p.m. On Easter Sunday, there will be Masses at 8 and 10 a.m. and noon. 330-896-2345.
RiverTree Christian Church — There will be an annual Easter Egg Hunt at three campus locations: 11 a.m. Sunday at 1600 Main Ave. W., Massillon; 2:30 p.m. April 19 at 7373 Portage St. NW, Jackson Township, followed by a 3:30 p.m. Easter service; and 4:30 p.m. April 19 at 2201 Lake Center St. NW, Lake Township, along with Easter services at 3:30 or 5:30 p.m. 330-494-1860.
St. Mark Lutheran Church — 158 North Ave., Tallmadge. Holy Week activities: Palm Sunday worship at 8:15 and 10:30 a.m., Procession of Palms weather permitting. Maundy Thursday worship with Holy Communion at 7 p.m. Good Friday worship at 7 p.m. On Easter Sunday, Sunrise Service with Holy Communion at 7 a.m. Easter breakfast served from 8:15 to 9:15 a.m. Easter Egg Hunt at 9:15 a.m. and Easter Service with Holy Communion at 10:30 a.m. 330-633-3718.
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church — 515 48th St. NW, Canton. Holy week services: Passion/Palm Sunday at 8 and 10 a.m., Holy Eucharist with Blessing of Palms outside, weather permitting, with brunch following 10 a.m. service; Maundy Thursday at 7 p.m., Holy Eucharist, foot washing and stripping of the altar. A potluck meal at 5:30 p.m. precedes the service; on Thursday and Friday, there will be an overnight prayer watch, continuing until the Good Friday service; Good Friday service at noon, Liturgy with Communion from reserved sacrament, and Stations of the Cross at 6:30 p.m.; Holy Saturday at 8 p.m., Great Vigil of Easter with lighting of new fire, champagne reception following; Easter Day services at 8 and 10 a.m., Holy Eucharist, choir and handbells at the late service.
Trinity Lutheran Church — 600 S. Water St., Kent. Holy Week services: Palm/Passion Sunday, Blessing of the Palms at 8:15 and 10:45 a.m.; Maundy Thursday, 7 p.m. service with chancel drama, first Holy Communion for fifth graders and stripping of the altar; Good Friday worship at noon and 7 p.m.; and Easter Sunday services at 8, 9:30 and 11 a.m. 330-673-5445.
Wesley Temple AME Zion Church —104 N. Prospect St., Akron. Holy week activities: Maundy Thursday service at 6:30 p.m.; The Last Seven Words service at 6:30 p.m. Friday; Family & Friends Day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 19 with free food, fellowship, fun and games; Easter Sunday begins with a 6:30 a.m. service with breakfast served at 8 a.m., Sunday School at 9:30 a.m. and worship service at 10:30 a.m. Dinner will be served after the service along with gifts, gas cards and grocery cards.
Events
Bethel Church — 711 25th St. NW, Canton. 10 a.m. April 19. The 25th annual Easter Egg Hunt will be held for toddlers through grade 5. Children must be accompanied by an adult. 330-454-3058.
Grace and Glory Fellowship — 2128 Front St., Cuyahoga Falls. 11 a.m. Sunday. Celebrating the 40th anniversary with the Rev. Richard Skoff at morning service. All Falls residents invited. Cake, coffee and drinks served afterward. 330-922-4871.
Grace United Church of Christ — 13275 Cleveland Ave., Lake Township. 10:30 to noon April 19. Free community Easter Egg-stravaganza for toddlers through sixth-grade children in the Family Activity Center. Includes a snack, craft, story, games and a traditional Easter egg hunt. It will be held rain or shine. 330-699-3255.
Lakemore United Methodist Church — 1536 Flickinger Road, Lakemore. 4 to 6:30 p.m. today. Swiss steak dinner will be served. Includes mashed potatoes, green beans, applesauce, coleslaw, bread, dessert and beverage. Carryout available.
Mogadore Christian Church — 106 S. Cleveland Ave., Mogadore. 5 to 7 p.m. today. Swiss steak dinner, includes mashed potatoes, green beans, applesauce, coleslaw, rolls, beverage and dessert. Adults $8, ages 6-12 $4 and ages 5 and under free. Carryout available. 330-628-3344.
Mount Calvary Baptist Church — 442 Bell St., Akron. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today. Community clothing giveaway. Donations of clothing and shoes for men, women and children are needed, and are accepted on Thursdays until 4:30 p.m. 330-253-3711.
Mount Zion Church of God in Christ — 1208 Sherrick Road SE, Canton. Noon today. God Given Church Young Women’s Christian Council will have a Day of Celebration. Danielle Revish of Unity Temple in Columbus will bring the word. Refreshments will be served. 330-453-1119.
Nelson United Methodist Church — at Nelson Community House, 11639 Windham Parkman Road, Nelson Township. 4:30 to 7 p.m. today. Swiss steak dinner will be served. Includes mashed potatoes, green beans, corn casserole, coleslaw, rolls, dessert and beverage. Adults $9. Carryout available. 330-527-2268.
North Canton Community Christian Church (Disciples) — 210 N. Main St., North Canton. 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday. Praying in Color will be held each Monday through May 19. Facilitated by Kim Porter, director of faith development, it is an active, meditative, playful prayer practice. It involves a re-entry into the childlike world of coloring and improvising. Participants need to bring drawing pad, markers or colored pencils and black roller-point pen. Call 330-499-5458 to preregister for the six-week group, or email kimporter@northcantonccc.org.
Providence Baptist Church — 458 Madison Ave., Akron. 10 a.m. April 26. Youth Scholarship Prayer Breakfast will be held in the University of Akron Quaker Square Inn Ballroom, 135 S. Broadway. Featured speaker is Benita Y. Pearson, first African-American female federal judge in Ohio. Tickets $25 donation. 330-253-3932.
St. Joseph Church — 11045 St. Joseph Blvd., Mantua. 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday. Palm Sunday Pancake Breakfast will feature a visit from Bishop George V. Murry of the Diocese of Youngstown. He will preside at the 11:15 a.m. Mass. The breakfast is co-sponsored by Mantua K of C Women’s Auxiliary in Hughes Hall. All-you-can-eat pancakes, sausage, fruit toppings and choice of coffee, tea, orange juice or milk. Adults $7, seniors $5, ages 6 to 12 $4, ages 5 and under free. Also, theme basket raffles. The Appalachian Experience group will hold a bake sale to raise funds for its mission trip to repair houses in Clintwood, Va., in June. 330-274-2253.
St. Philip’s Episcopal Church — 1130 Mercer Ave., Akron. 10 a.m. today. A rummage sale will be held.
Performances
Akron Apostolic Temple — 599 Noble Ave., Akron. 5 p.m. Sunday. Radio host Henry Dunn celebrates 46 years of gospel music, featuring The Christian All Stars, New Gospel Heavy Weight, Lucy Hale, Linda Bridges, Brandon Hollis, Newport Christianaires, Gretchen Green, Blessed From Afar, Royal Angelettes, JLTS Singers, Good Shepherd Mass Choir, Dynamic Dundaleers, Boot & The Boys, Fortson Singers, Mount Lebanon Mass Choir and Half Mile Home. Free admission. 330-867-4907.
St. Hilary School — 645 Moorfield Road, Fairlawn. 10:30 a.m. Monday. Eighth-grade students will re-enact a pantomime version of the Passion of Jesus Christ. All but the student playing Jesus will wear pantomime makeup and black clothing. The half-hour portrayal, an annual part of Holy Week, will be accompanied by music. 330-867-8720.
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.