The Catholic Commission of Wayne, Ashland and Medina will host its 27th annual Pope St. John II Proclaimer of Justice Gala Dinner next Saturday in Hackman Hall at St. Stephen Catholic Church, 44 Britton St., West Salem.
During the dinner, the commission will honor two award recipients for their work in promoting social justice.
The Michael Berken Peace & Justice Award will be presented to the Feeding Medina County program. The program works to make nutritious food available to residents in the county and helps people in need raise their own food by establishing community gardens. It also partners with Medina County Job and Family Services to distribute fresh produce and provides volunteers who pack bags of food for weekly delivery to low-income seniors and weekend backpacks of food for schoolchildren.
Tom and Mary Woods, of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception church in Wooster, will be honored with the Faithful Servant Award. The Woods founded the Gabriel Project, which has assisted more than 100 women with crisis pregnancies and helped them with resources to become self-sustainable.
Tickets for the dinner are $30 per person and must be reserved by Tuesday. For more information, contact Pat O’Bryan at 330-263-6176 or pjobryan@clevelandcatholiccharities.org.
In other religion news:
Events
Centenary United Methodist Church — 1310 Superior Ave., Akron. 4 p.m. Sunday. The Gatekeepers: Celebrate the Ushers Ministry. Kenneth L. Myers will provide the word. 330-376-9648
Child Evangelism Fellowship of Greater Akron — at Hartville Kitchen, 1015 Edison St., Lake Township. 5 to 7:30 p.m. May 3. The annual fundraising banquet will be held. Anyone interested in Good News Club or 5-Day Club ministries is welcome to attend. Edna Zuraw will be featured speaker. For more information, call 330-928-1648.
Christ is the Answer Ministries — 379 E. South St., Akron. 4 p.m. Sunday. The Rev. Elaine Morris of Mount Carmel Baptist Church in Akron will be keynote speaker for the Be Strong and Courageous Experience 2014.
Diocese of Youngstown — at St. Columba Cathedral, 159 W. Rayen Ave., Youngstown. 2 p.m. Sunday. A Mass of Thanksgiving will celebrate the canonization of Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II as saints. Bishop George V. Murry will be principal celebrant with priests of the Diocese. 330-744-8451.
Diocese of Youngstown — at St. Columba Cathedral, 159 W. Rayen Ave., Youngstown. 7 p.m. Friday. A Night to Honor Mary will be held. Bishop George V. Murry will preside. The diocesan youth choir will participate. The service will include scripture readings, a homily, hymns and recitation of the rosary. 330-744-8451.
Firestone Park Presbyterian Church — 275 S. Firestone Blvd., Akron. 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday. The sanctuary will be open to the public for the National Day of Prayer. On May 3 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., the church will host a chicken paprikash dinner. Includes coleslaw, dessert and beverage. Tickets available in advance and at the door for $8. 330-773-6707.
Full Gospel Tabernacle — 939 Utica Ave., Akron. 5 to 8 p.m. Friday. All-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner. Includes salad, roll, dessert and beverage. Adults $7, ages 3-12 $4, ages 3 and younger free.
Grace United Church of Christ of Loyal Oak — 3285 S. Cleveland-Massillon Road, Norton. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 3. A rummage sale will be held. Vases, dishes, toys, books, home decor and more. 330-825-3259.
Journey Covenant Church — 2679 North Haven Blvd., Cuyahoga Falls. 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday. Free, hot dinner will be served to local residents on the last Tuesday of each month. Christ Kitchen Dinners are open to the public. 330-923-8021.
Manchester United Methodist Church — 5625 Manchester Road, New Franklin. 7:30 to 11 a.m. May 3. Boy Scout Troop 118 presents its semi-annual all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet. Includes pancakes, eggs, sausage, hash browns, sausage gravy and biscuits, coffee and juice. Adults $6.50, senior and ages 12 and younger $5.50. 330-882-4818.
New Mission Missionary Baptist Church — 150 Wayne Ave., Akron. 11 a.m. Sunday. Celebrating the 35th Women’s Day. Theme is Virtuous Women of Worship. The morning worship guest speaker will be Glenda Brown of Akron Alliance Fellowship. At 4 p.m. service, the guest speaker will be Mildred Shropshire of Shelton Temple Prayer Church of God in Christ.
New Mission Missionary Baptist Church — 150 Wayne Ave., Akron. 3 p.m. May 10. Hats Off To Mothers, a Mother’s Day tea, will be held. Includes inspirational speaker, mime ministry and skits. 330-724-3254.
Our Lady of the Cedars of Mount Lebanon, Maronite Catholic Church — 507 S. Cleveland-Massillon Road, Fairlawn. Divine Mercy Sunday services: Exposition, Rosary and silent prayer at 1:30 p.m.; Reflection from the Diary of St. Faustina, Chaplet of Mercy at 3 p.m.; Benediction at 3:15 p.m.
Park United Methodist Church — 2308 24th St., Akron. 6 p.m. May 3. A dinner and concert will feature the gospel group His Servants. Tickets are $12. The dinner is at 6 p.m. and the concert at 7 p.m. For reservations, call the church at 330-745-3714 or Susie at 330-966-0570.
St. Philip’s Episcopal Church — 1130 Mercer Ave., Akron. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today. A free community health fair will be held in the church social hall.
Trinity United Church of Christ — 3909 Blackburn Road NW, Plain Township. 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. today. Annual rummage sale includes household goods, clothing, furniture, jewelry, electronics, tools, exercise equipment, toys and antiques. Doughnuts, coffee, hot dogs, chips and soda pop will be on sale for those wishing to purchase breakfast or lunch. 330-492-3383.
Trinity United Church of Christ — 3909 Blackburn Road NW, Plain Township. 5 to 7 p.m. May 3, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. May 4. Trinity Artists, a group that gathers Tuesday mornings under the direction of Tobias Rodriguez, will hold its annual art exhibit. The work represents a variety of styles and media and will be up for sale. Art from members of Trinity United Church of Christ in Canton will also be on display. A percentage of the profits will go to Samaritan Fund to help those in need. Also, an all-you-can-eat pasta bar will be in Fellowship Hall from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. May 3. Gluten-free and low-carb options available upon request. Carryout available. Adults $8, ages 10 and younger $5. The dinner will be prepared by Phoenix Class and proceeds benefit their mission trip to Cincinnati this summer. 330-492-3383.
Wesley Temple AME Zion Church — 104 N. Prospect St., Akron. 10:30 a.m. Sunday. Shannon Tyler, a teacher at Case Elementary School and wife of the Rev. Charles Tyler, will be featured speaker at the 83rd annual Women’s Day service. Theme is Christian Women Shaped to Serve. A breakfast extravaganza will be at 8:30 a.m. 330-434-5800.
Westminster Presbyterian Church — 1250 W. Exchange St., Akron. 9 a.m. to noon today. Celtic Garden perennial plant sale will be on the church patio. It is in conjunction with the Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast in Wright-Herberich Hall. 330-836-2226.
Performances
Carrollton Bible Chapel — 365 Steubenville Road SE, Carrollton. 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Driven Quartet, from Indian Trail, N.C., will present a Southern gospel concert. The group has performed in churches and other venues throughout the U.S., Canada and abroad. Those attending should bring two food items to be donated to Loaves and Fishes, a local food pantry. Freewill offering. For information or directions, call 330-627-7376.
Diocese of Youngstown — at St. Anthony Church, 1125 Turin Ave., Youngstown. 7:30 p.m. Friday. A live theatrical one-woman drama, Faustina: Messenger of Divine Mercy, will be presented. It is sponsored by the Diocese Office of Evangelization. Admission is $8 and the program is suitable for ages 12 and up. It will be performed by actress Maria Vargo and directed by Leonardo Defilippis of Saint Luke Productions. 330-744-8451.
Prince of Peace Missionary Baptist Church — 844 Garth Ave., Akron. 4:30 p.m. Sunday. The third annual Concert of Sacred Songs will be presented. Includes a tribute to Doris L. Burrell for serving as director of music at the church for more than 57 years. The program features soloists Carolyn Neal and Juanita Johnson and pianist Trinia Williams. The Praise in Motion Dance Team and St. Paul Baptist Praise Team will perform, along with organist Clyde Sweeney and percussionist Richard Bell. Free to the public. 330-762-4997.
St. Hilary Parish — 2750 W. Market St., Fairlawn. 7:30 p.m. Sunday. A Celebration Concert will mark the joint canonizations of the late Popes John XXIII and John Paul II. The free program includes a wide range of sacred repertoire: motets, spirituals, folk songs and hymns and will feature the parish choir, bell choir, sacred dance ministry and youth choir. Reception to follow. 330-867-1055.
Speakers, workshops
Firestone Park Baptist Church — 310 E. Wilbeth Road, Akron. 12:30 to 2 p.m. Friday. The first of five lectures will be presented on God and the Journey: Then and Now. The series will be on Fridays for the next five weeks. Lectures will be given by Dr. Tim Crow, professor of Old Testament at Ashland Theological seminary. There will be a break for dessert and coffee provided by the church. No cost, all are welcomed. For information, contact the church at 330-773-5815 or Dr. Crow at tcrow@ashland.edu.
First Baptist Church — 20 Sixth St. SE, Massillon. Friday and May 3. RiseUp Conferences, Beautifully Broken, will feature three speakers and authors. Linnette L. Hayden of Living Love in Laughter & Purpose Ministries is author of Broken Pieces, A Mosaic of the Heart and is a teacher and inspirational storyteller. Tracey Yukich from Season 8 of The Biggest Loser will share her story of hope, recovery and motivation to help people reclaim their lives. Bonnie Wagner is author of Divided We Stand, Conquer and Conquest and Breaking the Chains. Music will be provided by Polen, a five-piece Christian electronic rock and worship band from Fredericksburg. Tickets are on sale at www.riseupconferences.org or 330-737-1031.
First Friday Club of Greater Akron — at Quaker Square Grand Ballroom, University of Akron, 135 S. Broadway, Akron. Noon May 9. Dr. Joseph A. Congeni will speak on the topic Where Do We Find God in Medicine and Sports? Congeni is the medical director of Sports Medicine Center at Akron Children’s Hospital, and associate professor of pediatrics at Northeast Ohio Medical University. Cost of the luncheon is $15. Doors open at 11:15 a.m. 330-535-7668, www.firstfridayclubofgreaterakron.org.
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