Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America — wearing bright goldenrod T-shirts — will put their faith into action Sunday by participating in social activities.
The day, known as “God’s Work: Our Hands Sunday” is designed to highlight the mission and outreach ministries of the denomination and the nearly 10,000 ELCA congregations throughout the nation. Now in its second year, the service Sunday provides an opportunity for the denomination’s four million members to share the love of God by doing things like planting gardens in urban communities, writing letters to soldiers and veterans and serving meals to people in need.
Members of local ELCA congregations have established teams of volunteers to clean walking trails, repair homes, visit nursing homes, collect canned goods for food pantries, work in community gardens and serve lunch to safety service and military personnel.
The Chicago-based ELCA (www.elca.org) is led by Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton, former bishop of the Cuyahoga Falls-based Northeastern Ohio Synod.
In other religion news:
Events
Bethel Church — 711 25th St. NW, Canton. 5:30 p.m. Sunday. Alpha, a 10-week practical introduction to the Christian faith. Alpha is a dinner, a talk and a discussion. It is a chance to explore Christian faith in a relaxed and fun setting. For more information, go to www.alphausa.org. Also, 7 p.m. Wednesday. Financial Peace University. Nine-week course provides families and individuals with practical tools to gain control of their finances and set themselves up for long-term financial success.
Canton Christian Home — 2550 Cleveland Ave. NW, Canton. 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday. Seventh annual chicken barbecue fundraiser. Includes: one-half chicken, potato salad, coleslaw or applesauce, roll, beverage and dessert. $10 for adults. Hot dogs can be substituted for chicken, $5 children 12 or younger. There will be a silent auction and the Mercy River Gospel Quartet will perform at 6:30 p.m. For more information, call Lori Noebe at 330-430-5120.
Celebration Church — 688 Dan St., Akron. 6 p.m. Sept. 14. Financial Peace University. Nine-week course provides families and individuals with practical tools to gain control of their finances and set themselves up for long-term financial success. For more information and to register, call Matthew Reid at 330-762-7458.
Christ is the Answer Ministries — 379 E. South St., Akron. 4 p.m. Sunday. Pastor John Peterson and the Fellowship Baptist Church of Medina will be guests.
Cornerstone Free Methodist Church — 578 Killian Road, Coventry Township. 6:30 p.m. Monday. Financial Peace University. Nine-week course provides families and individuals with practical tools to gain control of their finances and set themselves up for long-term financial success. For more information and to register, call John Alchier at 330-644-3937.
Fairlawn Lutheran Church — 3415 W. Market St., Akron. Sunday. Sunday School Kickoff. Come join us for worship at 8:45 a.m. or 11:15 a.m. Support our Sunday School teachers as they are commissioned for ministry in the worship services. Then join us between services at 10 a.m. as Sunday School classes begin.
Faith United Methodist Church — 1235 Tallmadge Road, Brimfield. 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Sept. 13. Swiss Steak Dinner: Swiss steak, mashed potatoes, vegetables, coleslaw, applesauce, desserts and beverage. $9 adults, $4 youth. For more information, go to www.brimfieldfaith.com.
FallsCreek Community Church — 149 Northmoreland Ave., Munroe Falls. Sept. 25. Financial Peace University. Nine-week course provides families and individuals with practical tools to gain control of their finances and set themselves up for long-term financial success. For more information and to register, call 330-686-1400.
Grace United Church of Christ — 13275 Cleveland Ave., Uniontown. 6-8 p.m. Sept. 20. Shrimp Boil, silent auction and quilt raffle to benefit the work of Back Bay Mission in Biloxi, Miss. Tickets are $15 adults and $8 children ages 3-8. Tickets must be purchased by Sept. 17, call 330-699-3255.
Hudson United Methodist Church — 2600 Hudson Aurora Road, Hudson. 4 p.m. Sept. 13. Special celebratory worship service to mark the 50th anniversary. There will be a gala dinner at the church. Dinner tickets are $30 per person. The church will also memorialize its golden anniversary during a Sunday worship service at 9:30 a.m. with fellowship afterwards. For more information, call 330-650-2650.
Immaculate Heart of Mary — 1905 Portage Trail, Cuyahoga Falls. 6:30 p.m. Thursday. Fourth annual card party with light supper. Men and women of all ages are invited to bring their cards or board games for a great social evening along with many raffle and door prizes. Tickets are $7. Proceeds will be used for various programs that are held within our school and church. For tickets, call Rita at 330-472-1311 or Barb at 330-929-8735.
Kent UCC — 1400 Main St., Kent. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 12-13. All-Church Rummage Sale. Furniture, clothes, housewares, books, electronics and more. All proceeds go to the church’s local outreach ministries.
Mount Zion Baptist Church — 327 Cuyahoga St., Akron. 10:45 a.m. Sept. 21. 88th Annual Men’s Day. Minister Kyle Earley of Cleveland will present “Christian Men Walking From Darkness Into the Light Of Jesus Christ.”
New Horizons Christian Church — 290 Darrow Road, Akron. 7 p.m. Sept. 18. Financial Peace University. Nine-week course provides families and individuals with practical tools to gain control of their finances and set themselves up for long-term financial success. For more information and to register, call Jim Bane at 330-733-3533.
New Millennium Baptist Church Ministry — 541 Brown St., Akron. 10 a.m. Sunday. Grand opening, building dedication and revival. “What Shall I Render Unto God for All of His Blessings?” Ribbon cutting at 10 a.m. Morning worship at 10:30 a.m. Afternoon building dedication at 4 p.m.
River of Life Community Church — 5649 Stow Road, Hudson. 6:30-9 p.m. Monday. Alpha, a 10-week practical introduction to the Christian faith. Alpha is a dinner, talk and discussion. It is a chance to explore Christian faith in a relaxed and fun setting. There is no cost for the course, but donations will be accepted to cover the cost of dinner. For reservations, call 330-342-9796 or email church@riverlifecommunitychurch.com. For more information, go to www.riverlifecommunity.com.
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church — 515 48th St. NW, Canton. 6-9 p.m. Sept. 20. Art and Music Fest. Art ranging from paintings, quilts, pottery and photography will be on display. There will be a “Bach to Boogie” musical concert at 7 p.m. featuring Bob Morrison, 88, on the organ and piano, and Jackson Carruthers, 18, on the piano. Free admission.
St. Mark Lutheran Church — 158 North Ave., Tallmadge. 10 a.m. Sunday. Sunday School fall rally day celebration and picnic. There will be a worship service that will include a performance of The Sunday School Teacher of Oz presented by the St. Mark Players and followed by the Rally Day Picnic. Also, 7 p.m. Sept. 13. “Mic Night” for poets, singers, musicians, storytellers and more. Free and open to all. The St. Mark Youth Group will have refreshments available as part of their fundraising efforts.
St. Matthew Rectory — 2603 Benton St., Akron. 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday. A Cancer Spirituality Group for those on the cancer journey, those who are facing the diagnosis of cancer at the present time or who have faced the diagnosis in the past, or are interested in exploring and talking about the cancer experience in the context of spirituality. 330-628-5725.
South Arlington Methodist Church — 790 S. Arlington St., Akron. 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday. The Mount Haven MB Church Mass Choir will sponsor 2014 Absolute Style Show and Salad Supper. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. For more information, call Cylla Henderson at 330-294-7377 or Marvella Mason at 330-208-8398.
Trinity Lutheran Church — 600 S. Water St., Kent. Tuesday to Nov. 4. A Time To Dance — dance lessons, 6:15 p.m. swing lessons; 7 p.m. waltz lessons. Nine weeks of one dance for $35, nine weeks of both dance classes $60. Drop-in rate is $5 per person/per class. For more information, call 330-883-1644 or go to http://atimetodanceyoungstown.vpweb.com.
Trinity UCC — 215 High St., Wadsworth. 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday. Farmers market. Fresh produce from local farms and gardens. Baked goods, fresh eggs, honey, herbs and more. 330-334-2536 or www.ucctrinity.com.
Unity Chapel of Light — 503 Northwest Ave., Tallmadge. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 13. Rummage sale. Furniture, children’s clothing, toys, household items and more. Proceeds will benefit the church.
Westminster Presbyterian Church — 1250 W. Exchange St., Akron. 10:30 a.m. Sunday. The community is invited to join us for “Rally Day” featuring Bob Kloos and the Beacon Street Ministries. Enjoy a fun-filled worship at 10:30 followed by a picnic. Don’t miss this excited return to church life. Professional child care available. For questions, call 330-836-2226 or go to www.westminsterakron.com.
Women’s Interfaith Spiritual Heritage — Crown Point Ecology Center, 3220 Ira Road, Bath. 4-6 p.m. Sept. 14. Cosmic Walk. The Cosmic Walk is a meditation on our origins from the first Flaring Forth to the Galaxies, to our Solar System, to the birth of our planet and its amazing evolution of life in a myriad of different forms. For more information, go to www.neowish.org.
Performances
First United Methodist Church — 245 Portage Trail, Cuyahoga Falls. 1 p.m. Thursday. Violinist Mary Beth Ions will perform for the Going Strong group. Her program will take a journey through the ages: from back to Broadway, country fiddle tunes to fiery Gypsy music, and more. 330-923-5241.
Grace Baptist Church — 5050 Middlebranch Ave. NE, Canton. 6 p.m. Saturday. Ed O’Neal and the Dixie Melody Boys, with the Pathway Quartet, will be in concert. A freewill offering will be taken. For more information, call 330-685-0296 or 330-492-7144.
Messiah Lutheran Church — 4700 S. Main St., Akron. 6 p.m. Sept. 28. Agape will be in concert at 7 p.m. Cost is $5. 330-644-5766 or www.hiphopoutreach.com.
New Life Christian Fellowship — 580 N. State Road, Medina. 7 p.m. Sunday. The Ugandan Kids Choir will perform. They sing traditional African songs, play authentic African instruments, and dance in their colorful African attire. This is a free event.
Support groups
Queen of Heaven Catholic Church — 1800 Steese Road Green. 7-8:30 p.m. Monday. Journey to Peace Bereavement Support, a ministry of information, consolation, spiritual and emotional support at Queen of Heaven Catholic Church, will offer a free six-week series starting Monday. For more information, call Sue Lyons at 330-499-3937.
Speakers
Malone University — Johnson Center for Worship and the Fine Arts, 2600 Cleveland Ave. NW, Canton. 7 p.m. Monday. The Malone University Worldview Forum Series presents “Christian Perspectives on Mary.” Proponents will be: Stephen Moroney, Ph.D., chair, Department of Bible, Theology, and Ministry; professor of theology, Malone University; Patrick Manning, Ph.D., chair, Division of Philosophy and Theology, associate professor of theology, Walsh University; and Father Anastasy (Stacy) Richter, Holy Assumption Orthodox Church. The program is free and open to the public.
Malone University — Johnson Center for Worship and the Fine Arts, 2600 Cleveland Ave. NW, Canton. 6:30-9:30 p.m. Sept. 13. The Center for Theology and Ministry and Logos Bible Software welcome Old Testament scholar John Walton, Ph.D. Dr. Walton’s program — “Exploring the Lost World of Scripture” — is free and open to the public. RSVP at www.walton.eventbrite.com or call 330-471-8382.
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.