The Howard University Gospel Choir, one of the first college gospel choirs in the United States, will present a concert at 7 p.m. Thursday at Mount Calvary Baptist Church, 442 Bell St., Akron.
The choir has traveled extensively throughout the nation and internationally and has recorded commercially. Its alumni include Grammy Award winners Richard Smallwood; Core Cotton (of the Sounds of Blackness) and Elbernita “Twinkie” Clark (of The Clark Sisters) and R&B/Soul singer Angela Winbush.
Established in 1968 on the Washington, D.C., campus of Howard University, the choir is made up of students, alumni and community members who are dedicated to gospel music. It is a religious life organization that operates as part of the Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel. It currently performs under the direction of Reginald A. Golden from Cleveland.
The local stop is one of seven that the choir will make during its Spring Break Tour that began Friday in Birmingham. The tour also includes performances in Atlanta; Marietta, Ga.; Grand Rapids, Mich.; Detroit and Chicago.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. at Mount Calvary. Admission is free. An offering will be taken. For more information, call 330-253-3711. More information about the choir can be found at www.facebook.com/howardgospelchoir and www.youtube.com/howardgospelchoir
In other religion news:
Events
Akron Missionary Baptist Church — 17 W. Cuyahoga Falls Ave., Akron. 9 a.m. to noon next Saturday. Deacon and deaconess leadership conference. 330-256-8184.
Arlington Church of God — 539 S. Arlington St., Akron. Revival today through Wednesday. Speakers are Troy and Teresa Goode from New Dimensions Church in Providence, R.I. Times are 5 p.m. today, 8:15 a.m. and 11 a.m. services Sunday, and 7 p.m. Monday through Wednesday. 330-773-3321.
The Chapel, Green Campus — 1800 Raber Road, Green. 10 a.m. Friday. Abundant Living 55+ Christian fellowship and lunch in the Atrium. Host is the Rev. Kevin Seager. Guest speaker will be Bob Catteau, a Moody Bible Institute Ohio stewardship representative. Ages 55 and over welcome to attend. 330-315-5508.
Christ Is the Answer Ministries — 379 E. South St., Akron. 3 p.m. March 17. Chili Cook-Off and Cake Walk. Cost is $5 per person. 330-376-1869.
Diocese of Youngstown — 144 W. Wood St., Youngstown. The Rev. Monsignor Peter M. Polando has been appointed rector of St. Columba Cathedral in Youngstown by Bishop George V. Murry, effective March 22. 330-744-8451.
Immanuel Temple Church of God in Christ — at University of Akron Martin Center, 105 Fir Hill, Akron. 10 a.m. March 16. Second annual Prayer Breakfast. Guest speaker is Barbara Mann of Pentecostal Temple Church of God in Christ in Pittsburgh. $25 per person. 330-622-2327.
Manchester United Methodist Church — 5625 Manchester Road, New Franklin. 6 to 9:30 p.m. Friday. Gospel Bluegrass Jam on the third Friday of each month. Bring your favorite covered dish to share for dinner at 7:30 p.m. Donations welcome. 330-882-4818.
Phillips Chapel Christian Methodist Church — 413 Iroquois Ave., Akron. 10 a.m. March 16. Annual Men’s Day Fellowship Breakfast. Theme is Men Building on the Rock of Salvation. Guest presenter is the Rev. Michael Starks, a community organizer who founded Start Living and Acting Positive Program. 330-784-8964.
South Arlington United Methodist Church — 790 S. Arlington St., Akron. 9 to 11 a.m. Friday. Open public food pantry will be held. Also on Friday from 4:30 to 7 p.m., there will be an all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner, with meat sauce, marinara or alfredo sauce, $7. On March 16 from 11 a.m. to noon, Stork’s Nest Eating For Two will be hosted by the sisters of Zeta Phi Beta for expectant young mothers. Free baby clothes, prenatal education and refreshments. 330-724-1334.
Trinity Lutheran Church — 600 S. Water St., Kent. 4:30 to 7 p.m. Friday. Spaghetti dinner. Adults $7, children $4. Portion of proceeds to go to domestic violence shelter. Information: 330-673-5446.
Werner United Methodist Church — 5116 Werner Church Road NE., Nimishillen Township. 4:30 to 7 p.m. March 16. Ham dinner and bake sale. Cost is $7. Carryout available. 330-877-9338.
Performances
Christ Presbyterian Church — 530 Tuscarawas St. W., Canton. 7 p.m. Sunday. Baroque, Trumpets, Organ & Timpani, with Cleveland Orchestra trumpeters Michael Miller, Lyle Steelman and Jack Sutte, accompanied by organist David J. Kienzle and Josh Ryan on timpani. Tickets $25, $15 and $10, advance and at the door. Advance tickets available at www.cantoncpc.org. 330-456-8113.
Church of Our Saviour, Episcopal — 471 Crosby St., Akron. 4 p.m. Sunday. A service of Choral Evensong will be presented by the parish choir. 330-535-9174.
First United Methodist Church — 245 Portage Trail, Cuyahoga Falls. 7 p.m. March 16. The Wiedensahl Handbell Choir from Wiedensahl, Germany, will appear. The choir will play pieces ranging from show tunes to sacred hymns and from classical to modern. Open to the public. Freewill offering. Child care provided. 330-923-5241.
Malone University — 2600 Cleveland Ave. NW, Canton. 9 p.m. Tuesday. The Student Activities Council’s next Kawfee Haus Concert will feature singer/songwriter Jack Korbel in the Stewart Room of the Randall Campus Center. 330-471-8239.
New Trinity Missionary Baptist Church — 1380 Hartford Ave., Akron. 5 p.m. Sunday. The Christian Love Community Singers of Akron will have their second Sunday musical. Special guest is Judah from Rochester, N.Y., along with various groups from Akron.
Providence Baptist Church — 458 Madison Ave., Akron. 5 p.m. March 16. The Sunday School will present The Devil’s Funeral. The Rev. Vincent E. Peterson will perform the eulogy. Produced and directed by Lucille Engram Clark from Cleveland. Featuring selections from Providence Jubilee Choir. Tickets are $10. Ages 12 and up preferred. For more information, visit www.thepbc.org or call 330-253-6604 or 330-773-1213.
Trinity Lutheran Church — 50 N. Prospect St., Akron. 8 p.m. Friday. Janette Fishell and Colin Andrews, an organist duo from Indiana University, will perform. 330-376-5154.
Trinity United Church of Christ — 3909 Blackburn Road NW, Plain Township. 3 p.m. Sunday. Forever Love, an uplifting, faith-building musical play by Sharon Dobbins Alberson, will be presented. It is based on the story of the prophet Hosea. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children and may be purchased at the door. All proceeds benefit Habitat for Humanity. A spaghetti dinner will immediately follow in Fellowship Hall. Dinner cost is by donation and will benefit the high school youth mission trip to Gatlinburg, Tenn. 330-492-3383.
United Methodist Church of Uniontown — 13370 Cleveland Ave. NW, Lake Township. 4 to 7:30 p.m. March 16. Community cabbage roll dinner. Includes mashed potatoes, salad, roll, beverage and dessert. Adults $10, ages 4-12 $5. Chicken nuggets available as alternate meal. Dine in or carryout. Also, cabbage roll six-packs will be sold for $12. 330-699-3587.
Speakers, classes, workshops
The Chapel in Marlboro — 8700 State Route 619, Marlboro Township. 6 p.m. today. Power Team member J.D. “Big Country” Anderson, a power lifter and outspoken Christian, will speak to those who participated in and those who are interested in the Upward! sports ministry. At 10 a.m. Sunday, Anderson will share in a JAMboree for the community. JAM (Jesus and Me) is the children’s ministry at The Chapel. 330-935-0132.
Cornerstone Free Methodist Church — 578 Killian Road, Coventry Township. 7 p.m. Friday. LOOP (Loved Ones of Prisoners) will present Dennis Shawhan, former director of Broken Chains Ministry and a chaplain at the Summit County Jail. 330-212-6661.
Graham Road Baptist Church — 705 Graham Road, Cuyahoga Falls. 6:30 p.m. today, and 9:15 and 10:30 a.m. March 10. John and Kendra Smiley will present a Parenting Like a Pro seminar over three sessions. The Smileys are heard frequently over WCRF (103.3-FM) and are known nationally. The seminars are about the discipline, purpose, joys and trials of parenting. Free admission and parking. Baby-sitting provided. 330-928-7742.
St. Hilary Catholic Parish — 2750 W. Market St., Akron. 6 p.m. Wednesday. Duane Crabbs of South Street Ministries will be the speaker focusing on the theme The Poor In Our Own Backyard. It is the last of a series of programs on Wednesdays during Lent, with St. Hilary and Faith Lutheran Church taking turns hosting the events. A soup supper will be at 6 p.m., evening prayer at 7 p.m. and the presentation from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Baby-sitting provided. Registration suggested for the soup supper and baby-sitting. Free and open to the public. 330-836-8827.
St. Michael the Archangel Parish — 3430 St. Michael Drive NW, Plain Township. 7 p.m. Thursday. Dr. Thomas F. Noble, professor of history at University of Notre Dame, will speak on Faith Taking Shape: Christianity and the Arts. It will focus on the years from 300 to 1000 B.C.
St. Sebastian Parish — 500 Mull Ave., Akron. 7 to 9 p.m. Monday. The final Monday Lenten Series presentation, We Go to God Together: What it Means to Be Church will be in Zwisler Hall. Speaker is the Rev. John T. McDonough, who will share his experience as a young priest implementing the changes of Vatican II. 330-836-2233.
The deadline for Religion Notes is noon Tuesday. Items must be in writing. Please fax information to 330-996-3033, email it to religion@thebeacon journal.com or send it to Religion, Akron Beacon Journal, 44 E. Exchange St., Akron OH 44309.