Published: November 06, 2009 12:58 pm      

RELIGION IN BRIEF | Praise Center notes 11th anniversary

BY JANICE RAINEY

JRAINEY@TRIBDEM.COM

Praise Center Full Gospel, 200 Cooper Ave., Johnstown, where the Rev. Gladys Myers serves as pastor, will celebrate its 11th anniversary with the theme “Moving Forward in the Spirit of Pentecost.”

A free community lunch and clothing giveaway will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. today.

A special worship service will be held at 11 a.m. Sunday with Elder David H. Myers, associate minister at Pilgrim Church of God in Christ, as guest speaker.

The celebration marks the implementation of the church’s mission to feed the hungry, clothe the naked and bring the word of salvation to those who are lost.

Franklin Street UM launches series

Tom Verner, pastor of Franklin Street United Methodist Church, will begin a new teaching series, titled “ReEnergize Your Life,” during the 8:30 and 10:45 a.m. Sunday worship services.

The three-week series will examine what Christians need to avoid and what can be done to reinvigorate their lives as the holiday season approaches.

Sermon titles are “Restore Your Passion,” “Reduce the Pressure” and “Refocus Your Priorities.”

The church is located on Franklin and Locust streets, downtown Johnstown.

Congregation to hear UM lay speaker

Judy Gunsallus, a certified lay speaker of the United Methodist Church, will speak at the 9:30 a.m. Sunday service at Christ United Methodist Church, 200 Ohio St., Moxham section of Johnstown.

Other participants are Fran and Joyce Ruhe, greeters; Norma Bowser, worship leader; Pat Hull, prayer; and Meghan Rand, acolyte.

The chancel choir will sing “Praise the Lord! Ye Heavens, Adore Him” with Harriett Miller as the organist and choir director.

Sunday school will follow the service at 10:45 a.m.

Light House will host gospel concert

Light House Morning Star Ministries, Route 240, Cherry Tree, will host a gospel concert at 10 a.m. Sunday.

The Songsters from Ohio will bring a message of the gospel through their singing.

The ministries also will sponsor a family skate night from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Indiana Roller Skating Rink.

The evening will have a Christian atmosphere with Christian music.

The cost is $3 and includes skates.

Information: 948-5765, (724) 254-2991 or (724) 464-0693.

Trumpeter in concert at Memorial Baptist

Trumpeter Chiz Rider will present a musical performance at the 11 a.m. Sunday worship service at Memorial Baptist Church, 210 Vine St. in downtown Johnstown, where he also will perform a concert at 4 p.m. followed by a reception.

A freewill offering will be accepted.

Information: 535-1859.

Gospel music ministry at Chapel UM Church

Free Spirit will present an evening of gospel music at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at Summit Chapel United Methodist Church, 2142 William Penn Ave., Johnstown.

The concert will feature Southern gospel, country gospel and traditional gospel.

Fellowship and refreshments will be served in the church social hall after the concert.

Information: 322-1267.

Night of music at Kaufman Mennonite

Kaufman Mennonite Church, 916 Miller Picking Road, Davidsville, will hold a night of music at 7 p.m. Sunday.

Featured music includes a men’s quartet, ladies trio and instrumentalists.

An offering will be taken to help offset start-up costs of the 2010 TriState Relief Sale in McHenry, Md. The proceeds will benefit Mennonite Central Committee.

Information: 479-7813.

Guest lecturer at St. Vincent College

Scott Hahn, author, speaker and professor, will lecture on “Covenant and Communion” at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Robert S. Carey Performing Arts Center at St. Vincent College, Latrobe.

Hahn is the Pope Benedict XVI chairman in biblical theology and homiletics for excellence in preaching at St. Vincent Seminary; served as professor of theology and scripture at Franciscan University of Steubenville since 1980; and is the founder and president of The St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology.

Reservations: (724) 805-2177.

UM bishop will speak at Bethany Church

Western Pennsylvania United Methodist Bishop Thomas Bickerton will speak at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Bethany United Methodist Church, 112 Leventry Road in Richland Township.

Bickerton will share his thoughts with the clergy and laity of the Johnstown District.

He will serve Communion, and a reception will follow the service.

Diocese schedules marriage encounter

Worldwide Marriage Encounter will be held from 8 p.m. Friday through 4 p.m. Nov. 15 at Bishop Connare Center, 723 E. Pittsburgh St., Greensburg.

The weekend is a time when married couples can get away from jobs, kids, chores, computers and phone and focus only on each other.

Information: (412) 635-7775.

Family Life Office to host grief program

An “Understanding Your Grief” program, sponsored by the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, will be held from 1 to 3 or 7 to 9 p.m. Nov. 17 at the Family Life Office, 5379 Portage St., Lilly.

Sister Marilyn Welch, CWW, facilitator, will discuss the normal process of grief and healthy coping mechanisms for dealing with loss in a faith-filled way.

Cost is $10 per person.

To register, call 886-5551 by Tuesday.

Workshop on prayer at Lutheran church

Salt and Light: An Inclusive Community of Friends in Faith will sponsor an introductory workshop on Centering Prayer, also known as the Prayer of Quiet, from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 21 at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Chestnut Street in the Cambria City section of Johnstown.

Presenters will be Judy Molter and Sister Margaret Ann of Contemplative Outreach of Greensburg.

Cost is $25 per person for the Rev. Thomas Keating’s book, “Open Mind, Open Heart,” and three to six follow-up sessions.

Register at 255-9540 by Nov. 14.

Fellowship will host trip to theater

Greater Johnstown Christian Fellowship will host a trip to see “The Miracle of Christmas” at Sight and Sound Theater in Lancaster on Dec. 10.

Cost is $100 and includes dinner and transportation.

Reservations: 266-3959.