Religion news
JUBILEE 2025: In 2025, the Diocese of Youngstown will join the global Catholic Church in the celebration of a year of Jubilee with the theme “Pilgrims of Hope.” Bishop David Bonnar will kick off the year of celebration with an opening Mass at 4 p.m. Sunday at St. Columba Cathedral, 154 W. Wood St., Youngstown. The Mass also will be livestreamed at catholicecho.org/live/
A full schedule of annual events in 2025 will be available at that time. All are invited to join the diocesan pilgrimage to celebrations in all six counties of the Diocese of Youngstown.
BURNING BOWLS: Unity Spiritual Center, 1226 Naylor Lloyd Road, Liberty, will host a burning bowl ceremony at 11 a.m. Sunday. People will write down a negative thing on a piece of paper and then burn it with the flame of a candle as a cleansing process for the new year.
HANUKKAH PROGRAM: A Hanukkah program will be 4 p.m. Monday at the Jewish Community Center in Youngstown.
END OF YEAR: Second Baptist Church, Warren, will host an End of the Year service at 10 a.m. Sunday.
DIVINE SERVICE: Redeemer Lutheran Church, 2805 S. Canfield Road, Austintown, will host a Name of Jesus Divine Service at 9 a.m. Jan. 1.
NEW YEAR’S MASS: Our Lady of Mount Carmel Basilica, 343 Via Mt. Carmel, Youngstown, will have a Mass for the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, at 5 p.m. Dec. 31 and noon Jan. 1.
NEW YEAR’S EVE GALA: St. Patrick Church, 357 N. Main St., Hubbard, will host a New Year’s Eve gala at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the church hall. Entertainment will be by Guys Without Ties. Tickets are $75 per person with tickets available by calling the church office at 330-534-1928.
NEW YEAR’S EVENT Mount Sinai Baptist Church, 328 S. Forest St., Youngstown, will host a New Year’s Eve celebration starting at 10:45 p.m. Tuesday. Rev. George Wilkins will be the featured speaker. The theme will be “Something to take off.”
FIRST FRIDAY SPEAKER: The First Friday Club of Greater Youngstown continues its 2024-25 speaker series with Greg Wasinski, creator and producer of the Faith and Real Life Initiative, who will present “Follow the Leader: How to Remain Focused on the Person of Jesus” Jan. 9 at Avion on the Water Banquet Center, 2177 W. Western Reserve Road, Canfield.
Wasinski is an internationally recognized, inspirational speaker and author from Cleveland. He has a certificate in scriptural theology from John Paul the Great Catholic University in Escondido, California. He is the author of “Where Faith and Real Life Come Together,” “Unconditionally,” and “Got a Minute.” He also offers his radio talents as a contributor to Sirius XM Radio’s The Catholic Channel, Iowa Catholic Radio, and EWTN Radio with his “Faith and Real Life Moments.” He is the voice and personality of the “Faith and Real Life” podcast and the Faith 180 video series.
There will be an opportunity for participants’ questions following the talk. Lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m. with the presentation beginning at noon. The cost is $25. Call 330-720-4498 by Thursday for limited reservations.
Religion news
CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION: “Come and Worship, A Christmas Celebration!” will have the St. Charles choir teaming up with Bethel Lutheran Church’s choir to perform a musical interpretation of the Christmas story of the birth of Jesus.
The first performance will be 5 p.m. Sunday at St. Charles Church and a second performance will be 10:30 a.m. Friday at Bethel Lutheran Church, 425 Crestview Drive, next to West Boulevard Elementary School.
There is no charge for either of these performances, but there will be a free-will offering taken.
CANDLE LIGHTING: Unity Church Centre, 1226 Naylor-Lloyd Road, will host a Christmas candle-lighting service 7 p.m. Thursday with guest speaker, the Rev. Richard Shumacher, who will deliver a message called “The Flame is the Same.” The Christmas season is being celebrated with the lighting of 12 Powers candles. The event is free, but donations or love offerings are accepted.
FESTIVAL OF LESSONS: Christ Episcopal Church, Warren, will host its annual Christmas Festival of Lessons and Carols 6 p.m. Sunday. The evening will include carols of the season, as well as works for chorus and orchestra. The free concert will feature the parish choirs of Christ Church (Warren) and St. John’s Episcopal Church (Youngstown), who will be joined by the Handbell Choir and a professional chamber orchestra with Richard Konzen at the church’s Casavant organ.
Amanda Beagle will be the featured soloist. James W. Shiell, director of Music and the Arts at Christ Church, will conduct the concert. A festive reception will follow the concert in the parish hall.
SPECIAL NIGHT: Hubbard Church of the Nazarene, state Route 62 and Chestnut Ridge Road, will host a Christmas program 10:45 a.m. Sunday to include children reading scriptures from Matthew and Luke and singing “Oh What a Special Night” followed by the adult choir’s Christmas cantata, “O Little Town of Bethlehem.” A soup luncheon will follow in the fellowship hall at noon. The event is free.
CHURCH MUSICAL: First Baptist Church, 26 E. Church St., Niles, will host a church musical at 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
BLUE CHRISTMAS: First Presbyterian Church, Mahoning Avenue in Warren, will host a Blue Christmas at 7 p.m. Thursday for those who are struggling, grieving or hurting during the holiday season.
CHURCH CONCERTS: Christ Episcopal Church, Atlantic Street, Warren, will host a concert “Tapestries of Ohio,” which will present A Christmas Madrigal Feast 7 p.m. Dec. 20.
LIVE NATIVITY: Bazetta Christian Church, 4131 Hoagland Blackstub Road, Bazetta, will have a drive-thru live nativity 4 to 7 p.m. Dec. 21. There will be live animals, including a camel. The event is free.
CHRISTMAS HOUSE: Harvest Point Church, 2121 Salt Springs Road, Lordstown, will have the youth group present “Christmas in Our House” 6 p.m. Sunday. The event will celebrate the birth of Christ and include scripture and carols. There will be a cookie reception afterward.
ORGAN CONCERT: St. Columba Cathedral in Youngstown will host renowned organist Jason Roberts 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. Roberts will perform a concert based on Advent themes. He is the director of music at the Church of the Blessed Sacrament in New York City and winner of the American Guild of Organists National Competition in organ improvisation. The concert is free. A $10 donation per person is suggested to help continue the series.
CHRISTMAS PROGRAM: Life Church, 610 S. Leavitt Road, Leavittsburg, will host “A Chosen Vessel Christmas” 6:30 p.m. Saturday. The event is free.
WINTER SOLSTICE: Unity Church Centre, 1226 Naylor-Lloyd Road, will host a drums and yums event to celebrate the December solstice 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday inside the foyer. The event will be facilitated by Dan Susany who is a local drummer. Drums and percussion instruments such as rattles will be provided for those without their own instruments. Bring your own drum. Donations will be accepted. For information, contact Roger Dale Juntunen.
FIRST FRIDAY SPEAKER: The First Friday Club of Greater Youngstown continues its 2024-25 speaker series with Greg Wasinski, creator and producer of the Faith and Real Life Initiative, who will present “Follow the Leader: How to Remain Focused on the Person of Jesus” Jan. 9 at Avion on the Water Banquet Center, 2177 W. Western Reserve Road, Canfield.
Wasinski is an internationally recognized, inspirational speaker and author from Cleveland. He has a certificate in scriptural theology from John Paul the Great Catholic University in Escondido, California. He is the author of “Where Faith and Real Life Come Together,” “Unconditionally,” and “Got a Minute.” He also offers his radio talents as a contributor to Sirius XM Radio’s The Catholic Channel, Iowa Catholic Radio, and EWTN Radio with his “Faith and Real Life Moments.” He is the voice and personality of the “Faith and Real Life” podcast and the Faith 180 video series.
There will be an opportunity for participants’ questions following the talk. Lunch will be served 11:30 a.m. with the presentation beginning at noon. The cost is $25. Call 330-720-4498 by Jan. 2 for limited reservations.
Religion News
CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION: “Come and Worship, A Christmas Celebration!” will have the St. Charles Choir teaming up with Bethel Lutheran Church’s choir to perform musical interpretation of the Christmas story of the birth of Jesus. The first performance will be at 5 p.m. Dec. 15 at St. Charles Church and a second performance will be 10:30 a.m. Dec. 20 at Bethel Lutheran Church, 425 Crestview Drive, next to West Boulevard Elementary School. There is no charge for either of these performances, but there will be a free-will offering taken.
CHURCH MUSICAL: First Baptist Church, 26 E. Church St., Niles, will host a church musical 6 p.m. Dec. 14 and 15.
CHRISTMAS SING-ALONG: Episcopal Church of Our Savior, 870 E. State St., Salem, will host a community sing-along 3 p.m. Dec. 8 hosted by the Salem Preservation Society. A free-will offering will be taken for the preservation of the church. Organ music will be performed by Vince Anderson.
CHRISTMAS HOUSE: Harvest Point Church, 2121 Salt Springs Road, Lordstown, will have the youth group present “Christmas in Our House,” at 6 p.m. Dec. 15. The event will celebrate the birth of Christ and include scripture and carols. A cookie reception will follow.
“Mary, Did You Know?” will be at 6 p.m. Sunday.
ADVENT FESTIVAL: St. Columba Cathedral in Youngstown will present the annual Advent Festival of Lessons and Carols 6 p.m. Sunday with Bishop David Bonnar. The service will feature the cathedral choir and lectors. A free-will offering will be accepted. A reception will follow in the church hall.
IMPROV CONCERT: St. Columba Cathedral in Youngstown will host renowned organist Jason Roberts at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 18. Roberts will perform a concert based on Advent themes. He is the director of music at the Church of the Blessed Sacrament in New York City and winner of the American Guild of Organists National Competition in organ improvisation. The concert is free. A $10 donation per person is suggested to help continue the series.
HOLIDAY HELP: Protestant Family Services is accepting applications for those in need of help for their children for the holidays. The agency needs gift cards, gifts and wrapping materials for gifts. All unwrapped gifts are due Monday. Volunteers are needed Monday and Tuesday at New Bethel Baptist Church to help distribute gifts. For information, call Cathy at 330-746-4600
CHRISTMAS PROGRAM: Life Church, 610 S. Leavitt Road, Leavittsburg, will host “A Chosen Vessel Christmas” 6:30 p.m. Dec. 14. The event is free.
COFFEE AND CONTEMPLATION: Villa Maria Education and Spirituality Center, 2067 Evergreen Road, offers Coffee and Contemplation, a series focused on a variety of spiritual and holistic topics.
Cindy Wilpula will present this month’s session in person and via Zoom: “The Infancy Narratives: Joseph’s Story and Mary’s Story” 10 a.m. Tuesday in the Mother Madelaine Room.
Cost is $10, with optional lunch for additional $8.
Registration and information are available online at vmesc.org or by calling 724-964-8886.
CHURCH HONORS VETERAN: Champion Presbyterian Church recently honored veterans with a Veterans Day service. Veteran Smith Mealy, a member of Howland American Legion Post 700, was interviewed by Post Chaplain Dave Luther. Mealy discussed his tour of duty in Vietnam, where he served in the U.S. Army’s 1st Division. He has received the Silver Star and two Bronze Stars. He is also a member of the Ohio Military Hall of Fame.
DONATIONS FOR CLOSET: Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2742 North Road NE, Warren, received two donations from a local women’s organization, the Akron-Youngstown zone of the Lutheran Woman’s Missionary League and from SS. Peter and Paul Lutheran Church in Sharon, Pa. They donated diapers, wipes and baby clothes to help fill the closet and prepare for the future opening of the closet to those in need.