Cleveland Speaker Has Akron Connection

By Colette M. Jenkins, The Akron Beacon Journal, Ohio

Feb. 16–The Rev. Gregory Jacobs, a former parish priest at St. Paul’s and St. Philip’s Episcopal churches in Akron, will be the guest preacher at the annual Absalom Jones celebration 5 p.m. Sunday at Trinity Cathedral, 2230 Euclid Ave., Cleveland.

Jacobs is a staff officer for urban congregational development and transition ministry in the Diocese of Massachusetts. While in the Ohio Diocese, he also was canon for mission and ministry at Trinity Cathedral.

The service is done in honor of Jones, who was born a slave, taught himself to read out of the New Testament, bought his own freedom and became the first African-American priest in the Episcopal Church. The celebration is sponsored by the Episcopal Diocese of Ohio and the Wilma Ruth Combs Chapter of the Union of Black Episcopalians.

In other religion news:

Events

Community Church of Portage Lakes — 3260 Cormany Road, Coventry Township. WOW Ministries will hold its annual ladies’ retreat Feb. 29 and March 1. Registration is due Feb. 24. 330-644-6121 or http://www.ccofpl.org.

Eastern Road Christian Academy — 2600 Eastern Road, Rittman. 7 p.m. Thursday, Kindergarten open house and registration. 330-925-5437.

First United Methodist Church — 245 Portage Trail, Cuyahoga Falls. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Sunday, Daddy-Daughter Dance. Bring your daughter and enjoy music, dancing, snacks and beverages. $3.

Grace United Church of Christ — 13275 Cleveland Ave. N.W., Lake Township. 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, free soup kitchen, with soup, beverage and dessert. 330-699-3255.

Grace United Church of Christ — 13275 Cleveland Ave., N.W., Lake Township. 7-11 a.m. Feb. 23, pancake breakfast. $5; $3 for children 5-12. 330-699-3255.

Heritage Church of God — 2121 Brady Lake Road, Franklin Township. The annual free Valentine’s spaghetti dinner is at 5 p.m. today. 330-562-4916.

International Institute — 207 E. Tallmadge Ave., Akron. WISH and the women’s group of the International Institute are having a party at noon Feb. 23. Reservations, 330-608-6476.

Magnificat of Stark County — Walsh University, 2020 E. Maple St., North Canton. Breakfast at 8:30 a.m. March 8. Terry McKnight will talk about The Preciousness of Life. $15. Registration due by March 1, 330-499-2030.

Mount Lebanon Baptist Church — 180 Edward Ave., Akron. 4 p.m. Sunday, members of Mount Lebanon will sponsor a musical benefit program for their retired pastor, the Rev. Bell Smith Sr. 330-376-6378.

Nativity of the Lord Jesus Catholic Church — 2425 Myersville Road, Springfield Township. 5:30 p.m. Wednesday or noon Feb. 24, Generations of Faith, Mea Culpa, Mea Culpa! Explore reconciliation from its beginning to present day.

New Hope Baptist Church — 1706 S. Hawkins Ave., Akron. Hope Soup Kitchen. 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday. Free.

Queen of Heaven Church — 1800 Steese Road, Green. 7-9 p.m. Wednesday. Ladies Guild is sponsoring a Full of Grace — Women and the Abundant Life Study. All are welcome to monthly study and to discuss the book Full of Grace by Johnette Benkovic. 330-896-2345.

St. Anthony Church — 83 Mosser Place, Akron. 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Spaghetti dinner. Carryout available. $6.50; $4.50 for children.

St. John C.M.E. Church — 1233 Hawkins Ave., Akron. The monthly food pantry distribution for qualified residents in the 44320 ZIP code is 11 a.m to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Terra Amma Grove — Pure Intentions Inc., 1862 Akron-Peninsula Road, Akron. 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday. Drum, Chant & Journey. An evening of drum, chant, meditation and journeying. 330-780-7476.

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship — 3186 Burbank Road, Wooster. 7:30 p.m. Friday. Free showing of the award-winning documentary, For the Bible Tells Me So. The film explores how people of faith handle the realization of having a gay child or family member.

Performances

Christ United Methodist Church — 470 E. Broadway St., Alliance. 3 p.m. Sunday. Concert series featuring string music by Mark Dumm and Bryan Dumm, two members of the Cleveland Orchestra. Freewill offering. 330-823-7136.

Malone College — Randall Campus Center, 515 25th St. N.W., Canton. 8 p.m. Friday. Indelible Grace will perform. $5; free for Malone College students, faculty and staff. 330-471-8502.

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church — 317 E. Liberty St., Medina. Noon Tuesday. Brown Bag Concert featuring Tenor Daniel J. Doty. Free. 330-725-4131.

Springfield Baptist Church — 1920 Krumroy Road, Springfield Township. 7 p.m. Sunday. Rogers Sisters will perform a free concert. 330-784-3114.

Seminars, classes

The Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist — East Ninth Street and Superior Avenue, Cleveland. 3 p.m. Sunday. Winter 2008 Concert Series, featuring Suspicious Cheese Lords from Washington, D.C. Free.

City of Refuge Worship Center — 5599 S. Prospect St., Ravenna Township. 7 p.m. Wednesday. Be Free! Shattering Strongholds Workshops. 330-289-0713.

St. Hilary Church — 2750 W. Market St., Fairlawn. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Faith in Action . . . Saints Alive! presents Growing in Holiness . . . Through the Lives of the Saints, with Joanne Storm, Ph.D., of Franciscan University of Steubenville.

St. Mary Catholic Church — 340 N. Main St., Hudson. 7 p.m. Wednesday. A Series on Catholicism, a free series open to anyone interested in learning about Catholicism. 330-653-8118.

Walsh University — Barrette Business Center, Walsh University Campus, 2020 E. Maple St. N.W., North Canton. The Counseling Department along with the Ohio Association for Spiritual, Ethical and Religious Values in Counseling will host a Unity in Diversity Workshop from 9 a.m. to noon Friday. Free for all association members, $25 for students and $50 for others. 330-490-7268.

Speakers, lectures

Canton Baptist Temple — 515 Whipple Ave. N.W., Canton. 10:15 a.m. Sunday. David Ring will speak. 330-477-6267.

The Chapel — Prestwick Country Club, 2220 Raber Road, Green. Noon Wednesday. Table Talk With Pastor Knute Larson, Gimmicks of the Mind. $11. Reservation deadline is Monday. 330-315-5612.

True Church House of Prayer to All Nations — 454 S. Arlington St., Akron. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Pastor Ophelia Jennings will speak, with musical guest Sister Joanne Davis.

Special services

First United Methodist Church — 245 Portage Trail, Cuyahoga Falls. Lenten Service at 7 p.m. Wednesday, featuring a singing of the hymns of Charles Wesley.

Malone College Chapel Services — Johnson Center for Worship and the Fine Arts, 2600 Cleveland Ave., Canton. 10 a.m. Monday, Lowrie McCown, founder of 360 Sports Ministry, will address chapel services; 10 a.m. Friday, Indelible Grace will lead worship at a special Friday chapel service.

Prince of Peace Baptist Church — 844 Garth Ave., Akron. The Rev. Robert L. Golson of Orrville will preach at the 10:45 a.m. service Sunday.

St. Luke’s Evangelical Lutheran Church — 2121 Sixth St., Cuyahoga Falls. Lenten Service at 7 p.m. Wednesday. The focus will be The Promise of an Inheritance, “blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth” — Matthew 5:5.

Support groups

The Chapel — 135 Fir Hill, Akron. 7 p.m. Tuesday, POPS — Parents of Prodigals will meet. POPS is a support group for parents of troubled children. Harry Watson, chaplain of the Summit County Jail, will speak. 330-376-6400.

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Copyright (c) 2008, The Akron Beacon Journal, Ohio

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