Faith features

News of a religious nature may be submitted for Faith Features to news@MorningJournal.com or The Morning Journal, 2500 West Ave, Lorain, OH 44053. Deadline is the Tuesday before the Saturday of publication. We cannot guarantee publication. 39th annual Kwanzaa Celebration: From Dec. 26th through Jan. 1, FCII of Ohio will gather for the 39th annual Kwanzaa Celebration, beginning each night at 7 at Kanisa House II, 142 Cleveland St., Elyria. Kwanzaa is an African-American cultural celebration. One of the Seven Principles will be celebrated each night. The Principles are unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith. Kwanzaa was started in 1966 by Maulana Kareenga, who wanted to give children something positive to do during their winter break. The word Kwanzaa comes from a Swahile phrase meaning “First Fruits.” For more information, call Dana Burns at 440-366-3244. Monthly dinner: St. Mary Church, 309 W. 7th St., Lorain, will host a monthly dinner after the 4:30 p.m. Mass, Jan. 13. The menu is as follows: Meatloaf, scalloped potatoes, carrots, roll and dessert. Call the parish office to sign up at 440245-5283. New Year’s Eve service: Pastors Darrell and Vanessa Young will host a New Year’s Eve Worship Service 10 p.m. to midnight Dec. 31 at Point of Grace Ministries, 6892 Lake Ave., Elyria. For details, call 440-324-1210. Polka Mass: St. Frances Cabrini Altar and Rosary Society (former St. John), at the corner of Grove Avenue and Homewood Drive in Lorain, will host a Polka Mass at 11 a.m. Jan. 14, 2018. All are welcome. Immediately following will be a stuffed pork chop dinner/polka party in the social hall. Doors open at noon. Music for the Mass and dancing is provided by Ed Klimczak, with dinner being served from noon to 3 p.m. Adult tickets cost $15 per person. Children age 3 and under eat free. There is a children’s menu of hot dog and mac and cheese for $5 per child. There will be a Chinese raffle, 50⁄50 and a children’s game corner. To purchase tickets, call the rectory at 440-277-7266. Worship service: Community Congregational United Church of Christ, 379 S. Main St. Amherst, hosts worship service and Sunday School (for ages 3 and older) at 10 a.m. every Sunday. Nursery care is provided for those 3 and under. Communion is held the first Sunday of every month. For information, call 440-9889148. Public invited to worship: Fields United Methodist Church, 34077 Lorain Road, North Ridgeville, invites the public to join in worship at 7:30 Wednesday evenings. No need to be a member; worship is open to everybody who just wants to take 30 minutes or so to recharge their spiritual batteries midway through the week. Classes for children, youth, and adults are also available beginning at 6:30 p.m. Dress is casual. For more information, call 440327-8753. Messy Church: Messy Church will be 4 to 6 p.m., the first Sunday of each month, at First United Methodist Church of Wellington, 127 Park Place. This will be a hands-on, interactive way to worship as a family, involving story, prayer, song, games and a sit-down meal together at tables. People of all ages, adults and children are welcome. The public is welcome. Worship service: Old Stone Evangelical Church, 553 S. Main St., Amherst, will host a worship service at 10:30 a.m. on Sundays. For questions or further information, call 440-9847074 or email oldstone@ twc.com. Senior lunch bunch: Cornerstone Church, 2949 W. River Road, N. Elyria, will host a Free Community Senior Lunch Bunch from noon to 1:30 p.m., the second Tuesday of every month Come enjoy a free lunch and speaker offering information to seniors in our community. For information call 440-324-1202. Sunday school: Faith Baptist Church, 440 N. Lake St. Amherst, will host Sunday school for all ages at 9:30 a.m. followed by the worship service at 11 a.m. on Sunday. For details, call 440-988-8255 Non-traditional church: Looking for a non-traditional Sunday at church? The third Sunday of each month at 10:15 a.m. Grace Community’s Church, 12365 Grafton Road, Grafton, will consist of a Biblical panel discussion with audience participation afterwards. All are welcome. For information, call 440-225-9508. Marathon of Rosaries: Every first Saturday of the month there is a “Marathon of Rosaries to Protect the Unborn” from 10 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. in the Eucharistic Chapel of St. Anthony of Padua Church, 1339 E. Erie Ave., Lorain. A new rosary is prayed every half hour on the hour for an end to legalized abortion. We invite all of those pro-life citizens to join with us in prayer. Volunteers and substitutes to help lead the rosary are also needed. Call Dr. Hilaire Tavenner at 440-288-0416 for further information. Free community meal: On the last Sunday of every month from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., Journey of Faith Church in North Ridgeville cooks and serves a fresh hot meal for those in need in the community. This is done in connection with Community Care in North Ridgeville and other churches in the area. The community meal provides more than a hot meal though. It provides a time to sit down and relax with others in the community while being cared for. To know more about the community meals or what the church is up to, check out our website at journeyoffaithchurch.com.