Festivals, interfaith seminar, day of service in N. Wales on tap

Let’s talk

Gwynedd Mercy University: Wissahickon Faith Community presents a threepart seminar on religious pluralism and the challenges of faith in a secular age. it starts 7 to 9 p.m. Sept. 25. For details go to www. bethor.org/interfaith-symposium-gwynedd-mercyuniversity. St. John’s United Church of Christ: An informational gathering will be held at noon Sept. 23 in the church library for anyone who is interested in learning more about St. John’s and the United Church of Christ. All are welcome to attend. The church is at 500 W. Main St., Lansdale. Call (215) 855-5489 or visit www. st-johns-ucc.org.

Tea time

St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church: Enjoy hot or iced tea and tea sandwiches while playing games of “Tea with Our Lady” bingo 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 24 in the parish center lower level, Derstine and Cowpath roads, Hatfield. Cost is $8 per person and includes a chance to win door prizes. Register using the form that can be found at www. stmariagoretti.net. For more information call (215) 7210199, ext. 202.

Observe Sukkot

Congregation Beth Or: Sukkot Worship and brunch is set for Sept. 24. The service is set for 9 a.m., followed by brunch. Beth Or is at 239 Welsh Road, Upper Dublin.

Special service

Church of the Holy Spirit: A Taize service of meditative, sung prayers, scripture readings, intercessions and hands-on healing prayers will be held at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 27. A potluck supper will be held at 6:30. The church is at Barndt Road and Sumneytown Pike, Upper Salford.

Days of devotion

St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church: At 7 p.m. Sept. 2325 Guest preacher Father John Stokely leads “Forty Hours” for the sanctification of the Church and in reparation for sins of clergy sexual abuse and cover up. The church is at Derstine and Cowpath roads, Hatfield.

Study

Montco Bible Fellowship: “How to Understand the Bible” is the topic of Wednesday night Bible study, held at 7 p.m. Wednesdays at the church at 160 E. Main St., Lansdale. Call (215) 855-0899 or visit www. montcobf.org.

New bishop to be installed

New Covenant Church of Philadelphia: Bishop Patricia Ann Curtis Davenport is the first African-American woman elected bishop in the

history of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. She will be officially installed as Bishop of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America during a service at 2 p.m. Sept. 22 at the church at 7500 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia. A reception will follow.

Day of service

North Wales Day of Service: The North Wales Day of Service is Sept. 22 from 8:30 a.m. to noon. The day starts with a free breakfast, sponsored by St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, 211 S. Main St., North Wales. Then groups of volunteers will be sent all over the borough assisting organizations and

individuals with their needs, such as clean up the cemetery, and volunteering at the North Wales Library, a food pantry, homes of elderly, etc. For questions contact the church office at (215) 6994604.

Music notes

St. John’s United Church of Christ: The Chancel Choir at St. John’s will sing “He That Shall Endure” from “Elijah” by Felix Mendelssohn at the 10:15 a.m. service Sept. 23. The church is at 500 W. Main St., Lansdale. St. Peter’s Lutheran Church: The church at 211 S. Main St., North Wales, celebrates Holy Communion at 8:30 and 10 a.m. Sept. 23 with special music by a quartet. There will also be a baptism and quartet at the early. Call (215) 699-4604. North Penn Church of Christ: Auditions for Ar-

CoNet youth and chamber orchestras are held 7 to 9 p.m. Sept. 24 and 8 to 9 p.m. Sept. 25 at the church at 300N. North Wales Road, Montgomery Township. Find audition information under the Orchestras tab at www. arconetwork.org.

For kids

Zion Mennonite Church: My Toddler and Me is an opportunity for parents and other caregivers of 2- and 3-year-olds to get out and to meet others. Enjoy stories and crafts 9 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays at 149 Cherry Lane, Souderton. For more information call the church at (215) 723-3592 or visit www. zionmennonite.org. St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church: A Mom and Tot group meets at 9:30 a.m. Thursdays in the Parish Hall, Derstine and Cowpath roads, Hatfield.

Festival atmosphere

Church of the Holy Spirit: The Episcopal church at 2871 Barndt Road, Upper Salford, holds an Oktoberfest and Car-Truck Cruise-In 3 to 6:30 p.m. Sept. 29. Highlights include food, vehicles and crafts for children. Proceeds will be donated to the adult literacy programs at Keystone Opportunity Center. Cost is $10, $5 for children. Call (215) 234-8020. St. Peter’s Lutheran Church: The annual Oktoberfest and North Wales Community Day is held 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 29 11:30 AM- 6 PM. German food, beer, music, gift baskets, raffles, children’s games and crafts under the tents and parking lots of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, 211 S. Main Street. And vendors, food and games in the nearby borough streets and Weingartner Park. St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church: Held 5 to 10 p.m. Sept. 28, the first Gorettifest features a food truck and beer garden, live music by Rollin’ and Tumblin’ and a cornhole tournament in the church parking lot, Cowpath and Derstine roads, Hatfield. St. Philip Orthodox Christian Church: The seventh

annual International Food Festival continues noon to 8 p.m. Sept. 22 on the church grounds at 1970 Clearview Road, Hilltown Township. The festival will feature favorite ethnic dishes from Greece, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Lebanon, Romania, Russia and the USA. Entrees range in price from $9-$15. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Keystone Opportunity Center of Souderton, Manna on Main Street of Lansdale and Pennridge FISH of Perkasie. The festival will also feature scheduled church tours, live entertainment, ethnic dance, chant demonstrations, an iconography demonstration, children’s activities and a craft bazaar. Go to www.st philip. net/festival or contact (215) 721-4947 or apostlephilip@ gmail.com. Admission is free. Saints Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church: On Sept. 23 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. the annual Ukrainian Day Festival will be held on the church grounds at 301 Fairview St., Phoenixville. Enjoy ethnic Ukrainian food, live music and entertainment, a cash raffle, more than 40 gift basket raffles, art and craft vendors, a children’s corner, a flea market and church tours.

Support Christian truckers

Family Heritage Restaurant: Transport for Christ presents a truck show and dinner concert Sept. 29 at the restaurant on Route 113, Franconia. For tickets and more information call Sam at (215) 872-8426.

Shopping time

St. Peter’s Lutheran Church: The church’s thrift shop at 211 S. Main St., North Wales, is celebrating its 27th season benefiting local charities. Hours are Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (open until 3 p.m. on Sept. 29). Browse a new fall boutique line, books, music, attic treasures, housewares, jewelry, linens, vintage items and clothing for women and children. Call (215) 699-4604.

Help others

Christ Covenant Church: During September the church at 2200 Mainland Road, Towamencin, will be supporting Keystone Opportunity Center with donations of non-perishable food. Items especially needed in restocking their food pantry are: oatmeal; cereal; pancake mix (complete); pancake syrup; baked beans; meals in a can (spaghetti-o’s, ravioli, beefaroni); canned meats (tuna, chicken, ham, salmon); spaghetti sauce; canned fruit in natural juice; sugar; ketchup; mayonnaise; mustard; oil; sugar; gluten-free, sugar free and low/no sodium products; personal care items (shampoo, razors, toothpaste, body wash, deodorants, feminine hygiene products); toilet paper; paper towels and laundry soap. Contributions may be dropped off at the church office Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sundays from 9 to noon. Call (215) 256-8101 or visit christ-covenant.org.

Let’s eat

St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church: The First Thursday Breakfast Club is held following the 8:30 a.m. Mass Oct. 4 in the SMG Parish narthex, Derstine and Cowpath Roads, Hatfield, and provides a way for people to gather together in friendship following their time spent together in worship and prayer. Coffee, tea, juice and breakfast refreshments are served. Non-parishioners are always welcome. The Breakfast Club is automatically cancelled when a funeral is scheduled for the same morning. Visit www. stmariagoretti.net or call (215) 721-0199, ext. 202. Christ Covenant Church: The church at 2200 Mainland Road, Towamencin, offers a free Community Hot Breakfast from 8 to 10 a.m. the last Saturday of every month. For more information call (215) 256-8101 or visit christ-covenant.org.

Gather together

Zion Mennonite Church: A Grief Share support group meets 1 to 2:30 p.m. Thursdays

at 149 Cherry Lane, Souderton. Call (215) 7233592 for more information. St. Peter’s Lutheran Church: People Undergoing Pain meets every Tuesday at 6:15 p.m. at the church, 211 S. Main St., North Wales. Souderton Mennonite Church: A support group for dementia caregivers is held at 6:30 p.m. the fourth Tuesday of the month in the Connections Cafe, across from the Fellowship Hall at 105 W. Chestnut St., Souderton. Church of the Holy Spirit: An Al-Anon Family Group, Pathway to Peace, meets from 10 to 11 a.m. Fridays at the church, Sumneytown Pike and Barndt Road, Upper Salford. If you have, or have had, a family member, friend or coworker whose drinking or drug use is affecting or troubling you, contact Judy at jemorice@gmail.com. Plains Mennonite Church: Parents and caregivers of a child with autism or Asperger’s syndrome are invited to join a monthly support group that meets at 7 p.m. the second Friday of the month at the church, 50 W. Orvilla Road, Hatfield. Give and receive emotional and practical support, as exchange information and stories to be more effectively equipped with skills and insights to parent children on the autism spectrum. To RSVP or for more information, go to http://plainsmennonitechurch.org/eventscalendar/everyone or call (215) 362-7640. Franconia Mennonite Church: Celebrate Recovery meets 7 to 9 p.m. Mondays at the church on Route 113, Franconia. All are welcome.

Try tai chi

Church of the Holy Spirit: Tai chi sessions for beginners are held at 10 a.m. Saturdays at the church, Barndt Road and Sumneytown Pike, Upper Salford. Intermediate level sessions are held at 8 a.m. Saturdays.