Area congregations schedule special services and events

St. Eleanor RCC

Collegeville: The first Amazing Harvest Festival will be hosted from 1:30 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, rain or shine, at St. Eleanor Roman Catholic Church, 647 Locust St. This event for all ages will feature food, free games, contests, and free music and entertainment. It will include homemade games and food, potato sack races and pie eating, hula hoop, pumpkin decorating contests, a “dress like your stuffed animal” children’s parade, a children’s bounce house, a police dog demo and adoptable dogs from the Montgomery County SPCA. All games, contest entries and prizes will be free. Food will be available to purchase from a variety of food trucks.

St. Paul’s Lutheran

Douglassville: The Fall Apple Festival will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Route 662. There is free parking, free admission, free music and free activities. The day will begin with an apple pancake and sausage breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m. Lunch will include vegetable soup, pulled pork sandwiches, hoagies, hamburgers, hot dogs and much more. The main attraction are the famous apple dumplings and apple tarts. Entertainment by the Boyertown Alumni German Band, Pastor Stephen and Friends Bluegrass Band, Comedy Juggler Jim Stilianos, two bounce houses, balloon animals, pony rides, a petting zoo, pumpkin golf, apple checkers, pumpkin ring toss and Indian corn play tables. There will be a variety of crafters and vendors. The Church Sanctuary will house a Quilt Show. There will be a $1 Book Sale fundraiser. Books may be donated to the sale the morning of the event beginning at 8 a.m.

Trinity Evangelical

Bechtelsville: The Boyertown Area CROP Walk will take place on Sunday beginning at 2 p.m. from the parking lot of Boyertown Area Multi-Service. The walk will take us through Boyertown to the Community Park and back. The purpose of the walk is two-fold: to raise awareness about hunger both here and overseas, and to raise money through sponsorships for Church World Services’ community development programs. Twenty-five percent of the proceeds will go to Boyertown Area Multi-Service to fight hunger locally. For more information please visit www.cropwalkonline.org or contact Pastor Eugene Zaiser at 610-369-1281. Five area churches are committed to participating in the walk, hoping to raise at least $7,000.

Centennial Lutheran

Kimberton: A New Member’s Orientation will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday for anyone interested in joining Centennial Lutheran Church, 1330 Hares Hill Road.

First Presbyterian

Pottstown: There will be a reception in Fellowship Hall for Jeff Fox-Kline following the 10:30 a.m. worship at First Presbyterian Church. Third graders will be welcomed to the Preparation for the Lord’s Table at 4:30 p.m.

St. Luke’s Lutheran

Obelisk: Holy Communion will be celebrated at 8 and 10:15 a.m. today at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, Route 73 and Neiffer Road, with Christians around the world on World Communion Sunday.

Christ Lutheran

Barto: There will be a guest speaker during both the 7:45 and 10:15 a.m. services on Sunday at Christ Lutheran Church, 222 Niantic Road. There will be a coffee hour in the parlor at 9 a.m. Bibles will be presented to eligible third grade students during the services.

Calvary UCC

Barto: World Communion Sunday worship will be held at 10:15 a.m. at Calvary United Church of Christ, 1231 Route 100. After worship church members will be participating in the Boyertown CROP Walk. All are welcome.

St. James Lutheran

Limerick: An Apple Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today at St. James Lutheran Church, 93 Kugler Road. A silent auction, tractor ride, moon bounce, children’s games, live music and bake table are part of the activities. Lunch will be available. A flea market will start at 8 a.m. All proceeds go towards mission trips and the local food pantry. A “Connect/Small Group Trail Mix Party” will be held on Sunday between worship services. This will provide an opportunity to meet group leaders. The youth of the church will go to Wilcox Corn Maze in Boyertown at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday.

St. Peter’s Lutheran

Pottstown: St. Peter’s Church Women will host the October meeting of the Upper Montgomery Lutheran Bible Study from 9 a.m. to noon on Tuesday in the church parlor at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, 564 Glasgow St. The St. Peter’s Church Women will also meet at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Devotions, Joy Taglieber; hostesses, Nancy Dunning and Sherry Mann; guest speaker Maryann Donovan will speak on the topic, “Amazing Grace for a Woman’s Heart.” The Spoken Holy Communion Worship Service will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday. All are welcome. Members are encouraged to sign up to have their picture taken for the Pictorial Congregational Directory. Dates and times are Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

St. Luke Lutheran

Gilbertsville: The Community Clothing Rack will be open for drop off from 1 to 4 p.m. on Wednesday at St. Luke Lutheran Church in its new location at the lower level parking lot.

St. Paul’s UCC

Pottstown: World Wide Communion will be celebrated at the 9 a.m. worship service on Sunday at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, 927 N. Franklin St. Donations for Neighbors In Need will also be collected.

Shenkel UCC

North Coventry: A Blessing of the Animals, all God’s critters and the people who love them, are invited to this special service at 2 p.m. on Sunday in the grove at Shenkel United Church of Christ, 1580 Shenkel Road. All animals must be on a leash or lead or in a secure pen at all times for the safety of all participants. If unable to bring an animal, all are welcome to bring a photograph of a pet or of an endangered species to be blessed. There will be door prizes and free photos of you and your pet. Please spread the word to neighbors, friends and colleagues.

Living Faith Lutheran

Boyertown: Ladies Bible Study will resume at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Wednesday at Living Faith Lutheran Church, 1206 Montgomery Ave.

Shepherd of the Hills

Bechtelsville: World Communion will be celebrated at all services on Sunday at Shepherd of the Hills Church, 527 Hoffmansville Road.

First Baptist

Pottstown: Church members from First Baptist Church, King and Charlotte streets, will prepare and serve the community meal at noon on Monday at Christ Episcopal Church. CCU has resumed meeting after school, Tuesday through Friday, each week.

Mount Carmel UMC

St. Peters: Refreshments will be served after the 10 a.m. service on Sunday at Mount Carmel United Methodist Church, 2203 Harmonyville Road. Everyone is welcome.

Bethel Community

Pottstown: Pastor Ross will facilitate a session on the topic “The Radiance of God’s Glory” at 9:15 a.m. on Sunday at Bethel Community Church of Pottstown, 575 N. Keim St., and all members are encouraged to attend. World Communion Sunday will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m., designed to promote Christian unity and ecumenical cooperation. Tours of the Church and entire facility will be offered immediately following worship.

Trinity UCC

Pottstown: Members and friends of Trinity United Church of Christ, 69 N. Hanover St., will celebrate World Wide Communion at both the 8 and 10:15 a.m. services on Sunday. Community members continue to write their prayer requests on the Prayer Wall located on the front lawn. All are welcome.

St. Matthews UCC

Chester Springs: The annual Chicken BBQ will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. today on the church grounds at St. Matthews United Church of Christ, 2350 Conestoga Road (Route 401). Tickets at the door while supplies last. For more information call 610-458-8583.

St. John’s UCC

Pottstown: A covered dish social hour will be hosted after the 10:15 a.m. service on Sunday at St. John’s United Church of Christ, 11 S. Price St. Preparations continue for the Craft Show and Bake Sale to be held Oct. 15. Church members will also be participating in the CROP Walk.

Zions UCC

Pottstown: Rev. Mary Etta Mest will serve as guest minister at the 10:15 a.m. service on Sunday at Zion’s United Church of Christ, Hanover and Chestnut streets. Margaret Curry is guest organist. Women’s Fellowship will meet at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Speaker is Beth Hiriak of Southeastern Home Services. Eileen McCormick is worship leader and Joan Clouser is hostess. Sign-up sheets are now available for the Annual Ham Supper on Oct. 8. All ages are needed for lots of jobs. Give sheets to ushers or send to church office. Those wishing to join in this year’s CROP Hunger Walk at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 9, contact Rev. Mary Etta Mest for a walker’s envelope The Pottstown Cluster receives 25 percent of the total Pottstown intake.