NEWS & NOTES

Breaking ground

Lansdale Presbyterian Church: The church at 450 Oak Park Road, Hatfield Township, will have a ground-breaking ceremony on Sunday, following the 10:30 a.m. Worship Service, to celebrate the start of construction of an approved addition to the existing church building, which will include a new entry and lobby area, larger nursery facilities, suite-style office spaces, ministry and meeting room spaces, and additional rest room facilities. For more information, call (215) 368-1119.

Special services

Peace-Tohickon Lutheran Church: Starting at 10:15 a.m. Sunday will be a First Responders & Family Appreciation Day and Blessing of the Animals Worship Service. All first responders, and their families, are invited to attend and be recognized for all they do in the community. Also, bring your furry, feathery or scaly friends for a blessing from the pastor. There will also be a celebration, hosted by the Peace Youth Group, following the service which will include an outside luncheon for all to enjoy. For more information on the day’s events, call (215) 2573924. Peace-Tohickon is at 100 Old Bethlehem Road, East Rockhill. Highland Park: Grace United Methodist Church holds its Rally Day worship service at 10:15 a.m. Sunday in the park’s campgrounds in West Rockhill Township, followed by a picnic.

Taste of Egypt

St. Mary and St. Kyrillos Coptic Orthodox Church: The 10th annual Christian Egyptian Festival is held 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. today, Sunday and Sept. 16-17 on the grounds of the church and community center, 2500 Unionville Pike, Hatfield. There will be Egyptian food, a pharaonic jewelry and souvenir shop, and games for all ages. For more information, visit www.stmarystkyrillos.org.

Talking social justice

Congregation Beth Or: A Social Justice Civic Engagement Fair is held 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday. All are invited to stop by the synagogue at 239 Welsh Road, Upper Dublin, and talk to representatives from a variety of organizations to learn how you can give voice to your values. Featured speakers are Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro and former Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell. Donations for Hurricane Harvey relief will be accepted. For questions, contact Craig or Char at socialjustice@bethor.org.

Sharing the story

St. Stanislaus Catholic Church: All are welcome to attend the next GIFT (Growing In Faith Together) presentation, “How a Teenage Girl Resisted the Nazis in World War II with Faith and Courage,” at 7 p.m. Sept. 19 in the Parish Center, the building located behind the church at 51 Lansdale Ave., Lansdale. Hear the story of Fernande “Freddie” Davis, a St. Stanislaus parishioner, who was a teenager living in Belgium during World War II. She is the author of the book “A Girl in the Belgian Resistance” which describes how she stood up to bombings and Nazi soldiers who raided the region where she lived. Admission is free. Call (215) 855-3133 for more information.

Need work?

St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church: St. Joseph’s People, a group which assists the unemployed and underemployed, meets at 7:30 p.m. on the first and third Thursdays of the month in the Parish Center Library, Derstine and Cowpath road, Hatfield. Contact Nancy at nancyboak@aol.com.

Country fair

Central Schwenkfelder Church: An old-fashioned Country Fair, with activities for the whole family, will be held 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today on the historic farm property adjacent to the church, Valley Forge Road, Worcester. Entertainment will include Central Schwenkfelder’s Midst of Glory, an antique/classic car show, hay rides, face painting and games for children. At noon a live auction begins, with a variety of household items up for bid. Other attractions include: The Book Stall, attic treasures, vintage jewelry, kid’s treasures, kids clothing, The Country Market, Bakery Booth, and fresh flower booth. Lunch offerings include pork barbecue and sausage sandwiches, corn-on-the-cob, corn fritters, chicken-corn soup, hot dogs, hamburgers and home-made french fries. Also available throughout the day will be soft pretzels, funnel cakes, fruit salad and Freddy Hill ice cream. Enjoy barbecued chicken at the Country Fair or take it for a quick and easy supper. An annual event since 1951, the fair has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to benefit charities, both local and worldwide. For further information, call the church office at (610) 584-4480.

For men

St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church: That Man is You! welcomes all men to a fall season which begins 7 to 8:30 a.m. today. The emphasis will be on the scriptural vision of man, especially in his relationship to his family and society. Contact tmiysmg@gmail.com or call Bill at the parish center at (215) 721-0199, ext. 254.

Music notes

Little Zion Lutheran Church: “The Reformation: 500 Years of Music” features baritone Dale Travis, pianist/organist Linda Beck, organist Shirley Keiter, the Curry Moyer Brass Quintet and the Little Zion Choir at 7:30 p.m. tonight at the church, 267 Morwood Road, Franconia Township. A free will offering will be accepted. Family Worship Center: Christian country band Jackson Heights performs a concert at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at 1000 Troxel Road, Towamencin. Admission is free and a freewill offering will be taken. St. Peter’s Lutheran Church: The church at 211 S. Main St., North Wales, celebrates Holy Communion at 8:30 and 10 a.m. Sunday, with special music by the Women’s Ensemble at the early service and violinist Sandy Walker at the late service. Nursery care is provided at the 10 a.m. service. The SPARK children’s program will resume its 10 a.m. rotation schedule. September’s theme will be “Jonah & the Big Fish,” and will run Sept. 17 and 24. Call (215) 699-4604. Church of the Holy Spirit: A piano concert by Seth Trumbore of Harleysville will be held at 7 p.m. tonight at the church, 2871 Barndt Road and Sumneytown Pike, Upper Salford. A freewill offering will be taken, and a reception follows. Call (215) 234-8020 or visit www.churchoftheholyspirit.us. North Penn Church of Christ: Auditions for the ArCoNet orchestra programs are held 7 to 9 p.m. Sept. 18 and 19 at 300 N. North Wales Road, Montgomery Township. Check www.arconetwork.org, then schedule an audition by contacting Adriana at alinares@arconetwork.org. St. John’s United Church of Christ: The Chancel Choir at St. John’s will sing “Rejoice, O Land” by Healey Willan at the 10:15 a.m. service on Sunday. The church is at 500 W. Main St., Lansdale. All are welcome. Call (215) 855-5489 or visit www.st-johns-ucc.org.

Shopping season

Central Schwenkfelder Church: A garage sale is held Sept. 23, featuring household items, books, clothing for children and adults, toys, jewelry, furniture and more. Doors open at 8 a.m. and the sale runs through noon at 2111 S. Valley Forge Road, Worcester. St. Peter’s Lutheran Church: The thrift shop at the church at 211 S. Main St., North Wales, is open for the 26th season, benefitting many local charities. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesdays and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays See a new fall boutique line, housewares, attic treasures, clothing for women and children, Halloween costumes and decor, books, linens and more. Call (215) 699-4604.

Parents and kids

St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church: A Play and Pray Moms and Tots group meets 9:30 to 11 a.m. Thursdays in the Parish Center basement at Cowpath and Derstine roads, Hatfield. Mothers, grandmothers and their little ones, infant through age 5, are welcome to join.

Let’s eat

St. Philip Orthodox Church: The 2017 International Food Festival features cuisine from Eritrea, Ethiopia, Greece, Lebanon, Romania and Russia from noon to 8 p.m. today at the church, 1970 Clearview Road, Hilltown Township. There will also be church tours, children’s activities, a gift bazaar, live music and an iconography display. Visit www.st-philip.net/festival. Christ Covenant Church: The church at 2200 Mainland Road, Towamencin, hosts a free community hot breakfast in the fellowship hall, including scrambled eggs, pancakes, breakfast meat, toast, fruit and beverages 8 to 10 a.m. the last Saturday of every month in the fellowship hall. No reservations are required and all ages are welcome. Call (215) 256-8101. Trinity Lutheran Church: TLC Dinner Together, a community meal, is held 5 to 6 p.m. Wednesdays for a $3 donation. All members of the community are welcome and invited. There will be a Kid’s Corner for children to play. The church is at 1000 W. Main St., Lansdale.

Gather together

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. Congregation Beth Or: If you or someone you know is struggling with a challenging life moment or transition, support is available. Cantor David Green facilitates counseling and support groups for a variety of issues, including bereavement (a recently formed support group meets the last Wednesday of each month at 8 p.m.), divorce, adult care giving, mental health and addition. Contact dgreen@bethor.org or (215) 646-5806, ext. 218. St. Jude Catholic Church: A support group for divorced Catholics meets at 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Nov. 14 (no session on Oct. 24) in the Saint Jude Catholic Education Center Library in Chalfont. Each session includes a brief DVD presentation, offered by counselors, author Rose Sweet, and others who have suffered through divorce. Following each presentation, the group is guided through a series of discussion questions. The fee is $30 and includes workbook, handouts and refreshments. Pre-registration and pre-payment are necessary. Use the form on www. stjudechalfont.org. Contact Angela with questions at (215) 822-9225, ext. 234 or faith@stjudechalfont.org. Holy Trinity Episcopal Church: The church at Fourth and Broad streets in Lansdale hosts a discussion group on various topics each Monday from 2 to 3 p.m. This is open to the community. Anyone who would like to connect with others in a discussion group setting is invited. The Sunday service is at 10 a.m. Fairview Village Church: Celebrate the Journey, a Bible-based support/recovery program, meets at 6:45 p.m. Fridays at The Village Norristown, 329 E. Main St., Norristown, and 6:45 p.m. Mondays at Fairview Village Church, 3044 W. Germantown Pike, Worcester. Large group gathering

of prayer and praise, as well as a lesson, begins at 6:45 and small group time takes place from 7:30 to 8:45 p.m. Most groups are genderbased — men with men, and women with women. Some groups address a specific need; others are designed to allow each person to bring their unique challenges to a safe place. Each group is strictly confidential and is led by trained leaders with similar life experiences. For information on the Friday Celebrate the Journey, contact Megan at megan. brooks@fvcn.org or (610) 539-3333, ext. 7729. For information on the Monday Celebrate the Journey, contact Pastor Kelly Yetter at Kelly.yetter@fvcn.org or (610) 539-3333, ext. 7717. Christ Lutheran Church: A local chapter of PFLAG, the national organization that supports Parents, Friends and Families of Lesbian/Gay and Transgender individuals, meets at 7 p.m. the fourth Monday of each month in

Weaver Hall. For questions or additional information, contact Sue at sdaubert@yahoo.com. Silverdale Brethren in Christ Church: Singles Connection, a non-denominational Bux-Mont area group for single, widowed, divorced and separated adults age 45+ meets at 7 p.m. Thursdays at the church, 165 W. Main St. (Route 113), Silverdale. For information, call (215) 5939995 or email carolonline1@ verizon.net. Celebrate Recovery: This group meets 7 to 9 p.m. Mondays at Franconia Mennonite Church, Route 113, Franconia. All are welcome.

Holy Hour

St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church: The monthly Holy Hour to pray for the needs of the church (especially vocations to the priesthood) will be held on the Thursday evening, before the first Friday of every month, at 7 p.m. The church is at Derstine and Cowpath roads, Hatfield.

Study

Central Schwenkfelder Church: Spend Thursday nights reading and studying the Old Testament with a Bethel Bible Program (now in its 44th year). The program meets 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursdays through May 2018 in the church’s Bethel Room, 2111 S. Valley Forge Road, Worcester. Dates will be decided by the class members and meetings will not be held on the fourth Thursday of the month. Each lesson has a picture with concepts noted, with several pages of reading, as well as assignments of scripture. For those who have previously taken the course, it has changed — with new pictures and detailed study guides. Register with the church office, or call Allen at (610) 584-5379 or e-mail tennislob31@comcast.net. Also, beginning Sunday, you are invited to take part in a Focus on the Family “The Truth Project” discussion group which will meet from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. for 12 weeks in the Bible Study room on the second floor. Among the topics: What is truth?, Who is man?, What

is true?, Says who?, Who is God?, Whose story?, etc., covering philosophy, theology, anthropology and more. Each video is almost an hour long, with outlines to guide discussions. No materials are necessary. Pastor David and Al Koehler will lead the discussions. Sign up by calling the church office at (610) 584-4480. Holy Trinity Episcopal Church: The church at Fourth and Broad streets in Lansdale will be holding a weekly Bible study on Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m. All are invited to attend.

Play time

St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church: A 50+ Club meets for Games Day the first Wednesday of the month from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Parish Library, Derstine and Cowpath roads, Hatfield. Bring a snack or favorite game. All are welcome. Presentation of Our Lord Ukrainian Catholic Church: Weekly Wednesday Bingo is held at Presentation of Our Lord, 1564 Allentown Road, Towamencin. Doors open at 5 p.m., with food available for purchase, and the games begin at 6:45. Admission is $10 for boards, $15 for paper. Extra games are available, with a $250 prize. For questions call (215) 362-9599. St. Anne Ukrainian Catholic Church: The church at 1545 Easton Road, Warrington, hosts bingo Tuesday nights. Games start at 6:45 p.m. and cost is $13, extra for bonus sheets and rip-offs. Visit www.stanneukrainiancc.com or email stannesecretary@comcast.net.

Help others

Christ Covenant Church: During September, Christ Covenant Church, 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 (SpaghettiOs, ravioli, beefaroni), canned meats (tuna, chicken, ham, salmon), spaghetti sauce, canned fruit in natural juice, 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 9 to noon. Call (215) 256-8101 or visit www.christ-covenant. org.

Save the date

St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church: On Oct. 13, you can pray before a statue of Our Lady of Fatima in the SMG Chapel, Derstine and Cowpath roads, Hatfield.