News & notes

Guest preacher

Gwynedd Square Presbyterian Church: On Feb. 10 Gwynedd Square welcomes Tommy Campbell, the director at Kirkwood Camp in Stroudsburg. He will be preaching at both 8:30 and 10:45 a.m. services and sharing information about the upcoming camping season at this church camp. The church is at 837 Sumneytown Pike, Upper Gwynedd. Cal (215) 699-9159 or visit www.gwyneddsquare.org.

For all local clergy, chaplains

Zwingli United Church of Christ: In partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs National VA Chaplain Center, the church is hosting a one-day training session to educate community clergy about issues facing returning veterans and their families following deployment. This program is being supported by the VA Office of Rural Health. Community clergy from all faiths, and organization chaplains, are invited to attend. Training topics will address postdeployment readjustment challenges, the psychological, physical, behavioral and spiritual effects of war trauma on survivors, and the role of the clergy in helping to reduce mental health stigma and support veterans and their families. Attendees will learn about VA and community mental health services and who clergy can connect with at their local VA to request information or assistance. It has been estimated that one-fourth of individuals who seek help for a mental health problem do so from clergy. This training will help clergy understand the differences between military and civilian culture, provide guidance for pastoral care to veterans and their families, and teach them to recognize some signs and symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. The training event will be from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 21 at the church at 350 Wile Ave., Souderton. Pre-registration is requested by Feb. 13. For more information visit www. psec.org (under “Events & News”), or contact Pastor Butch Kuykendall at (215) 723-1186 or pastorbutch@zwingli.org.

Special service

Congregation Beth Or: Beth Or supports Jewish Disability Awareness & Inclusion Month by incorporating related topics into our worship services and educational programs throughout February. An informal Celebrations Shabbat tailored for families with special needs children is held at noon Feb. 9. The synagogue is at 239 Welsh Road, Upper Dublin.

On stage

Lansdale United Methodist Church: The Laymen Playmen present “Beauty and the Beast” at 2 and 8 p.m. Feb. 9 and 16, 2 p.m. Feb. 10 and 17, and 8 p.m. Feb. 14-15 at 300 N. Broad St., Lansdale. Tickets are $15, $10 for seniors 65+ and students 6-18, $5 for children 5 and under. Call (215) 368-9484 or visit www. laymenplaymen.org.

Let’s talk

North Penn Mosque: “Starting the Conversation: Drug Addition and the Cultural Taboo” is presented at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 9 at 600 Maple Ave., Lansdale.

Play and pray

St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church: A Moms & Tots group for infants to Kindergarten-age children meets 9:30 to 11 a.m. Thursdays in the lower level of the Parish Center, Derstine and Cowpath roads, Hatfield. Moms stay with their children the entire time and the morning includes a craft, circle time with Bible songs and stories and time for moms to chat and kids to play. Contact Kendra at itpmentor209@yahoo.com.

Let’s eat

Presentation of Our Lord Ukrainian Catholic Church: Take-out traditional Ukrainian dinners are available 3 to 6 p.m. (or until sold out) Feb. 10. Cost is $13; cash only. The dinner platter includes a roll with butter, holubtsi (stuffed cabbage), kielbasa, sauerkraut, pyrohy, halushki (noodles with cabbage). Also available are 10-ounce servings of borscht soup for $2. For more information or questions contact Melanie at melslaboda@gmail.com or (267) 992-5669, or Lesia at lgeletkanycz@gmail.com or (215) 740-1609. The church is on Allentown Road in Towamencin.

Study

Congregation Beth

Or: Torah study takes place at 9:30 a.m. Saturdays, between Shabbat services, at 239 Welsh Road, Upper Dublin. On Feb. 9 extended Torah study, with rabbinic intern Janine Jakovitz Pastor, starts at 10:45 a.m.

Music notes

St. John’s United Church of Christ: The Children’s Choir at St. John’s will sing “Jesus is Love with Us” by John Shepherd at the 10:15 a.m. service on Feb. 10. In addition, the Chancel Choir will sing “Ain’t Got Time to Die,” with soloist Bill Leslie. The church is at 500 W. Main St., Lansdale. Call (215) 855-5489 or visit www.st-johns-ucc. org.

Play time

St. Peter’s Lutheran Church: Intergenerational bingo will be available at 7 p.m. Feb. 9 in the Fellowship Hall at the church, 211 S. Main St., North Wales. Admission is by free will donation. Refreshments may be purchased. All proceeds benefit St Peters’ youth programs. Call (215) 699-4604. Presentation of Our Lord Ukrainian Catholic Church: Bingo will be held every Wednesday. Doors open at 5 p.m., with food available for purchase, and the games begin at 6:30. Admission is $10 for boards and $15 for paper. The church is at 1564 Allentown Road, Towamencin. For more information leave a message at (215) 3629599.

Shopping time

St. Peter’s Lutheran Church: The church’s thrift shop at 211 S. Main St., North Wales will be open Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Browse clothing for women and children, coats, a winter boutique line, attic treasures, jewelry, books, linens, a maternity department and vintage items. Find surprise sales every week. Call (215) 699-4604.

Help others

St. John’s United Church of Christ: St. John’s will participate in Blankets+Sunday at the 8 and 10:15 a.m. services on Feb. 10, when members and friends can contribute to the mission of Church World Service. CWS provides blankets, plus food, water and shelter, for people affected by disasters, providing warm blankets as well as cleaning supplies and other basic necessities. In addition CWS assists poor families worldwide by providing wells, livestock and health care. More information about CWS projects may be found at www.churchworldservice.org. The church is at 500 W. Main St., Lansdale. All are welcome. Call (215) 855-5489 or visit www. st-johns-ucc.org. Bharatiya Temple: An American Red Cross blood drive is held 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 16 at 1612 County Line Road, Montgomery Township. To make an appointment go to www.redcross.org and type in sponsor code “bharatiya.”

Christ Covenant Church: During February the church at 2200 Mainland Road, Towamencin, will be supporting Manna on Main Street with donations of non-perishable products. Items especially needed in restocking their food pantry: No-salt tomato sauce; dry dog food; canned asparagus, olives, mushrooms, beets, spinach, artichokes and carrots; dry beans, quinoa, couscous and barley; spices (garlic, onion, cumin, paprika, salt, pepper, etc.); diapers (size 4, 5 and 6); baby wipes and baby hygiene items (shampoo, lotion, powder); toilet paper; tissues; paper towels; laundry detergent; razors; deodorant; shower gel; hair care items (shampoo, conditioner, brushes); cleaning products (bathroom cleaner, window cleaner, laundry detergent, dish soap); lotion; lip balm; Vaseline; canned meats (Spam, ham, tuna, clams, salmon); cereal; canned soups; dried fruit (raisins, apples, dates); tomato products (sauce, paste, diced, whole); pasta; rice (brown and white); canned fruit; condiments (ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise); oatmeal; pancake mix; baked beans; peanut butter; and any low-sodium, whole grain, heart healthy, gluten free products. 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 www.christ-covenant.org.

Gather together

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.

Franconia Mennonite Church: Celebrate Recovery meets 7 to 9 p.m. Mondays at the church on Route 113, Franconia. All are welcome.

Tai chi, yoga

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. Yoga sessions start at 7 p.m. Mondays.

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