Digest

Religion briefs

By MICHELLE JONES
Published May 12, 2007

Aripeka

Aripeka Baptist Church, 18731 Aripeka Road a mile south of County Line Road will have registration for vacation Bible school from 1 to 3 p.m. May 19. "Game Day Central: Where Heroes Are Made" will be held June 4 through 8 with classes for children through teens from 6 to 8 p.m. and for adults from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Bus transportation is available within 10 miles. Call (352) 726-7520 or (352) 279-1836.

Holiday

Holiday United Church of Christ, 4826 Bartelt Road, offers a sermon by the Rev. Drew Willard on Healing Waters at 10:30 a.m. Sunday. There is an adult Bible study at 9 a.m. on the second and fourth Sundays of each month, and children's Sunday school is at 10:30 a.m. every Sunday. Coffee fellowship is at 10 a.m. Call (727) 937-1520.

Hudson

Faith United Methodist Church, 12128 State Road 52, will have a half-price sale at the church's Second Chance Thrift Shop from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Friday and May 19. The congregation will have its 20th annual Corn Festival from noon to 5 p.m. May 19. All the corn you can eat is served as part of a ham dinner. The cost is $7 for adults, $4 for children 5 to 12, and a family ticket is $20. Corn is brought in from surrounding farms. Entertainment is in the church sanctuary and will include the Truck Stop Ministry, Crimson and a Country Western trio. There will be crafts for sale and an apple pie baking contest with pie and ice cream sold after the judging. Call (727) 856-6930.

St. Martin's Episcopal Church, 15801 U.S. 19, offers a special program on Mother's Day, Sunday. Prayers of thanksgiving will be offered along with a special sermon for mothers. Each mother will receive a gift after the 8 and 10 a.m. services. Call (727) 863-8560 or visit the Web site at www.stmartinshudsonfl.org.

Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church, 12321 Canton Ave., offers a contemporary Music and Majesty Service at 6 tonight. Mother's Day services are at 8:30 and 11 a.m. Sunday. Bible classes are offered a 9:45 a.m. The Ladies Guild will meet at noon Tuesday at Chili's for the last get-together until September. Call (727) 863-6446.

Land O'Lakes

First United Methodist Church of Land O'Lakes, 6209 Land O'Lakes Blvd., presents The Crossroad, a dramatic production combining music, multimedia, special lighting and sound effects, at 7 p.m. Friday through May 20. This production will illustrate the biblical concepts of life after death and eternity. During the May 19 performance there will be a youth emphasis with a concert by the teen rock band Table 13. The Crossroad was created by members of the church and headed by John Herbet, minister of music and worship arts. The presentation is free. Child care is provided for ages newborn to 5 years old. Due to intense scenes and thematic material, this event may not be suitable for young children. Call (813) 996-3533.

The Baha'i of Pasco County, meeting at Ballantrae Village, 17508 Sandgate Court, offers the Tranquility Zone, a place where peace, serenity and well-being can be experienced. The Baha'i meet at 10 a.m. May 19 for unhurried moments of contemplation with readings and music to refresh the spirit. Call (813) 383-6613.

Lutz

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 20735 Leonard Road, presents a message on the value of mothers on Mother's Day Sunday. A Mother's Day tribute in memory of and in honor of mothers of the congregation will be distributed at all the services. Each mother will receive a gift. Services are at 8, 9:15 and 10:30 a.m. The monthly meeting of the Leisure Group is at 1 p.m. Monday. The Little Lambs Preschool will graduate 29 students at 1 p.m. Thursday. Ceremonies will be in the church with festivities in the Activity Center after graduation. Holy Trinity will host the Lutheran Women's Missionary League spring rally from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 19 in the church activity center. Call (813) 949-7173 or visit the Web site at www.holytrinitylutz.com.

New Port Richey

Women's Connection of New Port Richey will meet from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday at Spartan Manor, 6121 Massachusetts Ave. The theme of the meeting is "Shop 'til You Drop: When the going gets rough ... is shopping enough?" The guest speaker is Linda Moore. A fashion show, by Bon Worth Fashion, is also part of the meeting. The cost is $13.50 and includes lunch. Call Betty at (727) 376-2757 or Blanche at (727) 819-1871 for reservations. Nursery is available upon request.

St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, 5326 Charles St., will host the last meeting of the season of the Episcopal Church Women at 11 a.m. Thursday in the Parish Hall after the celebration of the Feast of the Ascension of our Lord with Holy Eucharist at 10 a.m. A luncheon will be served after the meeting and will include desserts, coffee and tea. Reservations for the luncheon are requested by calling (727) 857-0044. Holy Eucharist is offered at 5:30 p.m. each Saturday, and services are at 7:30, 9 and 11 a.m. each Sunday with nursery available at the 9 and 11 a.m. services. A Healing Service is at 10 a.m. each Thursday with a Bible study afterward. The Rev. Raymond E. Dage also conducts a Bible study at 7 p.m. Thursdays. Call (727) 849-4330.

Calvary Chapel Worship Center, 6825 Trouble Creek Road, presents contemporary Christian recording artists Brothers Keepers at all three morning worship services on Mother's Day Sunday. Services are at 8:10, 9:45 and 11:15 a.m. The annual performance and ministry of dance, In His Presence and Studio J Academy of Dance, will be at 7 p.m. May 19 at the worship center. April Pozzi, who has numerous awards and has received instruction under Robert Joeffry of the American Ballet Company in New York, will direct the performance with participation of guest dance artists from Without Walls International Church of Tampa. Tickets are available at the door or in advance. The cost is $6.50 for children (3 and under admitted free) and $15 for adults. Call (727) 376-7733 or visit the church's Web site at www.ccwc.org.

West Pasco Pregnancy Center, 5330 George Street, will have an open house to celebrate the ministry's new location from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 10. Refreshments will be served. Call (727) 846-0000.

Port Richey

King of Kings Lutheran Church, 10337 U.S. 19 offers free vacation Bible school from 9 a.m. to noon each day beginning June 4 through June 8. A campfire roundup is at 7 p.m. June 8. Call (727) 868-5744 or visit the Web site at www.kingofkings19.com for reservations.

Tarpon Springs

Congregation B'nai Emmunah, a Reform Jewish Synagogue, 3374 Keystone Road, offers Shabbat evening services at 8 p.m. every Friday. A member-hosted Oneg is after each service. Shabbat morning services and Torah study are held at 9:30 a.m. the second Saturday of each month. Learn more about Mussar when you lunch with Rabbi Moch at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday. Call the synagogue for directions and to make reservations. Brotherhood poker night is at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the synagogue. Call (727) 736-1494.

Please send religion story ideas and religion notes to Michelle Jones at mjones721@tampabay.rr.com or fax to (813) 684-2457 or call (813) 685-2200. Correspondence can also be mailed to Michelle Jones at P.O. Box 558, Valrico FL 33595.

[Last modified May 11, 2007, 22:34:10]