Religion calendar

By MICHELLE JONES, Times Correspondent
Published November 17, 2007

Holiday

The Baha'is of Pasco County West, which meets in a strip mall behind Buddy Freddie's Restaurant at 1136 U.S. 19, will have a meeting at 7:30 tonight. They will hear and discuss the Baha'i perspective on "Military Service, Morality and the Draft." The guest speaker is Roger Coe, a Vietnam veteran, conscientious objector and scholar of world religions. Dinner is at 6:30. Call 813 383-6613.

St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 4843 Mile Stretch Drive, is having a Teddy bear drive at the church through Dec. 17. Scott Johnson of Boy Scout Troop 46 is conducting this for his Eagle Scout project. Call (727) 938-1974.

Holiday Free Methodist Church, 5015 Darlington Road, offers a Sunday morning service at 10:30. Sunday school, for all ages, is at 9:15 a.m. and Sunday evening service is at 6. The pastor is the Rev. Richard Keep. Call (727) 937-9375.

Community United Methodist Church, 3214 U.S. 19, offers Sunday services at 11 a.m. Small group meetings are at 9:30 a.m. Sundays and at 6:30 p.m. Thursdays. A group on "Becoming a Contagious Christian" meets at 10:30 a.m. Fridays. Call (727) 937-3268.

Hudson

Immaculate Conception Old Roman Catholic Church, 8531 Bolton Ave., a traditional Catholic church, offers Masses at 9 a.m. Sundays and at 9 a.m. Monday through Saturday. Some daily Masses are in Latin and the Sunday Mass is in English. A Votive Mass of Thanksgiving will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday. Call (727) 819-3788.

Grace Bible Church, 9403 Scot St., presents the Hungarian Brass and Eric Murphy from Hungary at the annual Harvest Sunday service at 10:50 a.m. Sunday. A free covered dish dinner in the Family Life Center will be after the service. The church also offers a free Thanksgiving dinner at noon Thursday, which is open to the community. Call (727) 863-2747 to reserve a place.

Faith United Methodist Church, 12128 State Road 52, offers bargains and other articles for sale including Christmas items at the church's Second Chance Thrift Shop. Hours are 10 to 4 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. Call (727) 856-5000.

St. Mark's Presbyterian Church, 7922 State Road 52, offers worship services at 8:15 and 10:30 a.m. Sundays. On Dec. 2 at 3 p.m. the Nature Coast Festival Singers, under the direction of James Urbanksi, former music teacher at Ridgewood High School, will present the Christmas portion of Handel's Messiah and other seasonal selections. Call (727) 863-5646.

St. Martin's Episcopal Church, 15801 U.S. 19, welcomes Bishop Ernest Shalita of Uganda at 8 and 10 a.m. Sunday. He will be enlisting support for orphans in his country during this, his third visit to the church. He will bless Thanksgiving food baskets and there will be a reception after the 10 a.m. service. There is an 11 a.m. service on Fridays. Visit the Web site at stmartinshudsonfl.org or call (727) 863-8560.

Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church, 12321 Canton Ave., offers a contemporary Music and Majesty service at 6 tonight. On Sunday, services are at 8:30 and 11 a.m. The pastor is the Rev. Kent Fuqua. Call (727) 863-6446.

Land O'Lakes

Christian Social Services, 5514 Land O'Lakes Blvd., is having its 20th Share the Season campaign by providing Thanksgiving baskets to less fortunate neighbors. A donation of $25 will provide everything from turkey to pumpkin pie. Call (813) 995-0088 or send tax exempt donations to P.O. Box 783, Land O'Lakes FL 34639.

Lutz

First United Methodist Church of Lutz, 960 W Lutz Lake Fern Road, will have an Old Time Thanksgiving service at 9:15 and 10:45 a.m. Sunday in the new church sanctuary. Those attending are encouraged to wear old-fashioned attire and enjoy old-time hymns. Homemade holiday breads and hot apple cider will be served between the services. A multifamily yard sale to raise money for mission is from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. today. Call (813) 949-1751.

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 20735 Leonard Road, offers a message by the Rev. Ross Engle on "A Thanksgiving to Remember" at 8, 9:15 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday. The Stephen Ministry class is at 7 p.m. Wednesdays. Visit the church Web site at holytrinitylutz.com or call (813) 949-7173.

New Port Richey

Living Word Church, 5151 Rowan Road, will have the Hungarian Brass at its 6 p.m. Sunday service. A Thanksgiving service is planned for 7 p.m. Wednesday. There will be testimonies of God's blessing during the past year, a time of singing, a multimedia presentation and a challenge from the Bible. Call (727) 845-8877.

The West Pasco Pregnancy Center, 5330 George St., is offering free ultrasounds so the center can complete its medical conversion and nurse training. The ultrasounds will be performed under the supervision of a registered ultrasonographer and a medical professional. Appointments may be scheduled for the morning or afternoons from Nov. 27 through Dec. 8 for women seven to 20 weeks pregnant. Call (727) 846-9999.

St. Anne Byzantine Catholic Church, 7120 Massachusetts Ave., hosts a breakfast buffet at 11:30 a.m. Sunday. The buffet will consist of a fruit bowl, eggs, sausage, bacon, potatoes, pancakes, grits, Danish, biscuits, bread orange juice and coffee for $6 for adults and $3 for children younger than 12. There will be a cake walk with homemade cakes and sweets. Reservations should be made by calling Barbara Colacicco at (727) 376-2344. No tickets will be sold at the door.

Community Congregational Church, 6533 Circle Blvd., offers a worship service at 10 a.m. Sunday with the Rev. James Wood leading the service. Handel's Holy thou Art will be performed by a vocal quartet from the choir. A coffee hour will be after the service. Call (727) 849-1943.

Asbury United Methodist Church, 4204 Thys Road, offers a Family, Friends and Neighbors service at 9:30 a.m. Sunday. The Asbury Flippers will provide a free pancake and sausage breakfast. After breakfast, at 10:30 a.m., is the worship service with special music led by Pastor Lin Osborn. Call (727) 376-6218.

Love is for Eternity Ministries (L.I.F.E), 7511 Little Road, Bldg. C, offers Christian recovery, growth and support groups each week. There are groups for alcoholics, an Al-anon group, biblical 12-step groups for all addictions and a parents' support group. Call (727) 847-0222 for times and dates or visit the Web site at loveisforeternity.com.

Faith Lutheran Church, 5443 Sunset Road, offers worship services at 8 and 11 a.m. Sundays. Sunday school and Bible classes are at 9:30 a.m. Call (727) 849-4418.

Westminster Presbyterian Church, 4125 U.S. 19, offers a hymn sing at 10:15 a.m. Sunday, with regular worship service at 10:30 a.m. Dr. Paul Richards' sermon will be "From Bitter End to Bitter End." Coffee fellowship is at 9 a.m. Thursdays with Bible study at 10 a.m. Call (727) 849-4905.

River of Praise Church, 5320 Palmetto Road, offers a series of sermons by Pastor Ron Peeples through November at 10:30 a.m. on "The Voice of Thanksgiving." There is nursery and children's church during the service. Visit riverofpraisechurch.com or call (727) 849-2762.

First Church of the Nazarene, 5342 Avery Road, offers Sunday school at 9:45 a.m., morning worship is at 10:45 and evening worship is at 6 each Sunday. The church has a Wednesday service at 7 p.m. Call (727) 849-3998.

Covenant Christian Church, 6814 Indiana Ave., has a Wednesday service at 7:30 p.m. The church offers men's ministry at 9 a.m. Saturdays and women's ministry at 7 p.m. the second Thursday of each month. There is prayer from 7 to 8 p.m. each Friday. Call (727) 842-4566.

St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, 5326 Charles St., offers the Holy Eucharist at 5:30 p.m. each Saturday and services are at 7:30, 9 and 11 a.m. Sunday with nursery available at the 9 and 11 a.m. services. Church school is at 9 a.m. 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. Feast Day of St. Andrew the Apostle will be celebrated with the Holy Eucharist at 10 a.m. Nov. 30. Call (727) 849-4330.

Joyful Spirit Lutheran Church, 8812 Old County Road 54, offers contemporary services at 8 and 9:15 a.m. and a traditional service at 11:15 a.m. each Sunday. The Rev. Jerry Nordsiek is the pastor. Call (727) 376-0919.

Calvary Chapel Worship Center, 6825 Trouble Creek Road, offers worship services at 8:10, 8:45 and 11:15 a.m. Sundays. The pastor is the Rev. Bill Strayer. There is a Thursday evening service at 7. Visit the Web site at ccwc.org for times and days of other ministry services, or call (727) 376-7733.

Odessa

Spirit of Life Unitarian Universalists, 18412 Burrell Road, offers a service at 11 a.m. each Sunday with a coffee discussion group at 10 a.m. Children's activities and childcare also begin at 10 a.m. Call (813) 792-1622.

Port Richey

The Salvation Army West Pasco, Center of Hope, 8040 Washington St., is accepting Christmas assistance applications from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Wednesday. This program assists individuals with a holiday food box and individuals and families with children up to age 12 with Christmas toys and or a food box. Applicants need to bring a valid driver's license or state issued I.D. card, Social Security cards for all family members, birth certificates if child's last name is different from parent or guardian, proof of income and proof of Pasco County residency. Call (727) 847-6321, ext. 17.

Congregation Beth Tefillah, a conservative synagogue that meets at the Jewish Community Center of West Pasco, 9841 Scenic Drive, offers adult education classes at 11 a.m. Mondays through Dec. 10. On Monday, a membership meeting and elections are scheduled. Shabbat services are 8 p.m. each Friday and at 9:30 a.m. Saturdays. A Women's Club meeting is 12:30 p.m. Nov. 28. Call (727) 847-3814.

First Presbyterian Church, 7540 Ridge Road, will show the movie The Christmas Box on an 80-inch wide-screen television at 3 p.m. today. The price of admission is the donation of a new unwrapped item placed in a gift bag for a child younger than 16. This will be donated to the Angel Tree for the Pasco County foster children. On Wednesday at 7 p.m., the church will have a Thanksgiving Eve worship service with refreshments afterward in the fellowship hall. Visit the Web site at fpcportrichey.org or call (727) 849-1898.

Calvary Chapel Pasco, 6454 Ridge Road, offers contemporary worship and Bible teaching at 10:30 a.m. Sundays with children services at the same time. The church also has Bible study at 7 p.m. Tuesday and a 7 p.m. worship service on Wednesdays. Call (727) 534-1626.

Salvation Army the Corps and Worship Center, 7745 Ridge Road, offers Sunday school at 9:45 a.m. and a morning worship service at 11 a.m. each Sunday. Call (727) 815-8539.

King of Kings Lutheran Church, 10337 U.S. 19, offers a Thanksgiving Eve service at 6 p.m. Wednesday, followed by the King of Kings Second Annual Pie Fest in the social room. Coffee and dessert are free. The Sunday school for children and adults from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Sundays. The pastor is the Rev. Howard Nielsen. Praise worship service is at 8:30 a.m. and a traditional service is at 10:30 a.m. each Sunday. Call (727) 868-5744.

St. James the Apostle Catholic Church, 8400 Monarch Drive, will have SHARE Food Network registration and distribution from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. today. Packages are $18 in cash or Food Stamps for $36 to $40 worth of food. Volunteering is encouraged. Call (727) 849-2254 or (727) 226-2854.

Tarpon Springs

Congregation B'nai Emmunah, a Reform Jewish synagogue, 3374 Keystone Road, offers early Shabbat services at 6:45 p.m. the first Shabbat of each month. Other Shabbat evening services are at 8 p.m. every Friday with a member-hosted Oneg afterward. A Saturday morning Shabbat service and study of the weekly Torah portion are at 9:30 a.m. the second Saturday of each month. "Torture is a Moral Issue" is the topic during the congregation's Lunch with the Rabbi Program at noon Nov. 28. Call (727) 944-2261 to reserve a place for the lunch. Hebrew reading and Torah Topics are offered most Tuesday evenings. Call (727) 938-9000 for times and dates.

Other offerings

Unity Church of Clearwater, 2465 Nursery Road, will have a special service to commemorate the Transgender Day of Remembrance at 7 p.m. Monday. The service will feature prayers, a candle-lighting ritual in remembrance of those killed due to anti-transgender hatred and violence, music by Faith Rivera and a personal reflection by Susan Stanton. An offering will be taken to support Equality Florida. Call (727) 667-3398.

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 November 16, 2007, 21:51:24]