The First Spiritualist Church of Salem will host a recognition dinner on Saturday, May 5, and its annual Victorian Sunday on Sunday, May 6, at 34 Warren St., Salem. The events are part of the church's Victorian weekend to celebrate spiritualist roots. Also, the church will host an auction at 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 19, featuring several donations. More information about Victorian weekend and the auction can be found at www.firstspritualistsalem.org.
In response to the killing of Trayvon Martin in Florida, St. Peter's Episcopal Church, located at 4 Ocean St., Beverly, presents a four-week series about Christians and racial justice, designed to spark discussion, thought and action. The series is based on articles and questions posed by "Sojourners," a Christian magazine devoted to social justice. Session one titled "Following Jesus, Confronting Racism," will be held on April 22 at 11:30 a.m.; Session two, "Racism Today," April 29, 11:30 a.m.; Session three, "Racial Reconciliation," May 6, 11:30 a.m.; Session four, "Race and the Body of Christ," May 13, 11:30 a.m. For information, call 978-922-3438.
Wesley United Methodist Church presents a seminar on Friday, May 4, from 7 to 9:30 p.m., and Saturday, May 5, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., for couples who have or want to have a healthy marriage. The cost is $35 and includes manuals, snacks and lunch on Saturday. For more information, contact Pastor Arthur Savage at 978-744-3113 or 978-774-7841. The church is located at 8 North St., Salem.
Babies and tots of Robert I. Lappin Charitable Foundation's PJ Library are invited to meet up and stroll with an adult on Wednesdays from April 25 through June 6 from 10 to 11 a.m. at Forest River Park, off Lafayette Street and at the end of West Avenue, Salem. Free parking is available. PJ Library Sunshine Strollers will meet, weather-permitting, at the entrance to the beach at the top of the parking lot and stroll around the paved road. The program is free, but reservations are suggested to Phyllis Osher, program associate, at 978-740-4404 or posher@rilcf.org.
The First Spiritualist Church of Salem will present gallery readings and dinner at 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 21, at 34 Warren St., Salem. The event includes popular gallery readings at 6:30 p.m., a 50-50 raffle and dinner. Gallery readings mediums are Patricia Cizewski, Joyce DeFazio, Sirry Berndsen, Jason McCuish and Mark Bettano. Seating is limited to 40, and reservations are required at www.firstspiritualistsalem.org/index.html. The cost is $20 per person. All proceeds will benefit the church's building fund.
The Judith Grant Rice Scholarship Fund at Ascension Memorial Church, 31 County St., Ipswich, is accepting applications through Sunday, May 6. Applicants must be students entering college and members of Ascension Memorial Church. Selection will be based on all-around scholarship, good character, eagerness for and deserving of an opportunity for a four-year college degree, and need for financial assistance. Also, students reapplying for a book grant must submit applications on or before May 6. Applications are available in the parish office of the church. The awards will be announced June 3. Questions may be directed to 978-356-2560 or amcipswich@verizon.net.
Christ the Redeemer Church, 188 Elliott St., on the Beverly/Danvers town line, will offer a seven-week course on how to maintain a strong marriage. The course begins on Tuesday, May 8, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. and continues on Tuesday evenings through June 19. Couples dine at a private table and discuss topics presented by a DVD. There are no public discussion groups. The cost is $100 per couple and covers the course and seven dinners. To reserve a table, contact Scott Donis at sdonis@gordonconwell.edu or call the church office at 978-774-3163. For more information, visit www.ctr-anglican.org.
A Different Christian Voice, a new progressive spiritual community at 189 N. Main St., Middleton, is offering the following hourlong conversation experiences, open to everyone: "Overcoming Worry: Practical Help & Simple Solutions," Sunday, April 22, 4:30 p.m.; and "The Aliens are Coming: What if it's True?" Sunday, April 29, 4:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.adifferentchristianvoice.org or call 978-973-2466.
The Swampscott Church of Spiritualism presents the annual Spring Spiritual Festival on Saturday, May 5, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 59 Burrill St., Swampscott. The festival offers a variety of spiritual readings, including spirit readings with mediums, angel cards and tarot cards, astrology readings, aura-soma color card readings, crafts and more. Doors open at 9:45 a.m. The cost is $25 for the first 15-minute reading and $20 for each additional reading but free to those only visiting vendors. Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling 781-595-6972; registrants should leave their name and phone number. Walk-ins are welcome, but come early. For more information, visit www.swampscottchurchofspiritualism.org.
A community concert set for Tuesday, April 24, at 7 p.m. at Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church, 1 Pineswamp Road, Ipswich, will raise funds for Choi Sungbong, "Korea's Got Talent" finalist. At age 3, Sungbong was abandoned in an orphanage and later escaped at age 5 after being beaten and bullied. He supported himself by selling chewing gums, drinks, baked sweet potatoes and stuffed toys, then as a paper and delivery service boy and with other physical labor jobs. He saw a vocalist singing at a nightclub, and though at the time he was still living on the streets, he aspired to be like the singer. Sungbong passed two GEDs but wanted to drop out of high school because he couldn't afford tuition or rental; the Deajun Child Fund Organization helped him graduate from the Deajun Arts High School. In 2011, Sungbong auditioned for "Korea's Got Talent" and moved audiences with his talent and story. The cost is $20 a ticket. For more information, call 978-335-8852.
The Holy Trinity United Methodist Church, 16 Sylvan St., Danvers, is providing reusable grocery bags with the church's name written on them for anyone who would like to fill one at the grocery store for the Danvers People to People Food Pantry. Bags can be returned to the church any Sunday of the month, and a new one obtained. For more information, call the church office at 978-777-7408.
The Temple Beth Shalom Jewish Food Pantry needs supplies and food. Items can be dropped off in the temple foyer at 489 Lowell St., Peabody. The pantry needs paper towels, toilet paper, soap, toothpaste, shampoo, kosher soups, crackers, tomato sauce, jelly, beans, tuna, pasta, juice and nonperishable milk. For more information, call 978-535-2100.
Each month, Catholic Charities North receives more requests for food assistance than can be provided with the funding available. Providing this type of assistance has grown more difficult in recent years as the demand for food assistance has risen. To help provide food to a local family who needs it, anyone may donate a gift card from a local grocery store at Catholic Charities sites at 280 Washington St., Salem, 978-740-6923, and the Family Counseling and Guidance Center, 152 Sylvan St., Danvers, on the second floor, 978-774-6820. More site locations can be found at www.ccab.org/north.
First Parish Church in Beverly, Unitarian Universalist, serves a meal to the needy at 6 p.m. every Tuesday at the church, 225 Cabot St., Beverly. For more information or to volunteer, email Ron Sweet at rtsweet@comcast.net.
Maple Street Church at 90 Maple St. in Danvers holds a food drive collection for the Danvers food pantry on the second Sunday of each month. Members are encouraged to bring juice boxes, pasta, canned soups and vegetables, and other items and leave them in the narthex or the shopping cart in the Social Hall. For more information, call Priscilla Curda at 978-777-0793 or email phcurda@verizon.net.
