Offerings

4/19/2008

Eastern Orthodox Christians will observe Good Friday on April 25 and celebrate Easter, or Pascha, on April 27.

The observance by the world's 300 million Orthodox Christians comes five weeks after the Western Christian Easter because of differences in how the date of the holy day is calculated.

For Eastern Orthodox, Easter always falls after the Jewish Passover in order to follow the biblical sequence. Western Christianity observes Easter on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox.

Among the local Good Friday celebrations will be a children's retreat at 11 a.m. at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 740 North Superior St., followed by a Service of the Removal of the body of Jesus off the Cross at 2 p.m. and Lamentations at 7:30 p.m.

For Easter, the Pan Orthodox Agape Service, Vespers of Love, will take place at noon at St. George Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral, 3754 Woodley Rd., with Bishop Mark Maymon presiding.

The Jewish holiday of Passover begins tonight with the lighting of candles at

9:01.

The eight-day holiday marks the Jews' escape from Egyptian bondage as described in the Book of Exodus.

One of the central rituals for the holiday is the Passover Seder, in which families and friends gather to read the story of the exodus and enjoy a meal that includes symbols of Jewish heritage.

Passover ends this year at 9:15 p.m. April 27.

The Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Toledo and Vicinity and Search-lite Ministries, Inc., will present "Prayer Summit 2008" at 6 p.m. Friday and starting at 8 a.m. April 26 at Walls Memorial Chapel AME, 701 Indiana Ave.

The Rev. Lee Williams, pastor of the Search-lite Community Church of Toledo, will be the guest speaker at 6:30 p.m. April 26. Mr. Williams is the chief facilitator of the Prayer Summit; the Rev. Shirley Sparks is host pastor and the Rev. Cedric Brock is president of the alliance.

More information is available by calling Search-lite Community Church, 419-787-2230.

The Baha'is of Lucas County will celebrate the 12-day Festival of Ridvan starting Monday with social gatherings, devotional services, and election of their local administrative body.

The festival celebrates the proclamation of Baha'u'llah, the prophet and founder of the Baha'i faith, to his followers that he was God's messenger. The public proclamation was made in a garden in Baghdad, which he called "The Garden of Ridvan," or Persian for paradise, where he stayed from April 21 to May 2, 1863.

A local public celebration will be at 7 p.m. on April 29, the Ninth Day of Ridvan. For information, call 419-882-5642.

Faith in Pink, a program for churches to get involved in fighting breast cancer and celebrating survivors, will be held locally on May 11, Mother's Day.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure Northwest Ohio Affiliate is providing churches that register for the program with free educational materials, a list of ideas, and sample script to share with congregations.

Registration is due by April 28 by calling Chris Demko, 419-329-2137, or online at www.komennwohio.org.

ADRIAN, Mich. - The Adrian Dominican Sisters series of Earth Day events continues with presentations on nuclear energy Monday and hands-on youth displays of solar panels, hybrid cars, and crafts and music on Tuesday. The nuclear energy lectures will be given Monday by John LaForge, co-director of Nukewatch, a peace and environmental action group, at noon in Science Room 131, and at 7 p.m. in the Weber Conference and Retreat Center at Siena Heights University, 1257 East Siena Heights Drive.

LOS ANGELES - Relics of Catholic saints considered to be patrons of the armed forces will visit bases around the world, according to Thomas Serafin, president of the Apostolate for Holy Relics.

Relics of Saints Anthony of Padua, patron of sailors; Therese of Lisieux, patron of pilots and air crews, and Ignatius of Loyola, patron of soldiers, will begin a tour of military bases starting Tuesday.

A tour schedule is available online at www.relictour.org.