Immanuel UCC in Shillington to honor longtime minister of music [Religion Digest]

Jul. 23----Immanuel United Church of Christ, 99 S. Waverly St., Shillington, will honor J. Richard Smoker's 50 years of music ministry during the 9 a.m. worship service on Sunday. This service marks exactly 50 years since Smoker was called to Immanuel, where he was the minister of music from July 23, 1972, to July 21, 2002. The service will include special music, including the premier of a new arrangement of Richard Gillard's "The Servant Song," commissioned from local composer David Himes. Himes will conduct the piece, which he has scored for choir, congregation, piano, organ and guitar. Dr. David McConnell, who succeeded Smoker from 2002 to 2018, will accompany the hymns and anthems on the organ, and Mike Eben and The Snack Club will perform an extended jazz prelude beginning at 8:45 with students from the Berks GetJazzED camp.

—Christ Episcopal Church, 435 Court St., Reading, will present David Cullen singing "Hymns of the Summer Spirit" tonight at 5:30. Masks are optional. Parking is available in the Abe Lincoln Hotel garage and the M&T Bank lot, both off of Washington St. Parking is also available beside the church on Court St. for those with disabilities or who need assistance. On Sunday morning, three worship services will be held, all including Holy Eucharist: at 8, a said service (no music); at 9, a service for families with young children; and at 10:30, a service with music. To join the livestream, go to rdgchristchurch.org. On Thursday at 11, a Morning Prayer service from the Book of Common Prayer will be held at the Red Bridge Recreational Area, 2141 Tulpehocken Road, Spring Township, weather permitting.

—St. Peter's United Church of Christ, 219 Maidencreek Road, Richmond Township, will worship Sunday at 10:15 a.m. with the Miller Brothers providing special music. The service will be outdoors, weather permitting. A pot luck lunch will follow the service.

—Christ Lutheran Church, 222 Niantic Road, Barto, will worship on Sunday at 9 a.m. Coffee & Conversation will be held at 8:30 in the Welcome Center and then again following worship.

—The United Church of Christ in Robesonia worships at 301 W. Penn Ave. on Sunday at 10:15 a.m. Details can be found at 1zion.org and sprucc.org. PLARN mats for the homeless will be made on Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. Soup n Such will be held Thursday from 4-6 p.m. followed by Youth Group at 6. Contact office@sprucc.org or 610-621-5770 for more information.

—Reformation Lutheran Church, 3670 Perkiomen Ave., Exeter Township, will worship Sunday at 9:30 a.m. with Holy Communion and the Reformation Summer Choir. The service also will be livestreamed on Reformation's Facebook page and may be viewed live or later at www.Reformationlutheran.org under worship videos. "Basics of Lutheranism," a new/current member class, will be led by the Rev. Paul Metzloff following worship in the parish hall and continue on July 31. Vacation Bible School, for children age 3 to grade 6, will be held Aug, 1-4 beginning with dinner at 5:30 p.m. and continuing until 7:45. Register your child at www.myvbs.org/relcvbs2022.

—Grace Lutheran Church, 30 Liberty St., Shillington, will hold a hymn sing at 9:15 a.m. on Sunday followed by a service of Holy Communion. Special music will be offered by pianist Linda Sepeda. The service will be available online after 11:45 a.m.at graceshillington.org.

—St. John's Lutheran Church, 4125 Penn Ave., Sinking Spring, will hold in-person worship Sunday at 9 a.m., with Holy Communion and special music. Masks are optional. The service also will be livestreamed on Facebook.

—Schwarzwald United Church of Christ 75 Church Lane Road, Exeter Township, will be holding an in-person and Zoom service on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. It will also be available on YouTube. For more information visit www.schwarzwalducc-pa.org.

—Schwarzwald Lutheran Church, 250 Church Lane Road, Exeter Township, will hold in-person worship Sunday at 9:30 a.m.

—St. John's Lutheran Church, 45 N. Reading Ave., Boyertown, will hold worship on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. Livestreamed worship continues on YouTube (St. John's ELC Boyertown). Free drive-through, take-out meal every Saturday from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. No registration necessary.

—Bern Reformed United Church of Christ, 3196 Bernville Road, Bern Township, offers live worship at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday or participate from your vehicle in the parking lot by means of an FM 87.9 transmission.

—St. Paul's United Church of Christ, 5 W. Arch St., Fleetwood, will have two worship services in the sanctuary, at 9 and 10:30 a.m. The 9 a.m. service also will be available on Facebook and YouTube; links can be found at www.stpaulsfleetwood.org. Worship leaders will be Bob Wolf at 9 and Sandy Renninger at 10:30. Vacation Bible school begins Sunday from 6-8 p.m.

—Kissinger's Church, 715 Berkshire Blvd., Wyomissing, will hold an Hour of Prayer on Wednesday from 4 to 6 p.m. The public is invited to attend to submit prayer requests and to pray for others.

—Maidencreek Church, 261 Main St., Maidencreek Township, will hold a hybrid worship service on Sunday at 9 a.m. Music includes piano and organ selections by Kimberly Ayrton, piano selection by Miles Esterly and a vocal solo by SaraAnn Harbonic. The service also is livestreamed to Facebook and YouTube. Links can be found at maidencreekchurch.org.