Reading church holding annual Maifest service [Religion digest]

Apr. 29----Renewed Spirit Church is holding the annual Maifest on May 7 from 11 a.m. to noon at St. John's Lutheran Church, 521 Walnut St., Reading. The service will feature the Reading Liederkranz Choir under the direction of Mark Herr. Free parking is available at Henninger Funeral Home, 229 N. Fifth St., Reading. Radio station WEEU-830 AM will broadcast the service live, a tradition that dates from 1927.

—Theology With a Twist presents "Golden Years?," what the Old Testament and contemporary society say about the value of senior adults, on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Kutztown Tavern, 272 W. Main St., Kutztown. The speaker is the Rev. Dr. Deborah Appler, director, master of arts in chaplaincy and professor of Old Testament/Hebrew Bible at Moravian Theological Seminary. She will lead a presentation and discussion about the reverence and challenges of aging in the Old Testament, the modern politics of aging, struggles with elder care and the joyous possibilities of our older years.

—Kissinger's Church, 715 Berkshire Blvd., Wyomissing, will host a benefit concert on Sunday from 4-5:30 p.m. Proceeds benefit the relief efforts of the RM Palmer explosion in March. Come out and hear oldies, the music of John Denver and gospel music. A free will offering will be taken.

—Christ Lutheran Church, 222 Niantic Road, Washington Township, will hold coffee and conversation at 8:30 and 10 a.m. on Sunday in the Welcome Center.

—Berks County historian George M. Meiser IX will present a talk on "Tidbits of Old-Time Rural Berks County Church History" during the 10:30 a.m. worship service on Sunday at Schwarzwald United Church of Christ, 75 Church Lane Road, Exeter Township. For more information, visit www.schwarzwalducc-pa.org.

—Reformation Lutheran Church, 3670 Perkiomen Ave., Exeter Township, will celebrate Arbor Day on Sunday at 9:55 a.m. on the rear parking lot with the planting and blessing of a green pillar pin oak tree, which is a native species in the Mid-Atlantic states.

—St. John's Lutheran Church, 45 N. Reading Ave., Boyertown will offer a free drive-through takeout meal today from 4:30-6:30 p.m. No registration necessary.

—Berks County Grangers will join with St. John's Gernant's Church, 13 Gernant's Church Road, Ontelaunee Township, for worship on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. as they observe their annual Go to Church Sunday.

—The United Church of Christ of Robesonia, 301 W. Penn Ave., will have the following events this week: Addiction, Recovery and Faith Group meeting Monday at 7 p.m.; Bible studies on Tuesday at 9 a.m. and Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Also, a new walking group will meet next Saturday at 9 a.m. in the church parking lot to go to the walking path at Wernersville State Hospital. Information is available at sprucc.org or by calling 610-621-5770 or 610-659-2775.

—Calvary United Church of Christ, 1231 Route 100, Washington Township, will hold an indoor and outdoor flea market today from 8-11 a.m., with a 25 cent sale and basket raffle.

—On Sunday at 9 a.m. in the parlor at Christ Episcopal Church, 435 Court St., Reading, Sally Wilcox will present Part 2 of Julie Tamor's production of Mozart's "The Magic Flute" with comments. Parking is available at the Abe Lincoln parking garage and M&T Bank lot, both off of Washington Street. Handicap spaces are available beside the church on Court Street.

—Oley Valley High School student Brayden Samuelson will provide music to accompany the choir anthem on Sunday during the 10:15 a.m. service at Friedens United Church of Christ, 337 Main St., Oley. Ellen Walter will be guest musician.

—St. Peter's United Church of Christ, 2901 Curtis Road, West Lawn, will host a free Breakfast with a Purpose on Sunday at 11 a.m. immediately following the 10 a.m. worship service. Breakfast will include pancakes, sausage, fruit, juice and coffee. Free will donations will be accepted and used to help local community members in need.

—St. Paul's United Church of Christ, 5 W. Arch St., Fleetwood, will have a coffee hour in the social room after the 9 a.m. worship service on Sunday. Bible study will be held in the lounge on Wednesday at 9:30 a.m., led by Vicky Garl.

—Youth at Bern Reformed United Church of Christ, 3196 Bernville Road, Bern Township, will be preparing bag lunches to be delivered to those in need in downtown Reading after the 9:30 a.m. worship service.

In order to have an event listed in the religion digest, it must be something that is not just a regular worship service. This includes things such as guest musicians or vocalists who are not members of the church choir; guest speakers; flea markets and other sales; meals, etc. Send information to life@readingeagle.com. If you would like your church's worship times listed in the religion directory, contact Linda Day in advertising at lday@readingeagle.com or 610-371-5111.