Reading Eagle: Diocese of Allentown awards poverty relief grants [Religion Digest]

Reading Eagle, Reading Eagle, Pa.
·5 min read

Apr. 23—The Diocese of Allentown has awarded 24 poverty relief grants for humanitarian outreach and assistance in Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Northampton and Schuylkill counties.

Nonprofit agencies and parish charitable groups will share in a total of $109,250 in grants for such things as hospice and medical care, food for the hungry, clothing, shelter, counseling and aid for disadvantaged families. Care is provided to people in need regardless of their religious affiliation.

Money for the grants comes from a special collection taken in each parish of the diocese.

Here is a list of this year's grants for Berks County:

—St. Francis Home, Cumru Township: $9,000 to help people suffering with terminal illness.

—Western Berks Free Medical Clinic, Lower Heidelberg Township: $1,500 for a new electro-cardiogram machine.

—Clare of Assisi House, Reading: $7,500 for transitional housing for women ex-offenders.

—Holy Guardian Angels Parish, Muhlenberg Township: $5,000 to help needy families.

—St. Benedict Parish, Robeson Township: $6,000 to assist the poor in the Reading area.

The next Poverty Relief Collection will be taken on Nov. 19 and 20.

----Calvary United Church of Christ, 640 Centre Ave., Reading, will host an Earth Day Sabbath with Stations of the Environment at 8 and 10:30 a.m. in worship. The Rev. Dr. Steve Ohnsman, pastor, will provide special music at both services. There will also be an adult forum at 9.

—Kissinger's Church, 715 Berkshire Blvd., Wyomissing, will present a dramatic presentation of "With All My Heart, Corrie Ten Boom" by Act 1 Productions and starring Debi Irene Wahl next Saturday at 6 p.m. Refreshments will be served afterwards. Donations will be accepted. Kissinger's also will hold an hour of prayer on Wednesday from 4 to 5 p.m. The public is invited to attend to submit prayer requests and to pray for others.

—Zion and St. Paul's United Church of Christ will worship together at 301 W. Penn Ave., Robesonia at 10:15 a.m. on Sunday by YouTube, in person and by telephone. Details can be found at 1zion.org or sprucc.org. Holy Humor Sunday will be observed. The theme is "Good News." Bible study is available on Tuesday mornings at 9 a.m. by Zoom and Wednesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. by Zoom or in person.

—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. Adult Sunday school will be held at 10:15 in the parlor. The Confirmation class will meet in Room E at 10:15 a.m.

—Reformation Lutheran Church, 3670 Perkiomen Ave., Exeter Township, will hold in-person worship Sunday at 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. Masks are optional. The 10:30 service will be livestreamed on Facebook and can be viewed at www.Reformationlutheran.org under worship videos. Sunday school for all ages meets at 9:30.

—Trinity Lutheran Church, 121 S Home Ave., Topton, hold in-person worship Sunday at 9 a.m., with Holy Communion, or any time online on YouTube or Facebook. Masks are optional. The church will be welcoming Daniel Shuman as its new music director. There will be a reception immediately following worship. Sunday school is at 10.

—Olive Leaf Chapel, 846 Fritztown Road, Spring Township, presents a performance by Jeff Krick Jr. next Saturday at 7 p.m. Admission fee is a $10 donation.

—Christ Episcopal Church, 435 Court St., Reading, will hold three worship services on Sunday, all including the 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. Masks are optional. Parking is available at the Abraham Lincoln parking garage and the M & T Bank lot, both off of Washington street. Parking next to the church on Court Street is available for those who are disabled or need assistance. On Thursday at 11, Morning Prayer service from the Book of Common Prayer will be held at the Red Bridge recreational area, weather permitting. To join the livestream of the service and meeting and to find access to Centering Prayer Zoom, go to rdgchristchurch.org.

—Grace Lutheran Church, 30 Liberty St., Shillington, will worship in-person Sunday at 9:30 a.m. with special music and Holy Communion and also online at graceshillington.org. Children's Sunday school is at 9:45 and confirmation class at 10:45. There will be a coffee hour after worship in Fellowship Hall.

—Schwarzwald Lutheran Church, 250 Church Lane Road, Exeter Township, will hold in-person worship Sunday at 10:30 a.m. The recorded services will be available the next day on Facebook.

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

—St. Paul's United Church of Christ, 5 W. Arch St., Fleetwood, will have two worship services in the sanctuary on Sunday, 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. Special music at 9 will be "Shout to the Lord" with Vicky Garl, Erin Goldman, Tina Koch and the Rev. John Folk, and at 10:30 "Shines the Light" by the Chancel Choir. Worship leaders are Alexis Ames at 9 and Stella Koch

at 10:30.

—Maidencreek Church, 261 Main St., Maidencreek Township, will hold a hybrid worship service Sunday at 9 a.m. Special music includes a singalong with Maynard Koplin on clarinet; piano and drum duet by Sam and Willa Pinsk; piano duet by Megan Eserly and Kimberly Ayrton; piano solo by Kimberly Ayrton; as well as two congregational hymns. In-person worship is livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube. Links can be found at maidencreekchurch.org.