Speaker to address 'Christian Nationalism' at Albright, Calvary UCC in Reading [Religion digest]

Mar. 25----Dr. Robert P. Jones, executive director of the Public Religion Research Institute, will speak about "Christian Nationalism" at 7 p.m. in the McMillan Center south lounge at Albright College. He has written two award-winning books. The PRRI does research on religion and culture. On Friday, Jones will and do a workshop at Calvary United Church of Christ, 640 Centre Ave., Reading, from 9:30-11:30 a.m. There will be a roundtable discussion during lunch. Those wanting to attend can sign up by Eventbrite, https://www.eventbrite.com/o/steve-ohnsman-pastor-calvary-ucc-rdg-pa-61762964403 or email church@calvaryreformeducc.org. The program and lunch are free, but attendees have to register, especially for lunch.

—Reformation Lutheran Church, 3670 Perkiomen Ave., Exeter Township, will worship Sunday at 8:30 a.m., with Holy Communion, and 10:30 a.m. with Holy Communion. The 10:30 Jazz Worship service will feature a jazz sextet as part of the Boscov's Berks Jazz Fest with Al Rochlin, trumpet; Greg Wilson, saxophone; Mandy Mawson, bass; Rob Benton, percussion; Paul Columbo, guitar; Heidi Rochlin, piano; and the Reformation Choir. The jazz will spill-over to a brunch in the parish hall following worship. The 10:30 worship service will be livestreamed on Reformation's Facebook page and may be viewed live or later at www.Reformationlutheran.org under worship videos. Sunday school for all ages begins at 9:30. There will be a Lenten service with Holden Evening Prayer at 7 p.m. on Wednesday. A soup and bread supper precedes the service at 5:45 in the parish hall, and a Lenten Bible study, led by the Rev. Paul Metzloff, pastor, follows the service at 7:30 in the church parlor.

—St. John's Gernant's Church (A Federated Congregation), 13 Gernant's Church Road, Ontelaunee Township, will worship Sunday at 9:30 a.m. in the church. An instrumental duet will be performed by guest flutist Rachael Kirkhoff and Shirley Breininger entitled "His Presence Brings Peace." Bible study will be held on Tuesday at 1 p.m. The churches of the Schuylkill Valley Pastor's Association will be joining together for a soup and sandwich meal and worship service on Wednesday at noon at Bethany Evangelical Church, 308 Main St., Leesport. St. John's Gernant's Church will be holding a Vera Bradley, gift baskets and meat Tray fundraiser bingo on April 16. Doors open at 12:30 p.m. Advance tickets are $20, $25 at the door $25. Call 484 269-4204 for tickets.

—St. Andrew's United Church of Christ, 1320 Spruce St., Reading, will be holding a spring food sale today from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Homemade beef vegetable soup, ham and bean soup, hamburger barbecue and macaroni salad; also, hot dogs, shoo-fly pies, beverages and assorted baked goods will be available for purchase to eat in and/or take out.

—Christ Lutheran Church, 222 Niantic Road, Washington Township, will worship Sunday at 9 a.m. Coffee & Conversation will be held at 8:30 and 10 in the Welcome Center. The adult Sunday school class will be held at 10 in the parlor. Confirmation class will meet in room I at 10. A Lenten service will be held with the members of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 1809 Sassamansville Road, New Hanover Township, Montgomery County, on Wednesday beginning with a soup supper (sign up required) at 6 p.m. followed by worship at 7. For more information, visit www.christniantic.com.

—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. The service also will be livestreamed on Facebook.

—Schwarzwald Lutheran Church, 250 Church Lane Road, Exeter Township, will worship Sunday at 10:30 a.m.

—St. John's Lutheran Church, 45 N. Reading Ave., Boyertown, will worship on Sunday at 9:30 a.m., also livestreamed on YouTube (St. John's ELC Boyertown). Children's Sunday school is at 9:30 a.m. Midweek Lent worship Wednesdays in March is at 7 p.m. Free drive-through, take-out meal every Saturday from 4:30-5:30 p.m. No registration necessary.

—Calvary United Church of Christ, 1231 Route 100, Washington Township, will hold worship in-person and livestreamed on Facebook and by Zoom on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. For Zoom, call 1-646-558-8656 and enter the meeting ID 913 8085 8414, passcode 848423.

—Christ Episcopal Church, 435 Court St., Reading, will hold two worship services on Sunday, each including Holy Eucharist; at 8 a.m., a spoken-word service from the Book of Common Prayer, and at 10 a.m., a family service with music. At 9:05, Jerry Kennedy will present "A Bittersweet Deal: the Diabetes Business" in the first-floor parlor. Parking is available at the Abe Lincoln Hotel parking garage and the M&T Bank lot, both off of Washington Street. Handicap spaces are available beside the church on Court Street. On Wednesday, the Lenten series continues with book study in the parlor at 10:30 a.m. There will be Stations of the Cross at 11:30 followed by worship with Holy Eucharist, both in the sanctuary. On Thursday at 11, a Morning Prayer service from The Book of Common Prayer will be held in the first-floor chapel. To access the Centering Prayer Zoom link or to find out more about us, go to rdgchristchurch.org.

—Oley Valley Mennonite Church,1571 Memorial Highway, Oley Township, will worship on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. For more information, visit www.oleyvalleymennonitechurch.com.

—Epler's Church, United Church of of Christ, 1151 W. Leesport Road, Bern Township, will hold a Healing Service Sunday at 10:30 a.m., in person and on Facebook. Sunday school for all ages is at 9:30. For more information, visit www.eplerschurch.org.

—Good Shepherd United Church of Christ, 170 Tuckerton Road, Muhlenberg Township will worship Sunday at 10:30 a.m. The service is also available on Facebook and YouTube. A community game night will be held Tuesday from 6-8 p.m. An Easter egg hunt will be open to the public next Saturday beginning at 12:30 p.m, with a story.

—People with special needs/IIDD, their friends and family are invited to the Berks Festival of Faith free supper and worship service at Bern Lutheran Church, 820 W. Leesport Road, Bern Township, on Tuesday. The free ham and macaroni and cheese supper prepared by Zion Moselem Lutheran Church, Kutztown, will be served from 4:30-5:30 p.m. The Lenten worship service will start at 5:45.

—Trinity United Church of Christ, 2449 Cumberland Ave, Mount Penn, will worship Sunday at 10:15 a.m.. Scott Troutman will sing, "Me On Your Mind."

—Kissinger's Church, 715 Berkshire Blvd., Wyomissing, will host a Seder presentation and meal on Wednesday from 5-8 p.m. with Jeffrey D. Miller, the host of "Messianic Minutes," as he leads an evening of fun, fellowship and teaching, including a chicken dinner. A limited number of tickets remain. Suggested donation: $10 per person. Free will offering for the presenter. Tickets required in advance. To reserve your place, contact Pauline at 610-927-3405. Payment is due upon arrival. There also will be an hour of prayer on Wednesday at 4 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 worship on Sunday at 9 a.m., led by the Rev. William Maxon. Music includes a vocal duet by Rodney Beard and Luann Shuman, a selection by the Bell Choir; and piano and organ selections by Kimberly Ayrton. The service is livestreamed to Facebook and YouTube. Links can be found at www.maidencreekchurch.org.

—Zion's Spies Evangelical Reformed Church, 318 Spies Church Road, Alsace Township, will worship on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. The service may be viewed in person or watched on Facebook. Music by the choir will be "Praise The Lord Of Love," under the direction of Jeff Griffin. Sunday school begins at 9. On Palm Sunday, there will be an Easter skit by the Sunday school during worship. On Maundy Thursday, there will be a service at 7:30 p.m. On Good Friday, there will be a prayer vigil from 2-8 p.m. For more information, go to www.zionspieser.com.