Fall Festival church service

The Southside Fall Festival will be holding church services at 9:30 a.m. Sept. 20 in Hyde Park. The Rev. Jared Hamilton will be the guest pastor, with music provided by Hymns & Her. Limited seating is available, so everyone is encouraged to bring their lawn chairs.

Worship in the park

St. Paul United Methodist Church in St. Joseph will worship in Messick Park in Savannah, Mo., at 10:30 a.m. Sept. 20. Immediately following the service there will be a carnival for kids of all ages featuring face painting, tug of war, bean-bag toss, a cookie walk and a Moonbounce. Food will also be provided. For more information, please contact the church at 279-8160. This is a free event; all you have to bring is your lawn chair.

Guest speaker at Greater Jesus Tabernacle

Greater Jesus Tabernacle, 28th Street and Mitchell Avenue, will host guest speaker Bishop John D. Birmingham Jr. at 11 a.m. Sept. 20. Mr. Birmingham began his ministry in Kansas City, Mo., reaching out to street people. He has written several books and has appeared on the "700 Club" with Pat Robertson. He has also traveled to Haiti and Jamaica carrying the gospel of Jesus Christ, His vision is to ignite the fire of evangelism in the urban churches throughout America and abroad. The public is invited.

Committee on Scouting to meet

The St. Joseph Catholic Committee on Scouting will meet at 7 p.m. Sept. 20. The new location is at 27th and Seneca streets in Xavier House, the former St. Francis convent building. Use the 27th Street entrance on the floor above the St. Francis House of Bread.

Leaders or anyone interested in Catholic Boy and Girl scouting are encouraged to attend. Plans will be made for the coming year. For more information, contact Shannon Clark, the committee's new president, at 232-0477 or Margaret Fox at 279-3498.

Ladies of Charity to meet

Ladies of Charity will meet Sept. 23 at St. Francis Parish Center, 2618 Seneca St. Rosary will be recited at 11:40 a.m., followed by Mass at noon. Lunch and a business meeting will follow. All women interested in Ladies of Charity are welcome to attend.

'Power in Perilous Times'

Women in St. Joseph and the surrounding area are invited by The General Relief Society of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day-Saints to the Platte City church building, 2700 Ensign Dr., Platte City, Mo. The annual women's broadcast, "Power in Perilous Times," will be at 5 p.m. Sept. 26. Bring Scriptures and a canned-food donation. For more information, call (660) 442-5235.

South Park UMC marks 121 years

South Park United Methodist Church, 2802 S. 19th St., will celebrate 121 years Sept. 27. The regular church service will take place at 9 a.m., and there will be a luncheon at 2 p.m., followed by a special service at 3:30 p.m. with the Rev. Steve Cox, Pony Express district superintendent. There will also be special music by the praise band from Broadway United Methodist Church in Plattsburg, Mo., and guest singer Jennifer Gerhardt from the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, Mo. Cake and punch will follow the special services.

'Where in the World is the Body of Christ?'

Sophia Center, 751 S. Eighth St. in Atchison, Kan., will host "Where in the World is the Body of Christ?" from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 3 with presenter Mary Collins, OSB. The fee is $50, including a $10 deposit. For more information, call (913) 360-6173.

St. Benedict's Abbey up for honor

The ancient tradition of the Liturgy of the Hours, practiced for the past 152 years by the monks of St. Benedict's Abbey, could be named one of the 8 Wonders of Kansas Customs later this fall. The Kansas Sampler Foundation announced Sept. 10 that Abbey's practice of reciting and chanting the Psalms four times each day for the past 15 decades is one of 24 finalists.

The finalists were chosen from a pool of some 60 public nominations. St. Benedict's Abbey's was the oldest custom in the contest. The winners will be chosen by popular vote. Votes can be entered either online or by paper ballot. To read more about the entries and to vote, go to www.kansassampler.org/8wonders and click on the 8 Wonders of Kansas Customs link. St. Benedict's Abbey's specific link is www.kansassampler.org/8wonders/customs.php?id=16. The deadline is midnight Oct. 20. Winners will be announced by Oct. 24. A link to the 8 Wonders Web site is also available at www.kansasmonks.org. Each e-mail address may vote three times.

If you are unable to vote online, mail the Kansas Sampler Foundation for a paper ballot, 978 Arapaho Road, Inman, KS 67546. Or fax the foundation at (620) 585-2217. You may also contact St. Benedict's Abbey at (913) 360-7897 or 1020 N. Second St., Atchison, KS 66002.

Winter items needed

Journey Church in St. Joseph has begun to collect donations for a November missions trip to a poor part of Kentucky. Church members are looking for coats, hats, gloves, scarves and blankets, as well as food items like canned soup, chili, soup beans, corn meal and flour. Laundry soap also is needed. Donations can be dropped off from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at Journey Church, 3004 Pickett Road, or call Kathy Moore at 262-4816.

Lifestyles reporter Erin Wisdom can be reached at religion@npgco.com.