Anchorage Daily News

SPACE DAY: Join Trinity Presbyterian Church, 12310 Lorraine St., as it hosts Space Day from noon to 3 p.m. today. Visit with space experts from the Challenger Space Center, explore the stars in a planetarium, and enjoy free food. Money will be raised for Huffman Elementary School. For details, call 345-4823 or visit www.trinityalaska.org.

GOSPEL MUSIC FESTIVAL: Listen to gospel, bluegrass and Christian music from noon to 8 p.m. today at Immanuel Baptist Church, 6748 Old Seward Highway. Free. Food will be available. For details, call 349-2912.

CHURCH IN THE PARK: Calvary Chapel South Anchorage invites the community to a free barbecue and worship from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Kincaid Park Chalet, 9401 W. Raspberry Road. Enjoy hamburgers, hot dogs and contemporary Christian music. Kids ministry is available. For details, call 382-7414 or visit www.calvarychapelsouthanchorage.org.

CHRIST OUR SAVOIR: Christ Our Savior Lutheran, 1612 Oceanview Drive, will gather for communion worship at 10:30 a.m. Sunday. The sermon will look at poor farming from Matthew 13. Intergenerational Sunday school gathers at 9:45 a.m. with a look at the parable of the sower and the seeds. There will be an ice cream social and discussion on community organizing at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. New emergent worship meets at 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays. For details, call 345-3858.

JOY PICNIC: All are welcome to join Joy Lutheran Church for a potluck picnic from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday at Schroeder Park Pavilion, 12401 End St., Eagle River. Hamburgers and hot dogs will be provided. For details, call 694-9601 or visit www.joy-lutheran.com.

BIRCHWOOD CAMP PLAY: The Birchwood Music and Drama Camp will perform the play "What Is Happiness?" at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at St. John United Methodist Church, 1801 O'Malley Road. Donations accepted. For details, call 344-3025.

LOCAL CELEBRITY SPEAKS: John Carpenter, sports anchor for Channel 2 News, will speak at Baxter Road Bible Church, 3600 Baxter Road, at 9 and 11 a.m. Sunday. For details, call 337-5222.

NATIONAL CELEBRITIES SPEAK: Tim LaHaye will speak at the 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. services Sunday at Anchorage Baptist Temple, 6401 E. Northern Lights Blvd. He is the author of the best-selling series "Left Behind." Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council will speak at the 10 a.m. service July 20. He will discuss political issues of concern to Christians. Franklin Graham will speak at 11 a.m. He is president of Samaritan's Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. For details, call 333-6535.

SUMMER SERIES: Trinity Presbyterian Church, 12310 Lorraine St., dives into "Conversations ..." at 10:30 a.m. and 7:07 p.m. Sundays. Learn how to enter into meaningful discussions with people who have different beliefs than you. Child care and kids' church are available. For details, call 345-4823 or visit www.trinityalaska.org.

BUDDHIST SERVICES: The White Lotus Center for Shin Buddhism will have services at 11 a.m. Sundays at the Alaska Pacific University chapel, Atwood Building. Services are open to everyone and are followed by discussions on the compassion and wisdom of Buddhist teachings. For details, call 306-0620 or visit www.akshin.net.

WOMEN'S CLASS: Anchorage Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 3201 Turnagain St., offers an adult class, "Cakes for the Queen of Heaven in Ancient Times," from 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday. This is a participatory program for women about women's history when God was Goddess. For details, call Shirley at 563-4499.

STRONG BONDS: The Rev. Rick Cavens continues his marriage enrichment course at 6 p.m. Mondays through July 21 at St. Mark Evangelical Lutheran Church, 3230 Lake Otis Parkway. Sunday services are at 8:30 and 11 a.m., with Holy Communion at 11 a.m. For details, call 276-6231.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL: Jewel Lake Parish Church, 3833 Strawberry Road, will host Power Lab from 9 a.m. to noon Monday to Friday for kindergarten to sixth grade. For details, call 243-2146.

SPAGHETTI FEED: Solid Rock Climbers for Christ will host a spaghetti feed at 6 p.m. July 19 at Reed Lakes parking lot, Archangel Road, Palmer. The free dinner will include climbing presentations. Climb all day and then join the fun. For details, e-mail Tyler at cfitzgerald@alaska pacific.edu or visit www.srcfc.org.

COMMUNITY PICNICS: GraceWorks in Alaska will host a picnic in the park for Mountain View residents at 6 p.m. July 25 at Kanchee Park, East Fourth Avenue and Klevin Street, and Friday and Aug. 1 at the Boys and Girls Club, 315 N. Price St. Mission teams from the Lower 48 will also be conducting community classes for adults, Bible clubs in the park for kids and community service around Anchorage. For details, call Scott at 440-4974 or Traci at 223-3781.

YELLOW RIBBON RALLY: Christian Church of Anchorage, 10800 Lake Otis Parkway, will honor veterans and fighting troops at 11 a.m. Aug. 3. Cecil Todd, founder and president of the World-Wide Revival Fires Ministry from Branson, Mo., will speak. The rally is to show support for our troops and to call Americans to prayer. Military uniforms are encouraged. For details, call 522-6020 or visit www.christianchurchofanchorage.com.

FEED THE KIDS: Ready-to-eat meals are being collected at Joy Lutheran Church, 10111 E. Eagle River Loop Road, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and after Sunday worship to Aug. 20. The food will be donated to the Eagle River food pantry. Warm outer clothing will be collected for Help Us Give School Supplies program. For details, call 694-9601 or visit www.joy-lutheran.com.

TUESDAY TOURS: Learn about Grace Christian School, 12407 Pintail St., from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through the summer. The school is enrolling students for the fall. Grace offers AP classes, worldwide missions trips, state championship athletics, and first class music and drama, with 95 percent of its seniors college-bound. For details, call 345-4814.

PB&J KIDS: Children 3 years old to sixth grade will learn Bible stories, do crafts, sing and learn a variety of sports at 6:45 p.m. Wednesdays through Aug. 6 at Jewel Lake Church of the Nazarene, 4025 W. 88th Ave. Free. For details, call 243-2344 or visit www.jlcn.org.

CASTING CROWNS TICKETS: Advance tickets are on sale at the Radio Espresso, 2709 Boniface Parkway, for the Casting Crowns concerts Aug. 8 and 9 at Anchorage Baptist Temple. Tickets are $30. For details, call 269-3872.

ONGOING

GRIEF AND DIVORCE SUPPORT: Muldoon Community Assembly, 7041 DeBarr Road, sponsors free support groups from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturdays. Grief Share is for people who have experienced the loss of a loved one. Groups offer hope and healing for adults and children going through separation and divorce. To register or for details, call 272-3212 or 338-6777.

MONDAY MEDITATION: Jitters Cafe, 11401 Old Glenn Highway, Eagle River, hosts Buddhist monk lectures and meditation classes at 7 p.m. Mondays. Sponsored by the Tilopa Buddhist Centre. Suggested donation is $5. For details, call 250-9454 or visit www.meditateinalaska.org.

INFINITE WAY: Recorded lectures by Joel Goldsmith will be presented at 11 a.m. Saturdays. A 15-minute meditation period will precede and follow each lecture. For details and location, call 522-0508.

PUBLIC DHARMA TALKS: The Rev. Koun Franz will speak at 10:25 a.m. Sundays at the Anchorage Zen Community, 359 E. 24th Ave. Instruction, study groups and other activities are also offered. For details, call 566-0143 or visit www.alaska-zen.org.

SPECIAL NEEDS: Trinity Presbyterian Church, 12310 Lorraine St., offers "Come on IN" Sunday school from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Sundays. This program for intensive/special-needs children meets during adult worship and is staffed by trained professionals. Birthday parties can be arranged. It's free, but registration is required. For details, call 345-4823.

24-HOUR PRAYER: The Alaska Center for Spiritual Living is sponsoring 24/7 prayer assistance by professionally trained prayer practitioners. All calls are confidential. Call 677-2937 or toll-free at 1-866-750-7729.

BIBLE STUDY: First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, 3031 LaTouche St., will host an adult Bible study on the Gospel of Matthew at 9:30 a.m. Sundays with worship at 10:30 a.m. For details, call 272-0615.

ANCHORAGE VINEYARD GROUPS: Anchorage Vineyard Church, 1800 W. 48th Ave., Suite G, offers prayer, study and support groups weekly. For details, visit www.akvineyard.org.

BENEFIT COOKBOOK: Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church, 2800 O'Malley Road, offers "Tastes Like Home: Mediterranean Cooking in Alaska" for sale after services every Sunday. The cost is $25 plus shipping if purchased online. For details, call 348-0651 or visit www.medcooking alaska.blogspot.com.

BISHOP CONSECRATION: Presiding prelate, Bishop Larry Trotter, will officiate the consecration of The Rev. C.R. Hawkins of True Vine Ministries at 10 a.m. July 26 at Abbott Loop Community Church, 2626 Abbott Road. The event will be the first Episcopal bishopric consecration in Alaska history. There will be singing and sacred rituals, and the community is invited. For details, call 272-3617.

BUDDHIST INTRODUCTION: The SGI-USA Buddhist organization hosts a meeting at 7 p.m. the first Monday of each month at the SGI-USA Alaska Community Center, 2702 Gambell St., Suite 202. Learn how to create world peace through individual happiness. For details, call 274-8889.

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE RADIO: The Christian Science Radio Sentinel will broadcast at 8:30 a.m. Sunday on KBYR 700-AM. The topic will be "Curing the Incurable." Last week's program repeats at 8 a.m. Join an Internet chat with Rebecca Odegaard on "Finding the Job That's Right for You" at 10 a.m. Tuesday at www.spirituality.com. For details, call 272-0226 or visit wwwchristianscience.com.

Matters of Faith is compiled by Joy Guest, who can be reached at 257-4315. To submit an event, go to adn.com and click on "Submit an event." E-mail announcements to hometown@adn.com by 5 p.m. Tuesday for publication on Saturday's Religion page. Type "religion" in the subject line.

This week

TUESDAY: St. Swithin's Day (Christian)

FRIDAY: Asalha Puja Day -- Dharma Day (Buddhist), Guru Purnima (Hindu)

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