Exeter church to hold community block party on Sunday [Religion Digest]

Sep. 9----Reformation Lutheran Church, 3670 Perkiomen Road, Exeter Township, will honor Exeter Township first responders during the 9:30 a.m. worship service on Sunday. The God's Work, Our Hands community block party will be held from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. It features first responders; community groups; food trucks: Camalli Taqueria, Jake's of Mount Penn, Roselawn Bistro and Sebastiano's Pizza; Dairy Queen ice cream sundaes; bake sale; and gluten-free/vegan offerings. Free kids activities include face painting, balloon artist, photo booth and inflatables. Service projects and health screenings. Music at the big tent provided by Reading Symphony Jr. Strings at 11, Exeter Community Band at noon and Maria Damore Band at 1. Held rain or shine.

—St. Mark's Lutheran Church, 5 Brooke Manor, Birdsboro, will hold its annual Fall Fest on Sept. 16 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on the church campus, celebrating its 150th anniversary. Food, games, a barrel train ride, face painting and moon bounce will return. There will be a silent auction with theme baskets, artwork, and vintage and antique items offered for bid. A children's only auction will provide prizes of interest to children. Music will be provided by the Happy Dutchmen German Band and East Side Dave and his band. There will also be bingo, a 50/50 raffle, a cake walk and a raffle for a handmade fall/Halloween themed quilt. Tickets for apple dumplings as well as raffle tickets for the quilt can be purchased ahead of time by visiting the church office or contacting the secretary at secretary@stmarkbirdsboro.org or 610-582-8167.

—There will be a special organ solo called "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms" during the 9:30 a.m. worship service on Sunday at St. John's Gernant's Church (A Federated Congregation) 13 Gernant's Church Road, Ontelaunee Township. A social hour will be held after the service. Bible study will be held Tuesday at 1 p.m. in Memorial Hall.

—United Church of Christ of Robesonia, 301 W. Penn Ave., will hold Bible study by Zoom on Tuesday at 9 a.m. and Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. by Zoom or in person. The Women's Lunch Group meets on Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. at Country Fare in Myerstown.

—Christ Lutheran Church, 222 Niantic Road, Douglass Township, Montgomery County, will observe God's Work, Our Hands on Sunday during the 9 a.m. worship service. Mercy Ministry and the Endowment Committee will have displays, and the Endowment Committee will host a coffee hour after the service in the Welcome Center, where there will be Coffee and Conversation at 8:30.

—Zion's Lutheran Church, 354 Zions Church Road, Perry Township, will hold an outdoor worship service on Sunday at 10:30 a.m., weather permitting. A covered dish picnic will immediately follow the service with hamburger BBQ, hot dogs and drinks provided. Bring a lawn chair.

—Christ Lutheran Church, 1301 Luzerne St., Reading welcomes back Glenside native son the Rev. Peter Cuthbert to preach at the 11 a.m. worship service on Sunday. Cuthbert is the pastor of Hillcrest Baptist Church, Raleigh, N.C. Backpacks will be blessed. A time of fellowship begins at 10:30 a.m. Chicken dinners are available for purchase to eat in or take out from noon-2 p.m.

—St. John's Lutheran Church, 45 N. Reading Ave., Boyertown, will have a free drive-through, take-out meal today from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. No registration necessary.

—A Rally Day Carnival begins on Sunday at 9:15 a.m. at Schwarzwald Lutheran Church, 250 Church Lane Road, Exeter Township. The 10:30 a.m. worship service will include a dramatic skit of the Gospel, blessing of the backpacks and installation of Sunday school teachers.

—Coffee hour will be held in the social room after the 9 a.m. worship service on Sunday at St. Paul's United Church of Christ, 5 W. Arch St., Fleetwood. The Relay for Life team is having mums delivered today, $8 each, $21 for three. The Rally Day church picnic will be held on Sept. 17 after the 10 a.m. service.

—Teri Hoffman will be the guest musician during the 10:15 a.m. worship service on Sunday at Friedens United Church of Christ, 337 Main St., Oley. The church picnic will be held in Weidner Hall after the service.

—There will be a blessing of the animals during the 9:30 a.m. outdoor worship service on Sunday at Calvary United Church of Christ, 1231 Route 100, Washington Township. The 97th annual vegetable beef soup and bake sale will be held today from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., to-go only.

—Calvary United Church of Christ, 640 Centre Ave., Reading, will have a welcome-back breakfast on Sunday from 9-10:15 a.m.

—Maidencreek Church, 261 Main St., Maidencreek Township, will feature special music by Ron Flicker and CJ Horn, alto sax duet; Kayci Rosenberger, piano selection; and Kelli Rosenberger, flute solo, at its 9 a.m. worship service on Sunday.

—Jay Worrall, president of Helping Harvest, will be the guest speaker at the 10:30 a.m. worship service on Sunday at Good Shepherd United Church of Christ, 170 Tuckerton Road, Muhlenberg Township. Backpacks will be blessed during the service. A community give-away of school supplies will be held from 1-3 p.m.

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.