Religion Notebook: Events will lead up to day of peace

One Peace, Many Paths will celebrate the International Day of Peace with a series of events leading up to Sept. 21.

• “Sounds of Peace”: Saturday at 7 p.m., musical performers, spoken word and other sounds to bring a personal experience of God’s peace at Unity Church, 2900 S. Bernard St.

The cost to attend is $10 per person or $20 per family.

• “Peace Pole Pilgrimage”: Sunday from 3:30 to 7 p.m. Attendees will make a pilgrimage to six peace poles in Spokane. The event will start at the Center for Spiritual Living, 2825 E. 33rd Ave., and will include a short ceremony at each stop. The last stop will be at the Unity Center of North Spokane, 4123 E. Lincoln Road, with drumming, a labyrinth walk and a potluck.

• “My Recipe for Peace”: Wednesday, with dinner at 5:45 p.m. and World Peace Prayers at 6:30. At 7, the group will discuss essential ingredients for establishing peace in our lives, community and world at Unity Church.

There will be representatives from the community, government and faith groups.

• “Dances of Universal Peace”: Sept. 20 at 7 p.m. The event includes circle dances based on prayers and chants from many world religions at Unity Church.

• “Honoring the Nations”: Sept. 21 at 6 p.m. This event includes a ceremony that will bless every nation of the world at the Center for Spiritual Living, 2825 E. 33rd Ave.

Canned and dry food donations will be accepted at each of these events to benefit Second Harvest.

Information: (509) 536-2811, www.onepeacemanypaths.org.

Operation Christmas Child

Crossover Church, 16825 N. Newport Highway in Mead, will present Svetlana and Valentina Schweiger of Operation Christmas Child on Friday at 6:30 p.m.

The sisters were orphans living in Ukraine and a shoe-box gift changed their lives. They will discuss how local residents can impact the lives of needy children around the world.

Operation Christmas Child will collect an estimated 19,800 gift-filled shoeboxes at Crossover and at Valley Assembly Church, 15618 E. Broadway Ave., at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Information: Marisa Van Wormer, (509) 368-7161 or Diane Rice, (509) 481-0672.

Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur

Congregation Emanu-El will celebrate High Holy Day services led by Rabbi Tamar Malino this week at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 4340 W. Fort George Wright Drive.

• Erev Rosh Hashana, Sunday at 6 p.m.

• Rosh Hashana: Children’s service Monday at 9:30 a.m.; adult service at 10:30 a.m.; community lunch 1 p.m.

Tashlich will be at 2 p.m. Meet at UUC before heading to the river.

• Kol Nidre Service: 7 p.m. Sept. 25.

• Yom Kippur, Sept. 26: Children’s service at 9:30 a.m.; adult service at 10:30; study session at 4 p.m.; and evening services, including the afternoon service, the Yizkor – or memorial service – and the Neilah – or concluding service – will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

The evening services will be followed by a break-the-fast potluck.

Child care will be provided during the adult morning services on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur.

Information: Congregation Emanu-El at (509) 835-5050.

Ohigan Buddhist Fall Equinox celebration

Spokane Buddhist Temple, 927 S. Perry St., will celebrate Ohigan Buddhist Fall Equinox on Sunday at 10:30 a.m.

The temple will also welcome Rinban Don Castro from the Seattle Betsuin to give the Dharma talk.

Information: (509) 534-7954.

Events at St. David’s

• St. David’s Episcopal Church , 7315 N. Wall St., will present Celtic Celebrations on Sundays at 11 a.m.

The services include Celtic prayers and readings, sung chants and special music. The September celebrations will focus on the season of creation, including Planet Earth Sunday, Humanity Sunday, Sky Sunday and Mountain Sunday.

A traditional Eucharist celebration is also offered weekly on Sundays at 9 a.m.

• The church will also have a rummage sale Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Items for sale include furniture, office equipment, books, toys and clothes.

Information: (509) 466-3100.

Back to Sunday school

Moran United Methodist Church, 3601 E. 65th Ave., will present a Back-to-Sunday School kickoff event Sunday at 10 a.m.

The event will include music by the Stewart family. The Children’s Ministry includes Sunday school Bible stories and activities at 10:15 a.m. for preschool-age children through eighth grade and children’s choir and music from 11 to 11:15 a.m.

Information: (509) 448-7102

Immaculate Heart events

• Immaculate Heart Retreat Center, 6910 S. Ben Burr Road, will offer two “Theology of the Body” programs the third Wednesday of the month through May starting Sept. 19 for adults, and the third Thursday of the month for teens.

The course is for those who are dating or may be dating in the future.

The adult course will be led by the Rev. Jeff Core from 6 to 8 p.m. and costs $20 per session.

The teen course will be led by the Rev. Jeff Lewis from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. with the exception of the Sept. 20 event, which will begin at 4:30 p.m. Teens ages 14 through 18 are invited, as well as their parents. The cost is $10 per session, per participant.

Information: Sandy Krause, (509) 448-1224, ext. 102.

• The center will welcome Bishop Blase Cupich and “First Fridays with the Bishop” on Friday.

The program this month, held on the second Friday, will be “Marriage Referendum.” Mass will begin at 11:15 a.m. and will be followed by lunch and a 30-minute information talk with the bishop.

The cost will be $15 to cover lunch. Advance reservations are required.

Information: (509) 448-1224, ext. 102.

Celtic Spirituality retreat weekend

St. Joseph’s Family Center, 1016 N. Superior St., will present “Life as a Pilgrimage – A Celtic Spirituality Weekend” starting Friday at 5 p.m.

The weekend will explore how Celtic Christianity developed an everyday church with no separation of work and worship. The instructor will be Mary Lonergan, a native of Ireland and a member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia.

The cost to attend is $175 per person, $135 per person for couples or $110 per person for commuters.

Information: (509) 483-6495.