Central Methodist Offering A Place For Teens To Gather

Central United Methodist Church, long known for its community outreach programs, is putting the finishing touches on a new youth program that will officially open its doors Saturday.

Club Christo will open up a concert room, a game room and a gym to young people age 20 and under in the community.

“It’s a safe and sober place for youth people to get together and have a good time,” says Youth and Family Ministries Director Craig Geis.

The program will run from 6 to 10 p.m. each Saturday, and admission will be $3 per person, although organizers won’t turn away those who can’t pay. Kids must behave courteously, says Geis, or they won’t be allowed back.

In addition to the immediate goal of providing a safe place for area youths to hang out, the long-term goal is to develop a youth church, says Geis. But the program won’t try to draw kids away from their current churches.

“We definitely want to reach the unchurched,” says Geis. “The goal is just to reach kids and hopefully impact their lives.”

While the program officially begins Saturday, the real grand opening will be March 14, when headliner Plank Eye is scheduled to perform.

For more information on the program, call the church office at 838-1431. The church is located at 518 W. Third.

Rabbit story reflects Lent

Centenary United Methodist Church will host a Lenten program for all ages that will use the children’s story “The Velveteen Rabbit” to address themes such as love, acceptance and forgiveness. Sessions will begin with a soup supper at 6 p.m. on the next three Wednesdays and end March 25.

Families are invited to attend the sessions, which will include a presentation of “The Velveteen Rabbit” followed by age-level-appropriate crafts and discussions.

Advance registration is required. Child care will be provided for children too young to participate in the program.

To register or to receive more information, call the church office at 534-0881. The church is located at 1012 S. Freya.

Speaker to address prejudice

Covenant Christian Church, 5616 S. Palouse Highway, will present guest speaker John Olson during a potluck lunch after the 11 a.m. worship service on Sunday. Olson, director of the Spokane Council of Ecumenical Ministries, will speak about Camp Peace.

The camp, based in Twin Lakes, Idaho, is a program designed to educate students about prejudice and racial and cultural diversity. The retreat is offered twice a year to high school students in Washington and Idaho.

All are invited to attend the special event.

For more information, call the church office at 448-1311.

Lenten services under way

Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 314 S. Spruce, has begun a series of Lenten services that will be held each Wednesday through April 1. Each evening will begin with a soup supper at 5:45 p.m. followed by a Lenten worship service at 7 and confessions at 7:45.

The soup suppers are free, and no advance registration is required.

For more information, call the church office at 838-4409.

Car wash will raise mission money

The youths of First Presbyterian Church will be outside washing cars this Sunday from 9 a.m. to noon to raise money for their upcoming mission trip. The teens will travel to Tijuana, Mexico, over spring break to build 10 homes.

The cost of the car wash is $4. The church is located at 318 S. Cedar.

Seminar teaches debt-free living

Plymouth Congregational Church, 1502 W. Eighth, will offer a “Debt Free and Prosperous Living” seminar from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday. There is no specific charge for the seminar, but participants will be asked to donate an amount they think the seminar is worth at the conclusion of the day.

Advance registration is requested. Child care will be available.

To register or to receive more information, call the church at 838-8667.

, DataTimes MEMO: The Religion Notebook is a regular feature of the South Side Voice. If you have news about an interesting program or activity at a South Side church or about the achievements of South Side worshipers, please let us know. Deadline is 10 a.m Monday. Write: Nina Culver, Religion Notebook, South Side Voice, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210. Call 459-5487. Fax 459-5098. Or E-mail Ninac@spokesman.com.