Community events

Ash Wednesday services planned

Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, and area churches are marking the occasion with special services to start the Lenten season:

• Central United Methodist Church, 518 W. Third Ave., is offering an Ash Wednesday service at 7 p.m.

The service will include rubbing ashes on the foreheads of the congregation. For more information, call the church office at 838-1431.

• Manito United Methodist Church, 3220 S. Grand Blvd., is offering its Ash Wednesday service at 7 p.m. and will burn last year’s palm branches for ashes.

For more information, call the church office at 747-4755.

• Emmanuel Presbyterian Church, 1926 W. Chelan Ave., is celebrating an Imposition of Ashes service at 7 p.m. For more information, call the church office at 326-1252.

• Metaline Falls Congregational United Church of Christ, 101 Fifth Ave., Metaline Falls, Wash., is offering an Ash Wednesday service at 7 p.m.

The service will include prayer, reflection and the imposition of ashes. For more information, call Pastor Tara Leininger at (509) 446-3301.

Women’s retreat

Aglow International is hosting a women’s retreat from 6:30 p.m. March 10 through 11 a.m. March 12 at the Red Lion Templin’s Hotel, 414 E. First Ave., Post Falls.

“Prepare the Way” will feature Cherrie Simpson of New Freedom Ministries.

The deadline to register is Wednesday. The first night is free for first-time participants.

For more information and prices, call Jan Mattison at 226-1193.

‘A Year with Frog and Toad’

Christian Youth Theater is presenting its production of “A Year with Frog and Toad” today and Friday and next Saturday at 7 p.m. at The Met, 901 W. Sprague Ave. The show will also be performed at 3 p.m. today and next Saturday and March 5.

Admission is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors and children 12 and younger. The 3 p.m. performance today will be $5 for everyone.

For more information, call the CYT box office at 487-6540.

Conference and worship

The Rev. John Smylie is offering a conference and worship service today and Sunday at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 2404 N. Howard St.

Smylie will present “Grace for Today,” a conference and workshop that will discuss God’s grace found in everyday moments, today from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Participants should bring a sack lunch.

Smylie also will conduct worship services Sunday at 8 and 10:30 a.m.

For more information, call 325-5252 or 869-1690.

‘Physics and the God of Abraham’ lecture series

Gonzaga University and Whitworth College are presenting a three-part lecture series Monday through Wednesday.

“Physics and the God of Abraham” will discuss the relationship between faith, particularly the Christian faith, and science.

The first part, “The Beginnings of the Universe: Big Bang Cosmology and Creation,” will be presented by the Rev. William Stoeger on Monday at 7 p.m. in Whitworth’s Seeley G. Mudd Chapel, 300 W. Hawthorne Road.

Stoeger will also present the second part, “God as Creator: Divine Immanence, Evolution and the Laws of Nature,” Tuesday at 7 p.m. in Weyerhaeuser Hall on the Whitworth campus.

The Rev. Robert Spitzer will speak on “Philosophical Implications for Creation and Design Arising out of Contemporary Big Bang Cosmology” Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the Barbieri Courtroom of the Gonzaga School of Law, 721 N. Cincinnati St.

For more information, call Julie Riddle at 777-3729.

Ayyam-i-Ha potluck

Members of the Baha’i faith will gather for Ayyam-i-Ha, marking the four days before the Baha’i fast begins, today from 5:30 to 8:30 a.m. at CenterPlace, 2426 N. Discovery Place.

The gathering will include an international potluck dinner.

For more information, call Joseph Urlacher at 926-0843.

Special services

• St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 316 E. 24th Ave., is celebrating the Transfiguration during Sunday worship at 8:30 and 10:45 a.m.

The worship will feature a jazz liturgy by Dan Keberle of Whitworth College and the Spokane Jazz Orchestra.

For more information, call the church office at 747-6677.

• The women of the congregation at Fowler United Methodist Church, 3928 N. Howard St., are presenting the worship service Sunday at 10:30 a.m.

“No Wonder They Call Him the Savior” is based on the book of the same name by Max Lucado.

A reception will follow the service.

For more information, call the church office at 325-3242.

• Emmanuel Presbyterian Church, 1926 W. Chelan Ave., is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the ordination of female deacons and the 50th anniversary of the ordination of female pastors on Sunday at 10:30 a.m.

“Celebrate the Gifts of Women” will include guest preacher the Rev. Betsy Baker-Smith of Medical Lake, and the women of the church will conduct the service.

For more information, call the church office at 326-1252.

Singles groups

Spokane Christian Singles is offering speed dating for those in their 20s, 30s and 40s, today at 5 p.m. at Cafe Donna, 12005 E. Trent Ave.

The cost is $10 for your first speed-dating session and $7 for any session after that.

For more information, call 226-7674.