Religion notebook: Valentine’s fundraiser will benefit Our Place

Salem Lutheran Church, 1428 W. Broadway Ave., is celebrating Valentine’s Day with a fundraiser for Our Place Community Ministries Sunday at 2 p.m.

“What the World Needs Now is Music, Poetry and Chocolate” will include a poetry reading, the story of St. Valentine, dessert and music. There also will be a raffle.

Anyone who comes alone may sit in a special section for those who wish to make a new friend.

The proceeds will be used for a new laundry center at Our Place for low-income people without access to a laundry facility. The center will offer free or low-cost laundry services.

The cost for the event is $15.

For more information, call Our Place at 326-7267.

More valentines

The Unity Church of Truth, 2900 S. Bernard St., is presenting a Commit to Love Celebration Wednesday.

A dinner with live music will begin at 5:45 p.m.

At 7 p.m., the event will provide an opportunity for friends, couples and families to speak vows of love.

The Youth of Unity will sing songs of love, love certificates will be available, and a photographer will be on hand.

The cost is $4 for adults, $3 for seniors and $2 for children.

For more information, call the church office at 838-6518.

Speaker events

“The Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 1703 N. Washington St., is presenting an Orthodox question-and-answer session for those who would like to learn about ancient Christian faith and life.

The session will be Tuesday at 7 p.m.

For more information, call the church office at 328-9310.

“Matthew Kelly will speak on “Lessons for Enduring Happiness” today at 7:30 p.m. at St. Aloysius Roman Catholic Church, 330 E. Boone Ave.

Kelly is a Catholic spirituality speaker from Sydney, Australia, who has written 10 books and began his career at age 19.

A $5 donation is requested. It is free for Gonzaga faculty, staff and students.

For more information, call Sarah Meissel at 323-4243.

“The Gonzaga University Faith and Reason Institute is presenting Ralph Wood, a professor of theology and literature at Baylor University, today at 7 p.m. in the Wolff Auditorium of the Jepson Center on the GU campus, 502 E. Boone Ave.

Wood will speak on the topic, “Flannery O’Connor’s ‘A Good Man is Hard to Find’: the Misfit as a Critic of Conventional Christianity.”

For more information, call Margaret Rankin at 981-1464 or e-mail faithandreason@gonzaga.edu.

Concerts

“Westminster Congregational United Church of Christ, 411 S. Washington St., is presenting a Pajama Concert Friday in the Fireplace Room of the church.

Anyone attending this children’s concert and family singalong should come in their pajamas and slippers and bring their favorite stuffed animal.

The cost is $5 per family and includes apple cider and animal crackers.

For more information, call the church office at 624-1366.

“The Whitworth Black Student Union is presenting a “Gospel Explosion Concert” Friday at 7 p.m. in the Cowles Auditorium of Whitworth College.

The concert will feature singers and musicians from Whitworth and the Spokane community.

Admission is free.

For more information, call 777-4568.

“The Episcopal Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, 127 E. 12th Ave., is presenting the Cheney High School Concert Choir and Show Choir Sunday at 4 p.m.

The concert will feature sacred, folk and popular music, including the sea shanty “What do you do with a Drunken Sailor,” “Bridge Over Troubled Waters” and “There’s No Business Like Show Business,” and includes choreography.

The cathedral also will be open from 1 to 4 p.m. for self-guided tours and meditation.

The cost of the concert is a free-will offering.

The St. Nicholas Guild of the cathedral is presenting its annual wine and cheese fundraiser Sunday at 2 p.m. in the Jewett House.

The featured speaker is Dorothy Powers, and the program will be “Early Spokane’s People and their Places.”

There is a suggested donation of $7.50, and the proceeds will benefit the children’s programs at the church.

For more information, call the church office at 838-4277.

Art show

The Unitarian Universalist Church of Spokane, 4340 W. Fort George Wright Drive, is presenting an art show and sale Saturday from noon to 5 p.m.

The afternoon will include wine, art, coffee or tea and jazz. There also will be a silent auction.

For more information, call Barbara Fulsaas at 747-0226 or Eileen Martin at 747-4853.

Christian singles

Spokane Christian Singles is presenting speed dating Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. at Mission Community Presbyterian Church, 2103 E. Mission Ave.

Singles 45 years old and older can attend the Friday session, and singles in their 20s, 30s and 40s can attend the Saturday session.

The cost is $10 for your first visit and $7 for every visit after that.

For more information, call 226-7674.