Churches offering seasonal parties

Area churches are holding their version of Halloween this week. Whether they call them harvest parties or fall festivals or Halloween parties, there will be fun for the kids and a safe way to celebrate autumn.

“Lake City Assembly of God, 400 E. Grace St., Medical Lake, will offer its annual Light the Night party Wednesday from 5 to 8 p.m.

Last year’s event attracted around 1,400 people to the small city on the West Plains.

Activities include skits, a pumpkin pie-eating contest, cow-milking, hayrides, bounce houses, a straw-bale maze, and food.

For more information, call the church office at 299-3139.

“The Spokane Faith Center, 3330 W. Central Ave., will present its 18th annual Harvest Party Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m.

This alternative to traditional trick-or-treating will include carnival-style games, free candy and prizes.

Concessions will be available.

For more information, call the church office at 327-9673.

“Liberty Park United Methodist Church, 1526 E. 11th Ave., will offer its 12th annual Hallowed Rest Stop Wednesday from 4 to 7 p.m.

The evening will include hot dogs, chili, cupcakes, cocoa and cider for those wandering the neighborhood collecting candy.

For more information, call the church office at 535-5588.

Fundraiser

Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 1703 N. Washington St., will present “Greek Night” Saturday at 7 p.m.

The evening will include dancing, snacks and no-host beer and wine.

The proceeds will benefit International Orthodox Christian Charities for the victims of fires in Greece earlier this year.

The cost is $10.

The church also will present a short film Sunday about Greek resistance in World War II in conjunction with Oxi Day, a national holiday in Greece that marks the day Gen. Ioannis Metaxas said, “oxi” or “no” to Italian dictator Benito Mussolini’s request to allow his troops into Greece.

The movie will be presented around noon, or just after Divine Liturgy. Donations for the IOCC will also be accepted.

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

Retirement celebration

After 70 years of playing piano and organ for Highland Park United Methodist Church, 611 S. Garfield St., Sumi Okamoto will retire.

The church will honor Okamoto’s service with a potluck and a program to follow the 10:30 a.m. services Sunday.

For more information, call the church office at 535-2687.

Farewell services

St. John’s Lutheran Church will celebrate its last services in its location at Third Avenue and Division Street on Sunday.

The church has been at that location for 107 years but will move to 5810 S. Meadowlane Road in the Latah Valley in November.

The farewell worship service will be at 10 a.m. At 4 p.m. there will be a Reformation celebration with a mass choir to say goodbye to the old building.

For more information, call the church office at 747-0984.

Special program

The Episcopal Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, 127 E. 12th Ave., will present “Spirituality of the Gospel of Matthew” Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The program will be presented by Spiritus, the diocesan center for spirituality that is a joint effort of St. John’s and the Episcopal Diocese.

New Testament scholar Leonard Doohan will lead a look at Gospel readings, preaching and teaching through year A of the liturgical calendar.

The cost of the event is $20 and includes lunch.

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

Buddhism seminar

Soka Gakkai International-USA will present a seminar offering an introduction to Buddhism Saturday at 1 p.m. in the Spokane Public East Side Library, 524 S. Stone St.

The presentation will be based on the booklet “The Winning Life.”

For more information, call Susan Mika at 979-0947.

Unity musical program

Unity Church of Truth, 2900 S. Bernard St., will present, “Unity Home Companion,” a musical comedic program that has been described as part “Prairie Home Companion,” part “Saturday Night Live” and part “American Idol.”

The event will be Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 3 p.m.

Tickets are $7.

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

Bingo

Moran United Methodist Church, 3601 E. 65th Ave., will offer a neighborhood bingo party Saturday from 6 to 9 p.m.

Players are welcome to bring white-elephant gifts wrapped in newspaper for prizes.

There also will be banana splits for sale for $1.27.

For more information, call the church office at 448-7102.

Bazaars and craft fairs

“Prince of Peach Lutheran Church, 8441 N. Indian Trail Road, will present its Fall Festival Bazaar Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Items for sale will include lefse, crafts, books, and bean soup mix.

For more information, call the church office at 465-0779.

“Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 3307 W. Rowan Ave., will hold its third annual craft show Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The day will include family activities, a chili recipe competition and a large selection of crafter tables.

For more information, call the church office at 327-1914.