The Spokane Interfaith Council is presenting an Interfaith Thanksgiving Service today at 10 a.m. at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, 127 E. 12th Ave. The theme will be “Tolerance and Respect: Blessing the People of All Faiths.”

Thanksgiving is just a week away, and area churches are planning special services and dinners for those in need. • St. Aloysius Parish, Gonzaga University and Sodexho Dining Services will present the eighth annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner next Thursday from noon to 2 p.m. in Cataldo Hall, 502 E. Boone Ave.

Craft sales and bazaars continue this weekend at many area churches. • Emmanuel Presbyterian Church, 1926 W. Chelan Ave., will present its annual Fall Bazaar Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The first Saturday in November is traditionally a very busy day in churches throughout the area. This weekend is the one chosen for holiday bazaars and craft sales. • At Audubon Park United Methodist Church, 3908 N. Driscoll Blvd., the church will present its holiday bazaar Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

With Halloween just around the corner, churches are planning special parties and festivals. At Liberty Park United Methodist Church, 1526 E. 11th Ave., the church will hold its 15th annual Hallowed Rest Stop on Halloween from 5 to 8 p.m.

• St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, 1325 E. Queen Ave., will present another installment in its C.S. Lewis discussion group Tuesday at 7 pm. This week’s discussion will be “There was a boy called Eustace Clarence Scrubb, and he almost deserved it.” This is the opening line of the third Chronicles of Narnia book, “Voyage of the Dawn Treader.”

Highland Park United Methodist Church, 611 S. Garfield St., will present a Japanese bazaar and teriyaki dinner Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The event will include a dinner of barbecued chicken, rice, salad and squash.

Several churches are planning autumn family events this weekend. • Covenant United Methodist Church, 15515 N. Gleneden Road, will present a square dance Saturday from 7 to 9 p.m.

The Spokane Buddhist Temple, 927 S. Perry St., will present an “O-Higan,” or fall equinox service, Sunday at 10:30 a.m. O-Higan services are held during the spring and autumn equinoxes, when it’s not too hot or cold and the nights and days are equal length.

Congregation Emanu-El, a reform Jewish congregation, will celebrate its New Year with several services at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 4340 W. Fort George Wright Drive. The first service, Erev Rosh Hashanah, will be Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

Liberty Park United Methodist Church, 1526 E. 11th Ave., will present a free community concert Friday at 7 p.m. Musician and composer John Nilsen from Portland will perform a piano concert, “Places I Go,” which will feature his own music, some traditional hymn arrangements and stories from his life and faith.

The Center for Spiritual Living will present two ceremonies to plant Peace Poles in Riverfront Park and Manito Park Saturday. The poles were donated by Hiroko Goto, a member of the World Peace Prayer Society in Japan and an alumna of Eastern Washington University.

More than 200 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints youth from Mead, Colbert and north Spokane traded their cell phones and texting for handcarts and hard work to participate in a three-day pioneer trek commemorating the tedious journeys of the early Utah settlers. According to a press release from the LDS North Stake, Caleb Andersen, 17, a soon-to-be senior at Mount Spokane High School, was one of 205 teenagers who arrived July 22 on Hudspeth Ranch in Fruitland, Wash., to hike nearly 13 miles over rocky terrain and up steep hills pulling a handcart. He donned a pioneer costume, ate from a tin plate and slept on the ground to remember the 80,000 pioneers who migrated to the Utah mountains from 1847 through 1869.

You know summer is nearly here when Valley churches begin to spread the word about Vacation Bible School sessions. An annual summer tradition, churches host the sessions for elementary-age children and offer a fun blend of crafts, activities and Bible stories built around a theme. Some sessions can fill up fast, so it is always best to register early. The first to hold a VBS session this year is Eastpoint Church, June 21 through June 25. The theme is Hero Headquarters: Where Kids Join Forces With God, and kids can meet some unusual super heroes in Maintenance Mac, Water Woman and Pizza Girl. The sessions for children in grades K-5 will be held daily from 9 a.m. to noon at the church, 15303 E. Sprague Ave. There is no charge. For more information or to register, call the church office at (509) 533-6800.

Two Valley churches are switching to their summer worship schedules this weekend, with more churches surely to follow their lead. •The Spokane Valley Church of the Nazarene will have only one worship service at 9:30 a.m. beginning Sunday. The service will be followed by Sunday school and small group classes at 11 a.m. The new schedule will continue through Labor Day. The church is at 15515 E. 20th Ave.

Christ Lutheran Church is doing something a bit different this year: offering summer Sunday school beginning Sunday. The classes will begin at 9:30 a.m. each week, between the 8:15 and 10:30 a.m. worship services. They are designed for ages 3-11, but middle school children and parents also may attend. Each session will last 45 minutes and will include singing, games, crafts and Bible readings.

Latah Valley Presbyterian Church, 202 E. Meadow Lane Road, will offer a Blessing of the Animals service Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m. Dogs, cats and other domesticated animals are invited to receive a blessing.

The Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, 127 E. 12th Ave., will host the Northwest Boychoir today at 7:30 p.m. The 70-member choir from Seattle will perform in Spokane as part of its Spring 2010 Eastern Washington Concert Tour. The performance will include classical choral works such as “Chichester Psalms” by Leonard Bernstein and “Gloria” by Rutter.

The Spokane Buddhist Temple, 927 S. Perry St., will present its annual Spring Teriyaki Lunch and Food Bazaar Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The temple will sell a chicken teriyaki lunch for $10, senbei for $3.50, sushi (pre-order only), inari and other baked goods. For more information or to pre-order, call the temple office at (509) 534-7954.