05/30/09 What's Happening

Churches celebrating
their merger on Sunday

To celebrate their recent merger, First Baptist Church of Yakima and Comunidad Cristiana La Verdad are hosting a special worship service in English and Spanish on Sunday afternoon.

The two churches decided to merge earlier this year.

In March, a new board of directors formed to reflect members of both congregations and a united budget was adopted.

Now, "We are intentionally exploring what it means to be a multi-ethnic congregation sharing life and ministry together," says pastor Dave Roberts.

The special worship service takes place at 4 p.m. Sunday at the church, which is now being called First Baptist Comunidad Cristiana.

The church is maintaining two Sunday worship services, one in English and one in Spanish. Plans to launch a third service are in the works. That service will likely be said in English, "but draw heavily from Mexican culture," Roberts says.

For more information, call the church at 509-248-4434.

Christian concert pianist
to play at Nazarene church

West Valley Church of the Nazarene welcomes Christian concert pianist Jerry Nelson on Friday night.

The concert is free, but an offering will be collected. The concert takes place at the church, 7109 W. Nob Hill Blvd.

For more information, call the church at 509-966-1550.

Palestinian Christian
to speak at Mt. Olive

Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Yakima welcomes guest speaker Aziz Sarah this weekend.

Sarah is a Palestinian Christian from Jerusalem. He served as a minister for the Jerusalem and Bethlehem Churches of Christ from 2002-2008, when political problems caused he and his wife to relocate to the United States.

He's the Palestinian chairman for the Bereaved Families Forum, a group of 500 Israeli and Palestinian bereaved families who work for peace.

He will speak at an 8:30 a.m. breakfast at the church today. He will also speak at both services Sunday as well as the Bible study in between. The services take place at 8 and 10:30 a.m. The Bible study begins at 9:15 a.m.

All events are free and take place at the church, 7809 Tieton Drive. For more information, call the church at 509-966-2190.

'Window to the Soul' author
to speak, do workshop

Yakima's Unity Spiritual Life Center is hosting author Daeryl Holzer this weekend.

Holzer, author of "Opening A Window to the Soul: A Guide to Living Beyond the Human Drama," will speak at the 10:30 a.m. Sunday service.

She will also offer a $30 workshop Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. at the church, 401 S. Eighth Ave. Call 509-575-5551.

Private consultations will be available from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday. Call Holzer to schedule an appointment at 432-295-0270.

Common Bond 5 quintet
to sing tonight in Wapato

Common Bond 5, a quintet from Wenatchee, will perform tonight in Wapato.

The quintet is made up of Alan Williams, Stace Knudtson, Chuck Wiley, Andy Handley and Mike Moore. They sing a mix of Southern gospel and contemporary worship music.

The group formed in 2001 and has recorded and released five CDs. The most recent was "Let's Take a Walk with Jesus" in 2008.

Common Bond 5 has appeared in concert with groups such as The Kingsmen, Crossroads New Revival, Greater Vision and The Blackwood Brothers.

The free concert takes place at 7 p.m. at the All Nations Center, 3020 Ashue Road in Wapato. An offering will be taken for the musicians.

For more information, call Anne Lamberton at 509-848-2686. On the Web: www.commonbond5.com.

Musical 'Splash Kingdom'
on tap at Salvation Army

The Salvation Army Singing Company will present "Splash Kingdom" on Friday night.

The musical, created by Pam Andrews, tells the story of a group of kids who seek entrance into a local water park only to find they need to make reservations with Jesus. The musical features numbers such as "Lifesaving 101" and "Do You Know the Man?"

The show starts at 6:30 p.m. Friday at The Salvation Army, 310 N. 16th Ave. Another show will be offered during the 10:45 a.m. worship service June 7.

Youth soccer camp
set at West Side Baptist

West Side Baptist Church is holding its annual youth soccer camp in June, and now's the time to sign up.

Children who will be in grades one through five in the fall are invited to attend. The camp takes place from 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. June 22-26 at the church, 6901 Summitview Ave.

The camp is held in conjunction with Uncharted Waters Sports Camps of Colorado Springs, Colo. It offers soccer training, T-shirts, Christian coaches, and daily Bible messages. The cost is $65 before June 7, or $75 after June 7.

Registration forms are available on the church Web site at www.westsidechurch.info or at the church office. For more information, call children's ministry director Suzanne Dieker at the church, 509-965-2800.

Arts festival drawing
from five Catholic schools

La Salle High School is hosting the Catholic Schools Arts Festival on Sunday afternoon.

The event -- a celebration of art, music and drama from the schools of the Catholic Diocese of Yakima -- features food, arts and crafts, musical performances and displays of student-created works of art.

Participating students come from La Salle, Yakima's St. Joseph-Marquette and St. Paul Cathedral schools, and St. Joseph schools in Wenatchee and Kennewick.

The fest runs from 1 to 5 p.m. at the school, 3000 Lightning Way in Union Gap.

For more information, call La Salle at 509-225-2900. On the Web: www.lasalleyakima.com.

Prosser Community Church hosting day in the park

Prosser Community Church is hosting a day in the park.

The event takes place from 12:30 to 4 p.m. June 6 at City Park. And now's the time to register.

There will be a volleyball tournament, hamburgers and hot dogs, music, face painting and games. Proceeds will be donated to Haiti Arise Ministries.

For more information, call the church at 509-788-1150.

Learn about Haiti on Sunday
at Westminster Presbyterian

Westminster Presbyterian Church presents a "Concert for Haiti" on Sunday afternoon.

Everyone's invited to learn about Haiti, hear a variety of world music, see photos and hear testimony.

The event will feature Haitian students from the congregation as well as the church Praise Team, Chancel Choir, Gospel Ensemble, Voice of the Nova band and various soloists.

The concert starts at 4 p.m. in the church fellowship hall. After the performance, there will be snacks and more information about how the church is affecting people's lives in Haiti.

The church is located at 6015 Summitview Ave. An offering will be taken. Child care can be provided by calling the church at 509-966-1900.

Christian Cowboys presenting bull bash at Klickitat fairgrounds

The Klickitat Valley chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Cowboys is presenting a bull bash June 6.

The event starts at 2 p.m. at the Klickitat County Fairgrounds in Goldendale, and features the top bucking bulls in the region as well as Christian cowboy JC Bean.

Admission is $10 for adults, $6 for youth and $30 per family. A barbecue dinner costs $7.50. A "Cowboy Church" will be held at 7 p.m.

Proceeds from the bull bash will benefit this summer's youth Bible camp.

For more information, call JC Bean at 509-952-4693.

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