St. Paul’s Episcopal Church will host its annual madrigal dinners at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 9 and 10 and 4:30 p.m. Dec. 11.The dinner theater event will include a 16th-century four-course meal, featuring pates, meats, vegetable dishes, pastries and ales in a traditionally decorated Tudor hall. Members of the church’s Choir of Men and Boys and the St. Cecilia Choir of Girls will perform music by Dowland, Purcell and Ravenscroft and other traditional madrigals and carols. The Keller Consort, a musical group that plays recorders and other period instruments, will also perform.Tickets are $40 and can be ordered at www.stpaulsakron.org or by calling 330-836-9327, ext. 36.Proceeds from the madrigal dinners support the St. Paul’s Choir Travel Fund. The choirs tour nationally and internationally and are affiliated with the Royal School of Church Music in America. In 2008, the St. Paul’s Choir traveled to England for two weeks and performed at Exeter Cathedral and Waltham Abbey.Membership in either choir is open to any child who is more than 8 years old. Choir participation is free and open to anyone, regardless of religious affiliation. More information about St. Paul’s music program can be found at www.stpaulsakron.org. The church is at 1361 W. Market St., Akron.In other religion news:EventsThe Chapel in Marlboro — 6700 Edison St. NE, Marlboro Township. 10:15 a.m. Dec. 4. Magic
JAMboree will feature Christian magician Brad Brown. For children in grades K-5. JAM (Jesus and Me) is the children’s ministry at the church. 330-935-0132.Cross Road Unity Church — 357 Reed Ave., Akron. 6 tonight. Slide show of Appalachian mission trip will be shown. Another trip is planned for Dec. 8. Items needed include personal hygiene, small appliances, boots, gloves, pillows, blankets and silverware. They also will be needed for a three-day sleepout with the homeless Thursday, Friday and Dec. 3. 330-785-9080.Firestone Park Presbyterian Church — 275 S. Firestone Blvd., Akron. 9 to 11:30 a.m. Dec. 3. Annual cookie sale. Includes breads and candies (also gluten-free). Cost is $7 per pound. 330-724-2740.First Presbyterian Church — 621 College Ave., Wooster. Noon to 2:30 p.m. Dec. 4. The Wayne County Alternative Gift Market will offer a wide variety of gifts that are tax-deductible and support global humanitarian and environmental causes. World Crafts of Kidron will offer handmade items from fair trade partnerships while other nonprofit groups will have coffee and other gifts. Lunch is available, including soups and pies. 330-523-9707.First United Methodist Church — 245 Portage Trail, Cuyahoga Falls. 6:15 p.m. Wednesday. Family Advent Celebration for families and age 4 through grade 6. Stories, crafts and more. There will also be a dinner party at 5:45 p.m. in Wesley Hall. Adults $3, children $2 and $10 maximum for family. Reservations for dinner due by Monday at 330-923-5241, ext. 218.Higher Ground Worship Center — 380 Wooster Road N., Barberton. Noon to 5 p.m. Christmas Bazaar. Vendors specializing in Christmas and birthday gifts. 330-794-5026.Journey Covenant Church — 2679 North Haven Blvd., Cuyahoga Falls. 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday. Christ Kitchen turkey dinner will be served to local residents. Free and open to the public. 330-923-8021.Lockwood United Methodist Church — 3680 Manchester Road, Coventry Township. 4 p.m. Dec. 3. Concert followed by pot luck dinner. Majestic Voice Chorus at 4 p.m., dinner at 5 p.m. Freewill offering. 330-644-2227. McDonaldsville St. Paul United Methodist Church — 7641 Wales Ave. NW, Jackson Township. 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 6. McChristmas for infants through age 10. Crafts, snacks, story time and fun while parents do Christmas shopping and other errands. Free. Must preregister by Dec. 5. 330-499-6971 or email mcdchurch@
sbcglobal.net.Northampton United Methodist Church — 852 W. Bath Road, Cuyahoga Falls. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 4. Annual Advent Remembrance Service in the sanctuary. Refreshment and community after the service. Child care provided. 330-929-0015.Oak Grove Mennonite Church — 7843 Smucker Road, Green Township (near Smithville). 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Dec. 4. The 23rd year of Search for the Christ Child will be held. It is a 45-minute, indoor-outdoor walk-through experience of what the first Christmas may have been like. Dress warmly. Admission is one canned food or toiletries for People to People Ministries. 330-669-2697.Queen of Heaven Church — 1800 Steese Road, Green. 8:30 to 11 a.m. Dec. 4. Sunday community breakfast, the first Sunday of each month. Includes pancakes, eggs, bacon and sausage. Adults $5, school age $4, preschool $3. On Dec. 4-6 from 7-8 p.m., an Advent Mission will be facilitated by the Rev. John R. Hadnagy. 330-896-2345.St. Paul’s United Methodist Church — 2705 Sixth St. SW, Canton. 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday. Friday lunch. Homemade soups, sandwiches, chips, coleslaw, beverages and desserts. 330-456-7207Wintergreen Ledges Church of God — 1889 Vernon Odom Blvd., Akron. 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 4 and 11. A Night in Bethlehem, where everyone can taste, touch and feel what life was like the night Jesus was born. Includes a live nativity. Free to all. 330-753-3027.PerformancesCalvary Chapel — 8151 Stuhldreher St. NW, Jackson Township. 3 p.m. Dec. 3. Canal Fulton Community Band will perform a Christmas concert. Free but suggested donation is a nonperishable food item. 330-833-4347.Canaan Acres Christian Camp — 8020 Nazarene St., Nimishillen Township. 6:30 p.m. Friday. Ann Downing, a gospel singer on the Gaither Homecoming Video Series, will perform a dinner concert. Dinner and concert $20, concert only $10. 330-875-1660.Christ the Servant Parish — 833 39th St., Canton. 7 p.m. Friday. Christian music artist John Angotti in concert. Adults $15, children $5. There will also be a spaghetti dinner before the concert from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Adults $8, children $4. 330-492-0757.Fairlawn Lutheran Church — 3415 W. Market St., Fairlawn. 3 p.m. Dec. 4. Masters Singers Inc. Chorale Christmas concert. Guest artist is Olympic Brass. Freewill offering. Refreshments follow in Fellowship Hall. Parking at church and Summit Mall. 330-836-7286,Green Valley United Methodist Church — 620 E. Turkeyfoot Lake Road, New Franklin. 7 p.m. Wednesday. The New Vision Barbershop Quartet of Canton in the first of a series of Wednesday Christmas concerts. Refreshments will be served. 330-896-4357. Speakers, classes,workshopsAkron-Canton Shambhala Meditation Center — 133 Portage Trail (Suite 202), Cuyahoga Falls. Weekend seminar, Friday through Dec. 4, of the Buddhist approach to death and dying entitled Fear and Fearlessness: Approaching Death with Wisdom. Guest presenter will be Acharya Eric Spiegel, a senior teacher in the Shambhala Buddhist lineage from New York. Open to the public. No Buddhist background required. Ashland Theological Seminary — 401 College Ave., Ashland. 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday. Dr. Edith M. Humphrey, professor of New Testament at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, will speak on The Grand Entrance: Worship on Earth as in Heaven in Ronk Memorial Chapel on campus. Free and open to the public. 419-289-5007. Catholic Diocese of Youngstown — Loyola of the Lakes Retreat Center, 700 Killinger Road, Green. 6:30 p.m. Dec. 16 to noon Dec. 18. Weekend retreat to help men ages 18-40 gain insight on God’s call for their lives. Focus is on a vocation to the priesthood. Bishop George V. Murry will be director of the retreat. No charge but participants must have a referral from a priest. 330-744-8451.The deadline for Religion Notes is noon Tuesday. Items must be in writing. Please fax information to 330-996-3033, email it to religion@thebeaconjournal.com or send it to Religion, Akron Beacon Journal, 44 E. Exchange St., Akron, OH 44309.