FAMILY DAY: First Baptist Church of Braceville, 1300 Cedar St., will host a Family and Friends Day at 11:15 a.m. Sunday.

OKTOBERFEST: St. Paul Lutheran Church, 2860 E. Market St., Warren, will host its annual Oktoberfest 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday. The event will include various food choices and musical entertainment.

CONCERT PLANNED: Bazetta Christian Church will host an evening of gospel music with Gloryway at 6 p.m. Sunday. There will be a free-will offering.

FIRST FRIDAY CLUB: The First Friday Club of Greater Youngstown Speaker Series will be at noon Nov. 6 at Avion on the Water Banquet Center, 2177 W. Western Reserve Road, Canfield. The guest speaker is Sister Valerie Luckey, OSB, who will present “Conversion of Heart in a Suffering Society.” Luckey is a Benedictine Sister of Erie and the director of Emmaus Ministries, the Benedictine outreach to Erie’s poor. There will be an opportunity for participants’ questions following the talk. Lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m. with the presentation beginning at noon. The cost is $25. Call by Thursday at 330-720-4498. Reservations are limited.

REFORMATION: Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2742 North Road NE, will celebrate the anniversary of the Reformation at 10:15 a.m. Sunday.

HALLELUJAH NIGHT: Rising Star Baptist Church, 2943 Wardle Ave., Youngstown, will host a community Hallelujah Night 5 to 8 p.m. Friday for children 5 to 12. Children can wear costumes. There will be food, a bounce house and music. The event is sponsored by the Jericho Project.

DAY OF HOPE: Local Catholic organizations will come together to commemorate the Jubilee of the Poor with an outreach event for individuals and families experiencing the effects of poverty. A “Community Day of Hope” will take place 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 15 at St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish-Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 3020 Reeves Road NE, Warren. Youngstown Bishop David J. Bonnar will offer a blessing and engage with attendees.

The Catholic Church declares a “Jubilee Year” every 25 years as a special time of grace, forgiveness and spiritual renewal. The theme of the 2025 Jubilee Year is “Pilgrims of Hope.”

GOLD MASS: The Diocese of Youngstown will host the third annual Gold Mass Celebration Dinner to follow Mass Nov. 23. All parish directors, musicians and anyone involved in liturgical music within the Diocese of Youngstown are invited. A concert featuring choral and instrumental music will begin at 3:45 p.m., followed by the Mass at 5 p.m. at St. Columba Cathedral, 154 W. Wood St., Youngstown. If you are interested in participating in the concert before the Mass, singing or playing for Mass, contact Youngstown Diocesan Director of Music and Cathedral musician, Ralph Holtzhauser at rholtzhauser@youngstowndiocese.org, or 330-744-8451, Ext. 212. The Diocese of Youngstown is bringing back the Cecilia Project for the 2025-26 church year.

ESTHER CIRCLE HELPS: The Esther Circle of Central Christian Church chose The Trumbull County Society of St. Vincent de Paul as its winter fundraising project in an effort to assist the local population in need. The Esther Circle went on a tour through the society’s three buildings at 2431 Niles Road. The Esther Circle is a group of ladies that meet monthly to raise and disperse funds from the church in the area, which was founded in 1803. Now in its 95th year of operation, the society maintains four pantries, has the assistance of more than 200 volunteers daily, personal and private and business donations, and grants, without the assistance of federal or state funding.

PRAYING WITH COLOR: Villa Maria Education and Spirituality Center will offer Praying with Color 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 1. Praying with Color is a way to pray for others and ourselves and use scripture. It is a way to “see” our prayer. No artistic skill or prayer expertise is needed. Paulette Kirschensteiner, HM, CZT, leads retreats incorporating art and prayer. Cost is $65, which includes the program, lunch and refreshments. Program information and registration are available at vmesc.org or call 724-964-8886.

PROGRAM SET: Villa Maria Education and Spirituality Center will offer a one-day presentation with Ilia Delio, noted author and lecturer, titled “The Christic Self: What it is and Why it Matters.” This special presentation will take place 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Nov. 15. The talk will explore Teilhard de Chardin’s notion of the Christic self, looking at its formation, significance, and the bigger question of whether the Christic self makes a difference to world evolution.

Do our beliefs and spiritual practices really make a difference? Cost is $105 and includes program, lunch and refreshments. Program information and registration are available at vmesc.org or 724-964-8886.