Lancaster Eagle-Gazette from Lancaster, Ohio • 3

Lancaster Eagle-Gazette, Saturday, November 22, 20083AJ iMJ'iJL V-Liii www.lancastereaglegazette.com Lancaster church prepping for 3rd year of holiday concert er relatives have assumed the role of providing care for children who are not their own, according to Ruff. The majority of these kinship providers are living on fixed incomes, such as Social Security, making holiday gift-giving a challenge. "The generous donations of the community, including the toys provided through the First Church of God Benefit Concert, will bring joy to many (The Earth Angel Foundation), Angela Orthmann, Tamaria Kulemula and for kids of all ages The Lancaster First Church of God's Puppet Ministry. Coming back for the second year will be the Lancaster Salvation Army Blood and Fire Band, under the direction of Capt. Pat Ward.

Anyone who would like to know more about this concert or more information about the Kin- girls and boys," Ruff said. "Last year the generosity of many in the community who donated toys helped make Christmas special for more than 23 children residing with kinship caregving." The theme of the 2008 holiday concert is "Climb Those Mountains High." Scheduled to perform is Victor Estell, The Means Family, Hollie Saunders, Larry Smith Award-winning family band coming to town "Over six years ago someone came to me with this great idea. A Christmas concert and the cost to attend was a donation to our Kinship Program," said Jenny Ruff, coordinator of the Fairfield County Job Family Services' Kinship Program, which has been sponsoring the concert the past three years. In Fairfield County, more than 200 grandparents and oth The Collingsworth family will A By JANET THIEDE Eagle-Gazette Correspondent LANCASTER It is something that runs in the Collingsworth family. Each of them has it, including 10-year-old Olivia.

What exactly is it that the Collingsworth family has? Musical talent. And word is spreading around the U.S. that this talented family is worth listening to. The winners- of the 2007 Southern Gospel Music Guild's "New Artist of the Year" honor will be bringing their special blend of vocal INSIDE: Read about more upcoming faith events on Page 8B. and instrumen- tal music to Faith Memorial Church, 2610 W.

Fair Lancaster, on Dec. 7. The free Christmas concert will begin at 6 p.m. Doors open at 5 p.m. Music and Worship Minister Mike Kortora said he's very excited that the Collingsworth family is able to return to Lancaster because the group's tour schedule has become very booked.

According to the family's Web site, www.philandkim.com, performances have been inked on the pages of many church, theatre and convention center calendars all the way through 2010. Phil and Kim's music ministry began in 1986 when the couple performed together at a church camp in Michigan. In addition to being skilled vocalists, Phil is an accomplished trumpet player and Kim is well-known for her artistry with the piano. The couple combined their love of music and ministry by performing at church camps and revivals for years while working pi By JACK BLANKENSHIP Eage-Gazette CORRESPONDENT LANCASTER Holiday spirit and spiritual music will join together at one Lancaster church on Dec. 18.

For the third year, Pastor William Means and the Lancaster First Church of God will open their doors for an evening of holiday music and entertainment. Bazaar season begins in county BY MARK KINSLER Eagle-Gazette Corresponden LANCASTER Christmas is but a few weeks away, and so it is time for one of the most time-honored and joyous traditions of the informal Advent calendar the church holiday bazaar. This is where the ladies of the church get together to sell Christmas cookies and crafts to benefit their house of worship and its various programs. There is socializing, lunch, and it's a great place to pick up inexpensive, but sincere, handmade gifts. Plus perhaps something for yourself.

St. Michael's United Church of Christ in Baltimore will have its annual Holiday Bazaar on Dec. 6. Lynne Dern, church officer and advertising director for the event, said the featured items this year will be the holiday cookies, baked by the women of the church and available by the box, and the famous homemade mincemeat. Also, there will be a chicken-noodle luncheon available all day.

Carry-out is available as well. All proceeds go to the general church fund, and there is no admission charge. All items are handmade, including quilts and holiday handicrafts, Dern said. Amanda United Methodist Church is having its holiday church bazaar as well. It is schedule from 9 a.m.

to 2 p.m. Saturday. Rita Francis, coordinator of the affair, said there will be handicrafts, quilts, gift baskets, Avon Eroducts, honey-related products, ome interior products, jewelry and holiday baked goods. All of the merchandise is new; there's no rummage sale associated with the holiday bazaar. The church ladies will be serving lunch soup and sandwiches and all proceeds go to the church general fund.

You're particularly urged to get there early to meet Connie Bennett of "Take the Cake," whose famed homemade apple and cherry turnovers typically sell out by noon. If You Go What: Bazaars Where: Amanda United Methodist Church, 7765 Amanda Southern Road in Amanda. When: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

Where: St Michael's United Church of Christ of Baltimore, 2495 Bickel Church Road in Baltimore. When: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Dec. 6 More Bazaars Holiday Bazaar What: There will be handmade gifts and homemade baked good available. Lunch will also be available.

Where: Oakland United Methodist Church, 9249 Chilli-cothe-Lancaster Road, Oakland. When: 9 am to 3 p.m. Friday Annual Holiday Bazaar What: Crestview Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Services will have its annual holiday bazaar. This event is free and open to the public. Vendor Tables available for $10 each.

Where: Crestview Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Services, 957 Becks Knob Road, Lancaster. When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 29 More Information: 74(653-9422 If You Go The concert is scheduled at 7 p.m.

Dec. 18 at the Lancaster First Church of God, 732 E. Sixth Ave. Cost to attend this Christmas concert is a donation to Fairfield County Job Family Services' Kinship Program. ship Program may do so by calling Ruff at 740-653-1701.

for churches and Bible colleges. In 2000, they began recording professionally and decided that their ministry was to perform in concerts around the country. During the years, their four children, ranging in ages from 10 to 19, have joined their parents on stage. The two oldest daughters, Brooklyn, 19, and Courtney, 17, play the violin. Brooklyn also sings for most of the shows with her parents.

Phillip, 14, and Olivia also add their vocal and instrumental talents to the show. "Some times, there are six voices singing at a time. They sing a very tight, beautiful harmony," Kotora said. In 2006 the Collingsworth Family signed a multi-year exclusive recording agreement with Crossroads Entertainment and Marketing. That same year they earned Ovation Awards "Breakthrough Artist of the Year" and Kim was named "Musician of the Year." According to their Web site, the Ovation Awards are presented annually by sogospelnews.com.

In 2007, the Southern Gospel Music Guild presented the family with a Harmony Award in the category of "New Artist of the Year." This year the family was nominated for three music awards and had two of their releases counted in the "Top 40 Hits" of gospel music. The Dec. 7 stop in Lancaster, according to their tour schedule, is their last concert prior to Christmas. "My hope and prayer is that this concert will bring real peace and joy to everyone and begin a spiritual awakening to our hearts as we thank God for His many blessings and His wonderful gift of love, His Son Jesus," said Kotora. The 77-million-member Anglican fellowship, which includes the U.S.

Episcopal Church, has roots in the missionary work of the Church of England. Most overseas Anglicans have traditional views of the Bible and Robinson's consecration has moved the global communion toward the brink of schism. Breakaway U.S. leaders hope to form an Anglican province in North America. against Weeks in early October.

Court records show that Weeks tried unsuccessfully to delay the eviction. A sheriff's deputy came to the Duluth church campus Nov, 14 to carry out the eviction. Weeks' divorce attorney Randy Kessler says he was unaware of the eviction. Bynum, a popular Pentecostal preacher, author and gospel singer, filed for divorce after the couple had an August 2007 fight in an Atlanta hotel parking lot that landed Weeks in jail on charges that he pushed, choked and beat Bynum. He pleaded guilty to assaulting her, is serving three years' probation and has completed court ordered community service and anger management counseling.

perform a free concert on Dec. 7. Supplied photo Fort Worth votes to become break from Episcopal church NEW YORK (AP)-The theologically conservative Diocese of Fort Worth voted Saturday to split from the liberal-leaning Episcopal Church, the fourth traditional diocese to do so in a long-running debate about the Bible, gay relationships and other issues. About 80 percent of clergy and parishioners in the Texas diocese supported the break in a series of votes at a diocesan convention. 4th diocese to oversees more than 50 parishes and missions serving about 19,000 people.

The Steering Committee estimates that at least five parishes and hundreds of other churchgoers will remain with the New York-based national church. The other seceding dioceses are Pittsburgh; Quincy, and San Joaquin, based in Fresno, where a legal fight over assets is already under way. National church leaders are group tries to gain a seat in the European Union parliament next year. Veronica Svard, a spokeswoman for the Feminist Initiative party, said advocates want to respond to religious groups in the EU who have campaigned to remove the issue of abortion rights from the European agenda. "Women must have the right to decide over their own bodies," she said.

The party was formed in 2005 but is currently not represented in the Swedish or European Parliament. Abortion is legal in many European countries, but is prohibited in Andorra, Ireland, Malta, Monaco, and Poland. Restrictions are also in place in Cyprus, Luxembourg and Portugal and elsewhere. helping local parishioners reorganize each diocese. All four withdrawing dioceses are aligning with the like-minded Anglican Province of the Southern Cone, based in Argentina, to try to keep their place in the world Anglican Communion.

The vote is the latest fallout from the 2003 consecration of the first openly gay Episcopal bishop, V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire. Bishop Weeks' church evicted from Duluth site ATLANTA (AP)-Bishop Thomas W. Weeks III, the ex-husband of televangelist Juani-ta Bynum, was evicted from his church over claims he owes hundreds of thousands of dollars in back rent. Attorney Stephanie Friese of Grimes-Square Executive, says Weeks, the leader of Global Destiny International Ministries, has made no payments since July despite negotiations with the landlord.

She says Weeks owes more than $400,000 in rent and fees. Eviction proceedings began The Steering Committee North Texas Episcopalians, an umbrella group for those who want to stay with the denomination, plans to reorganize the diocese. They promised that "the Episcopal Church's work of Christian ministry and evangelization will go forward" in the region. A lengthy, expensive legal battle is expected over who owns Episcopal property and funds. The Fort Worth diocese that the messages are appreciated by people in Bethlehem who refuse to give up hope for peace between Palestinians and Israelis.

The group asked that e-mails be sent to the Arab Educational Initiative, which does social work in Bethlehem. The council brings together about 350 Protestant, Orthodox and other churches representing more than 560 million Christians. Feminist party makes push for abortion rights STOCKHOLM, Sweden (AP) A Swedish feminist party will push for abortion to be recognized as a human right as the Briefs Group to deliver Christmas messages, prayers GENEVA (AP) The World Council of Churches will help deliver Christmas messages and prayers of peace to the biblical birthplace of Jesus. The council, Christianity's ecumenical movement, said that messages e-mailed before the Jan. 7 Christmas celebrated by Orthodox Christians will be printed and handed out at schools and places of worship in the West Bank city of Bethlehem.

The council said Tuesday.