Church to stage anniversary musical

A Topeka church will honor its pastor and his wife for 40 years of service to the congregation with a musical extravaganza this weekend.

The musical is set for 6 p.m. Saturday, April 6, at St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church, 2222 S.E. Madison.

The program will kick off the monthlong 40th anniversary celebration of the Rev. McCoy Caraway and his wife, Lucinda, at the St. Luke church.

Musical guests will include the Hays Family, from Little Rock, Ark.; the Ward Chapel men's chorus, of Junction City; and the Rev. James Jackson, from Kansas City, Mo. Also performing will be the Harmony Kings, the Parker Sisters, Heaven Bound, the St. Luke's male chorus and other guests from the city.

In other religion news:

• The 189th annual General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will be shown live via satellite at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday, April 6, and Sunday, April 7, in the Topeka Stake Center, 2401 S.W. Kingsrow Road, and in the church meetinghouse at 3611 S.W. Jewell. The annual two-day conference will include talks about Jesus Christ and other addresses of inspiration and guidance by the church's worldwide leaders. Music will be performed primarily by the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square. At 10:30 a.m. Sunday, the choir's weekly program, "Music and the Spoken Word," will be shown live before the 11 a.m. session.

• True Holiness Family Church, 1244 S.E. Republican, will offer chicken dinners from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 6. An $11 donation is requested for the meals, which will include green beans, potato salad, cake and soda pop.

 • Annunciation Catholic Church will have a roast beef dinner from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday, April 7, at the Cigna Center, 402 N. Maple in Frankfort. The menu will include mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, corn, coleslaw, dinner rolls and dessert. The meal costs $10 for adults and $5 for children 10 and under. Takeout meals and delivery in Frankfort will be available by calling the parish office at (785) 292-4462 during the morning hours on Monday through Friday and on the day of the dinner. A country store also will be held in conjunction with the dinner and will feature baked goods, crafts and other items.

• The Topeka Churches Singing Convention will meet at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, April 7, at St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church, 2222 S.E. Madison.

Conference sessions will also air online on www.ChurchofJesusChrist.org and www.byutv.org and on Cox cable's Channel 152; Dish Television Network's Channel 9403; DirecTV's Channel 374; and AT&T U-verse Channel 1567.

• Peter Lewis Whitebird will be in concert at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 6, at Heritage Country Church, 15767 S. Topeka Blvd. in Scranton.

• Highland Park United Methodist Church, 2914 S.E. Michigan, will have a Lenten breakfast series at 7:30 a.m. Tuesdays through April 16. A guest speaker will be featured at each breakfast, which will end by 8:30 a.m. Freewill offerings will be received to help defray the cost of the breakfasts.

• Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 3625 S.W. Wanamaker, will have Lenten services at 7 p.m. Wednesdays through April 10. A light supper starting at 5:30 p.m. will be served before the services.

• First Lutheran Church, 1234 S.W. Fairlawn, will have mid-week Lenten devotions at 7 p.m. Thursdays through April 11. A soup meal will be served before the worship service at 5:30 p.m

• Mater Dei-Assumption Catholic Church, 204 S.W. 8th, will hold fish frys from 5 to 7 p.m. Fridays during Lent through April 12. The menu will include deep-fried and baked fish; french fries; macaroni and cheese; coleslaw; a baked potato bar; dinner rolls; dessert; and coffee, tea and lemonade. The cost is $8 for adults and $4 for children ages 6 to 12. Children 5 and under eat free. Carryout dinners will be available. Discount tickets for buy five dinners, get one free, will be available for $40 for adults and $20 for children at the dinners.

• The Saturday Women’s Connection of Topeka will have a “True Designer” luncheon from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, April 13, at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library, 1515 S.W. 10th Ave. The speaker will be Malinda Olson, of Paola. Music will be provided by Christa Sloop and Jaron Marcus. The luncheon cost is $14. There is no charge to attend only the program. Reservations are requested by Monday, April 8. For reservations, call (785) 233-0701 or email dlcloud@cox.net.

• Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church, 610 S.E. Lime, will celebrate its 111th anniversary with services at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 14. The guest speaker will be the Rev. Michael Black, of Rising Star Baptist Church in Kansas City, Kan.

• Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church, 610 S.E. Lime, will have its spring revival at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, April 16, 17 and 18. Evangelists will include: Tuesday — the Rev. James Kirtdoll, St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church; Wednesday — the Rev. Seante Ford, assistant pastor of Galilee Baptist Church, Kansas City, Kan.; and Thursday — the Rev. Markquatt Ford, associate minister of Galilee Baptist Church in Kansas City, Kan..

• Kansas Avenue United Methodist Church, 1029 N. Kansas Ave., will present a Good Friday "Passion Play" at 6:30 p.m. Friday, April 19, with participation from six area congregations.

• An Easter cantata titled "I Stand All Amazed" by Sally DeFord will be presented at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 20, at the Topeka Stake Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2401 S.W. Kingsrow Road. The hourlong cantata tells of Christ’s ministry, the triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the last supper, Jesus's agony in Gethsemane and subsequent crucifixion, and his resurrection from the dead.

Singers from Latter-day Saint congregations in Topeka, Lawrence, and Emporia will take part in the cantata and will be accompanied by piano, organ, flute and violin. The program is free, and no offering will be taken. For more information, call (785) 554-8068.

• Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church, 610 S.E. Lime, will have an Easter sunrise service at 6 a.m. Sunday, April 21. Special guests will include members of Calvary Baptist Church.

• Grantville United Methodist Church, 3724 South St. in Grantville, will have its annual spring dinner and bazaar on Saturday, April 27. The bazaar and will run from 3 to 7 p.m. and will include a bake sale, a craft sale, a cake walk and a drawing for a quilt.  The meal will be served from 4 to 7 p.m. Menu items include chicken casserole or ham, vegetables, salads, rolls, pies and drink. Freewill donations will be received, with all proceeds going for missions. For more information, call the church at (785) 246-3621.

• Elmont United Methodist Church, 6635 N.W. Church Lane, will have a Spring Fling dinner and bazaar from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Saturday, April 27. The menu will include pork loin, mashed potatoes, dressing, gravy, green beans, slaw, cinnamon applesauce, rolls and dessert. The cost is $8 for adults and $4 for children under 12. The bazaar will feature a silent auction for gift baskets, baked goods and candy. All proceeds help to continue the support and mission work of the church's United Methodist Women's group.

• Highland Heights Christian Church, 2930 S.E. Tecumseh Road, will have a free movie night at 6 p.m. Saturday, April 27. The movie "Paul, Apostle of Christ" will be shown for adults. Children will be able to view "A Veggie Tales Movie." Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. Free snacks will be provided.

• The 54th annual Blintze Brunch and Jewish Food and Cultural Fair will take place from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday, April 28, at Temple Beth Sholom, 4200 S.W. Munson. Advance tickets for the all-you-can-eat brunch are available for $12 at Briman's Leading Jewelers, 734 S. Kansas Ave.; Einstein's Outdoor Outfitters, 1820 S.W. 10th Ave.; and the temple office. Tickets at the door will cost $15.

• The State of Kansas Holocaust Commemoration Service will take place at 1 p.m. Monday, April 29, at the Ramada Hotel and Convention Center, 420 S.E. 6th Ave. The speaker will be Holocaust survivor Gitla Doppelt. Clergy, choirs, students and political leaders are scheduled to participate in the program. A reception sponsored by the Kansas State Holocaust Commission will follow.