Kenai United Methodist Church of the New Covenant food pantry staff got a welcome gift „ a $4,000 check from the Alaska Food Coalition to help the church upgrade its pantry. The food pantry is a joint effort between the Methodist church and St. Francis By the Sea Episcopal Church, also in Kenai. Those accepting the check are, pictured from left, Molly Jackson, Susan Pike, Virginia Pore, Tonya Holliday and Jerry Olmes.

Holiday, Easter services slated

* The United Methodist Church of the New Covenant in Kenai will hold a Good Friday service at 7 p.m. today. It is open to the public. Easter celebrations will begin at 8:30 a.m. Sunday with an early morning service. An Easter breakfast prepared by the men of the church, under the leadership of Randy Pippin, will begin at 9:15 a.m. followed by an Easter egg hunt for the children. Pastor Lucile Barton will bring the message at the 11 a.m. worship service. The church is on the Kenai Spur Highway in Kenai next to the Boys and Girls Club. For more information, call Lucy Barton at 283-7868.

* The Apostolic Assembly of Jesus Christ's purification fast, to commemorate the death and burial of Jesus Christ, will end with communion at the Sunday "Sonrise" service at 7 a.m. at the church at Mile 89 of the Sterling Highway. Sunday school will begin at 10:30 a.m. Treats and music, a money hunt and a play performed by the fifth- and sixth-grade class are planned. The evening service will be at 5:30 p.m. and feature a special resurrection cantata presented by the adult choir. It is open to the public. For more information, call 262-3165. For transportation, call 262-9693 or 262-0853.

* Peninsula Christian Center Easter services will include Pastor J.D. Duncan's presentation of an illustrated sermon "The View from Mark's House" with painted backdrops by local artist Dennis Johns. In addition there will be special music and the drama team will perform "I Know My Redeemer Lives" in sign language. An Easter treat will be given to children. Services will be held at 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. with deaf signing services at the 10:30 service. The church is behind The Salvation Army store on the Kenai Spur Highway in Soldotna. For more information, call 262-7416.

Exercise program begins

The ladies of the United Methodist Church of the New Covenant are offering a free one-hour StrongWomen exercise class at 1 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays in the education wing of the Kenai church. Participants are asked to bring a towel and hand and ankle weights, if available.

For more information, call Joy Ward at 283-4214.

Children's Bible club offered

Sterling Baptist Church will hold a children's Bible club from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays at the church on the Sterling Highway at the corner of Swanson River Road. Some of the planned activities include games, prizes, Bible stories and songs.

Youth in grades kindergarten through sixth may attend. For more information, call 262-4711.

Women's retreat slated

Point To Hope Ministries in Nikiski will host a women's retreat April 3 through 5 at Solid Rock Bible Camp in Sterling. The annual Kenai Peninsula Women's Retreat "Holy Spirit Encounter „ Three Sheets to the Wind," includes featured speaker Nancy Haney. There will be nine workshop speakers. For more information or to register, call Debbie Grimes at 776-8108 or visit www.pointtohope.org. The cost is $130.

Children's group planned

The Soldotna United Methodist Church has an after-school program from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays. Children may arrive as early as 3:30 p.m. Children in grades kindergarten through fourth may attend. Youth in grades five and up will be used as helpers. For more information, call 262-4958.

Nikiski Aglow meeting set

Nikiski Aglow meets at 10 a.m. Wednesdays at North Star United Methodist Church at Mile 25.5 of the Kenai Spur Highway. Women may attend Bible study, prayer and worship. For more information, call 776-8022.

Aglow Bible study continues

Soldotna Day Aglow's Bible study titled Breaking Free, by Beth Moore, continues at 10 a.m. Wednesdays at Peninsula Christian Center at the corner of Cohoe Avenue and Farnsworth Boulevard in Soldotna. Fellowship and coffee are at 9:30 a.m. Free child care is provided. For more information, call 262-2569 or 260-4980.

Clothes Quarters open

The Clothes Quarters is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays at 225 S. Spruce St. behind Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church in Kenai. The store sells clothes and free trade coffee. For more information, call 283-9371 or 283-4555.

Nikiski Bible study under way

Nikiski Nazarene Ladies offers the Beth Moore Bible study, Living Beyond Yourself, from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturdays. Women and teen girls may attend. For more information, call Bev at 776-8022 or Rena at 776-5421.

Free clothing available

The First Baptist Church in Soldotna has a clothes closet, where free clothing is available for the community from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays in the garage at 119 Little St. Participants are asked to use the back door. For more information, call 260-4806.

Grief support group to meet

Soldotna United Methodist Church conducts a life, love and loss support group from noon to 1 p.m. on the first and third Monday of the month at the church at 158 S. Binkley St. Any type of loss is open for discussion in the group. Attendees are asked to bring a brown bag lunch. For more information, call Richard at 262-4657.

Church news sought

Area churches are invited to submit information on current or upcoming Bible studies, open houses, events or upcoming special functions.

Photos from events also may be submitted. Please include the date, location, names of people in the photo, a brief description of the activity and a contact name and phone number. Photos that include an address will be returned.

For more information call Nancianna Misner at 335-1241, e-mail news@peninsulaclarion.com, fax to 283-3299, drop it off at our office at 150 Trading Bay Drive in Kenai or mail information to P.O. Box 3009, Kenai, AK 99611.