Renewed Spirit to hold German Maifest service [Religion Digest] (2025)

Renewed Spirit, 449 N. Ninth St., Reading, will hold its annual German Maifest worship service on May 4 at 11 a.m. led by the Rev. Sonja Ware, a native of Bad Homburg vor der Höhe, Germany, will give the sermon. The service will be broadcast live on radio station WEEU-830 AM. WEEU has broadcast the Maifest service for almost 100 years.

Parking is available in the parking lot adjacent to the church and at 10th and Green Elementary School. Additional parking is available on North Ninth Street.

The Reading Liederkranz Chorus, under the direction of Mark Herr, will be featured along with with Glenn Fisher, a soloist and first chair flutist with the Inver Hills Community Band in Minnesota, and Susan Herr, Mark’s wife, on bassoon. She plays with the New Holland Band and New Horizons Band.

Contact Deacon Kathy Yenser at 610-301-2191 or Robin Heckman at 610-375-9216 if you have any questions.

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• St. John’s (Hain’s) United Church of Christ, 591 N. Church Road, Lower Heidelberg Township, is hosting another Annie M. Gaul Concert next Saturday at 4 p.m. featuring the Philadelphia Bronze Handbell Choir with special group performance by Hain’s Handbell Choir and festival participants. The final Annie M. Gaul concert will be held on May 4 at 2 p.m. featuring the Conrad Weiser High School Jazz Band and Choraleers, directed by Neil Lutz and Sarah McGrory.

• The Reading Symphony Junior String Orchestra will provide music during the 10:30 a.m. worship service on Sunday at Reformation Lutheran Church, 3670 Perkiomen Ave., Exeter Township The RSJSO is a developmental ensemble for advanced fourth- through eighth-grade string students ofBerks County and surrounding areas and rehearses at Reformation mostSaturday mornings. Under the baton of Brian Mishler, the 40-plus memberorchestra performs at least four times annually, demonstrating a widevariety of repertoire ranging in styles and difficulty.

• St. John’s Gernant’s Church (A Federated Congregation), 13 Gernant’s Church Road, Ontelauneed Township, will worship Sunday at 9:30 a.m. in the Memorial Hall. The service will be Holy Humor Sunday to celebrate Jesus rising. Granges in the area will be welcomed to Grange-Go-to-Church. It also will be Jingle Sunday with the collecting of loose change to help the needy. These donations at the end of the year will go to Family Promise of Berks County. There will be a special fellowship after the service.

• Christ Lutheran Church, 222 Niantic Road, Douglass Township, Montgomery County, will have Coffee and Conversation on Sunday at 8:30 and 10 a.m. in the Welcome Center.

• United Church of Christ of Robesonia, 301 W. Penn Ave., Robesonia, will host the Teen Challenge Men’s Choir on Sunday during the 10:15 a.m. worship service. The Berks County UCC Covenant Association will hold its spring meeting on Sunday at St. Paul’s UCC in Amityville at 3 p.m. The Walking Group will meet next Saturday at 8:30 a.m. at the walking trails of the Wernersville State Hospital. Use 484-332-4345 to meet. Tuesday Zoom Bible study will be held at 9 a.m. Use RevM@uccrwe.org to receive the link. “The Chosen” Bible study with video will be held on Wednesday at 6 p.m. Use 610-741-8815 for details.

• St. John’s Lutheran Church, 45 N. Reading Ave., Boyertown, will hold a free drive-through takeout meal today from 4:30-5:30 p.m., no registration required.

• Good Shepherd United Church of Christ, 170 Tuckerton Road, Muhlenberg Township, will distribute its community chili meal from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. today in the church parking lot.

• Debbie Weinhold will be the guest organist during the 10:15 a.m. worship service on Sunday at Friedens United Church of Christ, 337 Main St., Oley. Friedens is presenting an evening of Broadway tunes to benefit its music program on Friday. A spaghetti dinner will be available from 5:30-6:45 p.m., followed by the concert at 7 titled “Broadway Comes to Oley” in the church sanctuary. Musicians for the concert will be Ben Britton, Joe Ciresi, Dr. Myra Forrest, David Heffner, Lisa Heffner, Teri Hoffman, Timothy Raub and Maggie Riker. Dinner tickets are $15 each and the concert will be free with an offering being taken during the performances. Tickets can be purchased by calling 610-780-0939.

• Calvary United Church of Christ, 1231 Route 100, Washington Township, will have coffee, tea and desserts in the fellowship hall from 8:45 a.m. until the 9:30 a.m. worship service on Sunday.

In order to have an event listed in the religion digest, it must be something that is not just a regular worship service. This includes things such as guest musicians or vocalists who are not members of the church choir; guest speakers; flea markets and other sales, meals, etc. Send information to life@readingeagle.com.