Church news in brief

Local schools will hold food drives that week also. Donations will benefit the regional food bank, which serves Wasco, Hood River and Sherman counties. Food also benefits the Salvation Army, St. Vincent de Paul, Community Meals, Backpack program and more. Volunteers wishing to help can show up at any drop-off point. Needed items are laundry detergent, cereal, canned meats, boxed dinners, chili, soups, stews, pasta, sauces, personal hygiene items and any non-perishable food items.

Covenant Christian

On Saturday, Sept. 13, Covenant Christian Community Church will be hosting singer and songwriter Jonas Woods in a free concert at 7 p.m. Classically trained on the violin since age 5, he got his first guitar at 12 and was writing songs as a youth. “I was blessed that my family was musical,” he said, “as I was always around music and gravitated to it.”

His biggest musical influences range from James Taylor to Crosby, Still, Nash and Young, Cat Stevens and others.

Touring with his wife Becky, he will be promoting his new album, “Tales of the Bittersweet,” released last May. Woods said the album, “more than any other project I have ever done, is part of me. The title is what we went through, and there are many different themes here.”

The album ranges from glossy pop and rock to bare bones ballads, like the song dedicated to his wife, “Not Falling Apart.”

The church is located at 2630 E. 18th St.

Mid-Columbia Fellowship

The Mid-Columbia Fellowship of Churches September forum is set for Tuesday, Sept. 23 at 5 p.m. at First United Methodist Church. Speaking will be Nonie Cornell, coordinator of volunteers for the Warming Place, which provides shelter for the homeless on cold nights. Snacks will be provided by United Church of Christ Congregational.

Progressive Dinner

The 7th Annual Progressive Dinner of the Mid-Columbia Fellowship of Churches is set for Sunday, Oct. 5, 5 to 7 p.m. at Mid-Columbia Senior Center. The new format of this progressive dinner will be “progressing” down the serving tables for each of three courses, rather than journeying from church to church. There will be no charge this year, but rather a free-will offering will be received to offset the cost of the building rental. Each participant is also asked to bring canned goods or money for local hunger relief. Special entertainment is anticipated.

Those planning to attend are asked to sign up at one of the participating churches: First United Methodist, St. Paul’s Episcopal, St Peter Roman Catholic, Zion Lutheran, United Church of Christ Congregational, or phone Donnamae Craber Grannemann at 541-980-9666, so that ample seating is provided as well as nametags.

Hope to see you on Sunday, October 5, at the Mid-Columbia Senior Center, at 5:00pm!