Missionaries to speak at Astoria First Assembly of God

Astoria First Assembly of God, 1775 Seventh St., will present Matt and Cheryl Tallman, who will speak at the 10:30 a.m. Sunday service. The couple has served as missionaries with Open Arms International for the past four years.

They recently returned from serving in Kenya, Africa, for a one-year term, starting a school for AIDS orphans, developing sustainability projects at a childrens orphanage and helping to organize medical and evangelistic outreach to various communities surrounding the Eldoret region of West Central Kenya.

This summer, they will lead two short-term teams to Kenya, and continue to train volunteers for Open Arms. They eventually plan to go back to Kenya long-term.

He graduated from Regent University with a masters degree in practical theology and a Ph.D. in historical theology. She graduated from Warner Pacific University with a bachelors degree in early childhood development. The couple reside in Gladstone.

For information about the service, call the church at 503-325-7331.

Seaside Adventist Church to meet

SEASIDE The Seaside Seventh-day Adventist Church, 1450 N. Roosevelt Drive in Seaside, will host the Christian vocal group Homeward for a vespers concert at 4:30 p.m. Saturday. All are welcome.

The group is from the Columbia Gorge SDA church in Troutdale and the Sandy SDA church in Sandy. There is no cost for this event.

Retreat set at Great Vow Zen Monastesy

CLATSKANIE The Great Vow Zen Monastery, located at 79640 Quincy-Mayger Road in Clatskanie, will hold Acts of Love A Retreat on the Buddhist Precepts, led by Dharma Holder Daitetsu Hull, from 5 p.m. March 6 to 1 p.m. March 10.  The retreat will include meditation (silent and guided) and discussion groups.  

The cost is $225 ($200 members, $110 reduced) plus donation, and includes dormitory accommodations and all vegetarian meals.

For details, call 503-728-0654 or email registrar@greatvow .org. Register online at www.zendust.org/displayevent /53390

Buddhism Basics and Beyond set

The Lower Columbia Diversity Project, as part of its Religious Diversity series, will present Buddhism Basics and Beyond, at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Astoria Senior Center, 1111 Exchange St.

Kojun and Daitetsu Hull from the Great Vow Monastery in Clatskanie will discuss Buddhism, both as a philosophy and as a way of life. All are welcome to attend this free community discussion.

For information about Great Vow, go to www.greatvow.org. For information about the LCDP, email lcdiversityproject@gmail .com

Bethany Free Lutheran Church prayer service to be held

Bethany Free Lutheran Church, 451 34th St., will hold a prayer service at 6 p.m. Sunday. The focus will be on the problem of drug and alcohol abuse in the community, particularly among young people. The group will pray for protection for those who are young and facing temptations, wisdom and strength for families who are struggling with the problem, and freedom and release for ones who are in bondage to addictions. There will also be prayer and discussion about how to serve the community. All are welcome.

For information, call 503-325-2925.

Peace Lutheran Church service Wednesday

The Astoria community is invited to drop in at the Fellowship Hall of Peace Lutheran Church, 565 12th St., for a half-hour of candlelight, scripture, prayer, singing and silence at 5:30 p.m. the following Wednesdays during Lent, followed by biblically-based Table Talk conversations and a simple meal. The topic will be Be Still and Know.

For information, call the church at 503-325-3871.

Grace Episcopal Church to hold art show

Grace Episcopal Church, 1545 Franklin Ave., will hold an opening reception for the Astoria High School Student Art Show from 11:20 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday in the Parish Hall, following the 10 a.m. service.    

The exhibit, which will be up until March 28, was organized by Nhakira La Pointe and Rachel Lertora, two Astoria High School sophomores. The 30 artists will display their work using multiple media ranging from oil pastels and watercolors to spray paint and Balsa foam. The students art will be for sale, and a percentage of the sales will go to the Astoria High School Art Department.

This is Hunger Awareness Sunday at Grace, and there will be an ingathering for the Hunger Ministries, both monetary as well as non-perishable food items. Soaps of all kinds and paper products are especially needed.

The monthly Community Dinner will be served in the Parish Hall at 4 p.m. Sunday free of charge. Those willing to help should come at 3 p.m. to set up or 5 p.m. to help clean up.

Continuing during Lent, Soup and Sustenance will be offered at 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays in the Rectory to share soup, bread and Lenten ideas.

At 7 p.m. Wednesday, the Taizé service will take place, with an option for healing prayers.

The Stations of the Cross will be walked at 12:10 p.m. on Fridays during Lent, and Compline will be read every Saturday at 7 p.m.

For information, call the church at 503-325-4691 or go to www.graceastoria.org

Song, Scripture and Sacrament set in Seaside

SEASIDE Our Saviours Lutheran Church will present Song, Scripture and Sacrament from 11 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at Suzanne Elise Assisted Living, 101 Forest Drive in Seaside. All are welcome.

For information, call the church at 503-738-6791.

Free takeout meal offered in Ocean Park

OCEAN PARK, Wash. The Ocean Park Lutheran Church will serve a free takeout meal from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Mondays only. The church is located on U Street between Bay Avenue and 227th in Ocean Park. Call 360-665-6344 for information.