RELIGION BRIEFS:

Fairfield Friends offers special program

Fairfield Friends Church will present 'Investment Strategies: A look into Jesus' portfolio - invest in a few” from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 28 at the church.

The speaker will be Joel Zaborowski.

Brunch will be served.

For information, email friendschurch@lisco.com.

Jefferson County Right to Life

Jefferson County Right to Life is sponsoring several activities in support of life. For more than 25 years, the organization's purpose has been to educate the public about human development and the wonders of life.

40 Days for Life, a 40 day period of prayer, fasting, and community outreach to end abortion begins on Wednesday, Sept. 25. Memorial crosses for the unborn, who have lost their lives due to abortion, will be placed on the lawn of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Fairfield at 5:30 p.m. Bring gloves and a hammer. Refreshments and a short program will follow.

On Sunday, Sept. 29, at 6:30 p.m., the movie 'UnPlanned” will be shown in St. Mary Catholic Church hall in Fairfield. It is the true story of Abby Johnson, a former Planned Parenthood Employee of the Year. One day, while working at the clinic, what she saw changed everything. The movie is not recommended for elementary children.

Sunday, Oct. 6, is National Life Chain Sunday. Jefferson County Right to Life will meet at the city parking lot at the corner of Washington Avenue and Court Street in Fairfield at 12:45 p.m. From 1-2 p.m., they will pray silently along Highway 34 downtown, holding proline signs.

Everyone is welcome to participate in the activities.

For information, call Karen Crossland at 641-919-9037.

IW alum to lead music-worship symposium on campus

Aaron Warner, director of music and worship at St. Mark's United Methodist Church in Cedar Rapids, will lead a 50-minute symposium for Iowa Wesleyan University music students and community members at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24, as part of the music laboratory class in Old Main on the IW campus in Mt. Pleasant.

An ecumenical contemporary service also will be held at 7 p.m. in the IW Chapel.

'We're very excited to have Aaron back on campus,” said department chair Jason Edwards. 'It is a testament to the work we do here when alumni return to share their experiences with our current students and community.”

Warner, IW Class of 2012, will present information about contemporary music and worship techniques from a practical experience viewpoint. The day will conclude with an inclusive music and worship service in the IW Chapel led by Warner and his team from St. Mark's, in partnership with CREW, the IW campus-based interdenominational Bible study organization.

The symposium and worship service are free and open to anyone interested and the public is invited.

For further information, contact Jason Edwards at jedwards@iw.edu.

Washington United Methodist Women

The Washington United Methodist Women met Friday, Sept. 13, at the home of Vicky Ealy for a salad luncheon.

The nineteen members and friends then went to the home of Marilyn Whitenack for the main course of chicken on rice. The group then went to the home of Jan Stiles where Sonja Campbell gave a program on Ukraine. She and her husband have visited there many times in the last 27 years. She discussed the communes, agriculture, people, soil, water developed after the split from Russia. She now has family living and working there.

Several dates of future meetings were announced by President Marilyn Whitenack. Shirley Pfeifer read minutes from a 1947 meeting with many familiar names. The women will host the Saturday Kitchen on Saturday, Sept. 28, and help is needed.

Jan Stiles served a refreshing dessert to conclude the afternoon.

The Mt. Pleasant Zone of the Lutheran Women's Missionary League will hold their annual Fall Rally on Saturday, Oct. 5, at Zion Lutheran Church in Wilton.

Registration and a light breakfast begin at 8:30 a.m. The meeting and program is scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon with lunch included.

The theme is John 6:35 'I am the bread of life; whoever comes to Me shall not hunger and whoever believes in Me shall not thirst.” The keynote speaker is Daniel Sanchez, director of Camp Io-Dis-e-Ca in Solon. Camp Io-Dis-e-Ca is a Christ-centered camp that promotes and provides education, recreation, and inspiration for individuals and groups of all ages with distinctive Lutheran programs.

The LWML is a recognized auxiliary of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod and the Mt. Pleasant Zone consists of women from LCMS churches in Burlington, Fairfield, Fort Madison, Keosauqua, Mt. Pleasant, Muscatine, Wapello, and Wilton.

Guests are welcome to attend.