You may not be able to tell by looking at me today, but I used to be quite the soccer player when I was younger. In my final game, I had an opportunity to do something I had never done before: score a goal.

CAREY — Area singers are invited to join the Carey Ecumenical Christmas Choir as preparations begin for this year’s concert to be held on Sunday, Dec. 10 at 4:30 p.m. The concert will be held at the Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation, 315 Clay Street in Carey.

BLUFFTON — Bluffton University will host “Grace to You and Peace: Voices of the Martyrs,” by Wendy Chappell-Dick and the Anabaptist singers at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 15 in Yoder Recital Hall. The concert will present the direct words and hymns of Anabaptist martyrs through contemporary song settings.

ADA — First Baptist Church of Ada will host a spaghetti dinner and Alzheimer's presentation on Sunday, Oct. 15. Dinner will be at 6 p.m. with the program at 7 p.m.

I know this will be hard for some of my parishoners to believe, but I actually edit my sermons and cut a lot out that I’d like to share. (I know I still try to cram a lot into the message each Sunday.)

LIMA — The unmistakable sound of multi-Dove and Grammy Award-winning recording artist David Phelps will be featured on Saturday, Sept. 30 at the Lima Baptist Temple, 962 Brower Road. The concert event begins at 7:00pm.

CAREY — The Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation in Carey will host two special Masses in October. The first Mass is on Sunday, Oct. 8 (in honor of the Feast of St. Gerard Majella) at noon there will be a Mass for those who are expecting a child or trying to have one. St. Gerard is the patron saint of motherhood.

As we listen to the news of late there are many things to be concerned over, street demonstrations, North Korea, natural disasters in the form of hurricanes Harvey, Irma and now Maria. It has been refreshing to hear the stories of people helping one another during these times of crisis.

The Latter Rain Quartet will be singing this weekend at the following Kenton churches: Well of Grace Church, 525 N. ida St., at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23; and Kenton Full Gospel Church, 129 N. Wayne St., at 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 24.

Kenton Full Gospel Church, 129 N. Wayne St., will be hosting a night of Southern Gospel singing at 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 24. The quartets that will be singing are Jericho Road, Latter Rain and the Gary Lyons Family.