BLOCK PARTY: Bethesda Worship and Deliverance Center will host a block party for the community from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Graham Triangle Park, 3015 Martin Ave. The nondenominational event will include food, fellowship, an inflatable bouncer, a clown and a youth rapper. Information: 453-9050.
NEIGHBORHOOD PICNIC: First Lutheran Church, 542 S. 31st St., will have its annual neighborhood picnic Sunday on the church lawn and in the north parking lot. A 10 a.m. outdoor worship service will start the day's events, followed by a picnic with hot dogs and hamburgers. Games will follow. A free-will offering will be taken. Information: 345-7506.
NEIGHBORHOOD CARNIVAL: Luther Memorial Lutheran Church at 61st Street and Western Avenue will host a neighborhood carnival to celebrate the end of summer Sunday from noon to 2 p.m. All are welcome.
GOSPEL CONCERT: The Forgiven Quartet from Bartlesville, Okla., will sing Saturday at East Side Christian Church, 331 W. Bennett Ave. in Council Bluffs. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the concert is at 7 p.m. An offering will be taken. Information: 712-322-6631.
NEIGHBORHOOD FESTIVALS: The 2 Pillars Church, a new church in downtown Lincoln, is collaborating with the 815 arts venue of Lincoln to present Arts in the Parks Saturday and Sunday and also Aug. 28-29; hours are 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. There will be free food, live music, activities for children and an open-air art gallery. Here is the schedule at Lincoln parks: Saturday at Breta Park, 19th and A Streets; Sunday, at Stransky Park, 17th and Harrison Streets; Aug. 28 at Peach Park, 14th and Peach Streets; and Aug. 29 at Cooper Park, Sixth and D Streets. Information: 402-261-4905.
FOOD DRIVE: A food drive will wrap up Saturday and Sunday at St. Gerald Catholic Church, 96th and Q Streets. The church is collecting nonperishable items for the Tri-City Pantry serving people in the Ralston, La Vista and Papillion areas. Information: 331-7524.
BENEFIT CONCERT: Tenor George Dyer will perform a mix of opera, spiritual and Broadway favorites at St. Mark United Methodist Church, 8550 Pioneers Blvd. in Lincoln, on Sunday. His 7 p.m. concert concludes the Kids Against Hunger summer concert series. The newly formed Lincoln Alabare Community Choir also will perform. The goal of the series is to raise funds to provide one meal per day to 600 children; free-will offerings will be collected. The church's Youth Ministry will hold an ice cream sundae fundraiser between 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Information: www.kahlincoln.org.
BLANKET PROJECT: The Build-a-Blanket project will meet Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Ralston United Church of Christ, 7638 Maywood St. Participants need not know how to sew or crochet to assist. Bring a sack lunch if you will be staying over the noon hour. Information: 331-6067.
THURSDAY FORUM: The Rev. Paul Hoesing will speak on training new seminarians for the new millennium at Gloria Deo Bookstore, 13065 West Center Road, on Thursday at 8 p.m. The question-and-answer session is intended for young professional Catholics. Donations are suggested.
GIVING CARE: If you are concerned about the health or safety of someone over age 60, there will be a special gathering for you Aug. 28 at Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 3617 Green Ave. in Bellevue. Doors will open and refreshments will be served at 9:30 a.m. The PBS special “Caring for Your Parents” will be shown at 10 a.m. There will be a conversation with professionals and individuals who have experienced similar challenges from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Information on resources will be offered. There is no fee for this event, and continuing education units will be offered for health professionals. Register by Wednesday with the Respite Resource Center, 996-8444.
OUTDOOR CONCERT: Bring your lawn chairs for an outdoor concert by four gospel music groups from Council Bluffs on Aug. 28 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. New Shoes Quartet, Terry Burton & Family, Witness and Glory Road Gospel Quartet will perform in Bayliss Park, Sixth Street and First Avenue in Council Bluffs. If there is rain, the concert will be moved to Broadway Christian Church, 2658 Avenue A, Council Bluffs. Information: 712-325-0949.
MARRIAGE ENRICHMENT: Couples married five years or less may join a one-day retreat focused on keeping love alive through faith and practical skills. The retreat will be from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Aug. 29 at the St. Benedict Center in Schuyler, Neb. The retreat includes Mass and costs $40 per couple. Information and registration: www.StBenedictCenter.com and 402-352-8819.
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