About a dozen local physicians will be featured in the fifth annual “Music, Just What the Doctor Ordered” concert at 4 p.m. Sunday, March 11, at First United Methodist Church, 600 S.W. Topeka Blvd.
Funds raised at the event will benefit HealthAccess and Marian Clinic, which provide services to low-income and uninsured residents of the Topeka vicinity.
Doctors taking part will be Steve Crouch, Robert Jacoby, Grace Morrison, Craig Yorke, James Hamilton, Scott Teeter, Paul Kindling, Joseph Sargent, James Seeman, Henry Spangler and Kurt Knappenberger.
Music by the Rip Chords also will be featured.
In other religion news:
■ Catholics for Renewal of Northeast Kansas, a faith-sharing group, will hold its first gathering of 2012 from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, March 10, at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 1701 S.W. Collins.
For more information, call (785) 221-6379.
■ Asbury-Mount Olive United Methodist Church, 1196 S.W. Buchanan, is sponsoring a miniseries for youths and young adults ages 14 to 30 from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturdays, March 10 and 17, and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 24. The series focus is on building and maintaining positive self images for future leaders. The event is free, and lunch will be served each day. For more information, call (785) 232-6801.
■ First Congregational United Church of Christ, 1701 S.W. Collins, will have an “Easter Tablescapes and Egg Decorating” class at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 13. The cost is $2 for eggs and dyes. Reservations are needed by Monday, March 12, by calling (785) 233-1786.
■ Hope Lutheran Church, 2636 S.E. Minnesota, will have its annual chicken-and-noodle dinner from noon to 2 p.m. Sunday, March 11. The cost is $7 for adults and $3 for children ages 3 to 12. Those younger than 3 eat free.
■ Grace United Methodist Church, 2627 S.W. Western, will have a pancake feed from 7 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 10. The price is $4 for adults and $2 for children ages 10 and younger.
■ Connie Marsh, psychiatrist and faculty member at The University of Kansas School of Medicine in Wichita, will present a program titled “Growing Old Gracefully” from 10 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Saturday, March 10, at Tecumseh United Methodist Church, 334 S.E. Tecumseh Road.
■ Tony Weedor will speak on “The Insider Movement” in the evangelical church at 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Sunday, March 11, at Bethel Baptist Church, 4011 N. Kansas Ave.
■ The Kaw Valley District Laymen’s Early Morning Service will be held at 6 a.m. Sunday, March 11, at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, 1100 S.E. Washington.
■ Kansas Avenue United Methodist Church, 1029 N. Kansas Ave., will have an all-you-can-eat ham-and-bean dinner from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Friday, March 16. The cost is $7 for adults and $3.50 for children.
■ Comedian T.A. Hamilton will be featured at 5 p.m. Sunday, March 11, at Rolling Hills Christian Church, 4530 N.W. Hiawatha Place. Cake and ice cream will be served, and a freewill offering will be collected.
■ Sharon Highberger will present a workshop titled “Finding the Sacred in Depression: A Spiritual Pathway from Recovery,” from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 10, at St. Aloysius Catholic Church, 815 S.E. Wyandotte in Meriden. There is no charge. A freewill offering will be received.
■ A training session for those interested in participating in the Mentoring 4 Success program, serving male and female inmates in Kansas prisons, will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 10, at First Southern Baptist Church, 1912 S.W. Gage. The cost for materials is $20. Call Freedom Ministries at (620) 365-3233 for more information.
■ True Vine Missionary Baptist Church, 307 S.E. Tefft, will celebrate “Friends and Family Day” at 11 a.m. Sunday, March 11.
■ Faith Temple Church of God in Christ, 1162 S.W. Lincoln, will have a fundraising prayer breakfast with the theme “God Has Done it Again!” at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, March 17.
■ Tickets are on sale now to the 131st annual performances of Handel’s “Messiah” and Bach’s “St. Matthew Passion” as performed by the Bethany Oratorio Society in Lindsborg. “Messiah” will be performed at 3 p.m. Palm Sunday, April 1, and 3 p.m. Easter Sunday, April 8. “Messiah” tickets are $17 and $22. “St. Matthew Passion” will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Good Friday, April 6, with tickets also $17 and $12. For more information on tickets, including discounts, call (785) 227-3380 ext. 8137 from 1 to 5 p.m. weekdays or email bunningb@bethanylb.edu.
■ Christ the King Catholic Church, 5973 S.W. 25th, will have Lenten dinners from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Fridays through March 30. Suggested donations are $7 per meal or $25 for a family. Take-out meals are available. Deliveries to home-bound people within a 5-mile radius of the church are available with 24-hour notice by calling (785) 845-6805.
■ Washburn University professor Barry Crawford will speak on “The Prophets and Justice” at 9 a.m. Sundays through March 25 at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 1701 S.W. Collins.
■ Del Tackett, developer of “The Truth Project,” will be the featured speaker at the 51st annual Kansas Prayer Breakfast at 6 a.m. Friday, March 23, at the Ramada Hotel and Convention Center, 420 S.E. 6th. Tickets are $15 each or $150 for a table of 10. Call (785) 267-0285 or (785) 234-6204 for tickets or more information.
■ Calvary Lutheran Church, 4211 N.W. Topeka Blvd., will have Lenten services at 7 p.m. Wednesdays during Lent, preceded by dinner at 6 p.m.
■ Highland Park United Methodist Church, 2914 S.E. Michigan, will continue its Lenten breakfast series at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 13. The speaker will be the Rev. Mark Waterhouse, of the Free Methodist Church.
■ Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 3601 S.W. 17th, will have Lenten fish fries from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. every Friday during Lent. The cost is $8 for those 11 and older and $5 for children 4 to 10, with those and younger dining at no charge. There is a maximum charge of $30 for a single family.
■ Mater Dei Catholic Church will have fish fries from 5 to 7 p.m. Fridays during Lent in Rossiter Hall, located in the basement of the Assumption church at 204 S.W. 8th. The cost is $7 for adults and $4 for children 6 to 12. Children 5 and younger eat free.
■ Seabrook-area churches will continue their tradition of Lenten prayer breakfasts at 7 a.m. Wednesday, March 14, at First Christian Church-Disciples of Christ, 1880 S.W. Gage.
■ St. Joseph’s-Sacred Heart Catholic Church will have fish fries from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Fridays through March 30 in the Sacred Heart Church hall, 312 N.E. Freeman. The cost is $8 for adults and $3.50 for children 12 and younger.
■ Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 3625 S.W. Wanamaker, will have Lenten services at 7 p.m. Wednesdays, preceded by light suppers at 5:30 p.m.
■ Countryside United Methodist Church, 3221 S.W. Burlingame Road, will have Lenten services at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays. Lay speakers will share about their faith journeys, and communion will be served.
■ Calvary Lutheran Church, 4211 N.W. Topeka Blvd., will have Lenten services at 7 p.m. Wednesdays. A dinner will be served at 6 p.m.
■ Grace Episcopal Cathedral, 701 S.W. 8th, will have Lenten services at 6 p.m. Wednesdays, followed by supper at 6:30 p.m.
■ Four-time Grammy Award-winning band Third Day will bring its “Make Your Move” tour at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 22, to the Topeka Performing Arts Center, 214 S.E. 8th. Also performing will be Matt Maher and Trevor Morgan. Tickets are $75, $35, $25 and $15. Visit the TPAC box office or www.ticketmaster.com for more information.
■ An art exhibit titled “Icons in Transformation,” by Russian-born painter and sculptor Ludmila Pawolwska, will be shown from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Fridays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 4 p.m. Sundays through March 25 at Grace Episcopal Cathedral, 701 S.W. 8th, and First Presbyterian Church, 817 S.W. Harrison. The exhibit also will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays at Grace Cathedral only.
■ The VeggieTales Live! “God Made You Special” tour comes at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 4, to Indian Creek Community Church, 12480 S. Black Bob Road in Olathe. Tickets are $15 general admission advance or $20 day of show. Advance tickets start at $15. Call (913) 829-1712 or visit www.holdmyticket.com for more information.
Phil Anderson can be reached at (785) 295-1195 or phil.anderson@cjonline.com. Follow Phil on Twitter @Philreports. Read Phil's blog: Perspectives.