EDINBURG - St. Joseph Catholic Church of Edinburg Parish Festival will be Mar. 27-29 at the corner of 10th and Sprague. There will be carnival rides, cook-off, food booths, game booths, car raffle rides and games for all ages, all types of carnival foods with different cook offs each day. There will also be a Toyota Hybrid Car Raffle. this festival is very important to us, we are raising money for a new magnificent church to be built on the ground at 1oth and Sprague.

ELSA - New nationwide report reveals that Self-Help Groups can help support people battling addictive behaviors. Self-Help Groups often are used in conjunction with specialty treatment and to support individuals seeking help or sustaining their recovery. Power Church, located at 600 N. Broadway St. in Elsa invite you to their Self-Help group meetings every Sunday evening at 7 p.m. This is free of charge.

HARLINGEN - The South Texas Chorale, under the direction of Dianne Brumley, will present its annual spring Masterworks Concert on Mar. 29 at 3 p.m. at First Baptist Church. The Chorale, which is highly regarded across the Southwest, will present "Masterworks For the Easter Season," featuring "The Seven Last Words of Christ." Tickets are $15 (student $5 with ID) and are available at the Harlingen Municipal Box Office (956) 216-5990) from Chorale members and at the door. For information and tickets in the Laguna Madre area, call (956) 943-1208.

MCALLEN - St. Paul Lutheran Church & School invites you to our Spring Benefit Auction on Mar. 28 at 6 p.m. in the Activities Center. All school alumni are especially welcomed. The Honorable J. D. Salinas will be the Auctioneer for the Live Auction with Silent and White Board Auctions offered as well. Special raffle items will be featured that evening. A menu of finger foods will be served with plenty of fun for everyone at the admission cost of $10. Child care and a pizza party will be available to children 6 years old and younger at no charge. If you would like to donate an item, contact Gail Cyphers, Auction Coordinator, at (956) 630-6645. Sponsorships are welcomed. Tickets may be purchased by contacting Dr. Kathy Lang, Principal, or the Church Office at (956) 682-2345. Visit us as www.stpaulmcallen.com or stop by our school at 300 W. Pecan Blvd. at 2nd St.

MCALLEN - "Matter" is the topic for this Sunday's 10:30 a.m. service at McAllen's Christian Science Church and Sunday School. Those listeners weary of seeking happiness and health in material things will be uplifted by Christ Jesus words, "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth." Demonstrating the illusion of matter is also further explored in our Sunday School and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday evening Testimonial Meetings, meetings are held in the Reading Room/Sunday School Annex, 911 N. Main St. Church Reading Room hours are Tuesday 5 to 8 p.m. and Thursday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Also First Friday Art Walk 6 to 8 p.m. All are welcome. Please call (956) 686-4241 during Reading Room hours for more information.

MCALLEN - Grace Bible Baptist Church will have its Annual "Friend Day" Celebration on Mar. 22. Everyone is invited as we honor friendship on this special day. The event begins at 10:30 a.m. and includes all ages. A nursery for infants and a special
class for young school age children is provided and staffed with qualified teachers. Grace Bible Baptist Church is located at 520 N. Broadway (two blocks South of Hackberry Ave. at the corner of 13th Street (Broadway) and Fir. For more information visit our web site at www.gracebbc.info or contact Pastor Albright at (956) 682-LORD.

MERCEDES - Immanuel Lutheran Church located at the corner of 3rd and Washington will be having a Window Rededicating Service on Mar. 29, starting with a Coffee Hour in the Church Fellowship Hall, afterwards a 10 a.m. Service will held and immediately following this service a catered dinner will be served at the Church Fellowship Hall. The Immanuel Lutheran Church congregation has raised money to repair and restore the stained glass windows that adorn the sanctuary in honor of the upcoming centennial celebration. A firm located in Fredericksburg, Texas, that specializes in the work of stained glass has been working to restore the windows, by cleaning the panes inside and out, plus some have been transported to their studio for repair. All who attended Immanuel Lutheran School and Church and the community are invited to this event. For more information, call Bob Eilers at (956) 565-2181 or the Immanuel Church Office at (956) 565-1518.

PHARR - Destiny Through Christ Church is celebrating the grand opening of their new location on Mar. 29 at 10:30 a.m. The church is located at 1201 W. Polk Ave. between Jackson Rd. and Expy. 83. The DTC Worship Band will lead a dynamic worship experience and Pastor Rudy Beltran will be sharing an inspiring message on "Having A Vision for Life". Destiny Through Christ Church also welcomes Joan Murray of Joan Murray Ministries located in Houston. Joan Murray recently appeared on the worldwide Daystar Television Network and her new book "Called and Chosen for Destiny" went on sale nationwide last month. Everyone is invited and welcome. For more information, visit www.DestinyThroughChrist.com.

SAN JUAN - The Rev.Dr. Ruth Gnagey will ask, "How Old Are You?" at 10:30 a.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Hidalgo County. She will consider our theological and spiritual maturity in comparison with our psychological and social maturity, as we seek responsible and compatable relationships with all religions, cultures, races, genders and sexual preferences. Child care and religious education is provided for the children. At 9:30 a.m. the Adult Forum will continue their consideration of the values in interfaith relationships.

WESLACO - We are preparing for our 2009-2010 school registration. Open enrollment will begin April 6 at First Christian Academy, located at 521 S. Illinois. If information is needed, call (956) 968-9030. We believe our school is one of the best private schools in the mid valley, and we want to extend the invitation to all who are interested.