MOUNT HEALTHY - Five musicians, horns raised and earphones on, listen to a preacher giving his sermon.

"Have you ever felt so happy, you needed to get up and dance around the room? That's what we need here," Pastor Everett Rucker tells them as they prepare to record music at Jewel Recording Studio in Mount Healthy.

Rucker, 48, of Symmes Township, is the pastor of Liberty Valley AME Church in Beaver, Ohio, near Chillicothe. But this night, he's a singer, a saxophonist and musical director for an album of jazz, soul and blues meant to praise God.

"The music is designed to make people feel good, to uplift them," Rucker said. "I want to encourage people. It's hard to raise a family today. There are so many obstacles, but Jesus is the way."

The CD, due out next month, has 10 songs on it, four of them written by Rucker, who was a bandleader from 1978-80.

He has worked in insurance for more than 20 years, and became a pastor four years ago.

For more information on the CD or to purchase a copy, call Jewel Recording at 522-9336 or Rucker at 681-6400.

Fall Harvest Party

Sharonville United Methodist Church will host a Fall Harvest Party from 3 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday at Sharonville United Methodist Church, 3751 Creek Road. The family-oriented event will include games, a family blessing tree, treats and a cakewalk.

There will also be a family square dance at 4:30 p.m.

For more information, call 563-0117.

Author to speak

Paul Rogat Loeb, author of Soul of a Citizen: Living with Conviction in a Cynical Time, will speak at the Schiff Family Conference Center at Xavier University at 6 p.m. Monday.

Loeb will speak on civic engagement and how people can strive to make their community a better place. The free talk is part of the Manuel D. Mayerson Distinguished Speaker Series.

For more information, call 287-6528.

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