By Karen Vance
Enquirer contributor

WEST END - On summer weekends it's not hard to find a party or a festival to attend.

But one today sponsored by a church in the West End - "A Taste of Christianity" - isn't just about having fun. It's about giving people a little help and exposing them to Christian kindness.

"It has a festival-type atmosphere, almost like a gigantic picnic," said Sandra Smyth, one of the coordinators for the event for the Revelation Missionary Baptist Church. "It's something to build on. We don't have to be serious to get rid of the negative. You can have fun, too, enjoy life."

"A Taste of Christianity" will have free food, clothes and other giveaways, games, activities for children and opportunities to learn about health and community issues. The event is in its 11th year, and last year more than 1,000 people attended.

"As a church, when we first got started we saw a lot of negative in the neighborhood. We decided we can't just stay inside. You have to reach out into the community," Smyth said. "We started this because we were trying to find a way to get people information to help themselves - both health and spiritual information. The important thing is to lift people's spirits - let them know there are places for them to go for help."

The event runs from noon to 7 p.m. in the church parking lot, 1556 John St., West End. The event and activities are free and open to the public.

Event to put face on war

When about 600 women in the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas come to Cincinnati for their regular meeting, they'll also take a moment to pray for peace and read the names of Iraqis and Americans killed in the war.

"When American soldiers go off to war, their families fear for their safe return. Iraqi families are living with that same fear," said Sister Marilyn Gottemoeller, a member of the leadership team of the Sisters of Mercy Cincinnati community. "It's not about Bush, Kerry or stopping the war. We just need to keep the human dimension in mind. That's all."

Leaders from the 4,000-member congregation of Catholic sisters headquartered in Silver Spring, Md., will host their business meeting from July 15-19 at the Cintas Center on the Xavier University campus. Then Sunday, July 18, at 4 p.m., many of the sisters will meet at the lower west entrance of the center with members of the Greater Cincinnati community to walk to a park near the intersection of Victory Parkway and Ledgewood Avenue.

There the sisters and members of the Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center and the Islamic community in Greater Cincinnati will read the names and place crescents, stars of David and crosses.

"We want this to be peaceful and prayerful," Gottemoeller said. "We just want to put a face on the war, humanize the conflict."

The Sisters of Mercy have their roots in Ireland with their founding by Sister Catherine McAuley in 1831 and emphasize service in education, health care and social services. There are about 100 sisters in the Greater Cincinnati area and their ministries include Mother of Mercy and McAuley high schools and the Mercy Hospitals.

Church hosts concert

Mount Zion Baptist Church in Woodlawn will host Soul Direction from Newport News, Va., tonight at 8 p.m. at the church, 10180 Woodlawn Blvd. The group is a nondenominational choir of elementary, middle school and high school students who are working to influence their peers. The concert is free and open to the public.

For more information, contact the church at 772-6230.

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To submit religion news, e-mail kbvance@adelphia.net or send a fax to 755-4150.