Religion briefs

Shepherd's Suppers

Holy Shepherd Lutheran church offers Shepherd's Suppers on the second Sunday each month. The next one is 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Sunday at Holy Shepherd Lutheran Church, 9770 Keilman St., St. John. Call (219) 365-3803.

Heartfelt Harmony

A concert of classical, sacred and jazz music will be performed at 3 p.m. Sunday at First United Methodist Church, 103 Franklin St., Valparaiso. The free will offering will help benefit the men's and women's homeless shelter. Call (219) 465-1661.

Basic Christianity class

Cross of Christ Lutheran Church will hold a basic Christianity class from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. Sunday at 99 S. County Line Road, Crown Point. A Sunday morning class will be held for a couple of months that will address a variety of questions, including if God exits. For information, call (219) 988-3650.

Italian dinner, penny social

St. Hedwig's Church will hold an Italian dinner and penny social from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday at 3320 E. 134th St., Chicago. Cost is $8 for adults and $4 for ages 9 and younger. Call (773) 646-0300.

Annual black history program

The Gary Civic Chorale presents its annual Black History Program, "A Tribute to Negro Spirituals," from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday at 2585 Van Buren St., Gary. There will be an interfaith concert featuring performances by local and regional choirs. Call (219) 588-1404.

Date night challenge

Portage First United Methodist Church will host a Date Night Challenge event from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Friday at 2637 McCool Road, Portage. This is open to any married couple. Child care is provided. Call to register at (219) 762-3846.

Paczki dance

St. Andrew the Apostle Parish will hold its annual Paczki Dance, marking the 40th anniversary of this ethnic tradition, from 6 to 11 p.m. Feb. 18 at 156th Street and Freeland Avenue, Calumet City. A variety of Polish cuisine will be available for purchase catered by the Taste of Poland restaurant in Dyer, including hundreds of paczki for dessert. Proceeds will help support St. Andrew's Restoring our Home capital campaign. The church is undergoing a three-year restoration project with a projected $1.1 million price tag to keep St. Andrew Parish a part of the community. Cost is $10. Call (708) 862-4165.

Roll'em and Hold'em event

Texas Hold’em and bunco will be played at 6 p.m. Feb. 18 at St. Casimir Main Hall, 4330 Johnson Ave., Hammond. The $40 entry fee includes food, pop, beer and wine all evening. Tickets include entry into one of the tourneys. All proceeds benefit renovations to St. Casimir School. Call (219) 932-7400.

Polish Mass and documentary

All Saints Catholic Church will hold a Mass in Polish at 2 p.m. Feb. 19 at 570 Sibley St., Hammond. Mass in Polish will be celebrated, followed by a viewing of "10.4.10," a Polish documentary about the 2010 plane crash in Smolensk, Russia, that killed President Lech Kczynski, his wife and many other Polish government dignitaries. Call (219) 932-0204.

Bible League luncheon

The Illiana Women's Division of The Bible League will have a luncheon at 11:30 a.m. March 15 at Teibel's Restaurant, U.S. 30 and U.S. 41, Schererville. The featured speaker will be Marilyn Laszlo, former missionary to Papua New Guinea with Wycliffe Bible Translators. An offering will be taken to raise funds for Bibles for Indiana. Make reservations by March 5. Perch dinners cost $20, chicken dinners cost $16. Call (219) 924-0930.