The Armenian faith community is coming together for a special memorial concert to honor the memory of the Rev. Bernard Guekguezian, pastor emeritus of First Armenian Presbyterian Church. He died Sept. 22 at age 85.

Guekguezian served as pastor of First Armenian Presbyterian Church for 22 years, from 1978 to 2000.

The memorial concert is at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 22, at Pilgrim Armenian Congregational Church, 3673 N. First St. Guekguezian's son, the Rev. Ara R. Guekguezian, is senior pastor of Pilgrim Armenian Congregational Church.

The Chookasian Armenian Concert Ensemble, recipient of Armenia's National Gold Medal Award, will perform Armenian music. The group features conservatory graduate musicians from Armenia and the United States. The musicians perform on ancient, traditional acoustic folk instruments that have been used by Armenians for centuries.

Cost is $25 for adults or $10 for students and children. Proceeds will benefit the Bernard Guekguezian Scholarship Fund. Details: pilgrimchurch.com or (559) 229-2915.

Jessup leaving Fresno Unitarian church

The Rev. Bryan Jessup is leaving the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fresno after nearly 15 years as minister.

He is moving to the Humboldt Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Arcata, where he will work in part-time ministry while in semi-retirement.

His last sermon in Fresno will likely be in May. He will remain at the Fresno church working with the services in June. His last day is June 23. The church is planning a community gathering for him June. 29.

"I will miss Fresno -- and the Unitarian congregation is great," he says. "It has been a real treat for me. I am a Valley guy."

The Unitarian Universalist Church of Fresno is at 2672 E. Alluvial Ave. Details: (559) 322-6146.

Catholic diocese helping with project

Under the direction of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fresno and the Woody Guthrie Foundation, efforts are under way to raise money to buy a large memorial honoring 32 people who died in the crash of a chartered immigration plane in Los Gatos Canyon near Coalinga on Jan. 28, 1948.

The victims were 28 migrant farmworkers, three crew members and an immigration guard. The 28 migrant passengers were buried in a mass grave at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery on Belmont Avenue. A bronze marker identifies the burial site. No names of the deceased are listed.

Musician Woodie Guthrie wrote a song, "Deportee," about the omission. The song again is raising interest from musical artists, and an effort is under way to raise the money to buy the memorial with the names of all 32 victims.

When the memorial is completed, a public dedication ceremony will be scheduled. Details: (559) 488-7449.

Fresno First Baptist has new pastor

Fresno First Baptist Church has elected a new lead pastor, Joe Basile.

He grew up in Illinois. He has been lead pastor of his last two churches and was a youth pastor before that. He was in the Fresno pulpit last Sunday.

He replaces the church's interim pastor, the Rev. Fred Delano.

Fresno First Baptist Church is at 1400 E. Saginaw Way. Details: (559) 227-8476.

Episcopal diocese presenting workshop

The Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin is holding a leadership workshop on the ministry of stewardship from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 23 at Holy Family Episcopal Church, 1135 E. Alluvial Ave.

The plenary speaker is the Rev. Laurel Johnston, executive director of the Episcopal Network for Stewardship. She also has served as the program officer for stewardship for the Episcopal Church.

Details: diosanjoaquin.org.

Church hosts faith dramatist

Tom Meyer, a member of Woodsower International Ministries with Jason Nightingale, is giving a dramatic presentation of the story of Abraham at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 17, at Westwood Baptist Church, 3333 N. Cornelia Ave. Details: (559) 276-2467.