PRAYER BREAKFAST— Men gathered from across the city recently at a Prayer Breakfast at Christ Missionary Baptist Church in Homewood to help each other overcome barriers and to try to curtail the violence throughout the city. The title of the program was “Brothers Overcoming Barriers Prayer Breakfast.” The guest speaker was Elder George Yancey.

Taizé service

JAN. 6—East Liberty Presbyterian Church, 116 S. Highland Ave., East Liberty, will host a Taizé Service at 7 p.m. This hour-long service includes sung prayers, simple, beautiful music, a time of silence, spoken and silent prayers and opportunity for individual prayer and anointing. All are welcome. There will be a fellowship following the service. For more information, call 412-441-3800.

It’s that time. The time of year when everyone is making a New Year’s resolution. I’m not making any resolutions but I have pulled out my vision board for revamping. First I’m going to increase my automatic savings. It’s never too late to save and it adds up so fast, when you don’t touch it. Take a look at your 401(K) and see if you need to make any adjustments. If your contribution is low increase it to at least the amount that your company is matching. That is if you’re lucky enough to still have a company match. If you don’t take advantage of this offer you are leaving money on the table. Many of the readers of this column are close to my age and I’m sure you’re thinking about retirement. I know I am, I want retirement to be pleasant, exciting and stress free.

It can be tough to maintain healthy eating habits and a hectic schedule. But one little ingredient can add great flavor and keep you energized for the busy day ahead.

With seven grams per serving, peanuts have more protein than any other nut. Protein provides long-lasting energy—just what you need to keep going throughout the day. Peanuts and peanut butter contribute more than 30 nutrients and phytonutrients and can be part of a balanced diet that promotes good health.

CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER DIP

In addition, foods low on the glycemic index (GI), such as peanuts, are good choices for people trying to watch their blood sugar. Eating foods with a low GI score (peanuts score a 14) may lead to a slow increase in blood sugar levels, causing less insulin to be released all at once, and thus avoiding the sugar “crash.”

The National Peanut Board has some tips to show you how to add energy-boosting U.S.-grown peanuts to your daily diet.

(AP)—A holiday tradition dating back not centuries but decades has begun with the start of the seven days of Kwanzaa.

Unlike Christmas and Hanukkah, Kwanzaa isn’t a religious holiday. Based on the year-end harvest festivals held in Africa for thousands of years, it’s observed worldwide starting Dec. 26 and ending Jan 1. by people of African descent.

HOLIDAY TRADITION—Ruth Ndiagne Dorsey is shown with a Kwanzaa setting at her church, The Shrine of the Black Madonna, in Atlanta.