Christ Community United Methodist Church, 205 N. Duffy Road, is accepting donations for soldier care packages. The care packages will be sent to troops in Afghanistan. Hygiene items are needed along with magazines, flip-flops, pens and Sudoku books. There is a container in the church narthex for donations. For more information contact the church office at 724-287-4462.

The volunteers for decorating the parade float are asked to be at the back of Hoffman Auto Parts at 3 p.m. Friday.

The musicians, walkers and singers for the float should be at the North Main Street Westminster Church parking lot by 3:30 p.m. Saturday.

The church office will be closed Friday.

Christ’s OutreachChrist’s Outreach Church, 120 Walker Ave., will resume Bible study on the Book of Psalms Tuesday.Christmas poinsettia orders must be turned in by Dec. 7.The Missions Prayer focus this week is for Life Choices Crisis Pregnancy Center.Nominations for the board of trustees are due by Monday.For confidential assistance from the food pantry, see Karen or call the church office.

Community LifeCommunity Life Church holds service at McQuistion Elementary School.The first Christmas card-making party is from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday in Phillips Hall at the YMCA, 339 N. Washington St. This year’s goal is to make 370 cards to give away at local personal care facilities. Supplies provided.The Laundromat Ministry Outing is Sunday after tear down. Quarters can be donated at the info hub on Sundays or on an offering envelope any week. Meet in the lobby after tear down at 12:45 p.m.The building fund offering is Sunday.Men are asked to pick up the December Men’s Devotional readings at the info hub or at the devotional at 8:45 a.m. Sunday.

Covenant Presbyterian The sacrament of the Lord’s Supper will be celebrated during the 11 a.m. Sunday worship service, the first Sunday of Advent at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 230 E. Jefferson St. The first candle of the Advent wreath will be lit.The People for Peace Bible study class will meet at 11 a.m. Dec. 4 in the Assembly Room. This will be the final class for the study book, “Who Is This Man?” by John Ortberg.The seekers adult Sunday school class will meet at 9:30 a.m. Sunday in the Assembly Room to discuss “Toxic Charity” by Robert Lupton.

Faith United PresbyterianOne of the youths of Faith United Presbyterian Church, 1329 N. Main St. Ext., will light the Advent Candle on the wreath at Sunday worship.The board of deacons will meet at 3:30 p.m. Monday.

Faith LutheranFaith Lutheran Church, 241 Freeport Road, will have its annual Thanksgiving service at 7 p.m. today. The public is invited to attend.

First BaptistSunday’s service schedule at First Baptist Church, 221 W. New Castle St., will begin at 9:45 a.m. with Sunday school and an 11 a.m. worship service. There will be a 6 p.m. service.

First Presbyterian of BakerstownFirst Presbyterian Church of Bakerstown, 5825 Heckert Road, Bakerstown, will host a live Nativity from 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 13, with a rain date of Dec. 14.

Grace@Calvary LutheranGrace@Calvary Lutheran Church, 123 E. Diamond St., will celebrate the first Sunday of Advent starting at the 10 a.m. Sunday service.Faith Shapers will not meet this week.The evening of Dec. 3 will begin the Advent midweek services and they will continue through Dec. 17. They will be at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays with a simple dinner beforehand at 5:30 p.m.There will be a craft after the service Wednesday. Call 784-283-0830 if planning to attend.Butler Relay For Life will meet at 6:30 p.m. Monday.

GraceWay GraceWay meets each Sunday morning at the Center Township Elementary School on Mercer Road.Jenny Martin and Michelle Huff will provide the special music at GraceWay in the 10 a.m. Sunday worship service.Randy and Theresa Mortimer will light the first candle Sunday starting GraceWay’s celebration of the first Advent service of the year with the theme of hope.

Hill United Presbyterian Hill United Presbyterian Church, 501 Second St., will have the Rev. James Campbell as guest minister at the 10:30 a.m. Sunday service. The first Sunday in Advent will be observed, and the Praise Team will sing.The church office will be closed Thursday and Friday.There will be no Sunday morning classes this week.Deadline to order poinsettias to decorate the chancel is Dec. 7.Volunteers are needed to help with the Habitat for Humanity gift-wrapping project at Clearview Mall.Recipes for soups, salads and desserts are needed for the cookbook planned by the Presbyterian Women. Deadline for recipes is Dec. 14.

Meridian United PresbyterianTrustees of Meridian United Presbyterian Church, 4150 Highland Ave., will meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, deacons will meet at 7 p.m.Members of the Sarah Elizabeth Circle will meet at 12:30 p.m. Dec. 4 for a Christmas Tea in Room 15 of the educational building.

Mount Chestnut PresbyterianMount Chestnut Presbyterian Church, 727 Old West 422, will have 8:45 and 11 a.m. Sunday worship services, followed by a homemade soup luncheon and church decoration for the holiday season.At 7 p.m. Tuesday, the church will host the Thompson Miller-sponsored concert by the ACTS Choir entitled “Tinsel and Tears: An Annual Remembrance.”The grief support group will meet at 1 p.m. Wednesday at at the church.

Old Union Presbyterian Old Union Presbyterian Church, 200 Union Church Road, Mars, will have a cookie sale Dec. 13. To donate or order cookies, sign up in the church lobby.The sermons during Advent will focus on classic Christmas movies.

Saint Andrews United PresbyterianSaint Andrews United Presbyterian Church, 201 E. Jefferson St., will celebrate Holy Communion at the 10:30 a.m. Sunday service. After worship, church members will hold Hanging of the Greens to decorate the church and then share a light lunch of pizza and soda.Members will meet in the Memorial Room at 6:15 p.m. Sunday before visiting homebound members to sing Christmas carols and then return to the church for some pizza and hot chocolate. To participate, talk to Pastor Merry or Lori Haughey.To place a poinsettia in the sanctuary on Christmas Eve, complete an order form and return it with payment of $8 each to the church office no later than Dec. 8.A Christmas Cookie Walk will be Dec. 13. Volunteers are needed to bake cookies, set up the evening before and work the day of the event. Sign up in the narthex, see Jeanne Wilson or Mary Lindenberg, or call the church office.

The Sowers ChapelThe Thanksgiving Day festival service at the Sowers Chapel, 100 Iron Bridge Road, Sarver, will be at 11 a.m. Thursday. Take nonperishable food for an offering during the joyful procession at the beginning of the service. The food will be donated to the Freeport Food Bank.The service will include songs by the children’s and the adult’s choirs and music.The congregation will give Advent calendars to the children at the 10 a.m. Sunday service.

Springdale LutheranSpringdale Lutheran Church, 1061 Mahood Road, West Sunbury, will have an Advent service at 11 a.m. Sunday.There will be a 7 p.m. Wednesday Advent with evening prayer service.

St. Luke’s LutheranThe Christmas float team of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, 310 W. Main St., Saxonburg, will meet at 3 p.m. Friday to assemble the float for the parade at 7 p.m.The first Sunday of Advent will be celebrated this week with a special wreath-lighting ceremony.The coffee fellowship meets at 9:30 a.m. Sunday.The Angel Tree and shoebox gifts for special-needs children are available in the narthex, and Sunday is the last day for College Care package names to be submitted.The youth T-shirt fundraiser will continue this week.

St. Mark’s Evangelical LutheranPastor Storm will be the guest minister this weekend at St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 201 W. Jefferson St.There will be a stuffed pork chop dinner from 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Dec. 7 in Fellowship Hall. Reservations are required. Deadline is Wednesday. Takeout is available.There will be a bake sale Dec. 6 and 7, and donations of baked goods are requested. Have them to the church by 3 p.m. Dec. 6.The church directory will be going to print soon. Call Mary Ellen or Vicki at the church office at 724-287-6741 with any changes to address, phone number or e-mail.There is a “Jessie Tree” placed on the transept area of the sanctuary. Tags are placed on the tree noting what a child at Glade Run Lutheran Services is requesting for Christmas. Deadline for returned items is Dec. 7.

St. Paul Roman CatholicSt. Paul Roman Catholic Church, 128 N. McKean St. will celebrate Mass at 8 a.m. Thursday.There will be a JAL Youth Mass at 7 p.m. Sunday.There will be an Advent family fun night at 6:45 p.m. Tuesday. There will be prayer, games, crafts, refreshments and prizes.

St. Peter’s Anglican St. Peter’s Anglican Church, 218 E. Jefferson St., will host a free community dinner from 5 to 6 p.m. Sunday in the parish hall. Evening prayer will follow at 6:15 p.m. in the church.

St. Peter Roman CatholicSt. Peter Roman Catholic Church, 127 Franklin St., will celebrate Mass at 9 a.m. Thursday.The annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner will be served from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday at St. Peter Catholic Church Hall, 127 Franklin St.Summit PresbyterianThe office will be closed Thursday and Friday at Summit Presbyterian Church, 181 Caldwell Drive, for Thanksgiving.Members are encouraged to take part in decorating the church for Christmas at 9:30 a.m. Saturday.Sunday worship with special Advent readings is at 9:30 a.m. and Sunday school for all ages is at 10:45 a.m.The First Place Bible study will meet at 6:15 p.m. Monday, and the men’s fellowship group will meet at 7 p.m.Orders for Christmas poinsettias are also due to the office Monday.The Tuesday women’s Bible study is at 9:30 a.m., and the first Advent luncheon is at noon in the Fellowship Hall. Members are reminded to ask friends and family to come for lunch, caroling and a brief devotional.The praise team will practice at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, followed by chancel choir practice at 7 p.m.Trinity LutheranThe church office at Trinity Lutheran Church, 120 Sunset Drive, Center Township, will be closed Friday for Thanksgiving.There will be no Sunday school Sunday.The youth group will bowl from 9 to 11 p.m. Friday at Meridian Lanes.Christian Ed will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday.The first midweek Advent service will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday. A light supper will be served at 6 p.m.The vision task force will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday.WELCA women’s Bible study will be at 10 a.m. Dec. 4.Valencia PresbyterianValencia Presbyterian Church, 80 Sterrett St., Valencia, will kick off the Advent season with the Rev. Jim and Kathy Kirk presenting a slide show and discussion of their mission trip to Vietnam during the 10 a.m. worship service Sunday.A soup lunch will be after worship, followed by sanctuary decorating for the Christmas season.White Oak Springs PresbyterianThe first Sunday of Advent will be observed at the White Oak Springs Presbyterian Church, 102 Shannon Road, Renfrew, with a celebration of the Lord’s Supper during Sunday’s 9:45 a.m. worship service.Members of the congregation will meet at 10 a.m. Saturday for the “Hanging of the Greens.” All who are able are asked to join in the decorating of the church for the Advent/Christmas season.