BUTLER CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE

The Rev. Robert Calhoon, Jim Rea, the Rev. Barry Mohney and Gordon Thompson will provide music for the 10:45 a.m. Sunday service at Butler Church of the Nazarene, 4410 Oakdale Road and Route 68.

Christmas musical practice for all acting and staging participants will be held from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Saturday. Practice for all main actors will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday and practice for children will follow at 4:30 p.m.

The adult Christmas party will be held at 6:30 p.m. Monday. A sign-up sheet has been posted in the church.

Reservations are due Sunday for the Gaither Homecoming Christmas Tour to be held at 7 p.m. Dec. 17 in Pittsburgh. The van will leave the church at 4:30 p.m. Tickets are $19.75 plus $5 for gas and parking. Reservations are required.

CHRIST COMMUNITY U.M.

The sacrament of Holy Communion will be observed during the second weekend of Advent at Christ Community United Methodist Church, 205 N. Duffy Road. Services will be at 6:30 p.m. Saturday and at 8:30 and 11 a.m. Sunday.

Don and Evie Kennedy will share their mission work experiences in the Gulf states after the recent hurricanes at the at 8:30 a.m. Sunday service. Donations of new clothing, toys or small appliances for hurricane victims should be taken to the church by Sunday. The items should not be wrapped.

Poinsettia orders in memory or honor of loved ones are due to the office by Dec. 8. Cost is $6.50 per plant

The Contemporary Praise Choir is seeking members to sing with the group at the Christmas Eve service. Practices are held at 6:30 p.m. Thursdays.

During December the congregation is asked to assist with an extra effort food drive to benefit the Covenant Food Cupboard. Non-perishable food items are needed along with the regular monthly items of ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise.

CHRIST'S OUTREACH

Tammy Summers will provide music for the Sunday service at Christ's Outreach Church, 120 Walker Ave. Her daughter, Alex Summers, will perform for the offertory.

Dutch Bowser, Janet McIntyre and family will light the second Advent candle at the 7 p.m. Saturday service. Tim, Michelle and Adam Huff will light the candle at the 10:30 a.m. Sunday service.

The sermon series "Which Advent Are We Closer To?" will begin this weekend.

A Christmas sing-a-Long and social time will be held at 7 p.m. Dec. 9 in the gym. Cookies and hot chocolate will be provided.

COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN

Beverly Antis will be the guest organist for the 11 am. Sunday worship service at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 230 E. Jefferson St.

The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper will be celebrated during the Sunday service.

Kung-Yup Na, professor of religion at Westminster College, will lead the Seekers Class on Sunday. The class meets at 9:45 a.m. in the Assembly Room.

The Fellowship and Outreach Committee will hold the Hanging of the Greens at 9:30 a.m. Sunday. All members are invited to help decorate the church.

FAITH U.P.

The Meadowbrook Kids Club, sponsored by Faith United Presbyterian Church, 1329 N. Main St., Center Township, will present a Christmas pageant at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Newhaven Court. The Trinity Lutheran Church van will pick up the children at 6:45 p.m. at the Meadowbrook Apartments parking lot.

FIRST BAPTIST

The Kingdom Seekers Sunday school class will assemble at 5:30 p.m. Saturday in the Baptist Youth Center to begin a progressive dinner involving several locations.

Thompson-Miller Funeral Home will conduct its annual "Remembrance, Tinsels and Tears" candlelight memorial service at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church. The service will memorialize relatives and friends who have died in 2005. A reception will follow.

"Satan — Deceiver and Tempter" will be the theme of the Women's Missionary Fellowship meetings Tuesday at the Baptist Youth Center. Virginia Whitmire will speak in the 9 a.m. session, and Lenna Calairi will be the speaker for the 7 p.m. session. Hostesses will be Mary Alice Parsons at 9 a.m. and Lena Sarvey at 7 p.m. Attendees will prepare gifts for shut-ins and missionaries in addition to creating wordless gospel bracelets.

FIRST ENGLISH LUTHERAN

Members of First English Lutheran Church, 241 N. Main St., will meet at 9 a.m. Saturday to decorate the church.

A service of worship will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday.

On Sunday, the second Sunday of Advent, Holy Communion will be observed at both services.

FIRST U.M.

A Christmas toy giveaway will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday in Epworth Center at First United Methodist Church, 200 E. North St. The event will be held in the FROGS room and the Extended Session room. For information, call the church office at 724-283-6160.

Rehearsal for the Christmas musical will be held from 12:15 to 2 p.m. Sunday in the Sanctuary and from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Dec. 6 at Butler Junior High School.

GRACE @ CALVARY LUTHERAN

A youth concert will be held at 6 p.m. Friday at Grace @ Calvary Lutheran Church, 123 E. Diamond St. The event will include performances from five bands. Admission is $5.

A meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday for youth planning to attend the Cruzanda convention in San Antonio and their parents.

GRACEWAY COMMUNITY

Ruth Ferko, Beth Ackelson and Lyric Ackelson will provide music for the 9:30 a.m. Sunday service at GraceWay Community Church at Center Township Elementary School, Mercer Road, Center Township.

HILL U.P.

The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper will be celebrated at 6 p.m. Saturday and 10:30 a.m. Sunday services at Hill United Presbyterian Church, 501 Second Street.

Christmas musical practice for youth will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday and from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday. Youth should take a lunch to eat before rehearsal on Sunday.

Care packages for college students and military personnel will be assembled Tuesday. The deacons will accept monetary donations to defray the cost of items and postage. Updated addresses are needed immediately.

Guitar players are needed for an ensemble that will play at 4 p.m. Dec. 24. Players will rehearse at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 22. Contact Kathy Sawyer for information.

The deadline for ordering poinsettias is Dec. 11. Cost is $6.00 per plant.

The Covenant Cupboard food request for December is cereal.

LIVING WATERS COMMUNITY

The Southernaires southern gospel music group will perform at the 10 a.m. Sunday service at Living Waters Community Church, 311 Second St. The message will be given by the Rev. Randy Ietto.

MERIDIAN U.P.

The Heavenly Bells will perform during the morning service Sunday at Meridian United Presbyterian Church, 4150 Highland Ave., Butler Township.

During the month of December, the Christmas Joy Offering will be given to the Board of Pensions and to the National Ministries Division.

MT. CHESTNUT PRESBY

Communion will be served and the second Sunday of Advent celebrated during the 8:45 and 11 a.m. Sunday services at Mt. Chestnut Presbyterian Church, 727 Old West 422, Franklin Township.

Orders for Christmas poinsettias are due Sunday. Cost is $6 each. For information, call the church office at 724-287-7601.

NEW LIFE CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES

The Lord's Supper will be celebrated at the Sunday worship service at New Life Christian Ministries, Knoch School Auditorium, 345 Knoch Road, Saxonburg.

First Saturday will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at The Bridge, 102 Bay St., Penn Township. For information contact Dr. Tim or Cherie McNulty at 724-482-1730 or nuture@newlifexn.org.

The church will sponsor a free showing of the movie, "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" at 9 a.m. Dec. 17 at the South Pike Cinema, Sarver. Complete details are available at www.NewLifeXn.org or by contacting Pastor Tim Fulkerson at 724-586-1111 or tim@newlifexn.org.

OLD UNION PRESBY

Open house will be held Sunday at Old Union Presbyterian Church, 200 Union Church Road, Mars.

Christmas caroling will be held Saturday. Participants should meet at 6:30 p.m. at the church. Refreshments will follow.

Cards for the Christmas card exchange are due Dec. 11. All cards must be in alphabetical order and bundled with a string or rubber band. The cards will be given out Dec. 18.

A Christmas cookie sale will be held Dec. 10. A sign-up sheet is in the back of the church to donate cookies. Platters will be assembled at 9 a.m. Dec. 10.

The church will to supply desserts for Meals on Wheels desserts in December.

ST. JOHN 'S REFORMED

The Sacrament of Communion will be celebrated at the Sunday worship service at St. John's Reformed Church, Route 68 and Benbrook Road.

ST. JOHN U.C.C.

Holy Communion will be served at the 8:30 and 11 a.m. Sunday services at St. John's United Church of Christ, 501 E. Main St., Evans City.

The annual Christmas Festival of Music will be held at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.

The Family Cookies and Crafts Get Together will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. Dec. 10.

ST. MARK'S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN

Holy Communion will be offered at the Sunday services at St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 201 W. Jefferson St. Missionary Sunday will also be observed.

The Women of St. Mark's will host a Christmas Salad Luncheon and Bible Study at noon Tuesday in the lounge and Choir Robing room. The Rev. Robert Strobel will lead the Bible study.

Blood pressure screenings will be available before the Saturday service at the Birch Street entrance and from 9:30 to 9:45 a.m. Sunday by the coffee urn.

The St. Mark's family Christmas party, sponsored by the women of the church, will be held at 7 p.m. Dec. 9 in Schramm Hall. Participants should take cookies to share. An offering will be taken to benefit missionaries.

Due to an increase in heating costs, thermostats in the church have been lowered. Congregation members are encouraged to dress appropriately if bothered by the cooler temperatures.

ST. PETER'S EPISCOPAL

Members of Peter's Episcopal Church, 218 E. Jefferson St., who wish to purchase poinsettias in honor or memory of loved ones should sign up in the back of the church or contact Jean Kirkpatrick at 724-283-9206 by Dec. 11. The cost is $5.50 each.

Volunteers are needed to make soup for the All-Parish Christmas Celebration at 6 p.m. Dec. 11. To donate soup, contact Judy Wadding at 724-287-0604 or Denise Relihan at 724-287-1065.

The Daughters of the King will gather for a fellowship meal at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Parish Hall. Participants should take a favorite casserole, salad or dessert.

All women of the parish are invited to the annual Christmas luncheon for the ECW at noon Dec. 8 at the home of Nancy Zadernek, 612 E. Brady St. Members should take a salad or casserole.

TRINITY LUTHERAN

The Sacrament of Holy Communion will be shared at the 6:30 p.m. Saturday and 8:30 a.m. Sunday services at Trinity Lutheran Church, 120 Sunset Drive, Center Township.

A men's fellowship breakfast will be held at 8 a.m. Saturday at the church. The event is open to all men in the community.

Candy orders for the youth Fudgefest will be available for pickup after 5 p.m. Saturday.

The Lutheran Sisters are collecting wrapped Christmas candy, children's blunt scissors, rulers, erasers and small pencil sharpeners for the children's party at the Dunbar Community Center. Donations can be placed in the narthex by Dec. 9.

Donations of nut-free and icing-free baked desserts are needed for Meals on Wheels during December. Donations should be ready to be frozen and are due to the church by the morning of Dec. 13.

TRINITY PRESBY

The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper will be celebrated Sunday at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 107 Staley Ave. The second candle on the Advent wreath will also be lit.

A congregational meeting will be held after the Sunday service to elect a pastor nominating committee, present a 2006 budget and elect officers.

The Ruth Circle will meet for a Christmas gathering at 11:30 a.m. Monday at Mama Rosa's Restaurant, Old Plank Road.

The youth group will shop for gifts for the Mars Home for Youth on Dec. 11th.

There will be no calendar collection for the Veterans Affairs Medical Center this year.

Church members Jayne Dodgson and Matthew Dodgson will be among Eat 'N Park employees participating in the Tips for Tots program from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Eat 'N Park at the Clearview Mall. Tips given during this time will benefit the Children's Hospital.

VALENCIA PRESBY

Communion will be observed at the Sunday service at Valencia Presbyterian Church, 80 Sterrett St., Valencia. Music will be performed by the VPC Bell Chimes Choir.

A community Christmas dinner will be held at 5 p.m. Dec. 10 at the church. Reservations are due Dec. 8.

A parent's night out will be held Dec. 10 at the church. To sign up, call the church at 724-625-2002.

WEST SUNBURY U.P.

The second candle on the Advent wreath will be lit during the 10:30 a.m. Sunday service at West Sunbury United Presbyterian Church, 215 East Church St., West Sunbury. The mission team that traveled to Slidell, La., for hurricane relief will lead the service. A multi-media presentation on the trip will be shown.

The annual Congregational and Corporation meeting will be held after the Sunday service for the election of officers and to examine the 2006 church budget.