Butler Church Of the NazareneChrisann Green and Marilyn Iden will provide special music for the Sunday worship service at Butler Church of the Nazarene, 4410 Oakdale Road and Route 68.Practice for the Kidz Christmas program will be held at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. Caravan will follow at 6:30 p.m.Christmas Cantata practice will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday.

Christ Community United MethodistChrist Community United Methodist Church, 205 N. Duffy Road, is taking names for the adopt-a-child program. Those interested in being matched with a child for gift-giving should call 724-287-4462.The church is collecting blankets for local needy families. Blankets can be new or gently used and can be dropped off at the church between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. weekdays.The Chancel Choir is open for new members for the Christmas cantata. To join, attend rehearsal at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Christ's Outreach Christ's Outreach Church, 120 Walker Ave., provides children's church for children ages preschool through sixth grade downstairs during the 10:30 a.m. worship service.

Community Life Community Life Church holds service at McQuistion Elementary School. Sunday's sermon will be on physical healing.The church will gather Wednesday at the YWCA on West Cunningham Street for "Getting into His Presence."The church is collecting pasta and sauce on Sundays during December for the St. Vincent DePaul Food Cupboard.The youth group Christmas party will be held Dec. 4 at the Ogles' home.For more information, contact the church office at 724-287-3303, clcbutler@zoominternet.net or www.clcbutler.org.

Covenant PresbyterianCovenant Presbyterian Church, 230 E. Jefferson St., will celebrate the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper during the Sunday worship service for the first Sunday of Advent.An Advent concert will be held at 1:30 p.m. Sunday in the sanctuary featuring Matt Altdorfer and SRU Friends performing in a trombone quartet and a brass quintet. An offering will be taken. A reception will follow in the assembly room.The noisy offering of loose change will be received during the 11 a.m. worship service Sunday.Professor Ron Tappy will conclude his series with the Seekers class at 9:45 a.m. in the assembly room.

First Baptist ChurchMen and boys from First Baptist Church, 221 W. New Castle St., are invited to a prayer breakfast at 8 a.m. Saturday at Panera Bread.Several baptisms will be performed at the 10:55 a.m. Sunday service.Betty Dickey will speak at both Tuesday sessions of the Women's Missionary Fellowship. Patty Broad will be the hostess for the 9:30 a.m. session, and Janet White will host the 7 p.m. session.

First English Lutheran The church office of First English Lutheran Church, North Main Street at Brady Street, will be closed Friday.Wednesday evening Bible studies will not be held until January.

First United MethodistFirst United Methodist Church, 200 E. North St., will host a Christmas classics movie event for the college-age ministry from 6 p.m. to midnight in the Spectrum.Gemstones women's ministry will hold its annual Christmas party at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Armstrong building.

Glade Run United PresbyterianThe Thankoffering will be collected at both Sunday services at Glade Run United Presbyterian Church, 1091 Pittsburgh Road, Valencia.Upward Basketball practice will begin Monday.Both worship planning teams will meet at 7 p.m. Monday.A traditional worship service will be held at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Child care will be provided.The building and grounds committee will meet at 7 p.m. Dec. 4 in the conference room.Church members are invited to join the Deacons at 3 p.m. Saturday to decorate the church for Christmas. Pizza will be served.

Grace @ Calvary LutheranGrace @ Calvary Lutheran Church, 123 E. Diamond St., will be closed today and Friday.The youth group will hold a Bible study at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday. Participants should take money for dinner.Confirmation class and PacMin will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the church.Angel Food Ministry orders will be taken from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday and Dec. 4 at the church.An Advent service will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday. The bell choir will practice at 6 p.m.The soup and sandwich luncheon will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 4. Carryouts will be available and the luncheon is open to the public.

GraceWay Community Barry and Debbie Wiles will be in concert at the GraceWay Community Church Sunday. GraceWay meets at the Center Township Elementary School.The church will celebrate the first Sunday of Advent during Sunday's service. Special emphasis will be placed on the expectation of the Savior's birth.Christmas flowers are being ordered for the Christmas services. Information is available by calling 724-290-7007.

Hill United PresbyterianThe first Sunday of Advent will be observed during weekend services at Hill United Presbyterian Church, 501 Second St. The Sacrament of Baptism will be performed at the Saturday service. The instrumental ensemble will play at the Sunday service.Sunday school children should meet in the choir room at 9:15 a.m. Sunday to prepare for the Advent cantata.The deacons will host a fifth Sunday brunch after Sunday worship.The Hill youth chorale and the children's chorus will rehearse at 12:15 and 8 p.m. in the intermediate high school auditorium.Club 56 members and parents will leave at 2 p.m. Sunday for their trip to the Pittsburgh Mills Mall and will return at 6 p.m.A 5:30 p.m. practice for the Christmas musical will be held Wednesday.

Mars United PresbyterianMars United Presbyterian Church, 232 Crowe Ave, Mars, will celebrate the first Sunday of Advent Sunday. Families will read scripture and light candles in worship relating to the Christmas story.Junior choir practice will be held at 9:20 a.m. Sunday.

Meridian United Presbyterian The deacons of Meridian United Presbyterian Church, 4150 Highland Ave., will decorate the sanctuary for Christmas at 9 a.m. Saturday.The deacons meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.The Sarah Elizabeth Circle will meet at noon Dec. 4 for the Christmas luncheon. Participants should take a dish to share.Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent. The first candle will be lit on the Advent wreath.The mission offering for December will be for the Christmas joy.

New Life Christian MinistriesThe Rev. Chris Marshall will continue the Sermon on the Mount series Sunday at New Life Christian Ministries, Knoch Senior High School, 345 Knoch Road, Saxonburg. More information is available at www.NewLifeXn.org or by calling 724-256-0851.The kids' praise team will share a welcoming song Sunday. All children participating should be at the worship center by 9:30 a.m. for rehearsal.Infant and child dedication will be celebrated at the 10 a.m. worship service Sunday.A Thanksgiving Eve worship celebration will be held at 7 p.m. tonight at CrossWay Church, 109 Davis Road, Valencia. Believer's baptism will be celebrated.The church will have a float in the Saxonburg Christmas parade and light-up night at 7 p.m. Friday. Church members will also distribute a Christmas Eve CD along the parade route.

New ZionThe first Sunday of Advent will be celebrated during the Sunday worship service at New Zion Evangelical Church.The youth class will light the prophecy candle on the Advent wreath.The church is located on Route 38, five miles north of Emlenton.

North Main St. Church of GodNorth Main Street Church of God, 1201 North Main Street Extension, will close its office Friday.A tailgate party will be held at 3:30 p.m. Sunday at the Haven.The board of evangelism will meet at 8:15 p.m. Dec. 3 in the conference room.The women of the Church of God will hold a Christmas luncheon at 1 p.m. Dec. 4 at the Gruver residence. Contact Shirley Barger for more information.

Old Union PresbyThe Worship Committee and the Missions Committee of Old Union Presbyterian Church, 200 Union Church Road, Mars, will meet after worship on Sunday.To donate a gift to the Mars Home for Youth giving program, take a tag from the tree in the church hallway. Purchase a gift and return the unwrapped gift with the original tag to the church by Dec. 7.Those interested in ringing bells for the Salvation Army should call the Utz Insurance Agency at 724-625-2099 or email macoffice@marsalliance.org.The Evans City Food Cupboard is requesting donations of nonperishable food items. To donate a deer through Hunters Sharing the Harvest to the food cupboard, contact Omar Ifft at 724-538-5968 or the food cupboard at 724-538-0542.

Plains Presbyterian ChurchPlains Presbyterian Church, 326 Plains Church Road, Cranberry Township, will celebrate the first Sunday of Advent by lighting the first Advent candle Sunday. Communion will be served.A PraiSing and chili cookoff will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday.For more information, call 724-538-8785 or visit www.plainschurch.com.

Saint Andrews U.P.Saint Andrews United Presbyterian Church, 201 East Jefferson St., will celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Communion during the Sunday service.Members are invited to stay after the worship service for a lunch and to decorate the church.Reservations are now being accepted for the Dec. 12 dinner with friends. Contact Barb Gallagher to make reservations.Poinsettia orders are now being taken. The poinsettias will be used to decorate the sanctuary and may be taken with you following the Christmas Eve worship service.

St. John's ReformedThe Women of Faith group and volunteers will decorate St. John's Reformed Church, Route 68 West at Meridian Road, for Christmas on Saturday.The final Bible study in the series "DNA and the Origin of Life" will be held at 7:30 p.m. Sunday.

St. John's United ChurchSt. John's United Church of Christ, 501 E. Main St., Evans City, will hold a potluck luncheon for those that plan to decorate the church after the Sunday worship service. Participants should take a casserole, salad or dessert to share.A practice for Lessons and Carols of Christmas is to begin at 6 p.m. Sunday evening.

St. Mark's Evangelical LutheranSt. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 201 W. Jefferson St., will hold a meeting for those interested in joining the church from 2:30 to 5 p.m. Sunday in the conference room. Call the church office at 724-287-6741 to register.The women of the church will hold an annual Christmas salad luncheon and Bible study at noon Tuesday in the choir robing room. Participants should take a salad and table service. The Rev. Towberman will lead the bible study.The sanctuary choir invites church members to join the choir during the Christmas season. Call Shirley Kerr at 724-482-4646 to sign up.Those planning to be in the Butler Christmas parade are asked to meet at 8 a.m. Friday in the Westminster Church parking lot on North Main Street. To help, call Wendy Holt at 724-445-7512.

St. Peter's EpiscopalSt. Peter's Episcopal Church, 218 E. Jefferson St., will hold an annual Daughters of the King Christmas dinner at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Saxonburg Hotel. R. S. V. P. s should be made to Mary Lou Herbst.Names of needy children for the annual angel tree project are available at the church. Gifts should be returned by Dec. 15.Those wishing to order poinsettias in honor or memory of a loved one should sign up on the list in the rear of the sanctuary.

Summit PresbyterianSummit Presbyterian Church will celebrate the first Sunday of Advent Sunday at the church on Saxonburg Road and Caldwell Drive.The offices will be closed on Thursday and Friday.All are welcome to help decorate the church at 9 a.m. Saturday.An Advent luncheon will be held at noon Tuesday at the church. The program will be "Christmas in the Movies."All committees will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the church.For more information, call 724-287-2378.

Trinity LutheranTrinity Lutheran Church, 120 Sunset Drive, Center Township, will celebrate the first Sunday of Advent with the Lord's Supper at services on Saturday and Sunday.An new adult Sunday school class exploring the Book of Faith will be held at 9:45 a.m. in the fellowship hall.A table in the narthex has items for sale. All proceeds will benefit the youth trip to New Orleans.Holden Evening Prayer will be held at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday evening, preceded by a light supper at 5:30.

Trinity Presbyterian Trinity Presbyterian Church, 107 Staley Ave., Butler Township, will hold a decorating time at 10 a.m. Saturday at the church.The Ruth Circle will meet at noon Tuesday at the Harmony Inn in Harmony.Volunteers are needed for the 3-through-7-year-old junior church. Those interested should contact Valjean Champ.

White Oak Springs PresbyterianMembers of the White Oak Springs Presbyterian Church, 102 Shannon Road, Renfrew, will gather at 10 a.m. Saturday to decorate the church.The beginning of the Advent season will be observed Sunday with a celebration of the Lord's Supper during the morning worship service.