Communities of Faith

Concert to feature Jazz Collective

FAYETTEVILLE — The Fayetteville Jazz Collective Christmas concert will be at 7 p.m. today at Clapp Auditorium at Mount Sequoyah Retreat and Conference Center, 150 NW. Skyline Drive.

The concert will include a Duke Ellington /Billy Strayhorn arrangement of Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker Suite,” as well as original arrangements of traditional Christmas songs by local composer and band member Rick Salonen. Vocalist Sara Broome will join in on several numbers.

Tickets are $8 online at mountsequoyah.org or $10 at the door.

Universalists host solstice gathering

FAYETTEVILLE — Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 901 W. Cleveland St., will celebrate the winter solstice at 11 a.m. Sunday with an earth-centered service to honor and remember man’s connection to the turning of the seasons. Coffee and conversation to follow.

A free public celebration of the longest night will be at 7 p.m. and will feature an indoor ritual. A bonfire will follow and will feature a yule log lighting ceremony. Potluck desserts will follow.

At 6 p.m. Wednesday the fellowship will celebrate Christmas Eve with candlelight and carols. A celebration of “endings” 11 a.m. Dec. 28 will include music, stories and poetry.

Information is available by email at uuff.ar@gmail.com or by calling (479) 521-8422.

13-week session to help with grief

HOLIDAY ISLAND — A 13-week session of Grief-Share will begin Jan. 4 at Holiday Island Community Church, 188 Stateline Drive. The Bible-based, nondenominational program helps individuals walk through the steps of grief to recovery. It is designed for those who have experienced the loss of someone close to them, whether it was recent or some time ago.

Participants can join anytime. The group will meet in the church library 2-4 p.m. each Sunday. Cost is $15 for a workbook. For information or to sign up, call (479) 253-8200 or (479) 253-8925 or contact by email at lardellen@gmail.com.

Longest Night theme of service

ROGERS — First United Methodist Church, 307 W. Elm St., will host a Longest Night chapel service at 7 p.m. Sunday. The service offers a quiet time in the middle of the busyness of the Christmas season and will include music, prayer and candle lighting.

Information is available by email at fumcrogers@sbcglobal.net or by calling

(479) 631-7997.

Hope and Healing service scheduled

FAYETTEVILLE — Central United Methodist Church, 6 W. Dickson St., will offer a Service of Hope and Healing for Christmas at 6 p.m. Sunday. The service will be in Wesley Chapel and will include traditional Advent candle lighting, hymns, Scripture, Communion and prayers for healing.

Information is available online at centraltolife.com.

Communities of Faith features selected church and religion news and events in Northwest Arkansas. Deadline for consideration is noon Monday for Saturday publication. Send information, including a phone number, to Christie Storm, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, P.O. Box 7, Springdale, Ark. 72765, fax it to (479) 365-2984 or email to:

cstorm@nwaonline.com

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