MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT
The Art Porter Singers, directed by Sterling Ingram, will perform Handel’s Messiah at 5 p.m. Dec. 18 at Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, 815 W. 16th St. (501) 374-2891.
The Christ Church, Compline and Chorister Choirs will present Advent Lessons and Carols at 6 p.m. Sunday at Christ Episcopal Church, 509 Scott St. A reception will follow. christchurchlr.org or
(501) 375-2342.
The Music Ministry of First United Methodist Church, 723 Center St., will perform the Christmas portion of Handel’s Messiah at 6:30 p.m. Sunday. The performance will feature a choir of 80 and an orchestra. Admission is free. Child care will be provided.fumclr.org or (501) 372-2256.
The Worship Choir of Life Line Baptist Church, 7601 Baseline Road, will present “Light of the World” at 10:50 a.m. Dec. 18. (501) 568-5433.
Pleasant Hill and Reed Memorial Christian Methodist Episcopal churches will host a joint Christmas musical, “Tribute to the King,” at 3 p.m. Sunday at Pleasant Hill Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, 3804 E. 38th St., College Station. (501) 490-2267.
The Sanctuary Choir of Pulaski Heights Baptist Church, 2200 Kavanaugh Blvd., will present a Christmas cantata, The Wonder of Christmas, at 10:45 a.m. Sunday. Directed by Tommy Havens, the choir will be accompanied by piano and orchestra. (501) 661-1129.
ARmusica will perform at 7 p.m. Tuesday at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 4106 John F. Kennedy Blvd., North Little Rock. The program will feature Yuletide favorites with Julie Cheek on piano, Andrew Irvin and Caleb Yu on violin and soprano Kelly Singer. A meet-theartists reception will follow. Admission is free. (501) 753-4281.
Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, 310 W. 17th St., will present its 59th annual Christmas Pageant at 4 p.m. Sunday. Doors open at
- Christmas Lessons and Carols will be at 4 p.m. Dec. 18. trinitylittlerock.org or (501) 372-0294.
Trinity Presbyterian Church, 4501 Rahling Road, will present its annual Children’s Christmas Pageant during the 10:30 a.m. worship service Sunday. The Sanctuary Choir, soloists and instrumentalists will present a Christmas cantata, Let There Be Christmas, at 10:30 a.m. Dec. 18. (501) 868-5848.
SPECIAL EVENTS
Bear Creek United Methodist Church, 18 Jack Schoolhouse Road, Evening Shade, will celebrate its 150th anniversary Sunday with a celebration service at 9 a.m., Sunday School at 10, visitation at 11 and luncheon at 11:30. Current and past members and anyone who ever attended are welcome to come and share memories. (870) 266-3343.
The “Christmas Road to Bethlehem” is open through Jan. 1 on Bethlehem Road, off Arkansas 31, 11 miles north of Lonoke (11 miles south of Beebe). The annual drive-by exhibit features about 30 lighted, hand-painted scenes and Scriptures. Bethlehem United Methodist Church, 2540 Bethlehem Road, Lonoke, will host musical programs, candlelight services and offer refreshments 7-9 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Dec. 17. (501) 438-2272 or (501) 454-0183.
Faith Lutheran Church, 7525 W. Markham St., will host a “Blue Christmas Healing Prayer Service” at 7 p.m. Dec. 21. The service will offer a time and place of solace for those facing grief, illness, depression, loneliness, unemployment and loss. (501) 666-0850.
First Missionary Baptist Church Food Pantry, 623 W. Seventh St., will give away nonperishable food items, 9:30-10:30 a.m. Dec. 17. Leave a message at
(501) 372-2705.
Grace Lutheran Church, 5124 Hillcrest Ave., will have a midweek Advent prayer service at 7 p.m. Wednesday and Dec. 21. Dinner will be served at 5:30. gracelutheranlr.org or (501) 663-3631.
Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church, 850 Atkinson Rhodes St., North Little Rock, will have its annual Twilight Sunday School 4-5:30 p.m. Sunday. The topic will be “Expect Great Blessings.” Classes are available for all ages.
(501) 945-2921.
The Presbyterian Women’s Christmas luncheon will be at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at Park Hill Presbyterian Church, 3520 John F. Kennedy Blvd., North Little Rock, with speaker Sophia Said.
(501) 753-9533.
Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, 5900 John F. Kennedy Blvd., North Little Rock, will have a midweek Advent service at 7 p.m. Wednesday. A meal will be served at 6. (501) 753-8134.
Theressa Hoover Memorial United Methodist Church, 4000 W. 13th St., will celebrate 36 years of ministry during an anniversary service at 11 a.m. Sunday with guest speaker Ronnie Miller Yow.
(501) 351-3322 or (501) 663-7221.
Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, 310 W. 17th St., will host an Advent Quiet Day, 9 a.m.-noon today. Led by Steve Bonsey, the event will include guided prayer and reflection. trinitylittlerock.org or (501) 372-0294.
CLASSES AND CONFERENCES
Grace Presbyterian Church, 9301 N. Rodney Parham Road, will continue a DVD/discussion class at 9 a.m. Sunday in the library. The class will focus on When the Game Is Over, It All Goes Back in the Box by John Ortberg. Karen Akin will lead an Advent study at 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays, centering on the genealogy of Jesus. gracelr.org or (501) 225-3274.
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 1000 N. Mississippi St., will continue two adult Advent classes at 9:15 a.m. Sunday — “The Journey,” with videos and readings about the Nativity story in the context of the Holy Land, and a Bible study on the infancy narrative of Jesus led by Michael McCain. stmarks.com or (501) 225-4203.
Second Presbyterian Church, 600 Pleasant Valley Drive, will offer an Advent Bible study, “A Thrill of Hope: The Christmas Story in Word and Art,” 9:30-11 a.m. Mondays in Second Hall through Dec.
- The class will focus on Advent and Christmas texts from Matthew and Luke, and how they are used in the art of John August Swanson. The class, led by Jeannie Ford, will include video and discussion. jeannieford@secondpreslr.org. An Advent Sunday School series, “Names for the Messiah,” will be at 9:50 a.m. Sundays in Second Hall through Dec. 18. Led by Steve Hancock, Marie Mainard-O’Connell and Lindy Vogado, the class will focus on questions posed in the book of the same name by Walter Brueggemann. (501) 227-0000.
An “Advent in the Home” class on recapturing the season of Advent as a time for preparing for Christmas, will continue at 6:15 p.m. Wednesday in Baker parlor at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, 310 W. 17th St., and “Crafty for Christmas” will be held in the staff lounge. Participants will create holiday crafts. For ages 12 and up.trinitylittlerock.org or (501) 372-0294.
Trinity Presbyterian Church, 4501 Rahling Road, will offer “The Wonder of Christmas” adult Sunday School class at 9:15 a.m. Sundays in Room 2 through Dec. 18. The class will look at the Christmas story and the stories of real people to find inspiration and ideas for reflecting the light of Jesus at Christmas and throughout the year. (501) 868-5848.
The deadline for religion calendar submissions is 5 p.m. Monday for Saturday publication. Addresses are in Little Rock unless otherwise indicated. Items must have an address and a phone number and be open to the public. To submit a news release, fax (501) 372-4765 or email the information to:
religion@arkansasonline.com