By Staff
Editor's note: Items for Religion Briefs must be submitted typed or printed to The Star by noon the preceding Wednesday before publication on Saturday. Please, do not call in announcements.
To mail, send to: P.O. Box 1591, Meridian, Miss., 39301; Fax: (601) 485-1275; e-mail, ibrown@meridianstar.com. Photos may also accompany information (when space allows).
For more information, call 693-1551, ext. 3216.
PENNINGTON, Ala. The outdoor lighting display "Trinity Christmasland" will be presented at Trinity United Methodist Church from 6 to 9 p.m. through Dec. 24.
Attractions will be displayed on 4 acres and will include The Life of Jesus, a Christian banner display, theme trees, Mother Goose Land, Barney and Baby Bop, Miss Piggy and Kermit, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Looney Tunes characters, gingerbread men, Frosty the Snowman, toy soldiers, snowmen, carolers, Santa Claus and reindeer.
A live Santa and Mrs. Claus will be present and hot chocolate will be served each evening.
For more information, contact Mary Faile at (205) 654-2473.
Fellowship Baptist Church is collecting labels from Campbell's products soups, Pepperidge Farm cookies, crackers and other products, as well as Prego pasta sauces, Swanson broths, V-8 Juice and Franco American Spaghetti to purchase equipment for the church.
Mail labels to: Fellowship Baptist Church, 9325 Fellowship Road, Meridian, MS 39305.
SUNDAY
Classical and jazz clarinetist Darko Velichkovski will be in concert at 6 p.m. at NorthPark Church.
Velichkovski's life story is one of mystery and grace of God. Born in a communist country and reared to believe the Bible was a fairy tale and man the master of his own destiny, Velichkovski set out to conquer the world. He was the youngest student ever to study at the Belgrade University Music Conservatory.
He befriended an American tourist in Yugoslavia and the friendship resulted in Velichkovski coming to the United States, being influenced by Christian friends, acceptance to Julliard School of Music and his acceptance of Jesus Christ. He also married a Christian and located to Mississippi to lead the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra.
Today, Velichkovski, who is a Serb, is ministering to a family of Bosnian refugees who arrived in Jackson recently through the Catholic Charities organizations. He also gives testimony to his faith and performs concerts across the United States.
The church is located at 7770 Highway 39 North.
A program of gospel singing will be presented at 2 p.m. at Bethel Methodist Church.
The church is located at 4320 Old 8th St. Road.
PHILADELPHIA "An Old Fashioned Christmas" will be presented at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. by the East Philadelphia Baptist Church choirs. The 1800s musical drama will be presented in era costumes.
The Youth Choir of St. John Missionary Baptist Church, along with the family of Ashley Curry, will sponsor a Gospel Fest at 6 p.m.
Choirs, praise teams and drill teams from local and area churches also will be featured. Proceeds from the event will be used to defray expenses for Curry's participation in the National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine in Texas.
UNION Union United Methodist Church will present "Silent Was the Night" at 6 p.m.
MONDAY
The dinner theater "The Richest Family in Town" will be presented at 6:30 p.m at Briarwood Baptist Church, Family Life Center. Tickets are $10; all seats reserved.
A second performance will be presented Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.
The church is located at 8733 Hillview Drive.
COMING UP …
LAUDERDALE First Baptist Church of Lauderdale Sanctuary Choir and Drama Team will present "How Do You Welcome a King?" Dec. 16 and 17. The program will begin at 7 both evenings.
The church is located at 3659 Lauderdale Road.
A drive-through nativity scene will be presented Dec. 16 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Broadmoor Baptist Church. Admission is free; free hot chocolate will be served.
The church is located at 5426 Highway 39 North.
EDINBURG A live nativity scene will be featured at Pine Grove church of God Dec. 16-18.
The presentation will begin with Gabriel's visit to Mary and continue to the worship of the Three Wisemen. Performances will be held at 6 and 8 p.m.
The church is located on Highway 16 east. For more information, call (601) 267-3368.
Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church will presents its annual Christmas Musical Extravaganza on Dec. 17 at 2:30 p.m.
Choirs, praise teams, dance teams and soloists are encouraged to present two selections.
For more information, call Peggy Rue at 483-0260 or Ecclesiastes Goodwin at 483-6938.
The musical "A Christmas to Remember" will be presented Dec. 17 and 18 at Central Baptist Church. The program will feature the church's Sanctuary and Children's choirs.
The Dec. 17 performance is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.; the Dec. 18 performance will begin at 7 p.m.
The church is located at 2511 C St.
UNION Dr. John DeChairo, professor of guitar music at the University of Southern Mississippi, will perform Christmas music on guitar on Dec. 21 at 7 p.m. at Union United Methodist Church. Admission is free.
LAKE The Freemans, Hosanna, Carole Gaddis, Renee Gibbs and The Gibbs Family will be in concert Dec. 30 at 6 p.m. at The Sanctuary.
Admission is free, however a donation of $7 is requested. A love offering will be taken.
The Sanctuary is located at 1197 Old 80 Road. For more information, call (601) 775-3467.