By Staff
Editor's note: Items for Religion Briefs should be submitted, typed or printed, to The Meridian Star by noon the Wednesday before publication. Please do not call in announcements.
To mail, send to: P.O. Box 1591, Meridian, MS 39302. Fax them to (601) 485-1275 or e-mail them to ibrown@themeridianstar.com. Photos may also accompany information when space allows. For more information, call 693-1551, ext. 3224.
Christmas Mass schedules for St. Patrick and St. Joseph's Catholic churches and Good Shepherd Mission in Quitman are as follows:
Christmas Eve: St. Patrick (family Mass), 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., and St. Joseph's, 10 p.m.
Midnight Mass: St. Patrick. Midnight Mass will be preceded by a medley of Christmas music by the St. Patrick Adult Choir.
Christmas Day: St. Joseph's, 10 a.m.; Good Shepherd, 11 a.m.
St. Patrick Catholic Church is at 2601 Davis St. and St. Joseph's Catholic Church is at 1914 18th Ave.
Power Hour, which brings the Christian community together for inspiration and encouragement, is Thursdays at First Baptist Church. The hour includes lunch, fellowship, prayer, inspirational music and testimony. Attendance is open to all races, denominations and gender. No reservations are necessary.
The cost of a deluxe meal is $6.50. Lunch is served 11:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. The program begins at 12:15 p.m. and ends at 12:45 p.m.
For information, call Jimmy Slay at 482-9779.
Fellowship Baptist Church is collecting labels from Campbell products to buy equipment for the church. Labels from the following Campbell products are requested: soups, beans, Swanson broths, Pepperidge Farm products, Prego pasta sauces, V-8 juice and Franco-American Spaghettios.
Send labels to: Fellowship Baptist Church, 9325 Fellowship Road, Meridian, MS 30305.
TODAY
EDINBURG Pine Grove Church of God will present the cantata "Hope Has Come" at 6 p.m. The program will feature song, dance, sign and testimony. A second presentation is scheduled for Sunday at 6 p.m. The church is on Highway 16 East. For more information, call (601) 267-3368 or (601) 267-5536.
SUNDAY
Pine Grove Baptist Church's Christmas program will begin at 11 a.m. worship service. A banquet will be held after the service.
St. Peter AME Zion Church's first Christmas cantata presentation will be at 2:30 p.m. Seasonal music will be presented by the church's various choirs.
COLLINSVILLE A candlelight service will be at 5 p.m. at Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church. The youth and adults of the church will present the play "A Child Is Born."
El Bethel Baptist Church's Christmas program will be presented at 6 p.m. "Celebrating the Birth of Christ" is the theme.
First Union Baptist Church's Christmas program will begin at 6 p.m.
MONDAY
A pre-Christmas breakfast will be held at 8 a.m. at Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church.
TUESDAY
The Sweet Spirits Inspiration Choir and St. Paul United Methodist Church will present their third annual Christmas Eve presentation of "What's In the Manger?" at 6 p.m.
The dramatization is based on the New Testament readings that begin with Mary's divine conception and continue through the journey of the wise men to Bethlehem. Gospel arrangements of favorite Christmas songs will be presented by the Sweet Spirits Inspirational Choir and the Sounds of Triumph Wind and Brass Ensemble.
ALICEVILLE, Ala. The Weeping Eyes for the World Ministries' annual Christmas Explosion Celebration will be at 7 p.m. The Rev. J. Straight will be speaker. For information, call (205) 373-1398 or toll-free (866) 922-4034
WEDNESDAY
Christmas worship service will begin at 7 a.m. at Antioch Baptist Church. The Rev. Cleveland Hayes will bring the morning's message.
Christmas worship service will begin at 9 a.m. at Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church. The service will include testimonials and music by the Mass choir.
UPCOMING
MAGEE A Pre-New Year's Gospel Celebration Concert to benefit the Simpson County Sheriff's Auxiliary will be Dec. 28 at 7 p.m. at the Southfork Fish House Restaurant Entertainment Center.
Headliners will be The Perrys of Morristown, Tenn.; The MaHarreys of St. Stephens, Ala.; and former Kingsmen "super tenor" Garry "Squeaky" Sheppard of Nashville. Also featured will be Redeemed, the New Wine Quartet and The Next Generation.
Tickets are $12 in advance, $15 at the door. Tickets are available at Southfork Fish House and Music City Instruments in Magee, Christian Life Bookstore in Brandon and through the Simpson County Sheriff's Office and Auxiliary in Mendenhall.
Seating is limited. All proceeds will benefit the sheriff's auxiliary and will be used to purchase and upgrade equipment. For information, call (601) 847-5339.
The pastor and members of First Apostolic Church will ring in the new year with a series of services scheduled as follows: Dec. 29, 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Bennie Viverette of Union, guest speaker; Dec. 30, 7:30 p.m. Youth-in-Action Night, sponsored by the church's youth ministry; Dec. 31 Watch Night Service. Foot-washing ceremony is at 6 p.m., followed by worship at 7. Johnny Davis of York, Ala., will be guest speaker.
LAUDERDALE Watch Night services are scheduled to begin at 8:30 p.m. Dec. 31 at Mount Carmel Baptist Church. Performances by the Union Chapel Male Chorus, along with other musicians, will be featured, as well as preaching.
Watch Night Service is scheduled for 10 p.m. Dec. 31 at Agape Storehouse Apostolic Church at 402 26th Ave.
The Christian bands Newsboys, Super Chic(k), ZOEGirl and By the Tree will be in concert at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 19. Sponsored by First Priority, the concert will be held in the main arena of the Forrest County Multi-Purpose Center. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m.
General admission tickets are available for $16, advance, and $20 at the door. Tickets are $14 for groups of 10 or more. Tickets may be purchased at the Multi-Purpose Center, Crossgates Christian Supply Center, Lighthouse Christian Bookstore and Lemstone Bookstore. For more information, call (601) 268-9666.
HEIDELBERG Greater Beaver Meadow Missionary Baptist Church's annual New Year's Eve Explosion is from 9 p.m.-until on Dec. 31. Praise, testimonies and deliverance will highlight the evening.