Children all over the Valley are restlessly tossing and turning in their beds tonight, eagerly awaiting their chance to perform their roles as Mary, Joseph, and the three wise men. The children of several Valley churches will perform in Christmas programs on Sunday.

Christ Lutheran Church, 13009 E. Broadway, will present its children’s Christmas program at the 8:15 and 10:30 a.m. worship services on Sunday.

The program, titled “Live from Bethlehem,” will give a news reporter’s view of the events surrounding the trip that Mary and Joseph took to Bethlehem and the birth of Jesus. The innkeeper, wise men, and shepherds will be interviewed along the way.

Cookies will be served following the 10:30 a.m. service.

The children of Opportunity Christian Church, 708 N. Pines, will perform a Christmas program called “Rebecca’s Shawl” Sunday at 5 p.m. A potluck will follow the performance.

The Spokane Valley Church of the Nazarene, 10814 E. Broadway, will present its children’s Christmas program Sunday during the 6 p.m. worship service.

Christmas music Sunday, Monday

The choir of the Valley Assembly of God Church, 15618 E. Broadway, will present a family oriented concert called “The Music of Christmas … The Christ of Christmas” at 6 p.m. Sunday. The free concert will be repeated Monday at 7 p.m.

The program will be a mix of traditional Christmas carols and religious Christmas songs. Those attending will have the opportunity to sing along with the choir on some selections.

Santa Lucia festival Sunday

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 810 S. Sullivan, will host a Santa Lucia Festival of Light Sunday at 5:30 p.m.

Those attending are asked to bring a dish to share. A Christmas carol sing-along will conclude the evening.

According to the Santa Lucia legend, Lucia was a medieval saint who fed the hungry during a famine. She was reportedly accused of witchcraft and burned at the stake after admitting she was a Christian.

Missionary visits Valley church

New Hope Christian Center, 1108 N. Argonne, will host missionary Chattra Tamang at the 9 a.m., 10:45 a.m., and 5 p.m. worship services on Sunday.

Tamang was born and raised in an Orthodox Buddhist family in the former Kingdom of Sikkim in the Himalayas, which has since joined the country of India.

Originally exiled from Sikkim because of his Christian beliefs, Tamang now heads nine Christian churches in the former kingdom and has organized a native Gospel team that travels to remote villages in the area.

The public is invited to attend any of the special worship services.

, DataTimes MEMO: What’s news at your church? Tell us and we’ll help spread the word. Write: Church notebook, Valley Voice, 13208 E. Sprague, Spokane, WA 99216. E-mail: ninac@spokesman.com