Churches get into holiday spirit

The Christmas season is in full swing this week with many events to get the family in the mood to celebrate.

Concerts

•Lincoln Heights Community Church, 3527 E. 29th Ave., will have a Carol Sing on the Hill Sunday at 5 p.m.

The evening also will include a children’s program.

For more information, call the church office at 534-7821.

•Southridge Community Church, 2607 S. Ray St., will present “Meet Me at the Manger,” a Christmas musical Sunday at 6:30 p.m.

The performance will feature the 40-voice Southridge Kids and Youth Choir which will present a story of children singing in Herod’s Department Store. The owner of the store forces the children out because they are distracting the customers.

There will be treat bags for children attending the show and a dessert reception following the performance.

For more information, call the church office at 535-4179.

•First Church of the Nazarene, 9004 N. Country Homes Blvd., will present “I’ll be Home for Christmas,” a musical and drama set in 1941, on Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 2 and 7 p.m.

The show will feature a 45-voice choir and the church’s drama troupe.

The cost is $5 and includes dessert and coffee.

For more information, call the church office at 467-8986.

•The Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, 127 E. 12th Ave., will present “A Christmas in Wales,” Sunday at 4 and 7 p.m.

The performance will include a skit, “A Christmas in Wales,” written by Lydia Newell and performed by Patrick Treadway. Also performing will be the Spokane Youth Orchestra and the Spokane Area Children’s Chorus.

The concert is free, and the doors open at 3 and 6 p.m.

For more information, call the church office at 838-4277.

Living Nativities

•Crossover Church, 16825 N. Newport Highway, will present a drive-through living Nativity next Thursday through Dec. 14 from 6 to 8 p.m.

The scenes will include live animals and around 200 participants enacting the story of the birth of Christ.

Each car the comes through will be given a CD or cassette tape that will explain the scenes visitors are seeing.

For more information, call the church office at 238-7955, ext. 507.

•South Hill Adventist Church, 5607 S. Freya St., will present “Journey to Bethlehem,” a walk-through play that re-enacts the birth of Christ.

The church organized hundreds of volunteers to recreate a lifelike Bethlehem and will include stucco walls, bread-sellers, a blacksmith, a perfume shop and a live camel.

The play will be performed today and Friday from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 5 to 9 p.m.

For more information, call the church office at 448-6425.

Advent services

Liberty Park United Methodist Church, 1526 E. 11th Ave., will present Sunday Advent services this Sunday and Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. and a Winter Solstice service Dec. 21 at 7 p.m.

The Advent services will celebrate Evening Prayer using “Holden Evening Prayer,” by Mary Haugen. The service includes music and centers on a theme of light and darkness.

The solstice service will include an Advent Spiral Service, which is a candlelight walking meditation.

For more information, call the church office at 535-5588.

Holiday craft sales and bazaars

•Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 3307 W. Rowan Ave., will present a holiday craft sale and bazaar Saturday.

The event will include decorations for sale, a chili cook-off and a pie baking contest.

For times and more information, call the church office at 327-1914.

•All Saints School will present a holiday bazaar Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The bazaar will feature a book fair and a Christmas store that will sell holiday decorations, ornaments and craft items.

The sale will be held in the gym of St. Peter’s Catholic Church, 3504 E. 18th Ave.

For more information, call the school at 534-1098.

•The Unitarian Universalist Church, 4340 W. Fort Wright Drive, will present its annual alternative gift fair Sunday from 12:30 to 2 p.m.

The sale offers shoppers an opportunity to make donations in the name of friends and family to places like Habitat for Humanity, Hospice of Spokane and more.

For more information, call the church office at 325-6383.

Pictures with Santa

Summit Ridge Christian Fellowship will present an opportunity to have your children’s picture taken with Santa Claus next Thursday from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. with photography by Tiffany Rose Photography. The event will be held at South Hill Adventist Church, 5607 S. Freya St.

The cost is $5 for a 5-by-7-inch photo.

For more information, call 443-8079.