Submissions to the Church Calendar need to be in writing and arrive or be brought in to The Mount Airy News office before 5 p.m. Tuesday in order to be published in Friday’s issue. Be sure to include the full name and address of the church; the time, day and date of the event; and a contact phone number in case our staff has any questions. Information may be mailed to: The Mount Airy News, 319 N. Renfro St., Mount Airy, NC 27030; faxed to 789-2816; or e-mailed to aeldridge@mtairynews.com.

Benefits and Fundraisers

- The Cody Kirsch Family Team for Relay for Life will be sponsoring a “No Room at the Inn” at First Baptist Church on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. This is a large display of nativity scenes, more than 200. Some are from other countries, collector’s items, family heirlooms, handmade and special. Donations will be accepted. All proceeds will go to the American Cancer Society. Church groups are invited. For more information, call Leonard Kirsch at 710-6396 or Sue Krepps at 648-1064.

- A yard sale will be held at Faith Tabernacle Church in the basement today and Saturday from 8 a.m. until. Proceeds go toward building for the church.

- Zephyr Missionary Baptist Church, Poplar Springs Road, Elkin, will be holding a community canned food drive on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., rain or shine.

- Pine Ridge Baptist Church will have a pancake breakfast benefit and bake sale for Gaynell Hayslip, a cancer patient, on Saturday from 6 a.m. to noon. Donations will be accepted. Take-out plates will be available or eat in the fellowship building. All proceeds go toward medical expenses. For more information, call Candi Hodges at 648-3242 or Patsy Payne at 648-5050.

- Mallalieu-Jones United Methodist Church, 231 N. South St., Mount Airy, will be holding a fish-fry fundraiser. The cost is $4 for a fish sandwich and a drink. This fundraiser will be held every Friday.

Special Services

- Cantata Sunday will be held Sunday at Grace Moravian Church during the 10 a.m. worship service. Enjoy the beautiful story of Christmas as told by the handbells, adult choir, piano and organ. For more information, call the church office at 789-5627.

- Grace Moravian Church will be holding its Christmas Lovefeasts on Dec. 20 at 7 p.m. and Christmas Eve at 5 and 7 p.m. Come early to insure a seat. For more information, call the church office at 789-5627.

- Willow Hill Moravian Church, Ararat, Va., will have Christmas Lovefeast and candlelight services on Dec. 20 at 5 p.m. and Dec. 25 at 7 p.m. All are invited to come share in the celebration of Jesus’ birth. For more information, call 648-4907 or visit www.willowhillmoravian.org.

- Grace Moravian Church will be holding its annual Watch Night service on Dec. 31 starting at 11:30 p.m. Come ring in the New Year with prayer and reflection. For more information, call the church office at 789-5627.

Special Music

- The Choir of First Presbyterian Church, 326 N. Main St., will perform at 11 a.m. on Sunday. The choir will be accompanied by music director, Sandy Beam, and a 14-piece Chamber Orchestra and recording artists Greg Rice and Lydia Coyner Harrelson. Admission is free.

- Central United Methodist Church, 1909 N. Main St., presents a concert of Christmas handbell music performed by the Bellisima Ringers on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in the sanctuary. Admission is free.

- The Sanctuary Choir Christmas Cantata — “I Hear the Prophet Callin’” — will be performed Dec. 20 during the 11 a.m. worship service at Calvary Baptist Church, 314 S. Franklin Road, Mount Airy.

- Calvary Baptist Church is presenting a Christmas performance, “Miracle on Main Street,” on Dec. 20 at 6 p.m. The children of Calvary will lead the program.

- A Christmas Eve Service will be held Dec. 24 at 5 p.m. at Calvary Baptist Church, 314 S. Franklin Road, Mount Airy.

Upcoming Events

- Family Fellowship Chapel, 2237 McKinney Road, will be presenting the Christmas Play “Colorado Cricket County Christmas” on Saturday at 7 p.m. and on Sunday at 10 a.m. For more information, call 326-7194.

- Grace Moravian Church will be having its children’s Christmas play on Sunday at 7 p.m. in the fellowship hall. Experience the central message of Christmas in “It’s Not the Hilton, You Know.” Light refreshments will be served after the performance. For more information, call the church office at 789-5627.

- Bannertown Baptist Church will be hosting a bloodmobile on Sunday from 1 to 5:30 p.m. All blood types needed.

- Bannertown Baptist Church is having “The Great Gift Exchange” on Sunday at 7 p.m.

- Blue Hollow Baptist Church will be having its Christmas play “Will I Have to Search Heaven for You” on Dec. 18 and 19 at 7 p.m. Treats will be given out nightly.

- “Heavenly Harold,” a Christmas play, will be presented by the members of Turkey Ford Baptist Church on Dec. 20 at 6 p.m. See what happens when Nana Lou and Papa Grant are faced with spending Christmas alone. After the play, the members will host a “Celebrate the Season Party.”

- Pine Ridge Baptist Church, 1146 Pine Ridge Road, will be having a live drive-thru nativity scene on Dec. 19 from 6 to 8 p.m., weather permitting. For more information, call Karen Lambe at (276) 755-4073 and Ray Smith at 648-5611.

- New Life Baptist Church will be presenting the Christmas play “The Shepard” on Dec. 20 at 6 p.m. Refreshments and fellowship will follow in the fellowship hall after the play.

- Bannertown Baptist Church is having an adult Cantata, “Only Love,” on Dec. 20 at 7 p.m.

- Turkey Ford Baptist Church will host a “Christmas Candle Light and Communion Service” on Dec. 23 at 7 p.m.

Miscellaneous

- Grace Moravian Church will be holding Bible study each week on Thursdays from 7 to 8 p.m. with Pastor Tony Hayworth.

- Trinity Episcopal Church, 472 N. Main St., Mount Airy, is holding Inquirer’s Classes on Wednesdays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Everyone is invited to come and learn about church, its theology, its history and its ministry in the world. For more information, call 786-6067 or email trinityepis@embarqmail.com.

- Calvary Baptist Church has opened a clothes closet ministry on Wednesdays from 6 to 7:30 p.m. If someone is in need of clothes at other times, call the church office at 786-4778.

- Livingwater Baptist Church is looking for laborers to work in God’s vineyards. Come worship and labor where God’s fields are white into harvest. For more information, call Pastor Benny Faw at 719-6500 or 429-8712.

- The First Baptist Church Feeding Friends Soup Kitchen provides a free hot meal to families and friends in need every Thursday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. The church is between Elm and Galloway streets at 714 N. Main St. Parking is available behind First Baptist off Arch Street. The feeding friends dinner is served in the fellowship hall in the building closest to downtown, with signs available to guide visitors.

- A free “soup kitchen” is available on the last Thursday of each month in the Piney Grove Baptist Church fellowship hall from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome to come as they are with no strings attached. The church is at 278 Piney Grove Road, which can be reached at 356-4196.

- Food assistance for the hungry in the community is provided each Thursday at 8:30 a.m. by Trinity Episcopal Church.

- Meetings for those healing from a broken marriage, each Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Genesis Full Gospel Church on Sparger Road. Everyone is invited, with more information available at 351-4718.

- The Apostolic Ministerial Association is seeking new ministers of the Apostolic faith in order to encourage meetings with others that can help improve individual ministries. Those interested may call 789-1569 or 325-8081.

- Men’s interdenominational Bible study and prayer breakfast, 7 to 8 a.m. each Wednesday at Prime Sirloin Restaurant in Mount Airy. All interested men are invited.

- GriefShare, a bi-weekly video seminar featuring experts on grief-recovery topics which is geared toward grieving persons or their supporters in a group-participation environment, is held on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 6:15 p.m. at Calvary Baptist Church, 314 S. Franklin Road. “Surviving the Holidays” is a program that will be held on Nov. 17 at 6:30 p.m. for those who have lost a loved one. More information is available at 786-4778.

- Holy Angels Catholic Church weekly Evening Prayer Service, Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. at the church, 1208 N. Main St., Mount Airy. The service includes giving thanks for the gifts of the day and reflection; Evening Prayer hymns and psalms and Scripture readings; time for silent prayer and meditation; and prayers of intercession for the church, world and all those in need. Father Eric Kowalski, Holy Angels’ pastor, invites everyone to attend.

n Compassion Circle gatherings are held on the third Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. at L.H. Jones Resource Center, 215 Jones School Road. A “circle of friends” offers love, hope, faith and spiritual guidance from a Christian outlook, with everyone welcome. More information is available at 786-1455.

- Livingwater Baptist Church, 125 Starlight Road, Mount Airy, is launching a new ministry. The King James Bible RadioNetwork is being broadcast on 89.7 in Pilot Mountain. The station will be devoted to old time gospel preaching from the King James 1611 Bible and traditional gospel singing 24 hours a day. Churches and preachers desiring broadcast time and wishing to have their announcements broadcast, contact Pastor Benny Faw at 719-6500.

- Fountain of Life will be having a clothing closet that is free to the public on Tuesdays from 1 to 3 p.m.