The Music Ministry of First Baptist Church in Southern Pines will present "The Word Became Flesh" at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11, and 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 12.

Both presentations will be in the sanctuary of First Baptist on the corner of New York Avenue and May Street in downtown Southern Pines. General seating passes are available for both presentations and should be picked up prior to Dec. 10 at the church office.

"The Word Became Flesh" is a musical exploration of the doctrine of the Incarnation. The musical score is epic in scope and contains a beautiful balance of familiar hymns and Christmas carols with new choral compositions connected through dramatic narrative.

Performing "The Word Became Flesh" are the 95 combined voices of the adult sanctuary choir and One Voice youth choir, with full orchestral accompaniment, conducted by the Rev. Benny Edwards.

Christmas Cookies

"The Women's Circle at Congregational Church of Pinehurst invites everyone attending the 10 a.m. service Sunday, Dec. 12, to participate in a Christmas cookie exchange," says Barbara Schofield. "Bring at least two dozen home-baked cookies to the Butterfly Room before church. After the service stop back there, and you will receive a mixed plate of all the different cookies to take home and enjoy. Even if you don't bring cookies, you may still have a plate, but you'll have to pay. We will be happy to take your money and use it to support church mission activities, but our main purpose is to encourage members of the congregation to sample and enjoy each other's favorite Christmas treats."

Schofield has been a leader in revitalizing the Women's Circle at Congregational Church. The circle holds an informal gathering for fellowship and varied activities, generally on the second Friday of the month from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the church. In November the group worked on repairing treasured Chrismon ornaments, which now hang on the Chrismon tree in the church sanctuary. For December, Gini Uhl is hosting the circle for a holiday luncheon at her home.

"Please contact the church office if you would like to participate," says Schofield.

Congregational Church of Pinehurst UCC is located at 895 Linden Road, across from Elliott's restaurant. For further information, call (910) 295-2243 or check the website www.youarewelcomehere.org.

Beaver Creek Baptist

A "free" yard sale will be held Saturday, Dec. 18, at Beaver Creek Baptist Church, from 9 to 11 a.m. in the Family Life Center to help families in need.

The choir will present "Journey of Faith, at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11, and Sunday, Dec. 12, in the sanctuary.

The Single Adults Ministry meets every Friday night at 7 p.m. for Bible study and fellowship. For more details, visit singlesministry@windstream.net.

The church is located at 2280 Nicholson Road, Cameron. For information, call (919) 499-9632 or (800) 681-8602.

Anniversary

The Love Grove FWB church gospel ensemble will be celebrating its anniversary at 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 12, at Love Grove church in the Jackson Hamlet Community.

For more information, contact Mamie Gooch at (910) 295-1251.

Angel Food Ministries

Providing food assistance to families across America, Angel Food ministries has no qualifiers and participation is open to anyone and everyone. It is a nonprofit, nondenominational food cooperative committed to providing food assistance to families across the United States. It was founded on the principle of helping neighbors and friends in times of need. Boxes are provided with high quality proteins and nutritional items at substantial savings. Every month Angel Food creates a tasty menu that consists of both fresh and frozen food items. A "signature box" will feed a family of four for a week, or a single person for a month, costing only around $ 30.

Seven Lakes Baptist Church in Seven Lakes is now a distribution center for Angel Food. Orders must be received by Sunday, Dec. 12, and picked up at the church Saturday, Dec. 18, between 9 and 10 a.m.

Special Christmas boxes must be ordered by Dec. 8.

Call (910) 315-4655 or (910) 673-4656 for information and orders or order online at www.Angelfoodministries.com. Payment may be made in cash, money order or with food stamps.

Acoustic Music Circle

The Acoustic Music Circle at McDonalds Chapel Presbyterian Church will meet the third Sunday of each month. This month's circle is Sunday, Dec. 19, from 4 to 6 p.m. This special Christmas music circle will also include a covered dish meal.

"Bring a favorite dish to share," says a spokesman.

The music circle provides the opportunity for musicians to join in and share their talents and for others to participate by listening to great toe-tapping music. McDonalds Chapel is located on Foxfire Road two miles from Pinehurst and one and a half miles from Foxfire Village.

Bethesda Musical

On Sunday, Dec. 19, during the 11 a.m. worship, the Carol Choir of Bethesda Presbyterian Church will present "Stranger in the Manger." The children, under the direction of Nancy Arnold, will be accompanied by members of Moore Brass, Dr. Larry Arnold, grandfather of two of the children, Pat Kelly and others. This musical, created by Sue C. Smith and Johnathan Crumpton, is a Christmas celebration of Jesus' birth that rhymes to explain how he came to Earth.

"Please join us at 1002 Sandhills Blvd. (U.S. 1) for the delightful jazzy rendition," says Nancy Arnold.

West End UMC

Bread of Life Ministry at West End United Methodist Church meets every Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. This ministry is for seniors (widows, widowers and the elderly). It is a time of fellowship and devotion and a meal is provided at a charge of $5 per person.

Advent Organ Recital

Organist Dr. Homer Ashton Ferguson III will perform an Advent organ recital at noon Friday, Dec. 10, at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 340 S. Ridge St., Southern Pines.

The concert features works by Bach, Dupre, Purvis, Brahms, Carter and Lemare.

"Bring a brown bag lunch to enjoy during the music," says a spokesman.

Admission is free.

First Baptist Pinehurst

First Baptist Church of Pinehurst has scheduled several special events for December. There will be everything from drama to music on tap as the church spotlights the Christmas season.

The children will lead off Sunday, Dec. 12, by presenting the Christmas story in drama form. According to a spokesperson at the church, the presentation will begin at 6 p.m.

"The community is invited to come enjoy the children acting out this wonderful story," says a spokesman. "This is always a great way to truly get into the Christmas spirit."

On Sunday, Dec. 19, at 11 a.m., the sanctuary choir will present Christmas music at the Sunday morning worship service. The cantata is titled "A Baby Changes Everything."

The church has a candlelight service planned for Christmas Eve. This service will begin at 6 p.m.

First Baptist Church of Pinehurst is located at 7373 N.C. 211, across the street from the entrance to Pinewild.

Living Madonnas

The Community Congregational Church of Southern Pines will present "Living Madonnas" at 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 19, in the church sanctuary. The church is located at 141 N. Bennett St. Admission is free.

The hour-long program will present eight paintings of the Madonna and Child by world-renowned artists, such as Botticelli, Raphael and Georgione. After an image of the painting has been projected on the wall for the audience to view, a curtain will open on a small stage where a young woman will appear as the central figure of the painting. Dressed in a costume replicating that worn by the subject of the painting, and in front of a backdrop depicting that in the painting, each Madonna model will pose motionless. During this time, the narrator will describe the painting and the artist and will convey information about the period of time in which the painting was created.

For more information about the Living Madonnas program, call the church office at (910) 692-8468 or visit the church's website at www.communitycongregational.org.

Women in Red

Fletcher's Chapel will celebrate its annual Women in Red Sunday, Dec. 12, at 3 p.m. The guest minister will be the Rev. Barbara Covington, of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, Beaver Dam. All women are asked to wear red, representing the blood of Jesus. Dinner will be served following morning services

The church is located on U.S. 1, in Hoffman.

St. Mary Magdalene

Not so long ago it was common for churches to be left open so that those in need of a quiet place to meditate or pray would have somewhere to go. Unfortunately, most churches today are not able to offer such a place to the community.

St. Mary Magdalene Episcopal Church, of Seven Lakes, has decided to open its sanctuary to the public over the Advent season from 1 to 3 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays and from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Fridays.

The church invites anyone who would like a quiet place for prayer and meditation to come to the church anytime during those hours.

St. Mary Magdalene Episcopal Church is located at 1145 Seven Lakes Drive, Seven Lakes.

Christmas Cantata

The Sandhills Presbyterian Church in America choir will perform its annual Christmas cantata Sunday, Dec. 12, at 7 p.m.

"Complemented with narrative from the Word of God, the cantata brings the timeless story of the birth of the Savior to light through some of the best-loved songs of the season," says a spokesman.

The church is located at 650 Pee Dee Road in Southern Pines.

For information, contact Leo Ganster at (910) 295-5786.

Christmas Raffle

Faith on Fire Ministries is sponsoring a Christmas raffle. The drawing will be held at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 19, although ticketholders do not have to be present to win.

Tickets are $10 each. Prizes include a 50-inch Sanyo flat-screen plasma TV, $50 in cash and $35 in cash.

For tickets, call (919) 775-2561.

December Events

Taylor Memorial Baptist Church announces the following events for December:

On Sunday, Dec. 12, at 5:30 p.m., the annual Christmas program "The Present is the Future" will be presented.

On Wednesday, Dec. 22, at 7 p.m., Evelyn Moss, a retired missionary from Africa, will be speaking on the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and the International Mission Board.

On Sunday, Dec. 26, at 10:30 a.m., the Christmas cantata "Behold Emmanuel" will be presented by the church choir.

The church is located at 4164 Hoffman Road, Jackson Springs.

Buffet

On Monday, Dec. 13, women in The Village Chapel and the community are invited to a Christmas buffet luncheon at the Country Club of North Carolina from noon to 2 p.m. The afternoon's events will include a seasonal presentation by Kathi Dishner as well as Christmas music. Door prizes will also be part of the afternoon's festivities.

Cost for the luncheon is $12, payable at the church office at (910) 295-6003. Payment, which must be made by Dec. 9, is your reservation. When reserving, mention if you plan to use the child care services that will be provided at the church for no additional charge.

Christmas Program

Crossroads Community Church announces that its Christmas program this year will be a Gaither-style singing around the grand piano titled "Putting 'Christ' Back Into Christmas Sing."

The event takes place at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 18. Admission is free.

Featured singers will be Charles Scarlette, of Madison; Pamela Hinson, of Robbins; Ann Lane, of Jackson Springs; Corbin and Linda Whitaker, of Sanford; Stormy Scarboro, of Carthage; the Crossroads Choir and others.

The church is located at the Whispering Pines intersection of Vass-Carthage and Niagara-Carthage roads, in Carthage.

For more information or directions, call (910) 949-3971.

Advent Services

Community Presbyterian Church, located at the corner of Kelly and Everett roads in Pinehurst, will celebrate the season of Advent as follows:

Dec. 12, 9 a.m. service in the sanctuary with an 11 a.m. service in the fellowship hall; Dec. 19, 9 a.m. service in the sanctuary, with an 11 a.m. service in the fellowship hall and a 5 p.m. Children's Christmas Pageant in the fellowship hall; Dec. 24, candlelight lessons and carols, 5 and 7:30 p.m. services in the sanctuary; Dec. 26, 10 a.m. service in the sanctuary.

Rededication

The Word of Life HCOGIC, 107 Spring St., Aberdeen, will hold a rededication service of its newly renovated sanctuary at 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 12. The speaker is Bishop Larry Brown, of House of Prayer HCOGIC.

There will be celebration services the preceding Wednesday through Friday nights at 7 p.m. Wednesday's speaker is Bishop Willie Gilmore, of Fellowship House of God; Pastor Victor Blue, of Jesus Is Lord Deliverance Center, will speak Thursday; and Apostle Hoover Benymon, of Crusade for Christ Deliverance Center, speaks on Friday.

There will be special music Friday night from Pastor Mike Collins and his choir, of Collins Revival Center.

The church pastor is Overseer Nathaniel Malloy.

Singles Conference

The Judah Commander ECA Ministries will present the annual Singles Conference 2010 Thursday, Dec. 9, through Sunday, Dec. 12, at the Greater Glory Pentecostal Deliverance Family Worship Center.

The Greater Pentecostal Deliverance Family Worship Center is located at 156 Westgate Drive off N.C. 211 in Pinehurst. Visit www.JudahCommanderECA.net or contact Evangelist Vickie Kelly at (910) 281-0369 for more information on upcoming events.

Calvary Baptist

Calvary Baptist Church, Old Plank Road, Robbins, will perform the play "Wings of Christmas" Saturday, Dec. 18, at 6 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 19, at 6 p.m.

Learning Center

The 21st Century Community Learning Center is now in session on the campus of Christ Way Deliverance Church in Eastwood. The church is hosting kindergarten through 12th grade.

The after-school program is held Mondays through Thursdays, from 3 to 6 p.m. Homework assistance is offered in math, reading and science as well as with special school projects.

"We have partnered with the Moore County office of the N.C. Cooperative Extension 4-H," says a spokesman. "Linda Gore and Agnes Evans will be involved with the students, presenting a variety of fun activities for 12 weeks starting January. We have also scheduled Martrina McDonald for a couple of sessions. McDonald works through the Communities In Schools of Moore County and does a wonderful job teaching about healthy eating and exercise for youngsters. Working to improve academic skills for our students in Moore County is our main goal. However, we will also have a variety of activities for parents of our students or parents in the community who may be interested in living a better life, spiritually, financially, emotionally and physically."

Information on parent involvement will be given at a later date.

An additional site of the 21st CCLC will be held at Union Pines High School that will serve grades seven through 12. For additional information for the UPHS site, call Renee Portfilio, school counselor, at (910) 947-5511. For Christ Way Deliverance, call Nathaniel Jackson at (910) 235-3715 or (910) 295-5813. Spaces are still available at both sites.

Building Blocks

The Creative Learning Center of Moore County, a private nonprofit organization, is enrolling students in grades 4-8 in the Building Blocks After School Program. This free program is funded by a 21st Century grant. It is located at First Missionary Baptist Church, 315 S. Gaines St., Southern Pines.

The program consists of homework help, math and reading tutoring, and enhancement activities that will include money management, public speaking, yoga and etiquette.

For information, contact L'Tanya Haire, program director, at (910) 315-2699 or Vera Burks, program coordinator, at (910) 992-1529.

Martha's Place

Martha's Place, a soup kitchen sponsored by Page Memorial United Methodist Church, offers free lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays.

Calvary Chapel is now assisting by cooking and serving on two Tuesdays a month.

Martha's Place is in the fellowship hall of Page Memorial United Methodist Church in Aberdeen.

Reading Room

At the bookstore/library Christian Science Reading Room, 173 NE Broad St., in Southern Pines, are Bible study guides in printed and audio versions for study each week. The librarian is always ready to share in its exploration.

References are from the King James Bible and correlative ideas are from "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy. On the Sunday following the weekly study, the lesson is read aloud by lay readers in the Christian Science Church service. Visitors are welcome to read the lesson in the Reading Room and/or hear it read on Sunday at the Christian Science Church, 240 E. New Hampshire Ave., at 10 a.m.

For further information, call (910) 692-7759.

Military Spouse Support Group

The Village Chapel, in Pinehurst, has started a military spouse support group that meets Friday, Dec. 3. The group will meet at the Care Cottage of the Chapel from 9 to 11 a.m. and child care is provided. The program provides fellowship, teaching, outreach and support.

Call the church office at (910) 295-6003.

Caregivers

The Village Chapel Caregivers meet the fourth Thursday of each month. The group is open to the public. For information, call June Vetter at (910) 295-8026.

Healing Service

A healing service will be held at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 1, rather than the second Wednesday at The Village Chapel, Pinehurst.

The service includes the -reading of God's Word, -confession, prayer, the Sacrament of Holy Communion and the anointment with oil.

Health Ministry

Sandhills Health Ministry -meetings are held at 9 a.m. on the third Monday of the month, at the Pinehurst United Methodist Church, Airport Road, Pinehurst.

Inquiries for wellness -information and programs may be -directed to (910) 295-1577.