Church briefs

Vincentian Marian Youth plans events for Dec. 9

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- A Vincentian Marian Youth Encounter will be held Dec. 9 at the shrine church in Perryville. A five-minute Faith Alive will start the evening off at the 6 p.m. Mass featuring contemporary Christian music follows, with the Rev. Joe Williams, the new pastor at St. Vincent in Perryville, as the celebrant. Donations to Hosea House this month are coats, gloves, scarves, hats, blankets or anything that helps keep people warm. The evening will include food, fun, sharing and laughter. The event is geared toward teens and young adults, but all ages are welcome to come.

First Presbyterian Church to present cantata

The Chancel Choir of First Presbyterian Church at Broadway and Lorimier Street will present a cantata at the 10:45 a.m. worship service Dec. 16. "Comfort and Joy" by Lloyd Larson includes many well-known Christmas carols as well as original compositions sung by soloists and the choir with narration by the Rev. Paul Kabo.

Many activities planned at First Baptist Church

n 9:30 a.m. Sunday: The Gathering with Tyler Tankersley will be held. The study topic is "The Coming Christ."

• 10:45 a.m. Sunday: worship with a special first week of Advent message from the Rev. Mike Shupert titled "Joy" will be conducted.
• 6 p.m. Sunday: The International Missions Study will be held with a focus on Moldova.
• 6:30 p.m. Monday: Pastor Shupert will speak at a special Advent service at Chateau Girardeau.
• 10 a.m. Tuesday: A WMU general meeting will be held. The day is the areawide packing day for Christmas on the River, a ministry to barge workers. Packing will take place at 9:30 a.m. at First Baptist Church.
• Wednesday: Missions focus for all ages will be held: International Missions Emphasis with returned missionaries to China Dr. Ron and Ina Winstead, Youth Bible Study with Tyler Tankersley and Kids' Club with Whitney Thomason are all planned.
• 6 p.m. Dec. 9: A Christmas Praise-Sing featuring choirs from Westminster Presbyterian, Abbey Road Christian Church, Maple Methodist, Grace Methodist and the FBC Sanctuary Choir will be held.

GriefShare to meet, discuss spousal death

GriefShare, a Christian-based grief recovery seminar and support group for those who have lost a loved one, will meet at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in room 202 of the education building at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 223 W. Adams St., in Jackson. This week's lesson is "When Your Spouse Dies."

New high school youth director hired at church

Josh Reeves has been hired as high school youth director at Centenary United Methodist Church. Reeves is the son of Denny and Paula Reeves and is a graphic design major at Southeast Missouri State University. He plays drums at the Summit worship service and is active in the Centenary church family.

'Luther's Indoor Walk in the Woods' announced

The Perry County Lutheran Historical Society, 75 Church Street in Altenburg, Mo., announced its third annual "Luther's Indoor Walk in the Woods," including numerous decorated trees in the new Lutheran Heritage Center and Museum. The walk is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily and from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Dec. 17 to 18 for the regional country church tour. Admission is free. Buses are welcome.

Memorial walkway nearing completion

The Perry County Lutheran Historical Society has nearly completed the new Memorial Walkway in Trinity Church Park in Altenburg, Mo. The walkway winds through the park leading to the log cabin of Christiana Loeber and the Log College Seminary, both built in 1839. Placed within the walkway are more than 100 granite markers honoring and memorializing the region and its people. The new shelter over the Loeber Cabin was designed by Natalie Schuessler Petzoldt, an architect formerly of Frohna, Mo. The construction of the shelter and the construction and design of the Memorial Walkway was completed by Jerry Mahnken and KMZ Construction of Perry County. The public is invited to take a look.

Chaffee church to be rededicated after fire

Chaffee General Baptist church, at the corner of Fifth and Helen streets in Chaffee, Mo., which burned two years ago, has been rebuilt and will be rededicated, beginning with an open house from 2 to 4 p.m. today and a dedication ceremony at 2 p.m. Sunday. Founding members and former pastors will be present for the activities.

Church plans series of events for today

Centenary United Methodist Church will bring the Christmas story to life at 8 a.m. today at the Family Life Center. Breakfast will be served, merchants will have their shops open for attendees to browse, baby Jesus will be in attendance and there will be live animals present. At 5 p.m., the church will hold the Hanging of the Greens, a Season of Sharing in the sanctuary. The service will feature stories of Christmas traditions and make the sanctuary ready for the coming of the Christ child. Attendees are asked to bring one soup ingredient. Following the service, there will be Stone Soup, a warm and hearty soup made with all of the ingredients gathered at the beginning of the service.

Advent tour scheduled by First Presbyterian

The First Presbyterian Church of Cape Girardeau will hold a Advent tour beginning at 5 p.m. Dec. 9. Participants are encouraged to bake cookies for the shut-ins; cookies will be packed the day of the tour. The church will adopt a needy Cub Scout family to buy Christmas presents and will wrap them on that day. Money may be given earmarked for the "Advent Mission" project to the church. Donors may call Shirley Sullivan at 334-7634 or the church office at 335-2795 to find out what gifts are needed. After a light supper the group will proceed to the home of Dale and Sue Watkins for dessert and coffee.

Calendar

Sunday

n Installation of the Rev. Charles C. Brown, 4 p.m., Victory in Christ Christian Ministries, 410 Kiwanis Drive, Arena Park.

n The Bollinger County Christmas Choir will sing at 3 p.m. at the First General Baptist Church, 1506 S. Farmington Road in Jackson.

n Christmas with Puppets and Friends, 6 p.m., Hobbs Chapel, United Methodist Church.

n Teen Challenge will be in ministry at 6 p.m. at First Assembly of God in Scott City.

-- From staff reports