“Seasons of Tapestry” is a weekly women’s prayer seminar taught by Bonnie Shannonhouse open to Christian women of all denominations. It meets at noon every Thursday via Zoom. To sign-up or get the Zoom link, go to the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic States website at https://dmas-acc.org/. The sessions will also be recorded and available on the website for viewing at your convenience.
Bonnie Shannonhouse learned the art of prayer from the Rev. Mother Virginia of All Saints Benedictine Convent. Together, they taught prayer for the Diocese of Maryland until Mother’s full retirement.
Bonnie began Tapestry in 1997 with the first Day of Prayer at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. She taught women to pray in seminars from shore to shore and abroad for more than 10 years.
She was named by Christianity Today as one of the Top 100 Most Influential Christian Women in America in 1996. Bonnie’s book, “The Lost Coin: Hours of the Cross,” June 2020, encourages the practice of praying three times a day. Her other publications, “The Pie of Prayer: The Historical Christian Parts of Prayer,” are journals covering the seven parts of prayer as articulated by the early church fathers through all the seasons of the church calendar.
Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89437366421?pwd=VwAFaxhvE8a8SILWKyT18IPlSUb21U.1
During December, as folks focus on the birth of the Savior, congregants at Lower United Methodist Church, 120 Lower Church Road, Hartfield, invite their church family and community to participate in “Lighting the Way to Jesus” at the LUMC Prayer Garden in Hartfield. You are invited to visit the nativity display that is set up in the prayer garden by the crosses.
There will be illuminated Christmas balls available in a container for you to clip on the tree located by the nativity’s stable. As you clip the illuminated ball on the tree, say a prayer of gratitude for the birth of Jesus and the plan of salvation that God so graciously designed for all of us!
The Prayer Garden is available year round for prayer and reflection. Visit the LUMC website, lowerumc.org; Instagram, instagram.com/lowerumc/ and Facebook page, facebook.com/LowerUMC for information on this and other activities that are available for fellowship and spiritual enrichment.
LUMC welcomes everyone this Sunday as they celebrate the third Sunday of Advent. Coffee Fellowship will be at 9:15 a.m., followed by adult Sunday school at 9:30 a.m.
Worship will take place at 10:30 a.m. in LUMC’s historic sanctuary, beautifully decorated for Christmas.
The community is invited to stop by the LUMC Fellowship Hall on Wednesday from 7:30-9 a.m. for the God’s Aroma Coffee Ministry and enjoy some free, hand-crafted coffee or hot chocolate.
All are invited to join them each Wednesday for a time of group prayer beginning at 4 p.m.
For information, visit lowerumc.org.
Christchurch School (CCS) will present its annual Festival of Lessons and Carols on Sunday, Dec. 15, in St. Peter’s Chapel on the CCS campus. The service will feature performances by the school’s Cantorion and instrumental ensemble.
There will be two seatings – one at 4 p.m. and one at 6:15 p.m. The public is invited and there is no charge to attend.
Christchurch School is one of six schools in the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia: St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes, Stuart Hall, St. Margaret’s, St. Christopher’s, and St. Catherine’s.
For information, email jhomer@christchurchschool.org.
On Dec. 22 at 11 a.m., Harmony Grove Baptist Church’s (HGBC) Chancel Choir will perform a Christian Musical, “The Thrill of Hope,” created by Dave Clark and Nick Robertson.
The special cantata was created and is performed to celebrate God’s promise of hope and redemption to the world.
This performance is free and is a part of the special Christmas service held at HGBC before the holiday.
All are welcome to attend. The church is located at the intersection of Routes 3 and 33, 7762 General Puller Highway, Harmony Village (near Topping).
For information, call 804-0758-5154, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Tuesday-Thursday.
Also, Harmony Grove Baptist Church (HGBC) is again serving as a collection point for Middlesex County Toys For Tots this Christmas season, so if possible, please donate new, unwrapped toys to the drive for Middlesex children. The collection box is located in the HGBC Fellowship Hall.
All toys are then sent to Middlesex Social Services for distribution locally. The collection deadline is Dec. 16.
Through the first week of December, HGBC will also take up a monetary collection for teenage boys and girls of Middlesex County. So often, teens are overlooked during this season of giving or it’s difficult to provide what teens like so monetary gifts are needed. Please write your check to Harmony Grove Baptist Church and mark your contribution with “Teens Only.”
“Let’s make sure our children and teens can have a truly blessed Christmas,” read a HGBC news release.
Zion Hill Baptist Church, 10256 Indian Road, Gloucester, will have in-person worship service on Sunday, Dec. 15, at 11 a.m. Pastor Eugene Comithier II will preach and his Inspirational Voices choir will sing. In-person Sunday school will be offered at 9:45 a.m.
The annual Christmas program will be offered at 3 p.m. with a play titled “A Christmas Experience.” Dinner will be served from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Also, Christmas pictures will be taken from 2-2:30 p.m. and after the program for 30 minutes.
Bible study will be conducted on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. via conference call. The conference call number is 978-990-5000 and the access code is 667896.
Jamaica’s Union Shiloh Baptist Church congregants invite you to worship with them on Dec. 15 at 11 a.m. for their morning worship service. Following the service, there will be their annual Christmas program. It will include youth performing praise dances, a presentation by Sabrina Latimore depicting past Christmases, followed by their Christmas dinner.
All are welcome to fellowship with them.
Dr. Randolph Scott Sr. is the church’s pastor.
For information, email Deaconess Bernadette Robinson, the church clerk, at robinsonbernadette59@yahoo.com.
Urbanna Baptist Church’s (UBC) special free Christmas concert is set for 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15, at 121 Watling St. and will feature the David Esleck Trio and Jordan Wails, according to a UBC news release. David Esleck is a performer, composer, producer and educator. Although experienced as a multi-instrumentalist, he focuses on the piano, both as a soloist and with the David Esleck Trio.
For information, call 804-758-2720.
The Voices of Worship Praise Team of Make-A-Way and Deliverance Full Gospel Baptist Church, located at 100 Flats Road in Urbanna, will host its annual Christmas sing-along program on Sunday, Dec. 15, at 3 p.m. The Christmas program will also feature the Zion Branch Baptist Church Choir and the Zion Popular Praise Dancers.
“Please come out and bring a friend with you to enjoy our Christmas program,” said an event spokesman. “See you there.”
For information, call 804-758-8448.
Deltaville’s Philippi Christian Church Disciple Women group is conducting a fundraiser to benefit The Avalon Center, located in Williamsburg. The center supports victims and survivors of domestic violence in the Greater Williamsburg and Middle Peninsula communities.
The group is collecting gently worn shoes, of any type (even flip flops), men’s, women’s, and children’s. If you have outgrown or are tired of any shoes in your closet, please consider donating them to Philippi, 17276 General Puller Highway, Deltaville.
Call the church office for drop-off instructions at 804-776-6230.
Zoar Baptist Church’s Ladies Bible Study resumed with an eight-week study of Ruth and Esther on Mondays at 10:30 a.m. All women in Middlesex County are invited to participate and enjoy this special time of worship and fellowship. Call Emily Bailey at 804-824-1453 or the church office at 804-776-9502 for information.
An Adult Bible Study of the Book of Isaiah is continuing at Catholic Church of the Visitation in Topping. Organizers are planning a 12-lesson study that they hope to complete soon. They will use the Little Rock Scripture Study booklets as they have done with their recent studies.
They are planning to meet on Wednesday mornings immediately following morning prayer, or Daily Mass.
Add your name to the sign up list in the church’s narthex if you are interested in joining this study.
For information, call 804-758-5160.
Catholic Church of the Visitation’s Adult Faith Formation and Liturgy and Worship ministries invite fellow parishioners to gather for morning prayer in the day chapel on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 9 a.m. These will be short and structured prayer services and will include scripture readings.
While these prayerful gatherings are no substitute for Holy Mass and reception of the Eucharist, remember Jesus said, “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:20)
For information, call 804-758-5160.
Men’s “Urbanna Second Half” Bible and book study, prayer and fellowship is offered 8-9:45 a.m. on Mondays at the Urbanna Baptist Church Fellowship Hall.
For information call Bob Fitch at 804-291-6434.
Catholic Church of the Visitation Knights of Columbus (KOC) is a not-for-profit organization with principles of Charity, Unity, Fraternity and Patriotism. Donations it receives support Gloucester, Mathews, Northern Neck and Middlesex free health clinics, Virginians with Intellectual Disabilities, Veterans Services Golf Tournament, Families in Need, Hands Across Middlesex and Mathews, and the Father John Boddie Scholarship Fund.
Activities that provide funding include the Pancake Breakfast, Italian Feast, St. Pat’s Dinner, KOVAR Collection and Dave Marchant Golf Tournament.
Its members are active participants in many ministries, which include altar servers, choir members, collection counters, community leaders, eucharistic ministers, parish council members and ushers.
KOC meets at 5:15 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month at Church of the Visitation at 8462 General Puller Highway (Route 33) in Topping. Each meeting starts with a rosary session. All are welcome!
For information, call KOC Grand Knight Al Langer at 804-815-1328.
The Foundry is a new youth center for middle and high school students located at 7962 General Puller Highway (Route 33), Unit 603, in Topping.
For information, call 804-348-8059.
Come to Saluda Baptist Church (SBC) on Sunday for coffee fellowship at 9:45 a.m., Bible study at 10 a.m. and worship at 11 a.m. with special music by SBC’s choir.
SBC’s address is 960 General Puller Highway, Saluda.
For information, email saludabc1@verizon.net.
Located in Topping, the Catholic Church of the Visitation’s prayer shawl ministry needs new knitters and crocheters! This loving ministry makes prayer shawls to demonstrate the physical support of the parish for those experiencing illness, grief or other difficulties, and for celebrating new life. Help can be provided for those wanting to learn and participate in this ministry.
Call Lynne Richardson at 571-239-0980 for information.
Catholic Church of the Visitation recycles cans, with profits going to the church ministries. Bring your aluminum cans to the bin outside by the yard sale building.
The church is at 8462 General Puller Highway in Topping.
For information, call 804-758-5160.
Members of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of the Rappahannock Church will offer special drum circles 3-5 p.m. on the third Sunday of each month at Kilmarnock Town Centre Park. All are welcome — be sure to bring your percussion instruments. Drums will be provided to share.
For information, call Belinda at 804-577-7974.
(The deadline for submitting church brief items is 11 a.m. Tuesday for that week’s paper. Items are subject to editing and may be emailed to Editor@SSentinel.com. Please include a contact person’s name and phone number. Due to the volume of items received, the Sentinel cannot always run announcements from out-of-county churches.)
