Church News- Dec. 2

Jerry Nelson in concert
BACKUS - Pianist Jerry Nelson will be in concert 7 p.m. Dec. 9 at the Backus Nazarene Church.

Trinity to hold mid-week Advent services
Trinity Lutheran Church of Brainerd will continue with the second of four Advent services on Wednesday. The 30-minute services are focused around Advent scripture readings, music and prayer and will begin at 6 p.m. Pastor Dave Holte will be preaching. A meal will be served in fellowship hall prior to the service beginning at 5 p.m.
Trinity Lutheran Church is located at 1420 South Sixth St. For more information call 829-5147.

St. Francis Community Chorale presents a Christmas concert
LITTLE FALLS - The St. Francis Community Chorale will present a Christmas concert, Joy to the World, at 7 p.m. Dec. 11 in the Sacred Heart Chapel at St. Francis Convent, Little Falls.
The Chorale will present several numbers from around the world. There will also be opportunities for the audience to join in and sing along. Also featured at this concert will be Brothers in Harmony, a men’s singing group from the Music Center. The St. Francis Community Chorale is sponsored by a grant from the Five Wings Arts Council through funding from the Minnesota State Legislature. For more information please call St. Francis Music Center at (320) 632-0637 or visit www.sfmusiccenter.org .

St. Francis Music Center String Orchestras presents Christmas concert
LITTLE FALLS - St. Francis Music Center proudly presents the Sforzando String Orchestra and the Con Brio String Orchestra in a Christmas concert at 7 p.m. Dec. 9 in Sacred Heart Chapel at St. Francis Convent, Little Falls.
The concert will feature string artists of all ages playing a wide variety of music. Directing both groups will be Celo V’ec, professional violinist and strings instructor at St. Francis Music Center. The finale of the concert will feature Kendra Sobania as a soloist in “Winter” from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. This will be followed by Bruce Pederson as the drum soloist in the swing favorite, “Sing, Sing, Sing.” Finally, a Christmas sing-along will close the concert.
The String Orchestras are supported by the Minnesota State Arts Board, US Bank, private donations, and the Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls. For more information, please call the Music Center at (320) 632-0637 or visit www.sfmusiccenter.org .

Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina
LITTLE FALLS - The Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls invite the public to join them for Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina (Sacred Reading) from 6-7 p.m. Dec. 15 in the Gathering Space at St. Francis Convent, Little Falls. Centering Prayer is an ancient and contemporary way of prayer, a simple method of alert receptivity and consent to God’s presence. Gather with the sisters and members of all faiths to ponder God’s presence in your life. Prepare yourself to receive the gift of a closer union with God during 20 minutes of silence. Following will be a time for “Lectio Divina”…an opportunity to reflect on the Sunday Scriptures. This experience of prayer is open to the public the third Thursday of the month. For more information, please call (320) 632-0668 or visit www.fslf.org .

UCC adult forum
“Taking the Stress Out of Christmas” is the topic at First Congregation United Church of Christ’s adult forum after the 10 a.m. Sunday worship service. Marcia Ferris will lead a discussion on steps families can take to create a more meaningful, less frantic holiday season. Also, on Sunday, children may participate in a “Make and Take” Christmas craft project after the worship service. Call the church at 829-2528 to register your child.

Brainerd Christian Women’s Connection
The Brainerd Christian Women’s Connection invites women of all ages to a Christmas luncheon from 12:15 p.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday at the Gull Lake Center at Grand View Lodge.
Betty Kirschner, an interior decorator, will create some mini floral arrangements to use at home or as gifts.
Carol Harrison will provide pre-luncheon harp music and Barb Martin will lead us in a carol sing.
Donna Vincent, our speaker from Bemidji, will share “A Special Family Christmas Gathering.”
Bring a new unwrapped toys for the U.S. Marines’ “Toys for Kids” collection.
Free child care is available at a church located near the luncheon.
To make reservations or request child care, call Sharon at 692-2282 by Sunday night.
Cost is $17. Ask about $3 scholarships.

Advent services
The Bethlehem Lutheran Church, ELCA, in Brainerd will celebrate the second Sunday in Advent with services at 8:30 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. Sunday. Bethlehem’s Senior Choir will perform “And the Glory of the Lord” from Handel’s Messiah. Sunday school will take place at 9:40 a.m. between services as well as an adult forum discussion based on Luther Seminary’s Good God Questions program. The church is across from the East Brainerd Mall at 418 NE Eighth Ave. For more information, call 829-3330 or visit www.belcnet.net .

Bishop Aitken to speak
Bishop Tom Aitken of NE MN Synod will speak at 6:45 p.m. Wednesday at First Lutheran Church in Brainerd. He will share his experiences in the Holy Land and issues of faith. Bishop Aitken’s presentation will also be lesson eight for all confirmation students and their parents.

Soup and sandwich luncheon and cookie walk
The P.W.’s annual soup and sandwich luncheon and cookie walk will be 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 10 at the First Presbyterian Church on Eighth and Norwood Streets in Brainerd. Cost: $5 for adults and $3 for kids.