Advent/Christmas events
• Faith Connection Church, 6857 Mountain View Road, Ooltewah; 10:30 a.m. Sundays, Dec. 1-22; Christmas Around the World services; free; 933-6986 or www.faithconnectionchurch.com.
• First Christian Church, 650 McCallie Ave.; 1:30-4 p.m. Sunday; craft-making Advent workshop (follows 10:45 a.m. service and $5 full meal); free; 267-4506 or Firstchristian-chat.com.
• Falling Water Baptist Church, 523 Roberts Mill Road, Hixson; 6:30 p.m. Sunday; Hanging of the Green service; 842-5924.
• Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 822 Belvoir Ave.; 6:30 p.m. Wednesday; Music in Advent series features performance by Chattanooga Girls Choir; 629-4661; also, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11, performance by Jericho Brass.
• Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 14950 Rhea County Highway North, Evensville, Tenn.; 7 p.m. Wednesdays, Dec. 4-18; Advent services; 775-4253.
• First Church of the Nazarene, 5455 North Terrace; 6:30 p.m. Friday; "A Christmas Celebration" features guest soloist Dana Russell, chalk artist Kathleen Young and host choir (refreshments follow); 893-7756.
• Downtown Chickamauga, Ga.; 3-6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7; Chickamauga Christmas Celebration features live Nativity, animal petting zoo, live music, family picture booth, gift-wrapping booth, merchant deals, gingerbread man decorating and parade sponsored by Oakwood Baptist Church, Downtown Chickamauga Merchants Association and city of Chickamauga; free admission; 706-375-5760 or www.facebook.com/ChickamaugaChristmasCelebration.
• Tyner United Methodist Church, 6805 Standifer Gap Road; 6-8 p.m. (live Nativity), 6 and 7 p.m. (handbells music), 6:15 and 7:15 p.m. (choir mini-concert) Saturday, Dec. 7, and Sunday, Dec. 8; 892-0444.
• Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 822 Belvoir Ave.; 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8; "The Many Moods of Christmas" concert features four-churches choir, orchestra and organ (reception follows); free but freewill offering taken; 629-4661.
• Keith Memorial United Methodist Church, 600 W. Madison Ave., Athens, Tenn.; 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12; Christmas With the Metropolitan Bells concert; free but donations accepted; 899-3543, 535-3076 or 504-4679; also, at Christ United Methodist Church, 8645 East Brainerd Road, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 17, and Brainerd Baptist Church, 300 Brookfield Ave., 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 19.
• Chattanooga First Seventh-day Adventist Church, 7450 Standifer Gap Road; 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15; fifth annual "Messiah" Community Sing-Along, with open choral rehearsals 7 p.m. Dec. 10 and 6 p.m. Dec. 14; free but offering benefits local charities; 605-2468.
Drama
• New Monumental Baptist Church, 901 Woodmore Lane; 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7; presentation of "The Way We Used To Have Church," written by pastor emeritus V.J. Caldwell (reception follows); free; 629-6106.
Enrichment
• Hamilton County Baptist Association, 6625 Lee Highway (chapel); 1:30-3:30 p.m. Tuesday; annual tax seminar for church workers and volunteers led by Tennessee Baptist Convention CPA Deborah Taylor; free and continuing education credits available; 267-3794.
• Benedictine Sisters Retreat Center, 916 Convent Road N.E., Cullman, Ala.; 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. CST Wednesday; Advent Day of Reflection Day led by Sister Kathleen Gallas; 40-hour, Tuesday-Thursday retreat also available; $30, including lunch, for one day retreat, or $130, including meals and lodging, for three-day retreat; pre-registration required; 256-734-8302 or email retreats@shmon.org.
Music
• Philadelphia Baptist Church, 1065 Pine Grove Road, Ringgold, Ga.; 6:30 p.m. Friday; weekly singing features Mercy's Harbor and The Hickeys; 423-488-6031.
Transition
• Red Bank Presbyterian Church, 4320 Dayton Blvd.; 2-4 p.m. Sunday; retirement reception honoring the Rev. Everett Gossett; 877-3414.
Women's event
• New Zion Baptist Church, 809 M.L. King Blvd.; 10:30 a.m. Friday (registration, 10 a.m.); Church Women United Christmas program (attendees asked to bring socks and other gifts for Chattanooga Community Kitchen clients).