CHRISTMAS EVENTS
» Breakfast With Santa: Signal Crest United Methodist Church, 1005 Ridgeway Ave., Signal Mountain, will host Breakfast With Santa from 9-11 a.m. Saturday. Visitors may drop in for breakfast, games, crafts, photo booths and an interactive story of the first Christmas. Children are welcome to come in their PJs. Free. 423-886-2330.
» Holly Jolly Market: Indoor market with 16 to 20 artisans selling holiday crafts and foods will be 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturday at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, 7514 Hixson Pike. stalbansmarket@gmail.com.
» Christmas dinner: Kelly’s Ferry Community Church, 11612 Mullins Cove Road in Whitwell, Tennessee, will treat the community to a free Christmas dinner noon-3 p.m. EST Saturday. 423-800-2665.
» Live Nativity: Soddy-Daisy First Presbyterian Church, 10622 Dayton Pike, will present a live Nativity 5:30-7:30 p.m. Saturday.
» Christmas at the Farm: Boynton United Methodist Church and Boynton Baptist Church will celebrate Christmas at the Farm at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at Willow Tree Farms, 607 Post Oak Road in Ringgold, Georgia. The event includes Santa, hayrides, children’s activities, music, gospel message, petting zoo, fire pit and hot beverages and snacks. Admission is free, but donations of canned foods are requested for Christ Chapel Share and Care Mission and cleaning supplies for Family Crisis Center. 706-866-2626, 952-1551, www.boyntonumc.org, www.boyntonbaptist.com.
» Christmas cantata: The Music Ministry of Rivermont Presbyterian Church, 3319 Hixson Pike, will present “Joy to the World” at 11 a.m. Sunday. The service of word and song will feature the Chancel Choir, seasonal singers and guest musicians. kimprpc@gmail.com.
» Christmas pageant: The youth of Northside Presbyterian Church, 923 Mississippi Ave., will present their Christmas pageant, written by member Finley Burnette, at 11 a.m. Sunday in the fellowship hall.
» Caroling flash mob: The multi-church How We Do Life Together group will offer community Christmas caroling at 4 p.m. Sunday, starting in front of the arch in the Tennessee Aquarium plaza, 1 Broad St., and moving to the community tree on the riverfront at Ross’s Landing. How We Do Life Together is a social-action group made up of members from St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Olivet Baptist Church and St. Paul’s AME Church.
» Christmas musical: The adult and children’s choirs of Hickory Valley Baptist Church, 2320 Hickory Valley Road, will present the musical “The Cradle, the Cross, the Crown,” at 6 p.m. Sunday. A dessert reception will follow. Admission is free. 423-892-1916.
» Christmas musical: The Worship Choir of St. Elmo United Methodist Church, 4626 St. Elmo Ave., will present Joseph Martin’s “The Winter Rose” at 6 p.m. Sunday. This is the program the choir performed with 26 other ensembles at New York’s Carnegie Hall in November. 423-490-7039.
» Christmas cantata: Composer Joseph Martin’s “Appalachian Christmas” will be presented twice by the combined choirs of Burks United Methodist Church and Red Bank United Methodist Church: 5-6:30 p.m. Sunday at Burks, 6433 Hixson Pike (423-842-4219), and 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Red Bank, 3800 Dayton Blvd. (423-877-2881). Child care for ages 6 months to 4 years is available.
» Fireside caroling: Gather around the fire pit in the parking lot of Northside Presbyterian Church, 923 Mississippi Ave. at 6 p.m. Wednesday for s’mores, apple cider and favorite Christmas carols.
» Advent music: Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 822 Belvoir Ave., East Ridge, will present the children’s program “From Heaven Above” at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. 423-629-4661.
» Free Christmas dinner: Harvest Outreach Ministries will serve its annual Christmas dinner to the homeless and less fortunate in the Dalton, Georgia, area, and anyone else who would like a free meal, from noon to 5 p.m. Dec. 22 at the American Legion, 1118 N. Glenwood Ave. in Dalton. Scheduled to sing are His Call Gospel Singers, Clarence J.R. Garrett, Linda Odom, Renee Barton, Shelia Reed, Skeeter Hindman, Spirit Filled, Darlene Tackett, Redeeming Grace, All for Him and Kim Goins Phillips. Donations are appreciated. 706-280-0883, rharvest87@gmail.com.
» Christmas music: The adult and youth choirs of Lookout Baptist Church, 8645 Highway 193 in the High Point community, will present “What a Beautiful Name,” at 6 p.m. Dec. 23.
» Christmas services: St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, 630 Mississippi Ave., Signal Mountain, has scheduled several holiday services, including a Christmas pageant at 4 p.m., festival Eucharist at 7 p.m. and festival Eucharist with incense at 10 p.m. on Christmas Eve. On Christmas Day, the church will hold a service at Alexian Village at 11 a.m. 423-886-2281.
MUSIC
» Let’s Sing From Memory: Free social gatherings for those affected by Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia, along with their caregivers, to sing old songs and hymns that may reconnect them to old memories, are 1-2:30 p.m. first and third Tuesdays at Northside Presbyterian Church, 923 Mississippi Ave. Free. 423-266-1766, http://northsidepresbyterian.org.
PROGRAMS, EVENTS
» Wreaths Across Chattanooga: More than two dozen area volunteer organizations will meet at Chattanooga National Cemetery, 1200 Bailey Ave., Saturday to place a wreath on 10,000 veterans’ headstones, following a 20-minute ceremony at noon in the pavilion. Parking at the cemetery is open only to those with handicap permits. All others should park one mile south at the Tennessee National Guard Armory, 1801 S. Holtzclaw Road, and ride the shuttle buses, which will run continuously from 8 a.m. until the last wreath is placed (expected to be 3 to 4 p.m.). www.Chattanooga.com.
» Plant-Based Cooking School: Battlefield Community Seventh-day Adventist Church, 96 Hillman Lane, Ringgold, Georgia, offers free, plant-based cooking seminars for better health 6-8:30 p.m. on third Tuesdays (next is Dec. 18). Participants will be able to taste food prepared the health ministries staff and share recipes. There will be a drawing for a cookbook. 706-463-1415, www.battlefieldadventist.org.
» Holiday yoga: Thrive Yoga and Wellness, 7633 East Brainerd Road, Suite 117, will offer three holiday yoga celebrations to raise funds for community causes. Winter Solstice Restorative Event is at 6:30 p.m. Friday. Wine and vegan treats will be served after the 75-minute class. Proceeds will benefit the Gandhi Global Center for Peace. Santa Cookie Burn, with heated and nonheated classes, is at 10 a.m. Dec. 24. Register early; space is limited. Candlelight Yin is also on Christmas Eve, starting at noon. The family friendly, 75-minute restorative yin class will celebrate all things Christmas, through gentle yoga postures and breathing exercises aimed at relaxation and the chance to meditate on the Christmas story. Proceeds from the Christmas Eve classes go to the Yoga in the Schools program. www.thriveyogaandwellness.com.
» Blood drive: The American Red Cross asks all eligible donors to participate in the inaugural Winter Hero Blood Drive 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Dec. 24 at the Red Cross of Southeast Tennessee, 4115 S. Access Road. Donors will receive a free T-shirt while supplies last. RedCrossBlood.org.
» Free food pantry: St. Thaddaeus’ Episcopal Church, 4300 Locksley Lane (off Murray Hills Drive in the Highway 58 area), has begun a free food pantry, open 2-4 p.m. every Saturday. Those in need should bring their voucher from the Chattanooga Area Food Bank to receive a bag of food. 423-892-2377.
» Women’s Bible study: “The Shepherd With Me,” a study of Psalm 23 prepared by Jennifer Rothschild, is held 6:30-7:30 Wednesday nights at Hickory Valley Baptist Church, 2320 Hickory Valley Road. 423-892-1916.
» Habitat homeowners: Habitat for Humanity of the Greater Chattanooga Area, a faith-based nonprofit that builds homes for those in need, is accepting applications from families and individuals interested in becoming Habitat homeowners. To obtain a prequalifying questionnaire, visit www.habichatt.org. or call 423-756-0507.
» Community Clothes Closet: Open 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesdays at 1015 Laura St. across from Dodson Avenue Health Center. Free clothes and small household goods available; donations appreciated. Contact: R. Ludy at 423-933-6314.
» Kidz on the Rock: Groups for kids in kindergarten through sixth grade meet at 10:45 a.m. and 6 p.m. Sundays as well as 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays at White Oak Baptist Church, 301 Memorial Drive in Red Bank.
» AWANA Clubs: Groups for children age 3 through sixth grade meet 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesdays at Hickory Valley Baptist Church, 2320 Hickory Valley Road. 423-892-1916.
» Exercise class: Northside Presbyterian Church, 923 Mississippi Ave., offers an exercise class focusing on strength, energy and balance 10:30-11:30 a.m. each Tuesday and Thursday. Open to all ages and skill levels. $5 per class. 423-266-1766.
» Recovery, a Christ-centered 12-step program for anyone struggling with addictive issues, compulsive behaviors, loss and life challenges, meets each Thursday at Ooltewah United Methodist Church, 6131 Relocation Way. Dinner at 5:30 p.m., worship at 6:15 p.m., open share groups at 7:30 p.m. Child care provided. 423-238-9216, oumclive.org/recovery.
» Brainerd Celebrate Recovery, a 12-step Christ-centered recovery ministry that focuses on healing hurts, habits and addictions, meets every Thursday at Brainerd Baptist Church’s East Ridge campus, 1203 Blocker Lane. Dinner at 5:45 p.m., large group at 6:45 and small/open share groups following. Child care provided. 423-313-8888, brainerdbaptist.org/celebrate-recovery.
» Grief support: 5 p.m. every first Tuesday at Fort Oglethorpe United Methodist Church, 1733 Battlefield Parkway, Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. Presented by PruittHealth Hospice. Free. For more information, call 706-602-9546.
» Not Alone, a support group for family and friends of a loved one who is incarcerated, meets at 11 a.m. the fourth Saturday of each month at LaFayette Presbyterian Church, 107 N. Main St., LaFayette, Georgia. Refreshments and child care are provided.
FUNDRAISERS
» Cold-weather shelter: The Salvation Army is seeking assistance with overnight shelters for the homeless when temperatures dip below freezing. Operating cost is about $300 per night, which is not included in the agency’s budget. Donations of coats, blankets and money are accepted at 822 McCallie Ave. Monetary donations also may be made online at www.csarmy.org or by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY. Volunteers who can help staff the shelter should email Lauren.Russek@uss.salvationarmy.org or call 423-505-9747.
» Lyerly cookbook: Lyerly United Methodist Church has copies of its third cookbook, “Feeding the Flock,” available. To order, send $10, plus $3 shipping and handling, to Lyerly United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 152, Lyerly, GA 30730. Call JoAnn Mitchell, 706-895-2636, for information on buying from a church member or a Chattooga County business.
» Payne’s Chapel cookbook: Payne’s Chapel United Methodist Church in Lookout Mountain, Georgia, still has copies of its latest cookbook, “Payne’s Chapel Cooks.” Proceeds will go into the church building fund. Cost is $12, plus $2 shipping/handling if mailed. To order, email debroskyp@gmail.com or leave a message at 706-820-2095.
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