Church Briefs

FCC Ladies Christmas brunch Saturday

First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Vandalia will host a Ladies Christmas brunch this Saturday at 9:30 a.m.
Providing the music for the event will be Rayvan Gouch, the second-place contestant in the Vandalia Idol contest.

Chili lunch this Sunday at Holy Cross

Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Vandalia will host a chili lunch to raise funds for Camp CILCA (in Cantrall) this Sunday, beginning at 11:30 a.m.
The chili will be cooked by The Rev. Chuck Johnson, the director of Camp CILCA. He is attempting to retire the camp's debt, and all proceeds are being matched dollar for dollar.
Holy Cross is located at 726 W. Fillmore St. For more information about Camp CILCA, visit www.CILCA.com.

First United Methodist to present cantata

A choral cantata titled "Hope is Born Emmanuel" will be presented this Sunday at 10 a.m. at First United Methodist Church in Vandalia.
The program, a blend of traditional songs and less-familiar tunes, will be performed by members of the church choir, with assistance from singers from Greenville College and Kaskaskia College.

Lutheran churches combine on cantata

"Night of the Father's Love" is the title of a cantata that will be performed this weekend by the combined choirs of St. Peter, St. Paul and Augsburg Lutheran churches.
The event will be performed three times: At 2 p.m. at Augsburg Lutheran Church on Saturday; at 2 p.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church on Sunday; and at 6 p.m. at St. Peter Lutheran Church on Sunday.

Christmas concert Saturday at Bethel

Bethel Baptist Church will host its sixth annual Christmas concert this Saturday at 6 p.m.
Among the musicians will be: Ed Taylor, Marla Ainscough, The FourGiven Quartet, Shirley Eddy, Pete Sutherland, Bailey and Cassidy Jones, the Bethel Baptist Church praise band, Jamie and Amy Manasco and the Bethel Baptist Church choir.
Serving as emcee for the event will be Norris Price.
The church is located seven miles northwest of Vandalia on U.S. Route 185. For more information, call 326-7451 or 283-2642.

WJLY hosts Sweetbriar residents

Residents of Sweetbriar Retirement Home recently were treated to a Thanksgiving dinner by WJLY Christian radio station in Ramsey.
Employees of the radio station helped serve the meal, and the event was hosted by Al and Suzanne Schumacher.

Mitch McVicker concert is this Sunday

Brownstown First Christian Church will host an evening with Dove Award-winning Christian artist Mitch McVicker this Sunday at 6 p.m.
McVicker’s journey began by doing concerts, writing songs and being roommates with the late Rich Mullins. The two of them garnered a Dove award for penning the song, “My Deliverer.” McVicker was in a car-wreck that took Mullins’ life, and he was left with broken bones, collapsed lungs, a severe head injury and a long recovery.
Yet, McVicker, a Kansas native now residing in Atlanta with his family of six, asks, “Who doesn’t go through struggles and find themselves wondering what is going on? Questions mount as hard times increase and difficulties grow.
“The faithful person continues to walk when he or she cannot see,” he said. “There is a light shining just past the dark. There is another side.”
The church is located at the corner of First and Poplar streets in Brownstown. The concert is free, but an offering will be received.

Tammy Harris concert in Hillsboro

Tammy Reneé Harris will perform a Christmas Concert at Hillsboro United Methodist Church this Saturday at 6 p.m.
A native of Flora, she was born into a musical family that encouraged her musical abilities and ambitions. She is a former Miss Chicago, and has been studying, practicing and performing all of her life.
While attending Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Okla., she was a member of the ORU TV Singers, appearing daily on a live show there. With a bachelor’s degree in radio/TV production and minor in music, she put her skills to use by creating, producing and hosting her own radio show called, "Kids Are People, Too!" Her ministry is called "Love In Action."
The concert is free, although an offering will be taken.

Outdoor Nativity scene in Hillsboro

An outdoor live nativity scene will be presented Dec. 19-23 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Calvary Baptist Church in Hillsboro.
The church, which is located at 1001 Roundtree in Hillsboro, has been doing the live nativity scene for 25 years. Nearly 150 people will be involved in the event, which includes live camels, donkeys and goats.
For more information, contact Debbie Berry at 217-502-3272.