Quick Hits: Religion

Porterville

Church Presents ‘Emmanuel: God with Us’

“Emmanuel: God with Us,” a Christmas music program, will be presented at 10:30 a.m. today at the Porterville Seventh-day Adventist Church, located at Highway 65 and Linda Vista Avenue Patti Ruminson, pianist and arranger, is the director.

The annual Christmas concert in its 34th year, will feature families and friends of Patti Ruminson. Patti will include many familiar Christmas favorites, along with some of her new compositions.

Featured musicians will be Todd Yost —baritone, Luisa Suorsa — flute, and the Adventist children’s choir.

Also joining Ruminson will be the Jared Ruminson family, Todd Christenson family, and the Steve Lewis family. Local musicians in the program include Karyn Neal and DeLauna Lockwood.

Narration on the theme will be provided by Wallace Ruminson, Joy Estes and Karen Lewis.

Admission is free, and the public is welcome to attend.

For more information, call 784-6031.

Lindsay

Christmas Eve pageant at First Presbyterian

The First Presbyterian Church in Lindsay will be continuing the tradition this year of inviting every child who comes to the 6:30 p.m. service on Christmas Eve to participate in this pageant. The church is located at 351 E. Hermosa, Lindsay.

Each child will be given a simple costume to wear designating him or her as an angel, shepherd or king. When it is time to go forward toward the nativity, a senior angel, shepherd, or king will be the lead and usher the group in the right direction. This will be a special time of celebration. No doubt there will be some confusion, chaos and pure delight -— an atmosphere much like the original event. There will also be a candlelight ceremony and Christmas carols. All are welcomed.

Plan a late dinner and make this a memorable time for all of us.

For more information, call the church office at 562-4966.

Porterville

Poetry recital at Unitarian Sunday

The Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship of Porterville, is inviting poets and individuals who enjoy reading and listening to poetry, original or not, to our meeting  at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday. The church is located at Fourth Street and Harrison Avenue.

All readers will have a set amount of minutes in order to share their favorite poem or narrative.

For more information, call A. C. Hernandez at 781-5432

Porterville

Congregational celebrating the Advent season

The First Congregational Church, led by pastor John Eby, is in the midst of celebrating the Advent season. Various families of the church will be lighting the Advent candle at each Sunday service.  The church is located at 165 E. Mill St.

The Porterville strings will enhance the season with a concert on Sunday. The Christmas Eve service on Saturday, Dec. 24. will begin at 5 p.m. with music and will be led by our minister of music, David Hensley. Christmas day, there will be a worship time that will close with the congregation singing Christmas carols to the baby Jesus, held by His mother Mary, portrayed by Caitlin Laux.

New Years Day’s service will feature communion as a way of beginning the new year. This celebration will continue through Friday, Jan. 6, which is traditionally the time that the arrival of the wise men is celebrated. This year the event will be commemorated by a drama “A Virtual Christmas,” directed by Bill Jameson. Worship services begin at 10:30 a.m.

For more information, call the church office at 784-5340.

Porterville

Caring and sharing for the less fortunate

The children and adults from the Church of Christ at 1000 N. Newcomb St. have been contributing to the Caring and Sharing program every Sunday morning for the last six months. The contributions made are being used to help two families that are less fortunate during this Christmas season. This spirit of giving goes on throughout the year as the children give to a special need every six months.

Porterville

Children’s Musical at First Assembly

The First Assembly of God Church is having a children’s musical starting at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday. The church is located at 105 E. Olive Ave.

Porterville

‘The Winter Rose’ Christmas concert

“The Winter Rose” is the title of the Christmas concert to be presented at 10:30 a.m. by the Trinity Lutheran Church Choir on Sunday. Trinity Lutheran Church is located at 764 W. Henderson Ave.

The composition, though music and narration, tells the Christmas story in a new and beautiful way. Dale Anderson directs the choir. Muriel Josten will serve as narrator and Jan Gibson as accompanist.

According to Anderson, “‘The Winter Rose’ stresses the importance of Christ in our lives. The rose is symbolic of the love and peace Jesus brings us. The concert provides an opportunity to take a break from the season’s ruse and experience Christmas in a different and meaningful manner. We hope members of the community will join us for this celebration.”

For more information about Trinity’s ministries, call 784-4202 or email trinitylc@sbcglobal.net.

Porterville

Growth, recovery classes at Church of Nazarene

Resources for personal growth and recovery classes to be offered. All sessions will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. beginning Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012  at the Porterville Church of the Nazarene, located at 2005 W. Olive Avenue.

Sessions are open to men and women. The last day to enroll is Sunday, Jan. 8. There is limited enrollment for each class. The cost for materials is $25 per participant, per class.

There will be an Anger Management class. Dr. Elizabeth Jackson will facilitate 14 sessions on how to manage anger with the interactive resource, The Anger Workbook.

Boundaries  will be another class. Kristy Johnson, MA. IMFT, will lead seven sessions on developing appropriate life boundaries: “When to say yes and when to say no.”

Divorce Recovery will be the third class offered. Lachele Edwards, MA., will facilitate nine sessions utilizing the resource, A Time for Healing: Coming to Terms with Your Divorce.

If you would like to enroll or for more information, call the church office at 784-3305 during regular office hours, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Terra Bella

Zion choir concert set for Sunday

Zion Lutheran Church and School in Terra Bella will host a choir concert Sunday, and a Christmas Eve service Saturday, Dec. 24.

Both events, which are free and open to the public, will begin at 7 p.m. inside the church, 10341 Road. 256.

For more information, call 535-4346.

Porterville

‘Christmas Story’ at First United

The “Christmas Story” will be presented Sunday at in the Church Sanctuary at the First United Methodist Church, located at 344 E. Morton Ave.  The presentation will be put on by the church’s children and the children from the Filipino Community Church and the Laotian Church. The presentation will be held during the regular worship service which will start at 11 a.m. Pastor Les Lungren’s revelation for the service is titled, “Love.” Following this service, the congregation of the Filipino Community church is hosting “Feed the Hungry” in the church social hall from noon to 2 p.m. All are invited and welcome to both the service and the luncheon.

For more information, call the church at 784-4232.