Historic St. Mary's Chapel near Hillsborough will host an open house and concert beginning at 5 p.m. Sunday. The 1859 chapel will feature period decorations, hot apple cider, cookies and pump organ music.
The Women's Singing Circle of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church will present a holiday concert at 6 p.m. St. Mary's Chapel is near the corner of St. Mary's and Schley Roads, about six miles east of Hillsborough. It is the small brick chapel on a hill.
Christmas Bazaar, chili sale in Bahama
BAHAMA -- The First United Metaphysical Chapel, 9602 Roxboro Road, will hold its annual Christmas Bazaar and Chili Sale from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Several varieties of chili will be sold as well as baked goods and new and gently used items including porcelain dolls, children's toys, home gym, furniture, curio shelves, clothing, jewelry, books and Christmas decorations.
For information, call 471-0351.
Advent Festival at Grace Lutheran
DURHAM -- Grace Lutheran Church, 824 N. Buchanan Blvd., will hold its Advent Festival at 12:15 p.m. Sunday following morning worship services.
There will be a ham dinner to start, then two craft stations for children to make a Christmas tree ornament and an Advent chain. Adults and youth will also be able to make a variety of more involved crafts such as a door swap, votive candle holder and an ornament.
A holiday video will be shown for younger children after the crafts. All children are invited to sing and participate in learning the meaning of the 12 days of Christmas.
At 2:45 p.m., the festival will conclude with Christmas carol singing and decorating the church Christmas tree in the sanctuary.
For information, call 682-6030 or e-mail grace_lutheran_durham@verizon.net.
'Mary: The Paper Doll Project' at Trinity
DURHAM -- "Mary: The Paper Doll Project," an exhibit by Durham artist Carole L. Baker, will be on display throughout December in the sanctuary of Trinity United Methodist Church, 215 N. Church St.
Baker's project depicts four life-sized images of the Virgin Mary as she is represented in different cultures -- Our Lady of Lourdes, Byzantine Theotokos, the Virgin of Guadalupe and Madonna of Soweto.
The Marys were painted with acrylic, oils and gold leaf on Tricel, a strong cardboard. Each doll is composed of two pieces -- they can be interchanged with other images from the shoulders down, like paper dolls.
For information about the project, visit www.carolebakerartist.com. Baker's sponsors are the Mary Duke Biddle Foundation and the Resource Center for Women and Ministry in the South.
Quilt show in Hillsborough
HILLSBOROUGH -- Hillsborough Presbyterian Church, 102 W. Tryon St., will host its third annual Quilt Show from 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday in Strudwick Hall.
Quilts in a rainbow of colors and a variety of designs will be on display as part of a collection assembled by the women of the church. It includes both recent creations and heirlooms. Visitors will have the opportunity to participate in a drawing for the quilting group's most recent creation, "English Rose."
Handcrafted stocking stuffers such as small wallets, tissue holders, cell phone cases and Christmas ornaments will be available for purchase.
All proceeds from the event will be used to fund the church's annual mission trip to Sunset Gap, Tenn. Free refreshments will be served. BeadforLife jewelry made by Ugandan women will also be available for purchase in the library.
For information, call 732-3131.
Alternative gift fairs this Sunday
DURHAM -- Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 1320 Umstead Road, will host an Alternative Giving Fair from 9 a.m. to noon Sunday. Refreshments, fellowship, local and international charities as alternative giving opportunities like Heifer International.
St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 1737 Hillandale Road, will hold its 17th Annual Alternative Gifts Fair from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday and Dec. 13. Twenty organizations will be represented at the fair that help people in need of food, shelter in safe neighborhoods, clean water, good health and sustainable income. Each group has gift cards you can send your recipient. For details of organizations, visit www.stlukesdurham.org or e-mail Jean at willarjm@mindspring.com. On Sunday, St. Luke's will also host the National Marrow Donor Program for a registration drive.
Glendale Heights UMC cantata
DURHAM -- The Glendale Heights United Methodist Church Chancel Choir will present a Christmas cantata during the 11 a.m. worship service Sunday at 908 Leon St.
The cantata, titled "Angels of Christmas, " features music written by John Purifoy. It will tell the Christmas story through songs and readings from the King James version of the Bible. For information, call 220-6138.
UCCH bells and brass concert
CHAPEL HILL -- The United Church of Chapel Hill's two bell choirs and brass ensemble will present a concert at 7 p.m. Sunday as part of the Centennial Concert Series commemorating the 100th birthday of UCCH, 1321 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
The bell choirs and brass ensemble are conducted by Bob Lawton, the church's director of instrumental music. The program features familiar Christmas carols such as "O Come All Ye Faithful, " "The Holly and the Ivy" and "Ding Dong Merrily on High."
The brass ensemble will perform portions of J.S. Bach's Christmas Oratorio. Horn soloist Tim Dyess will perform a selection on the Alpine horn, accompanied by organist Bea Price. The Bronze Voices bell choir and the brass ensemble will combine for the concert's finale, "Carol of the Bells."
For information, call 942-3540 or visit ucch@unitedchurch.org.
Auxiliary honors past president
ROXBORO -- Magdalene Ragland, immediate past president of the Women's Auxiliary of the East Cedar Grove Missionary Baptist Association, was recently honored for her dedicated service and leadership. She served as president from 2005 to 2009 for the association auxiliary that serves counties including Person, Durham and Granville.
Current association president Rosa Hester presented Ragland with a plaque in appreciation of her dedicated service and in recognition of her unparalleled commitment to the auxiliary. Ragland was also honored for spirit-filled and dynamic leadership and devoted service toward the mission of women by Cedar Grove Baptist Church in Roxboro.
This award was presented by Saundra C. Wilkerson. Elizabeth McCoy-Faulkner of Lawson Chapel Baptist Church, Roxboro, presented an award to Ragland in appreciation of her service to the organization and in tribute to her unwavering faith.
Ragland also volunteers with the American Red Cross, the Partnership for Children and the North Carolina Coalition against Domestic Violence. She also serves as worship chairperson for the state Ministers' Wives and Ministers' Widows Association.
LDS nativity celebration
DURHAM -- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 3902 Berini Drive, will hold a community Nativity celebration from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Dec. 11 and 12.
Activities for all ages include a living nativity, creche display, children's story time, nativity dress-up and a food drive for the Food Bank of Durham. Admission is one canned food item.
For information, e-mail MattHeaton@gmail.com.
Send items for Belief Briefs to Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan at dvaughan@heraldsun.com.
