Christmas events

¦ A Christmas Eve service will be held Saturday, Dec. 24, at 5:30 p.m. at Macedonia Baptist Church, 216 Macedonia Road (I-85, exit 85). Dress is casual.

¦ The Sunday School Department of Bethel Baptist Church will present its annual Christmas program today, Dec. 14, at 6:30 p.m. Recitations and a short playlet will be presented by the young people. Refreshments will be served. Everyone invited.

¦ The public is invited to come enjoy a night of singing and Christmas joy when the children, youths and adults present “Extreme Christmas” music and a play at Sardis United Methodist Church on Saturday, Dec. 17, at 6 p.m.

¦ The Adult Choir of Central Baptist Church will present a Christmas musical, “Light of The World,” by Mosey Lister on Sunday, Dec. 18, at the 11 a.m. service. The Preschool Choir and the Children’s Choir will present the musical, “Tell Me The Story of Jesus,” by Frazier and Crumpton at the 5 p.m. service on Dec. 18. The Rev. Alan Peeler invites the public to attend. The church will have a candlelight service at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 21. All are invited.

¦ The Buford Street United Methodist Church Children’s Choir will present “The Legend of the Christmas King,” a Christmas musical for children, on Wednesday, Dec. 14, at 7 p.m. in the church sanctuary.

¦ The Shady Grove Baptist Church Sunday School and the Youth Department will present its annual Christmas program Wednesday, Dec. 21, at 6 p.m. There will be a short play, “The Real Meaning of Christmas.” Public is invited.

¦ Mikes Creek Missionary Baptist Church will host a Gospel Messenger program on Saturday, Dec. 17, at 6 p.m. This is a program of songs and praises presented by all-male choruses from different churches including Mt. Pleasant, Inman; Mt. Pleasant, Walnut Grove; Fosters Chapel, Roebuck; Zion Hill, Inman; Piney Grove, Lyman; First Baptist, Fairforest; New Trinity and Shiloh Baptist, Wellford. Everyone welcome.

¦ The Drama Ministry of Limestone Missionary Baptist Church invites the public to attend its presentation of “A Christmas Story,” on Sunday, Dec. 18, at 5 p.m.

Religious events

¦ Eastside Baptist Church, 1284 E. Cherokee St., Blacksburg, will host its third Saturday night gospel singing Dec. 17 at 7 p.m. Guests will be The Bluegrass Gospeltones, The Parkers and The Hamptons.

¦ Southside Free Will Baptist Church on Upper Valley Falls Road in Boiling Springs will have a gospel singing Sunday, Dec. 18, at 11 a.m. Special guests will be The Southern Harmony Boys of Spartanburg. Everyone welcome.

¦ Shady Grove Baptist Church will observe its 18th annual crossover celebration with special services Sunday, Dec. 18, during the 11 a.m. service. The church family will commemorate the completion of the church’s building program 18 years ago. A program highlight will include a commemorative litany and candle lighting service. Rev. Dewey Whittenburg will deliver the sermon and the Shady Grove Mass Choir, Youth Choir and Praise Signers will present special music. The first “Crossover” walk took place on Sunday, Dec. 6, 1987. The church family worshiped in the new sanctuary and educational facility after a time of prayerful planning, sacrificing, laboring and working together to make a vision a reality. The public is invited to attend. ¦ Limestone Missionary Baptist Church will present a live recording on Saturday, Dec. 17, at 6 p.m. featuring Rev. Heyward A. Boyd Sr. along with the Limestone Baptist Choir, the Gaffney Community Mass Choir, the Big Calvary Baptist Church All Male Chorus of Lando, and Rev. Gary Smith and the Keys of Harmony of Shelby. Dr. Michael A. Golden, pastor, will be the master of ceremonies. Julius Camp is the director of music.

Notices

¦ The Cherokee County Solid Waste Collection Department and the Recycling Center will be closed Monday, Dec. 26, in observance of Christmas. The Recycling Center will be open Saturday, Dec. 31. The Solid Waste Collection Department and Recycling Center will be on a regular schedule on Monday, Jan. 2.