WHAT'S UP

Christmas programs

The Midway Baptist Church adult choir, under the direction of Laura Martin, Minister of Music, will present the Christmas cantata, "Celebrate the Child," Sunday at 5 p.m.

Macedonia Baptist Church will have a Christmas Eve candlelight service Dec. 24 at 5:30 p.m. The church is located at 216 Macedonia Road off I-85 at exit 85. For more information, call 489-7712.

Christmas worship services will be held Christmas Day, Dec. 25, at 8 a.m. at Bethel Baptist Church, 218 Dr. L.M. Rosemond Lane,. The pastor, Dr. J.W. Sanders Sr., invites everyone to attend this special service.

The Episcopal Church of the Incarnation, 308 College Drive, will have a Christmas Eve service Dec. 24 beginning with music at 6:30 p.m. The service with Eucharist starts at 7 p.m. The Rev. Alex Barron is the priest-in-charge.

Pastor William Blanton invites everyone to attend True Gospel Independent Baptist Church's presentation of "Back to Bethlehem" Saturday at 7 p.m.

A live nativity can be seen today from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Bethany Baptist Church, 215 Wilkinsville Hwy. A CD or cassette will be given at the beginning of the drivethrough to narrate the different scenes. After viewing the nativity, visitors are encouraged to park and come inside the church for refreshments and fellowship.

The Shady Grove Sunday School Department will present its annual Christmas program Saturday at 5 p.m. at the Thickety Mountain Associational Building. The program will be a dinner theater. All classes, beginners through adults, will participate.

A cantata, "Christmas is Jesus," will be presented Sunday at 11 a.m. by the church choir of Cherokee Falls Baptist Church,109 School St., Cherokee Falls.

Tabernacle of Love, located on Cherokee Falls Road in Blacksburg, will have a Christmas program Sunday at 7 p.m. The program will include a candlelight ceremony, reading of scriptures from the King James Bible and Christmas carols. For those who would like to participate, canned goods will be collected for the needy. Everyone welcome.

The youths and adults of Bethel Baptist Church, 218 Dr. L.M. Rosemond Lane, will present a live nativity scene, portraying biblical characters during the birth of Jesus, from 7-9 each evening through Sunday in front of the church's gymnasium. There will be singing and other performing activities. Drive by or come and see the performance.

The Christmas fellowship of churches service for Green Bethel, Island Creek, Holy Temple, Mt. Calvary of Cowpens, White Plains, Knuckles Chapel, Lewis Chapel, Mt. Calvary of White Stone, Shady Grove Baptist and Dunton CME will be held today at 7 p.m. at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church. The message will be by the Rev. Mills McHam, pastor of Green Bethel Baptist Church.

Notices

The Pentecostal Church of Living God will hold a dinner for homeless people on Monday, Dec. 24, from noon until 5 p.m. The church is accepting donations of new blankets that will be presented as gifts at the dinner.

"Old Lady" Haney and her nephew, Frank Driver, will be handing out gifts to children Sunday from 4-6 p.m. in front of her old pawn shop on 6th Street. If you would like to contact Haney, e-mail her at thissideoftheroad@ mail.com.

The City of Gaffney Sanitation Department will observe Tuesday, Dec. 25, as a holiday. The route on Monday, Dec. 24, will be picked up as normal. The route on Tuesday, Dec. 25, will be picked up on Wednesday, Dec. 26.

All garbage routes will be run on Thursday, Dec. 27, for Town of Blacksburg residents.

Support groups

AA meetings are held at 8 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday in the building behind Limestone Methodist Church on Carlisle Street. If you have a problem with alcohol, you are welcome to attend.

Do you think you have a problem with drugs? If so, Narcotics Anonymous can help. NCAA's Helpline number is 1-800-828-5689

Benefit

A benefit singing for PeachCenter Ministries will be held Dec. 30 at 5 p.m. at Southside Baptist Church. There will be a "Breakfast at Supper" following the singing. Each person attending is ask to bring a canned good. The meal is free but donations will be accepted for PeachCenter Ministries. To make sure to have enough food for everyone, call 489-6504 or email (office@gaffneysouthside. com) to the church know you will be attending. The church is located at 204 W. O'Neal St. For more information, call the above number or visit www.gaffneysouthside.com.

Holiday hours

Kings Mountain National Military Park has announced its holiday closings: Dec. 24, Christmas Eve (extra holiday due to executive order); Dec. 25, Christmas Day; Jan. 1, New Year's Day. The park is open daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Iron City Ministries Inc. in Blacksburg will be closed for Christmas and New Year's beginning today at noon. They will reopen Monday, Jan. 7, from 9 a.m.-noon.