ENTERPRISE – The Enterprise High School Choir will perform at the Enterprise Community Congregational Church, aka “The Big Brown Church,” for the annual Holiday Soup Luncheon fundraiser Dec. 3. Doors will open at 11 a.m. and lunch will be offered through 2 p.m. The choir will perform at noon.

Lunch includes a bowl of homemade soup, a roll, a piece of pie, and coffee, tea or water. The event is sponsored by the Women’s Fellowship, and admission is by donation, with a portion of proceeds going to the Enterprise High School Choir, Safe Harbors and Community Connection. The Big Brown Church is located at 301 NE First St.

Quilters meet Tuesday at Zion

Zion Lutheran Church in La Grande will gather this Sunday at 9:30 a.m. for a worship service followed by a time of fellowship.

Quilters meet at 9 a.m. Tuesday at the church.

The following Saturday, Dec. 5, is the ZLCW Christmas Bazaar, held at the church from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The proceeds will benefit local non-for-profit organizations.

Lay speaker leads at Union Methodist

UNION – The service at the United Methodist Church in Union will be led by Becci Scott, a lay speaker from the Elgin Methodist Church. The service begins at 11 a.m., followed by fellowship and refreshments.

Weekly programs for community participation include Tuesday’s senior lunch at noon. This week the main dish will be macaroni and cheese. Come for Linda’s good cooking, fun and fellowship. Anyone who needs assistance in getting there may call 541-562-5848 a day in advance.

The Wednesday Prayer Meeting is weekly from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Prayer requests may be called in to 541-562-5848 if you are unable to attend. The congregants also pray daily for those needing God’s healing as well as for those on the Grande Ronde Prayer Line (541-786-PRAY).

Thursday Bible study meets at 1 p.m. at the home of Marguerite Pike.

Next Sunday, Dec. 6, at2 p.m. is the church’s annual Charge Conference, which includes an assessment of the congregation’s future goals.

Time to stir up the Christmas pudding

St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in La Grande will observe the first Sunday of Advent with Holy Eucharist at 9 a.m. The service will begin with the lighting of the Advent wreath, and the Rev. Kathryn Macek will preside and preach. Following the service all are invited to the parish hall to help “stir up” the batter for the traditional Christmas pudding.

Centering Prayer isoffered Tuesdays at 8:30 a.m. in the chapel. There will be no Wednesday or Thursday services next week, and the office will be closed, while the rector attends the bishop candidate gatherings in Hermiston and Baker City.

Methodist church collects paper goods

The Advent candles will be lit during the 10 a.m. service at the La Grande United Methodist Church. Pastor Wolff will speak on “God’s Common Core Curriculum,” and the gathering will include the music of the season. Child care is available, but all ages are welcome at the service.

As part of celebrating Christ’s birthday, the church will be donating items to give to those most in need. This Sunday congregants are reminded to bring paper goods, including diapers, toilet paper, tissue, etc.

Following the service the congregation will continue the celebration of Christ’s birthday through the Church Out of Church Program. There will be activities for all ages and projects both inside the building and out.

Special music planned for Advent service

The First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in La Grande will celebrate the first Sunday of Advent at 10 a.m. with a message in song and readings. Several special musical numbers are planned, and Lori Van Leuven and Gage Brogoitti will be reading the Advent message and lighting the first candle.

Men are invited to join in the no-host breakfast fellowship at 8 a.m. Monday at the Smokehouse Restaurant.

The church reports that support for Operation Christmas Child was terrific this year, with 1,186 gift-filled shoe boxes collected from Baker, Wallowa and Union counties. The shoe boxes from the region will be distributed in the Philippines, Indonesia, Mongolia, Peru and to some Native American Tribes.

Midweek Advent service planned

The service at Faith Lutheran Church will focus on the arrival (the Advent) of Jesus Christ. The sermon will be drawn from Luke 19:28-40, which tells of Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem to do the work necessary for salvation. Sunday school begins at 8:45 a.m. and the Divine service at 10 a.m.

During the Advent Season, Faith Lutheran will have midweek services every Wednesday at 7 p.m. on Wednesday evenings, preceded by a soup supper at 6 p.m. The Dec. 2 sermon will consider how to “stir up one another to love and good works” (Hebrews 10:24).

Fellowship luncheon follows service

COVE – This week Grace Community Lutheran Church celebrates the first week of Advent with the lighting of the first Advent candle at its worship service beginning at 10 a.m. Pastor Carl Seelhoff’s sermon title will be “Anticipation: Behold the Days are Coming,” taken from Jeremiah 33. Adult Bible study begins at 9 a.m. A fellowship luncheon and special appreciation presentation will follow the service.

Transportation is available for all church activities. Services and activities are held at the Cove Adventist Church.

Hanging of the Greens is Wednesday

The beginning of Advent will be celebrated during the 9:30 a.m. worship service at the First Presbyterian Church in La Grande. Ellen Jones will deliver the message. Her sermon, “Awesome,” will be based on Jeremiah 33:14-16 and Luke 21:25-36. The service will also celebrate the music of J.S. Bach with choir, hymns and organ. Fellowship follows the service.

The Hanging of the Greens will begin at 5 p.m. Wednesday, followed by choir practice at 7 p.m.

Be thankful for Jesus is sermon topic

Saturday at the La Grande Seventh-day Adventist Church, guest speaker Ora Rollins will bring a Thanksgiving message, emphasizing that Jesus is the greatest reason to be thankful. The service begins at 11 a.m.