Religion Briefs
Cape Coral
Abiding Love Evangelical
Lutheran Church
Abiding Love Lutheran Church, offers a “Christmas for Kids” program Saturday, Dec. 13, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Parents may drop off children between the ages of 3 and 11 at the church for a safe, adult supervised, day of crafts, songs and activities. Lunch is also provided. Parents return at 1 p.m. to watch the children perform a short Christmas pageant they have prepared. There is no charge for the event. Call the office at 945-2122 to enroll.
Abiding Love Lutheran Church is located on the corner of Chiquita Boulevard and Gleason Parkway, one mile south of Veterans Parkway.
Abiding Love offers worship services on Sundays at 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. and Wednesday evenings at 6:45. The congregation operates State-licensed pre-school, child care and VPK programs. Abiding Love also provides ministries for children, youth, women, men and seniors. For more information call 945-2122.
Cape Christian Fellowship
“A Season of Hope” is the new message series starting this Sunday. Pastor Dennis Gingerich will be speaking on “Hope for the Persevering.” In times of distress, hope is a most important ingredient for living fulfill life. The Christmas story reminds us how to persevere with hope during tough times.
Sunday contemporary worship times are 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. There are classes for children and youth and a safe and caring nursery provided during all worship gatherings. The EDGE High School gathering is held on Wednesdays 7-9 p.m.
Cape Christian Fellowship is located at 2110 Chiquita Blvd., 1/3 mile north of Veteran’s Parkway. For more information, call 772-5683; www.capechristian.com
Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints
The church is inviting the community for its second Annual Christmas Sing-A-Long on Friday, Dec. 12, at 6:30 p.m. This year there will be more carols, cookies, cocoa and cider. An added feature is free photos with Santa.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is located at 412 N.E. 14th Place.
For more information call 239-633-7793 or 239-322-9970.
DayBreak Fellowship
The Giving Tree – Daybreak Fellowship is reaching out to families in Cape Coral with a new Christmas mission. Any family who visits the church Dec. 7 or Dec. 14, can register their child (ages 2-10) for a free gift the child can select from The Giving Tree on Dec. 21. The mission will coincide with a special “Happy Birthday Jesus” party for the children on Dec. 21, with cake, balloons, games and learning about the true meaning of Christmas. The church meets at 10:45 a.m. in the auditorium of Cape Coral High School, 2300 Santa Barbara Blvd. For further information, call Daybreak Fellowship at 573-9009 or visit the church Web site: www.daybreakchurch.net
Faith Presbyterian Church
The Messiah and the More selections will be accompanied by an orchestra Friday, Dec. 12, at Faith Presbyterian Church, 4544 Coronado Parkway, in Cape Coral. For tickets call 239-542-2858. Ticket prices for the Cape Coral concert without the full orchestra are $10.
First Baptist Church of Cape Coral
Ring in the holidays with the Southwest Florida Symphony Chorus “Messiah & More” Sunday, Dec. 14, at First Baptist Church, 4117 Coronado Pkwy., in Cape Coral. On Dec. 13, the chorus will perform at Faith United Methodist Church, 15690 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers.
Call 418-1500 for details.
Hope United Methodist Church
There will be an addition of an 8:30 a.m. Sunday morning service at Hope UMC will begin Dec. 7. A second service begins at 10:30 a.m.
The Hope choir will present its cantata, “The Winter Rose,” on Friday, Dec. 12, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 14, at 10:30 a.m. The public is invited to join us as we celebrate the coming of Christ this Christmas season.
After the potluck family dinner on Wednesday, Dec. 17, there will be a special treat as the Act 4 Him drama ministry presents its Comedy Fellowship Night.
Christmas Eve services will include a family-oriented candlelight service at 6:30 p.m. and a meditative, Holy Communion service at 11:30. Come home to Hope for the holidays and beyond!
For more information, contact the church office at 574-5570. Hope is located at 2006 Chiquita Blvd South, Cape Coral, just north of Veteran’s Parkway.
Kehilat Aish Chodesh
Kehilat Aish Chodesh (Assembly of the Holy Fire), located in Cape Coral, will begin a 12-week series on Basic Hebrew Reading, focused on reading the Hebrew Scriptures, on Saturday Dec. 20.
In addition, the congregation will offer Torah For Christians, an ongoing class that explores scripture from a Hebraic/Jewish viewpoint linking the words and acts of Jesus to the Torah instruction that He taught on. This class is an extension of the three and a half year Seattle-area cable access television show taught and produced by Steven A. Berkowitz, creator and teacher of the course.
The open-to-the-public Annual Chanukah Party will be Dec. 27, at 7 p.m.
KAC is a Ysharim Judaism interfaith congregation, comprised of Jews and Christians, centered on studying Torah, applying its teachings to modern life and linking the teaching and foundations of Torah with what Jesus did, and learning to build a cohesive and mutually-respecting multifaith community.
KAC is led by Steven & Elisheva Berkowitz and Tino and Emily Martinez, and is a bilingual congregation affiliated with Ysharim International, located in Israel.
For class information, call 239-322-7003 or email saberkowitz@embarqmail.com
Messiah
Lutheran Church
Members of Messiah Lutheran Church, 2691 N.E. Pine Island Road, Cape Coral, will be
“Ringing the bells” for the Salvation Army again this year. They will be stationed at the Sears Essentials store in the Merchants Crossing Mall the week of Dec. 15-20 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. each day. Support this very worthwhile cause.
Call 731-0384 for details.
Trinity Church
and School
Trinity Lutheran Church and School invites everyone to celebrate the coming of Jesus at Christmas with Advent Worship Services Wednesdays, Dec. 10, and Dec. 17, at 7 p.m. A free will offering dinner, sponsored by Thrivent Financial For Lutherans will be served from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.. All proceeds will go to the Cape Coral Caring Center.
Trinity Lutheran School has openings for Pre-K 3, State Accredited free VPK to all 4 year olds. Full and Part time programs are also offered.
Trinity Lutheran Church and School is located at 706 SW 6th Ave. For more information, call the church, 772-0172 or school at 772-1549. E-Mail: TrinityCapeCoral@embarqmail.com
Web site Church: www.trinitylutheranchurchcc.org
North Fort Myers
All Saints Byzantine Catholic Church
All Saints Church is hosting an Ethnic bake Sale on Saturday, Dec. 20, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
The church is located on Bayshore Road, exit 143 East off I-75 toward the Lee Civic Center.
Call 239-543-6363 for more information.
Fort Myers
Cypress Lake Presbyterian Church
Cypress Lake Presbyterian Church invites the community to the annual Christmas music celebration Sunday, Dec. 14, at 4 p.m. This event is free to the public.
The musical program will include the children’s choir, adult choir and a performance for the puppet ministry. Light refreshments will be provided.
Cypress Lake Presbyterian Church is at 8250 Cypress Lake Drive, Fort Myers. F
or more information call 239-481-3233.
Evangelical
Christian School
Evangelical Christian School Fine Arts Department presents A Christmas Dinner Theater, “All Is Well, The Bailout in Bethlehem,”at the First Church of the Nazarene, 13545 American Colony Boulevard, Fort Myers., Saturday, Dec. 6, at 5:30 p.m. The cost is $18.50 per adult, $9 per child (12 and under), and
$140 per table (8 guests).
Tickets are on sale now at Evangelical Christian School’s main office.
Faith
Presbyterian Church
Any resident can celebrate the holiday at an old-fashioned sing-a-long and help feed the hungry at the Holiday Carol sing, Tuesday, Dec. 9, at First Presbyterian Church, 2438 2nd St., Fort Myers. Admission is two cans of non-perishable food for the Soup Kitchen. Cash donations will also be accepted.
Because of the popularity of the event, an additional 1 p.m. performance has been added this year. Other performances are at 4 and 7 p.m. Doors open 30 minutes before curtain.
For more information call 239-334-2261.
Temple Beth El
Temple Beth El pto, 16225 Winkler Ave., is once again hosting an annual Chanukah Bazaar, Sunday, Dec. 7, from 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. This is the time when we open our doors to the entire community, inviting everyone to purchase crafts, art and private vendor products for the holidays. The bazaar is held indoors providing protection from the weather.
Location:16225 Winkler Road, Fort Myers. Call 433-0018 for more information.
The Village Church
The Village Church at Shell Point Retirement Community will present a Christmas Celebration with The Village Church Choir and special guest artist Ken Medema, singer, pianist and composer. The concert will be held on Sunday, Dec. 14, at 6:15 p.m., and is part of the 2008-2009 Season of Praise Concert Series.
To purchase tickets, ($10 each) or receive additional information about this concert or others in the 2008-2009 Season of Praise Concert Series, call (239) 454-2147 or go to www.shellpoint.org/villagechurch/events.htm.
The Village Church at Shell Point is located in Fort Myers just off Summerlin Road, two miles before the Sanibel Causeway. Shell Point is a nationally recognized leader in the retirement industry.
Word of Life
Paul Wilbu of Integrity Music will be ushering us into throne room worship “These are the days of Elijah” Sunday, Dec. 7, at 10 a.m., hosted at Word of Life Church, 2150 Collier Ave., Fort Myers.
For information call 239-274-8881.