Choir concerts at LDS churches

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day-Saints, No. 7 N. Carriage Dr., invites the public to sing with its choir at 8:15 a.m. Nov. 22, before the 9 a.m. service. The choir is preparing to sing in the Community Christmas Concert that will take place at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 4 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2700 Ensign Dr. in Platte City, Mo.

That evening, the choir will sing one song and then another jointly with church choirs from throughout Northwest Missouri and Northeast Kansas. The event is free and open to the public. Attendees are invited to bring new, unopened toys for donation to the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots program.

For more information, call (660) 442-5235.

New Home Baptist welcomes pastor

New Home Baptist Church, located two miles south of St. Joseph on Highway 59, will have an official welcome for its new pastor and wife, the Rev. Charles and Gloria Steele, on Nov. 22 with Bible study at 10 a.m. followed by worship at 11 a.m. and a Turkey Thanksgiving banquet at 12:30 p.m. concluding with a "singspiration" at 1:30 p.m. Everyone is invited to come for the festivities.

Holiday services at Woodson Chapel

The Northside Community Thanksgiving Service will be held at 4:30 p.m. Nov. 22 at Woodson Chapel Christian Church, 2525 St. Joseph Ave. Randy Sharp of InterServ will be the guest speaker. Donations of canned goods will be collected for the Calvin Center food pantry, and the monetary offering will go to the Open Door Food Kitchen.

Also, Woodson Chapel will hold its Hanging of the Greens service, preparing the church for Christmas, at 10:45 a.m. Nov. 29. For more information, go online to www.woodson-chapel.org.

Thanksgiving service

The Ministerial Alliance of St. Joseph will host a Thanksgiving service at 10 a.m. Nov. 26 at St. Francis Baptist Temple. Area choirs and praise teams will provide music, and local pastors will give Thanksgiving messages. The community is invited to come and give thanks.

Tree lighting at Word of Life

Word of Life Church will kick off the 2009 Christmas season at 8:30 p.m. Nov. 27 with the lighting of a huge Christmas tree. The ceremony will begin indoors with Christmas carols, hot chocolate and cookies, then will move outside for the lighting of the tree and more musical celebration.

Everyone is welcome. Admission and refreshments are free. Word of Life is located at the corner of Cook and Riverside roads in St. Joseph. For more information, go online to www.wolc.com.

'Miracle at the Manger'

Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, 4503 Frederick Blvd., will hold an annual fundraiser, "Miracle at the Manger," at 5 p.m. Dec. 5. Adults only. Dress is casual. There will be a buffet dinner for $20 per person ($25 at the door), as well as silent and live auctions and games of chance. For more information, call the parish office at 232-2847.

Lifestyles reporter Erin Wisdom can be reached at religion@npgco.com.