Baptist

BLACKJACK MISSIONARY, Taft Road and 94th Street North, Taft, will have Sunday school, 10 a.m., regular church services at 11 a.m. Sundays and prayer and Bible study at 6 p.m. Wednesdays. Information: Pastor Roscoe Beasley Sr., (918) 360-2869.

• Church will have its appreciation day at 3 p.m. Dec. 30. Guest will be First Baptist Church of Taft and the guest speaker will be John Washington, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Taft.

CALVARY, 220 S. R St., Sunday school at 9:45 a.m.; and worship at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Wednesday services are at 6:30 p.m. Information: (918) 682-8681.

• Christmas Catanta presented by the adult choir, 11 a.m. Dec. 23

CENTRAL, 624 East Side Blvd.; Sunday school, 9:30 a.m.; worship, 10:50 a.m.; adult choir, discipleship training, 5:30 p.m.; children’s meal and music, 5:30 p.m.; worship, 6:30 p.m. Pastor: J.T. Carvell. Information: (918) 683-2946.

• Wednesdays — Journey into True Worship and prayer service, youth activities, 6:30 p.m.

• Thursdays — free clothing closet, 1 to 4 p.m., enter through the northwest door marked “elevator.”

DEAN’S CHAPEL, 1119 S. Junction. Pastor: The Rev. Don Dumas. Information: (918) 683-3771.

• They will be serving Christmas dinners from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Dec. 25 at 1109 S. 20th St. They will deliver within the city limits.

EVANGELIST TEMPLE, 115 W. Southside Blvd.: Sunday school, 10 a.m.; worship, 11 a.m.; Wednesday prayer service, 5:30 p.m., with Bible study at 6 p.m. Information: Pastor Richard Brooks, (918) 687-6312 or (918) 687-3034.

• Clothing giveaway for those in need 5-7 p.m. Wednesdays. Information: (918) 687-3034 or (918) 348-1460.

FAITH LOVE BAPTIST CHURCH, 527 N. Sixth St., Christmas Eve program, featuring songs, scripture and prayer, at 6 p.m. Monday. Pastor Glenn Gardner. Information: (918) 616-3408.

FIRST FREE WILL, 1228 Patterson St. Information: (918) 683-4230 or (918) 733-4259.

• Muskogee County gospel singing convention at 1:30 p.m. Jan. 6.

FOUNTAIN, 2540 W. 60th St. North. Pastor: The Rev. William Brown, and Doris Marshall, pianist. Information: (918) 683-0139 or (918) 687-0301.

• Church will host a singing at 3 p.m. Jan. 6. Guests will be Heavenly Echoes, Harps of David, Eternal Gospel Singers, Spiritual Harmonizers, Voices of Faith from Fort Coffee, Dee’s Spiritual Harmonizers and New Seasons of Taft.

FREE WILL, south of I-40, exit 278, on Oklahoma 2, Porum. Information: (918) 967-8283 or james-lolawms@sbcglobal.net.

• Six-county gospel singing convention, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 29. Information: (918) 733-4259.

GRANDVIEW, 3608 S. Cherokee Drive. Pastor: Danny Mills. Information: (918) 683-2477 or www.grandviewbaptist.com.

• Wednesday dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m. each week. Cost is $2.50 for adults and $1 for children 10 and under; or a maximum of $7 per family.

MOUNT OLIVE STAR, Checotah. Information: (918) 441-6959, Willie Hopkins, or (918) 843-0084. Pastor: Sam Cunningham.

• Church will host the fourth annual “Feeding All Souls” Christmas dinner from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 25 at the Checotah Multi-Purpose Building, 201 Owens Ave., and from 3 to 5 p.m. Dec. 25 at the Taft Resource Center. The event is free and open to the public. To donate or volunteer, (918) 843-0084, (918) 441-6959 or (918) 473-6963.

VIAN, U.S. 64 West or exit 297 off I-40 East, Vian. Information: (918) 773-5226 or www.thedills.net.

• Tribute Quartet will be having a free concert at 7 p.m. Jan. 4. The concert is open to the public.



Catholic

SAINT JOSEPH, 321 N. Virginia St. Vigil mass, 5 p.m. Saturdays. Sundays, mass, 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. in English and 12:30 p.m. in Spanish. Information: (918) 687-1351.

• The Knights of Columbus are collecting children's winter clothing, sizes newborn to 5T. Items needed are blankets, coats, hats, gloves, sweaters, sweatshirts, pajamas, etc. All items collected will be donated to the infant supply closet.

• They will be decorating the church for Christmas at 2 p.m. Dec. 23.

• St. Joseph School will be closed for Christmas break from Dec. 22. through Jan. 6.

• Christmas mass schedule is: 5 p.m. Dec. 24, family vigil mass in English; 7 p.m., Spanish mass; caroling begins at 11:30 p.m. followed by midnight mass. At 9:30 a.m. Christmas Day, mass in English.

• Sunday Religious Education classes will resume on Jan. 13.



Church of Christ

WEST SIDE, 2434 W. Okmulgee Ave. Information: (918) 682-3602.

• Church will have a Christmas giveaway from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 22. Gently used clothes and shoes for babies, children, men and women, and new toys. There also will be a hot chocolate and dessert bar. Information: (918) 360-0533.



Episcopal

GRACE, 218 N. Sixth S t., activities on Sunday, 8 a.m. service in chapel; 9:30 a.m., youth and adult classes; 10:30 a.m. service in church, followed by coffee fellowship.

• Dec. 24 — 5 p.m. Children’s pageant. 10:30 to 11 p.m. Christmas Mass in Church.

• Dec. 25 — 10:30 a.m., Christmas service in Church.

• Dec. 26 — 9 a.m., Meals on Wheels; 5:30 p.m. “The Story” Bible study.

• Dec. 28 — 9 a.m. Meals on Wheels; 7:30 p.m., Al Anon.



Lutheran

FIRST, 428 E. Broadway, Sunday school, 9:15 a.m.; worship, 10:30 a.m. Sunday. Pastor: Wayne Schuett. Information or van pick up: (918) 682-9533.

• The children’s Christmas program “The Bethlehem Evening News” will be at 6 p.m. Dec. 16 at the church.

• Advent midweek worship will be held at 7 p.m. Dec. 19. A meal will be served at 6:15 p.m.

• Christmas Eve candlelight service will be at 7 p.m. Dec. 24. Christmas Day worship will be at 10 a.m. Dec. 25. A New Year’s Eve service will be held at 7 p.m. Dec. 31.



Nazarene

FIRST CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE, 2700 E. Peak Blvd., Sunday school, 9:30 a.m.; worship, 10:30 a.m.; Wednesday, 7 p.m. Pastor: Monty Nichols, (918) 682-2592. Information: www.muskogeenaz.org.

• Church will offer hay rides to witness the story of Mary, Joseph, the Wise Men and a beyond-the-manger look at Jesus of Nazareth from 6 to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, through Dec. 22.

Presbyterian

BETHANY, 2000 E. Haskell Blvd., 9 a.m., coffee time; 9:30 a.m., Sunday school; 10:45 a.m., worship service. Information: (918) 682-8683 or www.bethanypresbyterianchurch.org.

• Dec. 24 — Office closed. 7 p.m. Christmas Eve service.

• Dec. 25 — Office closed for Christmas Day.

• Dec. 26 —  M.O.W. canceled.

• Dec. 27 — 1 p.m., fun and games.

• Dec. 28 —  9 a.m., Meals on Wheels.

FIRST, 500 W. Broadway, 9:45 a.m., Sunday school; 11 a.m., worship service; noon, Christmas potluck lunch.

• Dec. 23 — 9:45 a.m., Sunday school; 11 a.m., worship service.

• Dec. 24 — 11 p.m., Christmas Eve service with communion.



Seventh-day Adventist

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST, 170 N. Country Club Road, lesson study at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, service 11 a.m. Information: (918) 682-5602.

• Soup kitchen is open from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesdays. Donations welcome.

 

United Methodist

FIRST, 600 E. Okmulgee Ave., Sunday services are at 8:50 a.m., contemporary worship; Sunday school, 10:05 a.m.; traditional worship, 11:05 a.m. Information: (918) 682-3368.

• Gamblers Anonymous meets at the church at 6 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays.

OKAY, Oklahoma 16, Sunday worship, 9 a.m. Pastor: Raymond Griffin.

• Church has a Bible study and potluck dinner at 6 p.m. Wednesdays.

FIRST, 419 W. Gentry St., Checotah, Mission Hall service, 8:30 a.m.; Sunday school, 9:30 a.m.; worship, 10:50 a.m. Youth meet at 5 p.m. Sundays. Midweek communion 7 a.m. Wednesdays in a 20-minute service. An attended nursery is available for the Sunday morning services. Information: fumcchecotah.org or (918) 473-5714.

• Christmas Eve candlelight communion service at 6 p.m. The church practices open communion which means all people of faith are welcome to participate.

• Communion services are regularly held on the first Sunday of every month and every Wednesday at 7 a.m. Rev. Wayne Loftin, senior minister, and Rev. Tyler Kirk, associate minister, alternate conducting the approximately 20 minute service.

ST. PAUL, 2130 W. Okmulgee Ave., 8:30 a.m., worship, Rowsey Chapel; 9 a.m., FUEL, contemporary worship; 9:45 a.m., Sunday school and Children’s Spirit Zone; 11 a.m., worship, sanctuary; 6 p.m. youth group.

• Christmas Eve candlelight worship services, 5 and 11 p.m. Dec. 24, Sanctuary



Nondenominational

HARVEST MINISTRIES CHURCH, 2200 E. Okmulgee Ave., services at 10 a.m. Sunday and 7 p.m. Wednesday. Pastors: Lester and Doretha Beasley, (918) 816-0901. Information: (918) 686-7455.

• Vacation Bible School, 6 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 27-28 and 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Dec. 29. The theme is Mission Possible: Three Parables of St. Luke. Thursday is the Good Samaritan. Friday is the Unjust Judge and Saturday is the Prodigal Son.



Other

CHRIST FOR THE WORLD INTERNATIONAL, 120 N. 24th St., services are at 11 a.m. Sunday and 7 p.m. Tuesday. Pastor: Isaiah and Amber Thompson. Information: (918) 684-9963.

• Church is participating in the at-risk after school program. Meals will be provided to all children without charge, through May 10. On Sundays, a snack will be served 10:30 to 11:00 a.m., and lunch will be served from noon to 12:30 p.m. On Tuesdays, supper will be served from 6 to 6:30 p.m., and a snack will be served from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.



Deadline for church news is noon Wednesday. E-mail features@muskogeephoenix.com; fax to (918) 684-2865; mail to P.O. Box 1968, Muskogee 74402. For a complete list of Muskogee area churches, log on to www.muskogeephoenix.com.