FAITHBRIEFS

Advent/ Christmas events

Downtown Chickamauga, Ga.; 3-6 p.m. today; Chickamauga Christmas Celebration features live Nativity, animal petting zoo, live music, family photo booth, gift-wrapping booth, merchant deals, gingerbread man decorating and parade sponsored by Oakwood Baptist Church, Downtown Chickamauga Merchants Association and city of Chickamauga; free admission; 706-375-5760 or www.facebook.com/ChickamaugaChristmasCelebration.

Tyner United Methodist Church, 6805 Standifer Gap Road; 6- 8 p. m. (live Nativity), 6 and 7 p.m. (handbells music), 6:15 and 7:15 p.m. (choir mini-concert) today and Sunday; 892-0444.

Faith Connection Church, 6857 Mountain View Road, Ooltewah; 10:30 a.m. Sundays, through Dec. 22; Christmas Around the World services; free; 9336986 or www.faithconnectionchurch.com.

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 822 Belvoir Ave.; 3 p. m. Sunday; “The Many Moods of Christmas” concert features four- churches choir, orchestra and organ ( reception follows); free but freewill offering taken; 629-4661.

Simpson United Methodist Church, 601 McFarland Ave., Rossville; 3 p.m. Sunday; chancel choir cantata, “A Song Was Born at Christmas” (reception follows); 706-866-3410.

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 305 W. Seventh St.; 4 p.m. Sunday; Advent Lessons and Carols presentation by choirs and handbells ( reception follows); free; 266-8195.

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 822 Belvoir Ave.; 6:30 p.m. Wednesday; Music in Advent series features performance by Jericho Brass; 629-4661.

Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 14950 Rhea County Highway North, Evensville, Tenn.; 7 p.m. Wednesdays, through Dec. 18; Advent services; 775-4253.

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 305 W. Seventh St.; 12:05 p.m. Wednesday; 66th annual Advent Concert Series features performance by violinist Bryony Stroud-Watson and clarinetist David Dunn; free but offering taken ($6 soup lunch available afterward); 266-8195.

Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul, 214 E. Eighth St.; 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 14th annual Chattanooga Candlelight Service of Lessons and Carols by Roueché Chorale and Orchestra; free; 855-2981 or www.therouchechorale.org.

Keith Memorial United Methodist Church, 600 W. Madison Ave., Athens, Tenn.; 7:30 p.m. Thursday; Christmas With the Metropolitan Bells concert; free but donations accepted; 899-3543, 535-3076 or 5044679; also, at Christ United Methodist Church, 8645 East Brainerd Road, 7: 30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 17, and Brainerd Baptist Church, 300 Brookfield Ave., 7: 30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 19.

Chattanooga First Seventh-day Adventist Church, 7450 Standifer Gap Road; 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15; fifth annual “Messiah” Community Sing-Along, with open choral rehearsals 7 p. m. Tuesday and 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14; free but offering benefits local charities; 605-2468.

Signal Mountain Presbyterian Church, 612 James Blvd.; 6: 30 p. m. Sunday, Dec. 15; choir/ bells/orchestra/ Westminster Singers concert of selections from classical to contemporary to jazz, “Christmasfest 2013: How Great Our Joy!”; free and child care available; 886-2190 or www. signalpres.org.

Music

Graysville United Methodist Church, 265 Church St., Graysville, Tenn.; 11 a.m. Sunday; gospel concert by Jim Ricketts and Crystle Elam; free; 4214269.

GraceWorks Church, 6445 Lee Highway; 6 p.m. Sunday; “Ignite the Night” concert features Rick Stanley, stepbrother of Elvis Presley, and “Fireproof” movie recording artist John Waller; www.lightupthiscity.com.

Philadelphia Baptist Church, 1065 Pine Grove Road, Ringgold, Ga.; 6:30 p.m. Friday; weekly singing features Jericho Junction and Sheila Reed; 423-4886031.