Barcelona Baptist slates various holiday activities
HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE — Those within the area will soon have opportunities to get involved with both Halloween and Christmastime activities at Barcelona Road Baptist Church, 390 Barcelona Road.
First up will be an Operation Christmas Child shoebox packing party, set for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday. Church members have collected donated items all year for this special event, and are looking forward to a fun time packing the Christmas gift boxes for children around the world.
Boxes will be filled with hygiene items, toys, school supplies and other gifts, then shipped to a collection center at Samaritan’s Purse, a charity run by the Rev. Franklin Graham. They will then be distributed by that agency to needy children worldwide.
All in the community are welcome to join in the packing, and any who wish to enjoy the noon potluck are asked to bring a dish to share.
Boxes will also be available in the foyer for those who wish to purchase supplies and pack their own boxes. A check for $7 for each box, to cover shipping charges, should be made payable to Samaritan’s Purse, and included in the boxes filled outside the packing event. One check may be used for multiple boxes, for example, a check for $14 can go in one box if two boxes are packed.
If packers want to know where their gift box may end up, they should donate $7 online at http://www.samaritanspurse.org/ occ to “Follow Your Box” and receive an email with the destination of a shoebox gift. Barcoded labels can be brought to the packing party to be attached to boxes.
Participants are also welcome to bring a photo and personal note to be included in the box, if desired.
The dedication for the gift boxes will be held at 6 p.m. Nov. 16.
Call the church office at 501-922-0692 with any questions.
And to help area crafters stock the children’s Christmas shopping corner at the church, craft classes will be held in the church from 10-11:30 a.m. this Friday and Nov. 10.
Instructions and materials for making simple items will be included. Crafters, craft supplies and ideas are welcome, and if anyone has craft ideas to share, or would like to demonstrate how to make them, contact Kristin Whitaker at 501-9220363, or by email to randyw20@att.net.
The “shopping” corner will be set up in early December, and stocked with handmade ornaments, knitted or crocheted hats and gloves, scarves, potholders and more. These gift items will be selected by BRBC children and youth at no charge, so they can give them to family members. Gift wrapping will be included, along with Christmas tags or cards the participants can sign with their own personal messages.
For the next holiday on the calendar, the church will display the Old Testament theme of the 10 plagues, found in the book of Exodus when Moses tells Pharaoh to “Let my people go.”
This display will be viewable throughout the evening of Halloween, during BRBC’s Trunk R Treat celebration.
For that event, children and families in the community can enjoy festivities from 5-6:30 p.m. on Oct. 31. Hot dogs, popcorn, drinks and prizes will abound, and there will also be giant inflatables for even more fun.
Participants are welcome to wear costumes, and plenty of treats will be offered from the automobile trunks of church family members. There will also be a registration and drawings for special prizes each half hour, to be given to those present when announced.
Call Shelly Wagner at 410-451-6662 for more information.