Editor’s note: To submit a nonprofit announcement to The Sentinel’s Religion section, contact Tom Laub at (717) 248-6741 or by email at living@lewistownsentinel.com. Items also may be faxed to (717) 248-3481 or sent to The Sentinel, 21 S. Brown St., Lewistown, PA 17044. Items must be received by Tuesday for publication in the Saturday edition. Submissions will be published as space allows. The editor reserves the right to edit all submissions.

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First Bakers UMC to host Bible study

McCLURE — First Bakers United Methodist Church will host a Bible study every Wednesday at 7 p.m. The church will also host a youth group for individuals under age 18 on the first Thursday of each month, except July.

Schrader UMC to host special speakers

MILROY — Schrader United Methodist Church will host the following speakers during its 8:30 a.m. services:

• Dec. 21 — Anthony Carpenter with Pastor Bernard Carpenter

• Dec. 28 — Eric Carlson

• Jan. 4 — Pastor John Hughes

• Jan. 11 — Pastor Mike and Jane Bailey

• Jan. 18 — Chip Baumgardner

• Jan. 25 — Pastor Tom Morningstar

Stony Run Mission upcoming events

McALISTERVILLE — Upcoming events at Stony Run Mission, 2825 Evendale Hill Rd., McAlisterville:

• Dec. 21 — No evening service.

• Dec. 28 — Holy Candlelight Communion at 6 p.m.

Worship services at Trinity Lutheran

McALISTERVILLE — Trinity Lutheran Church, 420 Main St. in McAlisterville.

Watch our services live on our Facebook page or posted on our YouTube Channel and website, www.trinitymcalisterville.org. Worship begins at 9 a.m. on Sunday mornings. Social Time and Children’s and Adult Sunday School take place after worship. Check our website and Facebook page to find out more about what’s coming up at TLC.

Please join us in worship Dec. 21 for the final Sunday in the season of Advent as we prepare for the birth of Jesus. The Children and Youth Christmas Program, “The ABCs of Christmas,” will take place Dec. 21 during worship. All are welcome to worship with us on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Wednesday, Dec. 24 at 3 p.m., “Christmas in the Barn,” Sawmill Ridge Heritage Farm. At 7 p.m., candlelight service, TLC (There will be special music leading up to the service). Thursday, Dec. 25 at 10 a.m., Christmas Morning service, TLC.

Services at Upper Room Worship Center Cafe Church

BELLEVILLE — The Upper Room Worship Center Cafe’ Church, 4567 E. Main St. in Belleville.

Worship services Sunday at 10:30 a.m. God loves you and so do we.

Services at Grace Baptist Church

PORT ROYAL — Services at Grace Baptist Church, Spruce Hill Grange, 20378 Rte. 75 S. in Port Royal.

• Sunday worship — 10:15 a.m. and 7 p.m.

• Sunday School — 9 a.m.

• Wednesday Bible study and youth program — 7 p.m.

For more information, call (717) 527-4296.

Port Royal Lutheran Parish news

PORT ROYAL — We welcome you to worship with us each Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Port Royal Lutheran Church is located at 402 Market St., Port Royal. Care meals are delivered the first Wednesday of each month. Quilters meet each Monday at 9 a.m. For more information, call (717) 527-4152.

Services at Parkview Church of the Brethren

LEWISTOWN — Services at Parkview Church of the Brethren, 990 Parcheytown Rd., Lewistown:

Sunday School at 9 a.m. Worship service at 10 a.m. Wednesday Bible studies from 1 to 2:30 p.m. in the sanctuary. All are welcome. The Christmas Candlelight and Nativity program will be Sunday, Dec. 21 at 6 p.m. Refreshments follow the service. All are welcome.

Centre Evangelical Lutheran Church services

MIFFLINTOWN — Centre Evangelical Lutheran Church congregation continues to meet every Sunday in the community room of the church at 9259 William Penn Hwy., Mifflintown. Social hour begins at 10:15 a.m. Church services begin at 10:45 a.m. Join us for fellowship and services. Christmas Eve service will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 24. at 7 p.m. Please join us in the telling of the birth of Christ. We were able to participate in the Christmas Angel Project again this year and wish all those who participated a very Merry Christmas. We invite you to pray for those who are suffering spiritually, medically, mentally and financially.

Events / services at Free Spring

Church of the Brethren

MIFFLINTOWN — Worship services at Free Spring Church of the Brethren, 670 Free Spring

Church Road, Mifflintown:

Sunday at 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Sunday School at 9:30 a.m. Fifth Sunday: Meet in the Middle in place of Sunday School with food and fellowship.

Services at West Kish Presbyterian Church

BELLEVILLE — Services at West Kish Presbyterian Church, 3820 W. Main St., Belleville are Sundays at 9:30 a.m. followed by children and adult Sunday school.

Juniata County Christian Education Released Time program enrollment

JUNIATA COUNTY — The Juniata County Christian Education Released Time Program began in early October and will hold weekly classes until the end of April 2026. Enrollment is open all year long for 1st grade to middle school students in Juniata County. Interested parents or guardians may pick up enrollment forms at their public school office, fill them out and return them to their children’s school office. If you have questions, call Rev. Ron Landis at (717) 535-5035.

Grace United Methodist Church Christmas Eve services

LEWISTOWN — Grace United Methodist Church, 101 Logan St., Lewistown, Christmas Eve services will be Dec. 24. Cookies and cocoa Christmas Eve service at 4 p.m. Candlelight service at 7 p.m.

St. Mark’s Dormantown Lutheran Church services/events

McCLURE — St. Mark’s Dormantown Lutheran Church services at 9 a.m. Welcoming Mr. Randy Traxler in the provision of church services. The church is located at 821 Dormantown Rd., McClure.

Bible study every Wednesday at 6 p.m.

Services at Bunkertown Brethren Church

McALISTERVILLE — Bunkertown Brethren Church, 52 Bunkertown Rd., McAlisterville, is thrilled to welcome a new Associate Family Pastor, Brad Noel and family. Pastor Brad and wife Molly are anxious to serve the Lord and see what God desires to do in and through them at BBC. Saturday evening services will be held on the first and third Saturday of each month.

Divorce Care and Divorce Care 4 Kids at New Life Church

BURNHAM — Divorce Care and Divorce Care 4 Kids at New Life Church:

• Divorce Care 4 Kids (DC4K) — Mondays at 6 p.m. at New Life Church, Burnham. This is a 13-week support group for children ages 5 years to 12 years whose families are experiencing separation/divorce. At DC4K, kids are engaged in crafts, games, activities, DVD dramas and music. For more information or to register your child, call/text (717) 994-2007.

• Divorce Care — Mondays at 6 p.m. at New Life Church, Burnham. Divorce Care is a support group for adults that meets weekly for 13 weeks to help adults recover from the pain of separation and divorce. For more information or to register for the program, call (717) 994-2007.

Resurrection OPC extending its ministry

LEWISTOWN- Resurrection Orthodox Presbyterian Church, located in State College, is looking to extend its ministry of Biblical preaching, God-centered worship, and serious Christianity for real life into Lewistown and the surrounding Mifflin and Juniata Counties region.

Starting in December, we will be holding local worship services every Sunday at the Lumina Center in Lewistown (18 E. Third St.) for a three-month exploratory period. Previously (from September through November 2025), meetings consisted of a livestream of Resurrection’s State College worship. Meetings from December on will be fully local worship services.

Sunday morning meetings will take place at 9:30 a.m. on Dec. 21; Jan. 4 and 18; Feb. 1 and 15. Sunday evening meetings will take place at 6 p.m. on Dec. 28; Jan. 11 and 25; Feb. 8 and 22. For the morning meetings, the worship service will be followed by a Sunday School hour where you can learn more about a Biblical perspective on the church and the values and priorities that inform OPC church planting.

For more information, call (814) 206-0186 or email pastor@resurrectionopc.org.

Services at Grove Memorial UMC

LEWISTOWN — Grove Memorial United Methodist Church, 611 S. Main St., Lewistown,

services and programs each Sunday:

Sunday School at 9:45 a.m.

Traditional service 11 a.m.

Contemporary service with children’s program at 6 p.m.

Bethel AME Church Center for Hope Celebrate Recovery

LEWISTOWN — Celebrate Recovery is held Thursdays at 7 p.m. at Bethel AME Church – the Center for Hope, 23 N. Juniata St., Lewistown. The program is a faith-based 12-step for individuals and family members of those in recovery from life, addiction, trauma and grief. Visit hopeinlewistown.org.

Christmas Cantata at Bunkertown Brethren Church

McALISTERVILLE — Bunkertown Brethren Church, 52 Bunkertown Rd., McAlisterville, will present a Christmas Cantata “Christmas…A Savior is Born,” Saturday, Dec. 20 at 6 p.m. Experience the true meaning of Christmas. Join us for a captivating cantata as we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ through the power of music and powerful storytelling. Our choir will present a joyful blend of beloved classics and uplifting worship songs that will fill your heart with the hope, peace and love of the season.

Christmas services at First Baptist Church

MIFFLINTOWN — Christmas Services at First Baptist Church of Juniata County, Rte. 35, one mile north of Mifflintown.

• Sunday, Dec. 21 — First Baptist Church Christmas Cantata service at 9:30 a.m. Cantata: “Mary, Did You Know?” under the direction of Rebecca Brubaker. Note: 8:30 a.m. Sunday School for all ages.

• Wednesday, Dec. 24 — First Baptist Church Christmas Eve Candlelight service at 6 p.m. Various musical selections and vocals along with the singing of the traditional Christmas songs and a Devotional. Bring the entire family for this special heartwarming time of worship.

Blue Christmas service at Newton Hamilton Bible Church

NEWTON HAMILTON — A Blue Christmas service open to all families who are grieving, experiencing hardship or need a sense of community during the Holiday season will be held Sunday, Dec. 21 at 6 p.m. at Newton Hamilton Bible Church, 169 Church St., Newton Hamilton. Cookies and hot chocolate will follow the service.

Carol and candlelight service at Big Valley Brethren in Christ Church

BELLEVILLE — Big Valley Brethren in Christ Church, 81 Wagner St., Belleville, will hold a carol and candlelight service Dec. 21 at 7 p.m.

Christmas services at Strodes Mills Baptist

McVEYTOWN — Christmas services at Strodes Mills Baptist Church, 8151 U.S. Hwy. 522 S., McVeytown:

• Sunday, Dec. 21 — 10:30 a.m., the church choir will present the cantata “The Christmas Story.”

• Wednesday, Dec. 24 — 5 p.m, Christmas candlelight service.

Call the church at (717) 248-9484 for more information.

Christmas candlelight service at Milroy Presbyterian Church

MILROY — A Christmas candlelight service will be held at Milroy Presbyterian Church Dec. 23 at 7 p.m. There will be a display of various Nativities in the basement after the service along with cookies and punch.

Christmas Eve service at Siglerville Congregational Church

MILROY — A Christmas Eve candlelight service will be held at 7 p.m. at the Siglerville Congregational Church on Locke Mills Rd., Milroy.

Christmas Cantata at Spring Run Church of the Brethren

McVEYTOWN — The last Sunday morning (Dec. 28) worship of 2025 at McVeytown’s Spring Run Church of the Brethren will be a meaningful combination of congregational caroling and performances by several talented guest musicians and vocalists. A children’s message, inspirational readings, prayer, and a memorial dedication will complete the worship experience. The service begins at 9:45 a.m. All are welcome.

Port Royal Men’s Lenten Prayer Breakfast

PORT ROYAL — Port Royal Men’s Lenten Prayer Breakfasts will be held at 7 a.m. every Saturday morning during Lent at the Port Royal Community Building, 4th St., Port Royal.

• Feb. 21 — Rev. Leroy Yoder, Shade Mountain Fellowship

• Feb. 28 — Rev. Sean McGill, First Baptist Church

• March 7 — Mr. Mark Partner, Nook Lutheran Church

• March 14 — Dr. John Gehman, Medical Dr.

• March 21 — Rev. Mike Neiman, Shamokin Dam Baptist

• March 28 — Mr. Rodney Pry, Free Spring Brethren

• April 4 — Rev. Ken Harper, Cedar Grove B.I.C. Church