Religion calendar for the week of Nov. 21

By North County Times | Thursday, November 20, 2008 11:21 PM PST ∞

Women's Auxiliary to meet ---- Forest Home Women's Auxiliary Chapter 31 will meet for Bible study and brunch, with Isaiah 42 the topic of study; the Auxiliary is a nondenominational Christian organization for women and is affiliated with the Forest Home Ministry in San Bernardino; 9:30 a.m. Friday (Nov. 21); Mission Hills Church, 400 Mission Hills Court, San Marcos; free; (760) 745-3969.

Advent workshop for children and families ---- First United Methodist Church of Escondido is hosting "Sing to the Coming King," a special Advent workshop with potluck dinner, games, crafts and movie; 6 to 8:30 p.m. Friday (Nov. 21); 341 S. Kalmia St., Escondido; $4 per person or $12 per family, plus dish to share; (760) 745-5100.

Thanksgiving bake sale ---- The Ladies Auxiliary of St. John of Damascus Orthodox Church is holding a bake sale with baklava, tea breads, cookies, stuffed cabbage rolls, pierogies and more; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday; 16903 Espola Road, Poway; (858) 674-1931.

Alternative gift market ---- Several local churches are joining to host an "alternative gift market"; vendors will be selling unique gifts from around the world, and all vendors are associated with projects to help impoverished people earn a living through entrepreneurship; 1-4 p.m. Saturday; San Marcos Community Center, 1 Civic Center Drive, San Marcos; (760) 745-5100.

Thanksgiving service and meal ---- The Way Church is hosting a Thanksgiving meal following morning worship service; 10:30 a.m. Sunday; 838 Hanson Lane, Ramona; (760) 789-2732 or twcr.org.

All-faith Thanksgiving service ---- The Poway Interfaith Team and religious leaders from the Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, Islamic and Universalist traditions will celebrate Thanksgiving; 7 p.m. Tuesday; Community Church of Poway, 13501 Community Road, Poway; free-will collection; (858) 487-8885.

Thanksgiving Eve service ---- Faith Lutheran Church is holding a Thanksgiving celebration; 7 p.m. Wednesday; 700 E. Bobier Ave., Vista; free-will collection; (760) 724-7700.

Interfaith Thanksgiving Eve service ---- St. James Catholic Church is hosting the 20th annual Thanksgiving Eve celebration of the San Dieguito Interfaith Ministerial Association; 7:30 p.m. Wednesday; 625 S. Nardo Ave., Solana Beach; free-will collection to benefit the Community Resource Center in Encinitas; (858) 755-2545.

Thanksgiving Day service ---- Outcast Ministries invites the public to its morning service, followed by a Thanksgiving meal; 10 a.m. Thursday; 1305 Union Plaza, Oceanside; (760) 757-1916.

Thanksgiving service ---- First Church of Christ, Scientist, is holding a Thanksgiving Day service open to all; 10 a.m. Thursday; 440 S. Broadway, Escondido; free-will collection; (760) 745-4040.

Thanksgiving potluck ---- The Seaside Center for Spiritual Living is hosting its sixth annual Thanksgiving dinner potluck at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, after its 11 a.m. service; 1613 Lake Drive, Encinitas; (760) 633-0122.

AIDS Memorial Quilt and service ---- Pilgrim United Church of Christ will display 96 panels of the Names Project Foundation's AIDS Memorial Quilt to mark World AIDS Day; noon to 5 p.m. Nov. 29-30, 6 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 1; World AIDS Day service 10 a.m. Nov. 30; 2020 Chestnut Ave., Carlsbad; free (collection at Sunday service); (760) 729-6311 or pilgrimucc.org.

Cole-Whittaker to speak ---- Best-selling author Terry Cole-Whittaker will speak on the topic of "You Are Greater Than You Think You Are" at morning services at Seaside Center for Spiritual Living; 9 and 11 a.m. Nov. 30; 1613 Lake Drive, Encinitas; free-will collection; (760) 753-5786 or seasidecenter.org.

"Hanging of the Greens" ---- First Congregational Church of Escondido is marking the start of Advent this year with a new tradition: "Hanging of the Greens." This special service, in which the church will be decorated with evergreens, wreaths and poinsettias, will conclude with the lighting of candles and the adornment of the creche; 10 a.m. Nov. 30; 1800 N. Broadway, Escondido; (760) 745-3320 or fcceonline.org.

Local churches to mark World AIDS Day ---- The United Methodist Church of Vista and Trinity Episcopal Church of Escondido each will host services on World AIDS Day to commemorate those lost to the disease; the service at UMC-Vista is at 7 p.m. Dec. 1; 490 S. Melrose Drive; to have a loved one remembered at the service by the lighting of a special candle, contact the church office; (760) 726-0442 or umcvista.org; the service at Trinity Episcopal will feature the Rev. James R. Mathes, bishop of the San Diego Episcopal diocese, giving the sermon, and is at 7 p.m. Dec. 1; 845 Chestnut St., Escondido; (760) 743-1629 or visit trinityescondido.org.

Women's enrichment night ----- Riverview Evangelical Free Church is hosting a "Woman to Woman Dinner" with a catered dinner, raffle basket and guest speaker Kris Jordan, who will speak on her missionary work both abroad and on skid row here in the United States; 6 p.m. Dec. 3; 4980 Sweetgrass Lane, Bonsall; $12, advance registration required (through Nov. 30); (760) 941-1430 or refc.org.

Contemplative rosary ---- San Rafael Catholic Church is hosting a contemplative rosary reading with the "Joyful Mysteries" sung by the parish choir; 7 p.m. Dec. 5; 17252 Bernardo Center Drive, Rancho Bernardo; free; (858) 487-4314 or sanrafaelparish.org.

Healing mission scheduled ---- The Anglican Church of the Resurrection is hosting a healing mission, "The Spirit Comes in Power," led by the Rev. Josh Acton, rector of Christ the Redeemer Anglican Church in Yuma, Ariz., and director of Desert Call Healing Ministries; the two-day program begins at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 5 and continues at 8:30 a.m. Dec. 6; 135 Vallecitos de Oro, Suite F., San Marcos; $40 per person; (760) 471-5205 or resurrectionsanmarcos.org.

Foundational healing program ---- Aglow International of North County will present Pastor Chris Clarke, who will speak on the topic of "Foundational Healing: A Mother's Blessing" at their December meeting; 10 a.m. Dec. 6; Hope United Methodist Church, 16550 Bernardo Heights Parkway, Rancho Bernardo; $6.50, includes brunch; (858) 945-8668.

Messiah singalong ---- St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church is hosting a singalong of Handel's Messiah, with more than 110 singers, including the St. Bartholomew's Coventry Choir and choirs from San Rafael Catholic Church, Rancho Bernardo Baptist Church, the Lutheran Church of the Incarnation and more; 4 p.m. Dec. 7; 16275 Pomerado Road, Poway; $10, includes post-performance reception; (858) 487-2159 or stbartschurch.org.

Advent retreat at Mission San Luis Rey ---- Brother Mark Schroeder will lead a three-day retreat focused on "The Gift of Peace" to help deepen our awareness of the Incarnation; the retreat starts at 4 p.m. Dec. 12 and runs through lunch Dec. 14; 4050 Mission Ave., Oceanside; $100-$220, depending on accommodations; (760) 757-3659 or sanluisrey.org.

"Navidad in el Barrio" ---- Palomar Heights Church is hosting a three-day Latino-themed Christimas celebration, with games, prizes, face-painting and other family activities, plus a Christmas concert in Spanish; movie with popcorn and drinks, 6 p.m. Dec. 12; concert with doughnuts and drinks, 5:30 pm. Dec. 13; holiday festival with game booths and activities, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Dec. 14; 970 Los Vallecitos Blvd., San Marcos; free; (760) 752-7895 or palomarheights.com.

Ornament workshop ---- The Church at Rancho Bernardo is holding a Christmas ornament workshop for women and children ---- children must be accompanied by an adult to participate; 10 a.m. Dec. 13; 11740 Bernardo Plaza Court, Rancho Bernardo; $15 for adults, $5 for children before Dec. 7; $20 for adults after Dec. 7 (children's price won't change); (858) 592-2434 or thechurchatrb.org.

Christmas show in Fallbrook ---- The Fallbrook Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is presenting its annual Tri-Ward Christmas Musical Fireside; this year's theme is "Journey to Bethlehem," with various choral numbers performed and a reception with hors d'oeuvres and desserts; 621 Stage Coach Lane, Fallbrook; free; (760) 728-4244.