Local Digest

By Staff
Dec. 18, 2001
Main Street Meridian hosts street festival
Join in a celebration of the spirit of the holiday season through Christmas and patriotic music today as Main Street Meridian hosts "An American Family Christmas Festival." The gathering is set for 5 p.m.-9 p.m. at Dumont Plaza, and will feature music celebrating patriotism and the holiday season. Food and beverages will be served. The event is free.
Blood drive set for Friday
The United Blood Services is facing a serious blood shortage as the holidays approach. Burger King on North Frontage Road is sponsoring a blood drive from 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday in the Bloodmobile.
Donors will receive a Christmas T-shirt and Burger King will give each donor a Whopper Value Meal.
NAMI to conduct education classes
The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill of Mississippi will offer free education classes beginning in January for family members of people with schizophrenia, manic depression, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder and anxiety disorder. The 12-class course offers illness information, medication review, communication and coping skills, self-care/support and services.
For details, or to register, call (800) 357-0388.
Elks hold holiday celebration
The brothers and daughters of Metropolitan Lodge 551 and R.B. Matthews Temple 739 will sponsor a semi-formal Winter Wonderland holiday celebration at 8:30 p.m. Saturday.
The lodge is at 1423 34th Ave. For tickets and information, contact any Elks member or call 485-9353.
UBS begins Holiday Heroes' program
United Blood Services officials say businesses and non-profits can make a difference this Christmas by taking part in the "Holiday Heroes" program. The program allows organizations to sign up for a standing blood donation appointment at Meridian's UBS center.
The program will help maintain the blood supply during the Christmas and New Year's holidays when blood donations historically decrease. It takes 35 to 40 minutes to donate blood, and each participant will receive a holiday T-shirt.
The UBS office in Meridian is at 1115 25th Ave. For more information, call 482-2482.
Upcoming Christmas special events
Wednesday
Trinity Lutheran Church will stage a children's Christmas program, "Christmas Clue's," at 7 p.m. The church is at 4805 Highway 39 North. For information, call 483-5457.
Jubilee Mennonite Church will host an evening of sacred organ music at 7 p.m. The guest organist will be Leesa Wilkinson, an instructor in the music department at East Central Community College for 15 years. The church is at 812 28th Ave. For information, call 693-8073.
Sunday
The Celebration Choir and Drama Team of New Hope Baptist Church will present "That's the Good News" at 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. A nursery will be provided. The church is at 6573 Highway 145 South. For information, call 693-4490.
Pine Grove Church of God in Edinburg will present "Come in Grace and Glory," a contemporary Christmas cantata with liturgical dance and sign language, at 6 p.m. The church is 10 miles east of Carthage and 11 miles west of Philadelphia on Highway 16. For information, call (601) 267-3368.
Poplar Springs Drive United Methodist Church presents "Lasposadas," a special worship service that remembers Mary and Joseph's search for shelter, at 6 p.m. They will also have a Christmas Eve candle light communion at 6 p.m. The church is at 3937 Poplar Springs Drive. For information, call 485-5598.
The youth and worship team of Northcrest Baptist Church will present "The Noise We Make" at 7 p.m. The church is at 3412 North Hills St. For information, call 482-3498.
Monday
Church of the Mediator will have family holy communion at 5:30 p.m., Christmas carols at 10:30 p.m. and Christmas Mass at 11 p.m. The church is at 3825 35th Ave. For information, call 482-3959.
St. Patrick Catholic Church will have a children's Mass at 5 p.m., regular Mass at 7 p.m. and midnight Mass at midnight. The church is at 2601 Davis Street. For information, call 693-1321.
St. Joseph Catholic Church will have a 10 p.m. Mass. The church is at 1914 18th Ave.
St. Paul's Episcopal Church will have a children's Eucharist ceremony at 4 p.m. and a midnight Mass at 10:30 p.m. The church is at 1116 23rd Ave. For information, call 693-2502.
Central United Methodist Church will have candlelight communions at noon, 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. The church is at 1004 23rd Ave. For information, call 693-1521.
Trinity Lutheran Church will have a Christmas Eve caroling service at 7:30 p.m.