Local Digest
By Staff
Dec. 20, 2001
UBS announces holiday blood drives
United Blood Services officials are facing a serious blood shortage as the holidays approach. Burger King on North Frontage Road is sponsoring a blood drive Friday, from 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. The "bloodmobile" will be in the parking lot. Donors will receive a Christmas T-shirt and a Whopper Value Meal.
UBS is also sponsoring the "Holiday Heroes" program for business and non-profit organizations. The program allows organizations to sign up for a standing blood donation appointment at Meridian's UBS center.
Holiday Heroes 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.
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 Saturday at 8:30 p.m. The lodge is at 1423 34th Ave. For tickets and information, contact any Elks member or call 485-9353.
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.
Upcoming Christmas special events
Friday
The town of Hickory and its neighbors will come together in the Hickory High School gym for a Christmas special. Youth will meet to sing carols throughout the town at 5:30 p.m.; the public is invited to the gym at 7 p.m. for a special musical, "The Story of Jesus' Birth." Choirs from local churches will perform. Hot chocolate and cookies will be served.
Saturday
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.
Sunday
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 "Las Posadas," a special worship service that remembers Mary and Joseph's search for shelter at 6 p.m. They will also have a Christmas Eve candlelight communion. 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 St. 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 communion 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.
Tuesday
Trinity Lutheran Church will have a Christmas Day service at 10 a.m.
