Urbanna United Methodist Church is hosting a free holiday concert Sunday, Nov. 23, at 4 p.m. The Jacobson Quartet, featuring Anne Baltrusaitis on violin, Alice Rubinstein on violin, Robert Rubinstein on violin and viola, and Rebecca Young on cello, will perform the beautiful music of the season.
What a wonderful way to greet Thanksgiving and the Advent/Christmas season as folks relax in the glow of candlelight. Please plan to attend and invite your family and friends. After the concert, there will be an informal reception to meet the artists in the church fellowship hall.
Urbanna United Methodist Church is located at 221 Marston Ave. in the town of Urbanna.
For information, email pwake8@outlook.com.
Zion Hill Baptist Church, 10256 Indian Road, Gloucester, will have in-person worship service on Sunday, Nov. 23, at 11 a.m. Pastor Eugene Comithier II will preach and the Inspirational Voices will sing. In-person Sunday school will be offered at 9:45 a.m.
Bible study will be offered on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. via conference call. The conference call number is 978-990-5000 and the access code is 667896.
For information, email mrt8wa@aol.com.
Christ Church Parish (Episcopal) welcomes all to its Sunday worship services at 8 and 10:30 a.m. Located at 56 Christ Church Lane in Christchurch, the vibrant congregation streams services live on Facebook. Visit christchurchmiddlesex.com for details.
The Advent season kicks off with three Advent dinners on Wednesdays, Dec. 3, 10 and 17, at 5:30 p.m. in the Christ Church Fellowship Hall. These informal gatherings are open to all.
Save the date for the annual Live Nativity on Friday, Dec. 12, from 5-7 p.m. Park your car, join the carol singing and enjoy hot cider and cookies. Earl the donkey returns, the Three Wise Men will greet visitors, and families can experience the song “No Room at the Inn.”
This year, Christ Church Parish will decorate a tree for the Urbanna Festival of Lights on Dec. 6, adding to the town’s festive display.
For information, email pammcclelland46@gmail.com.
The Southside Rappa-hannock Baptist Association Concert Choir under the direction of Marcellus Dungee, and the Northern Neck Baptist Association Convention Choir under the direction of the Rev. Andrew Tribble, will present a Combined Christmas Concert on Saturday, Dec. 13. It will take place at Essex High School, 833 High School Circle, Tappahannock, at 3 p.m. The doors will open at 2 p.m. The concert is free to the public.
Calvary Baptist Church’s Senior Choir will observe its annual Candlelight Service on Sunday, Dec. 7, at 5 p.m. MGM Tri-County Choir, under the direction of Elder John Smith, will be the special guests. Everyone is invited to attend the service.
Congregants at Lower United Methodist Church (LUMC) at 120 Lower Church Road in Hartfield invite everyone to join them this Sunday at 10:30 a.m. for their traditional worship service in our historic sanctuary.
Adult Sunday school is offered Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. in LUMC Fellowship Hall, preceded by Coffee Fellowship beginning at 9:15 a.m.
There will be a cast reading for their upcoming Murder Mystery Dinner Theater on Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
Their women’s choral ensemble, Wellspring, meets Monday at 6 p.m., and at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, their hand bell choir, Embellish, will practice.
The church office will be closed Nov. 26 and 27 for the Thanksgiving holiday.
For information, visit, lowerumc.org.
The magic of Christmas music opens the 2025 season on the first weekend in December with concerts by the Chesapeake Chorale.
“Christmas Memories” will be presented at Lancaster Elementary School, 191 School St., Kilmarnock, on Saturday, Dec. 6, at 8 p.m., and at St. Clare Walker Middle School, 6814 General Puller Highway, Locust Hill, on Sunday, Dec. 7, at 3 p.m.
Director Dr. Cheryl Davis says that music selections were chosen this year from many audience favorites, such as, “Do You Hear What I Hear,” “The Little Drummer Boy,” “Mary Did You Know,” “Jingle Bell Rock,” and “Away in a Manger.” Arline Hinkson, with assistant Dee Simons, will again provide piano accompaniment, and guest instrumentalists will accompany some pieces.
The Chorale is a community group whose members live in several area counties, and all funds from concert ticket sales are donated to school music programs in those counties.
Tickets are $10, and can be purchased from Country Cottage in White Stone, from Pearl Boutique and Chesapeake Bank in Kilmarnock, from Chorale members, and at the door.
On Monday, Dec. 1, at 3:30 p.m., the Chorale will also provide music selections at Historic Christ Church in Weems’ traditional “Holly and the Ivy” service.
The Men of Grafton Baptist Church joyfully invite you to join them for a special evening of celebration, fellowship and song as they usher in the Christmas season together at their Christmas Holiday Celebration and Song Program. The celebration will be on Sunday, Dec. 14, at 3 p.m.
This gathering is more than just a concert — it’s a time for men of all ages and backgrounds to come together in unity, to praise and reflect on the true meaning of the season.
Whether you are a seasoned vocalist or simply love the sound of Christmas music, they invite you to come ready to sing, celebrate and connect with other men in the community.
Light refreshments will be served following the program, and they encourage you to bring a friend, neighbor or family members along.
Contact Deacon Neil Wake at 804-347-4794 or email neilwake@hotmail.com for information or additional rehearsal dates.
A weekly Bible study will be offered at the Middlesex County Public Library’s Urbanna branch. All denominations are welcome. It will meet Mondays 10:15-11:15 a.m.
For information, call 804-815-1170.
Catholic Church of the Visitation (COV) in Topping recurring events include:
- 8:30 a.m. Sundays — New Worship Area Rosary (Cindy Jessee).
- 9:30-10:30 a.m. first Thursday of the month — Adoration (Cindy Jessee).
- 9:30 a.m. second Monday of the month — Visitation Singers (Carol McCormack).
- 5:15 p.m. third Wednesday of the month — Knights of Columbus meeting (Al Langer).
- 1 p.m. second and fourth Monday of the month — Shawl Ministry (Sandi Delagrange).
- 9 a.m. first Friday of the month (other weeks 9:45 a.m. Thursdays) — COV Gals (Louise Petralia/Eileen O’Brien).
- TBA second Thursday of the month — Liturgy Meeting (Noelle Harvey).
For information, email office@COVTopping.org.
No matter what the circumstances, grief is a painful, confusing process. A Grief Share group is a safe, welcoming place where people understand the difficult emotions of grief. At this 13-week support group program, you’ll discover what to expect in the days ahead and what’s “normal” in grief. Since there are no neat, orderly stages of grief, you’ll learn helpful ways of coping with grief, in all its unpredictability — and gain solid support each step of the way.
At each weekly meeting, you will view a video featuring respected counselors, pastors, and healthcare professionals on grief-related topics, plus you’ll hear relatable personal stories of grief. After that is a small-group discussion to allow people time to talk, share support, and personally apply what they learned on the video. Everyone will receive a book to take home filled with valuable exercises for navigating their personal grieving process.
Topics include how to manage grief-related emotions such as loneliness, anxiety, sadness, anger, and regret; how to cope with the changes in your life and relationships; and how to recognize what’s normal in grief and what to do if you feel stuck or hopeless.
Grief Share group participants have repeatedly shared that they feel comforted and encouraged by being in a place where people truly understand what they’re going through. And they feel a sense of relief when they’re given guidance and tips on how to deal with the daily challenges.
Your bereavement exper-ience may be recent or not so recent. No matter how long it’s been, this is an opportunity to be around people who understand what you are feeling.
If you have experienced the death of a family member or friend, you are invited to attend. For more details, and to find and register for a group, visit griefshare.org.
Urbanna Baptist Church, 121 Watling St., Urbanna, hosts 6:30 p.m. grief support sessions every Tuesday through the fall.
Contact Nell Robinson at 804-758-2720 or nellubcsecretary22@gmail, if you have questions or concerns.
Make-A-Way Church, 100 Flats Road, Urbanna, is now starting its Sunday morning program with a 9 a.m. Sunday school gathering. Its worship service is at 10 a.m.
All are welcome to fellowship with them.
Apostle Dr. Jesse and Prophetess Edna Ransom are the pastors.
For information, email ransomedna7@gmail.com.
Want to come to church? You are always welcome at Church of Latter-day Saints, 51 Devils Bottom Road, Kilmarnock.
Reach out to the church’s missionaries at ComeUntoChrist.org/Jesus.
Come and find a community for you. For information, visit https://local.churchofjesuschrist.org/en/us/va/kilmarnock/51-devils-bottom-road or call 804-435-2408.
Have a blessed one!
(The deadline for submitting church brief items is 11 a.m. Tuesday for that week’s paper. Items are subject to editing and may be emailed to Editor@SSentinel.com. Please include a contact person’s name and phone number. Due to the volume of items received, the Sentinel cannot always run announcements from out-of-county churches.)
