Bella Vista Lutheran Church, 1990 Forest Hills Blvd., distributes Thanksgiving food bags through its Shepherd’s Food Pantry open 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Friday.
Donations needed include boxed mashed potatoes, canned sweet potatoes, canned green beans, canned pumpkin mix, boxed pie crust mix and canned evaporated milk, as well as money to buy turkeys and roasting chickens.
Information: 855-0272, bvlutheran.com.
Bella Vista Christian Church, 103 Riordan Road, sponsors its Caring Hearts Ministry as the group collects food for the annual holiday food drive, with donations supporting the Oasis and Shepherd’s Food Pantries in Bella Vista.
Information: 855-1616, bellavistachristian.com.
THANKSGIVING MEALS
Bella Vista Christian Church, 103 Riordan Road, serves a Thanksgiving dinner at noon Nov. 26. The church provides the meat, stuffing and drinks, with participants asked to bring side dishes. Registration is available on the church website.
Information: 855-1616, bellavistachristian.com.
Southside Church of Christ in Rogers, 919 Dixieland Road, serves a free Thanksgiving dinner for the community from 11 a.m.to 1 p.m. Thursday.
Information: 636-1156, familyatsouthside.com.
CHRISTMAS DONATIONS
Samaritan’s Purse sponsors donation sites at various churches in Northwest Arkansas, to collected giftfilled shoe boxes Monday to Nov. 23.
Boxes can include toys, school supplies, hygiene items, notes of encouragement and a “Wow!” item. Project coordinators hope to collect 20,000 boxes locally, with a world-wide goal of reaching 11 million children in need.
Local collection sites include:
Benton County: Calvary Chapel in the Ozarks in Rogers, 2100 W. Perry Road; Bella Vista Baptist Church, 50 E. Lancashire Blvd.; First Baptist Church in Gentry, 221 W. Main; First Baptist Church in Centerton, 351 W. Centerton Blvd.; Sager Creek Community Church in Siloam Springs, 1600 Cheri Whitlock Drive Washington County: Ridgeview Baptist Church in Fayetteville, 1850 E. Huntsville Road; Calvary Chapel of Fayetteville, 385 E. Sunbridge Dr.; Phillips Chapel Free Will Baptist Church, 3074 S. 48th St. Region: Huntsville United Methodist Church, 500 W. Main St.; Calvary Chapel of Eureka Springs, 4032 E. Van Buren St.
Additional sites are available, and hours vary.
Information: samaritanspurse.org/occ.
BENTON COUNTY
Unitarian Universalists of Benton County, 1110 S.E. Evergreen St., Bentonville, present Dian Williams speaking on “How Compassion Can Change the World” at 11 a.m. Sunday.
Williams is a pastor and facilitator of Compassion Fayetteville, a group of citizens who volunteer their time to encourage and promote a culture of compassion.
Information: 553-8194, uubcar.com.
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Rogers, 1101 W. Hudson Road, holds just one service this week. Worship on this Unity Sunday begins at 10 a.m. Sunday school and Bible classes begin at 8:45 a.m.
The Holy Trinity Youth serve a Thanksgiving meal after the service. At 2 p.m., church members join the youth in packing shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child.
Information: 636-1135, holytrin.org.
Peace Lutheran Church (ELCA) in Rogers, 805 Olrich St., presents a free screening of the movie Virtuous at 7 p.m. Nov. 21.
Jason Campbell, the film’s writer and producer, leads a discussion following the showing. The film stars Erik Estrada, Jessica Lynch, Angelita Nelson and Erin Bethea and shares the principle of Proverbs 31.
Information: 636-2140.
Highland Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Bella Vista, 1500 Forest Hills Blvd., serves a Thanksgiving potluck meal following the morning service Sunday.
The Disciple Women meet at 10 a.m. today. Christian singles meet at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
A game day is planned from 1 to 3 p.m. Thursday in the fellowship hall.
Information: 855-2780, highlandchristianchurchbv.org.
Bella Vista Community Church, 75 E. Lancashire Blvd., sponsors a Christmas English Tea on Dec. 5.
Tickets for the 3 p.m. seating still are available. The entertainment this year is by Charles and Company.
Information: 855-1126, bvcommunitychurch.org.
Unity Church of the Ozarks, 902 SW. Second St., Bentonville, sponsors a bake sale from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today at Sam’s Club in Bentonville.
The church also holds a raffle for a free-range turkey in a drawing Nov. 22.
Information: 721-2752, unityozarks.org.
Village Bible Evangelical Free Church in Bella Vista, 1591 Forest Hills Blvd., offers singing, devotions and prayer at 6:20 p.m. Wednesday, but no meal is planned. Programs for children, and a nursery for infants and toddlers are available.
Information: 876-5764, villagebibleefc.org.
Rogers First Church of the Nazarene, 4911 W. Pleasant Grove Road, presents former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft in a service of scripture and song at 9:30 a.m. Sunday.
Ashcroft served as Missouri state auditor, attorney general and governor, as well as six years in the U.S. Senate and five years at the attorney general, where he led the Justice Department in its response to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Since retirement, he has led two private businesses, taught as a distinguished professor of law and government at Yale University and received a law degree from the University of Chicago.
He now volunteers as a leader with Congregational Services of Scripture and Songs.
He regularly attends Evangel Temple Christian Center in Springfield, Mo.
The church, along with Compassion International, presents the “You Amaze Us” 2015 tour with Selah and Point of Grace at 7 p.m. Thursday.
Selah is a contemporary Christian music trio consisting of Todd Smith, Allan Hall and Amy Perry. The tour is named after the group’s latest recording.
Point of Grace earned two Grammy nominations and sold more than 6.5 million copies of their recordings.
General admission tickets are $20. Gold Circle tickets are $28, and include premium seating as well as early entrance to meet the performers.
Tickets are available at itickets.com, Lifeway Christian store in Rogers and the church.
Information: 636-1050, rogersfirst.com.
Bella Vista Lutheran Church, 1990 Forest Hills Blvd., offers a Parents Night Out for children ages 3 to 12 starting at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.
A light supper will be served then children will be treated to games, crafts, singing and Bible stories.
The Shepherd’s Food Pantry is open from 10 a.m.to 1 p.m. every Friday.
Pantry organizers need monetary donations for turkeys and roasting chickens in Thanksgiving food bags.
Information: 855-0272, bvlutheran.com.
Bella Vista Christian Church, 103 Riordan Road, sponsors its All Church Chili Cookoff at 5 p.m. Sunday in the church auditorium. A pastor’s potluck is planned for 11:30 a.m. Tuesday in the atrium.
The men’s ministry meets for its monthly gathering at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Whole Hog Cafe in Bentonville, 1400 S.E. Walton Blvd.
The Caring Hearts Ministry collects food for the annual holiday food drive, with donations supporting the Oasis and Shepherd’s food pantries in Bella Vista. The church serves a Thanksgiving dinner at noon Nov. 26. The church provides the meat, stuffing and drinks, with participants asked to bring side dishes. Registration is available on the church website.
Information: 855-1616, bellavistachristian.com.
The United Lutheran Church of Bella Vista (ELCA), 100 Cooper Road, presents a recital by the Ozark Family Opera Co. at 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Kierstin Bible and the artistic director and founder of the company will perform. An offering will support the nonprofit opera company.
The Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church presents Millie Appleton A lderman speaking Monday at the general meeting for the WELCA. She presents an introduction to the popular Pintrest website, including hands-on opportunity.
Information: 855-1325, unitedlutheranbv.org.
WASHINGTON COUNTY
Temple Shalom of Northwest Arkansas in Fayetteville, 699 N. Sang Ave, opens its Hanukkah gift shop this week. The shop includes many items from Israel, including scarves, trivets and candles and gifts for children. The shop is open from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. each Sunday or by appointment until Hanukkah, which begins at sundown Dec. 6.
Information: 582-1707, 973-2702, templeshalomnwa.org.
Robinson Avenue Church of Christ in Springdale, 1506 W. Robinson Ave., offers a special sessions of GriefShare, and DivorceCare on surviving the holidays from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Nov. 22. Child care is provided.
Information: 751-4887, racoc.net.
First Assembly of God in Springdale, 1605 W. Robinson Ave., presents singer Carman in concert with his No Plan B Tour at 6 p.m. Nov. 22. Carman has received the House of Hope Humanitarian Award, seven Dove Awards, four Grammy nominations and 16 Recording Industry Association of America certified platinum and gold albums. He speaks about his diagnosis of multiple myeloma cancers in 2013.
Ticket prices range from $10 to $25, with VIP tickets costing $100. General admission for children age 18 and younger is free, with no ticket required. An offering will be received.
Tickets available at itickets.com or (800) 965-9324.
Information: 751-4459, springdalefirst.com.
The Unitarian Universalists Fellowship in Fayetteville, 901 W. Cleveland, presents the Rev. Jim Parrish speaking on navigating complex family systems and staying true to self during the service at 11 a.m. Sunday,
Information: 521-8422, fayettevilleunitarian.org.
REGION
Christ For The World Church Outreach in Fort Smith, 4401 Windsor Drive, presents Larry Huch speaking at 7 p.m. Friday. Huch is the founder and pastor of New Beginnings Fellowship in Irving, Texas, and appears in an international television program of the same name. He is the author of Free at Last (Whitaker House, 2004).
Information: 649-5970, bobbyhogan.org.
St. Scholastica Monastery in Fort Smith presents a community dinner, “A Taste of Solidarity,” from 6 to 9 p.m. Nov. 21 in Galvan Hall at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Fort Smith, 22 N.13th St. Tickets are $10, benefiting the monastery’s Guatemalan scholarship program for girls. The Subiaco jazz band, Jose Galvan and friends, Ballet Folklorico Azteca and Ballet Folklorico Salvadoreno provide entertainment.
Information: 783-4147, stscho.org