Saturday

“Arise and Rebuild Your Relationships,” 9:30 a.m. to noon, free seminar for women, with motivational speaker Michelle Neujahr. St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, 496 Lisbon St., Route 196, Lisbon. A free lunch is included and reservations can be made at 353-8453 or www.StMatthewsLisbon.org.

Day of Inner Peace, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., retreat with meditations and short teachings, guided by American Buddhist monk Kelsang Pawo. Light snacks will be provided. Held at the Heart Opening, 227 Congress St., Portland. The cost is $25, $15 for seniors and students. Go to www.MediationInMaine.org.

“Walk Through Bethlehem,” 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at Chestnut Street Baptist Church in Camden. Annual re-creation of the first Christmas. Also featured are historical refreshments and a marketplace with basket weaving, spinning, carpentry and storytelling.

Saturday and Sunday

Bernstein Scholar in Residence, 10th annual program, featuring author Nehemia Polen, an expert in Hasidism and Jewish thought. Held at Congregation Bet Ha’am, 81 Westbrook St., South Portland. For details, call 879-0028.

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Christmas tree and wreath sale, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Cheverus High School, 267 Ocean Ave., Portland, and hosted by the school’s Haiti Solidarity Club to benefit a school in Haiti and an upcoming mission trip. Also featured is the Christmas Tree Olympics starting at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, when coed teams of three can compete in events such as a tree-throwing contest, a relay race and a wreath toss.

Sunday

Guest preacher, 10:10 a.m., the Rev. Dr. J. Barrie Shepherd, the author of several books, will give the sermon and offer a poetry reading during Fellowship Hour. A book signing will follow. Mid-Coast Presbyterian Church, 84 Main St., Topsham.

“A Child’s Joy Of Giving,” 2 to 4 p.m., free event for children to make or choose up to four gifts to wrap and bring home for family members. Coffee will be available for parents. Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 15 Wesley Lane, Rockland. For information, call 596-5715.

Candlelight concert of Christmas music, 4 p.m., featuring Nelda Clelland on the church’s 1854 Hook organ. First Congregational Church, 141 North St., Kennebunkport. An American chop suey supper reception will be held after the concert. A free-will donation per person is requested for both the concert and supper. Call the church at 967-3897 or go to www.firstchurchkennebunkport.com for details.

“The Old Peabody Pew,” 5 p.m., 150th performance of the Kate Douglas Wiggin play presented by the Dorcas Society of Hollis and Buxton. Held at Tory Hill Congregational Church, routes 202 and 112, Buxton. There will be a tree lighting and carol sing and warm cider and cookies served before the performance. Tickets are $5 for adults and $2.50 for children.

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York County Hanukkah Party, 5 to 8 p.m., at Congregation Etz Chaim, 36 Bacon St., Biddeford. The annual party begins with a potluck supper and participants are asked to bring a dairy or vegetarian entree to share. Drinks and desserts are provided. Marc Feldman will make his famous latkes. Music and dancing with the Casco Bay Tummlers follow. Admission is $6 per person and is open to the community. Parking is available at the Biddeford Police Station parking lot.

“The Journey to Bethlehem,” 5:30 p.m., Advent Vespers program with the Meetinghouse Choir. First Congregational Church, 301 Cottage Road, South Portland. For details, go to www.fccucc.org or call 799-3361.

Tuesday

Global Wave of Prayer, noon, Pope Francis is encouraging people of all denominations and faiths to pray to end hunger around the world. St. Ansgar Lutheran Church will be open for anyone who is interested in attending a prayer service. The church is at 515 Woodford St.. Portland.

Friday and Saturday

“Joyous Sounds for a Sacred Season,” concert by the University of Southern Maine Chamber Singers at 7 p.m. Friday at Sacred Heart Church, 256 Main St, Yarmouth and at 3 p.m. Saturday at Sacred Heart/St. Dominic Church, Mellen and Sherman streets, Portland. A $10 donation is requested at the Saturday concert to benefit the church’s Capital Campaign.

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Dec. 14

Catholic Men’s Conference, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Dec. 14, with Patrick Coffin, host of the national radio show “Catholic Answers Live.” Held at DoubleTree Hotel, 363 Maine Mall Road, South Portland. To register, call 321-7897. The fee is $55. A Vigil Mass will be said at 4 p.m. All are welcome to attend.

Celebrate the Birth of the Savior, 5 p.m., dinner followed by a Christmas program. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 15 Smith Lane, Saco.

Christmas Concert and Kids Only Shop, 6 p.m., the concert features Grace with Janice Sargent, Tamesin Fleenor and Melissa Ciccarelli at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, 496 Lisbon St., Route 196, Lisbon. Bring nonperishable food items or a donation to benefit Lisbon Area Christian Outreach Food Pantry. The Kids Only Shop starts at 5 p.m. with free or low-cost gifts that children can give to someone they love. Free wrapping is provided by The God Squad Youth Group. Free desserts, coffee and hot cocoa will be available at intermission. For more information, visit www.StMatthewsLisbon.org.

Acoustic evening, 7 to 8:30, fifth annual concert with Maine Christian artists. First E Free Church, 355 Bridgton Road, Westbrook. Tickets are free but required. An offering will be taken. Go to firstfruitsministries.info/events.cfm for details.

Saturday and Sunday

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“A Visit from Saint Nick,” 2 p.m. Dec. 14 and 6 p.m. Dec. 15, Christmas by the Bay presentation by the drama, adult choir and children’s nativity at First Baptist Church, 360 Canco Road, Portland. Admission is free. Call 773-3123.

Other

The Most Rev. Richard J. Malone, Apostolic administrator for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland, has announced the assignment of Fr. Olusola “Sola” Henry Adewole as parochial vicar with weekend responsibilities in the Parish of the Holy Eucharist in Falmouth, Freeport, Gray and Yarmouth and weekday responsibilities in the Portland Peninsula and Island parishes. He is a member of the Dominican Province of St. Joseph the Worker in Nigeria. He joins Fr. Dominic Eshikena, who serves parishes in Belfast, Camden, Islesboro, Rockland and Vinalhaven, as the second member of the order serving in Maine. Fr. Sola was ordained a priest in 2003, and has been the parochial vicar at St. Patrick Church in Carlisle, Pa., and was also a chaplain at the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C.

William D. Green, a parishioner at Our Lady of Hope Parish in Portland, was recently named the winner of the Lester A. York Jr. Catholic Man of the Year Award at the 65th annual celebration of the Solemnity of Christ the King. Green is the chairman of the St. Patrick’s Church Preservation Committee, chairman of the Parish Bazaar Committee, a member of the parish’s finance committee and has helped raise thousands of dollars for the parish.

Fourth-graders at St. John Catholic School are again collecting coats and snowpants to be donated to WCSH 6’s Coats for Kids Campaign. During the week before Christmas. the students will sort items and walk the donations to the nearby Hannaford on Elm Street. Outgrown and gently used outerwear for all ages can be dropped off at the school, 37 Pleasant St., Brunswick, through Dec.15.

Religion calendar items must be submitted in writing before noon Monday for publication the following Saturday. Mail to: Religion Calendar, Portland Press Herald, P.O. Box 1460, Portland, ME 04104; or email to: religion@pressherald.com


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