The holiday season is here for St. Louis’ faith-based community, with much to experience at your own church or a neighbor’s: holiday services, toy drives, a building fund benefit and a call for nationwide prayer.
Also, faith-based groups continue the effort of community building in offering free exercise classes and helps with job hunting in a time of widespread unemployment.
Happy holidays to all.
Holiday’s with Solomon’s Temple
Solomon’s Temple Church will hold a Thanksgiving Day Service at 10 a.m. Thursday, November 26. They will host One Church One Child Sunday on Sunday, December 6. They will hold a Christmas Food, Clothing and Toy Give-Away at 8 a.m. Saturday, December 19. And they will host a Watch Hour Service at 10 p.m. on New Year’s Eve.
The church is located at 5569 Page Blvd. Bishop James E Holloway Sr. is pastor and founder, and 1st Lady Linda D. Holloway is co-pastor. Email solomons@i1.net or visit www.solomonstemplechurch.org.
Building fund benefit
St. Douglas Primitive Baptist Church will present a building fund benefit gospel celebration featuring local gospel artists, hosted by Merdean Gales of Bobby Jones Gospel Hour. The event will be held 7 p.m. Sunday, December 6 at 5945 West Florissant. Donation: $10.00 Call (314) 409-0327.
Nationwide prayer
Northern Missionary Baptist Church, located at 3333 Clara Avenue, requests the power of your prayer in a nationwide prayer day on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009 at noon. NMBC invites all congregations to gather and stand in agreement to pray that “God will heal us and our land from cancer, diabetes, and all manner of diseases, crime and murder amongst his people and spiritual guidance for our youth.” Call 314-389-6441.
Toys For Christmas
New Shining Light Community Outreach Ministry will hold it’s 10th Annual No Child Left Behind Without Toys For Christmas event on Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009 at 4 p.m. at 740 Broadway St., Venice, IL. The event will provide some toys for every child, a boys and girls coat giveaway, as wells as free drawings for food baskets, games, as well as gas cards. Everybody is welcome. For money donations, please make checks payable to New Shining Light Outreach Ministry. For donations of good used or new toys, call 618-877-5610 or 618-530-2347 for pickup.
Free exercise classes
Isaiah 58 Ministries hosts free exercise classes every Monday and Wednesday, 10:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. (except holidays) at 2149 S. Grand Blvd. These fun exercise classes are conducted by instructor who has taught exercise for 30 years (low impact, full body workout, also strengthens core area of body). Free healthy beverages and snacks provided. Call (314) 776-1410 and provide complete name, phone numbers and street address with ZIP code.
Faith-based job leads
My Redeemer Lives, a not-for-profit 501 C3 faith-based program funded by the Missouri Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse, is providing free bus tickets or a weekly bus pass to check out job leads to qualified Missouri residents over the age of 18 years. The program provides resumes, work preparation, transportation assistance, spiritual life skills groups, anger management, counseling by an ordained minister, food pantry and other services for persons with alcohol or other drug histories.
My Redeemer Lives is located in the Victor Roberts Building at 1408 N. Kingshighway, Ste. 207. Hours: 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Call 367-8383.