AMAZING CONCERT: Oikeo Music welcomes gospel recording artist Stephen Hurd for an "Amazing" concert at 7:30 p.m. today at Abbott Loop Community Church, 2626 Abbott Road. The cost is $22 to $30. For details, call 272-2237.

WOMEN'S STUDY: Join the Women of Joy at Joy Lutheran Church, 10111 E. Eagle River Loop Road, for "Precepts Inductive Bible Study of the Book of Ruth "at 7:30 p.m. today. For details, call 694-9601.

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE: The Christian Science Radio Sentinel will broadcast at 8:30 a.m. Sunday on KBYR 700-AM. The topic is "Humility and Healing." Last week's topic re-broadcasts at 8 a.m. Church service and Sunday school for youth through 19 covers Scriptures is at 10 a.m. at 1347 L St. For details, call 272-0226.

ADVENT ACTIVITIES: The Rev. Dave Beckett begins an Advent series with the theme "Hope" at the 8:15, 9:30 and 11 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. services Sunday at St. John United Methodist Church, 1801 O'Malley Road. Boy Scout Troop 210 will sell Christmas wreaths. The Family Advent Workshop includes crafts and service projects. Donations accepted. For details, call 344-3025.

ADVENT SERVICES: Join Joy Lutheran Church, 10111 E. Eagle River Loop Road, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Sunday for "Hanging of the Greens" with special music from the bell choir. Other Advent services will be at 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays. For details, call 694-9561.

ADVENT COMMUNION: Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church, 1612 Oceanview Drive, will have Advent Communion worship from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Sunday. Explore the God before all creation and prepare for the Christmas story. Everyone is welcome. For details, call 345-2735.

FOOD DRIVE: Unity Church of Anchorage, 1300 E. 68th Ave., will have a food drive and stuffed animal collection at 10:30 a.m. Sundays through Dec. 21. Donate nonperishables for the Food Bank and new stuffed animals for the Children's Hospital at Providence. For details, call 356-2824 or visit www.unityofanchorage@gci.org.

BUDDHIST INTRODUCTION: Learn how to create world peace through individual happiness at the SGI-USA Alaska Community Center, 2702 Gambell St., Suite 202, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Monday. For details, call 274-8889 or visit www.sgi-usa.org.

WOMEN'S STUDY: Sand Lake Baptist Church, 7434 Jewel Lake Road, will have the women's Bible study "Daniel" by Beth Moore from 6 to 7:15 p.m. Wednesday. There is a meal at 5:30 p.m. and a children's program at 6 p.m. For details, call 345-7262.

JINGLE JAM: Faith Christian Community, hosts a Christmas celebration for the family from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Friday. Enjoy a free night of Christmas stories, music, comedy and hot cocoa. For details, call 243-1777.

ADVENT CONCERT: St. Patrick's Parish, 2111 Muldoon Road., presents "My Soul In Stillness Waits" Advent concert at 7 p.m. Friday, celebrating the coming of the Lord and the Christmas season. Proceeds benefit Clare House, a shelter for homeless women. Tickets are $7 or $20 for a family of three or more. Baby sitting is available at $5 per child. For details, call 337-1538 or visit www.cssalaska.org.

TOASTMASTERS CLUB: The Agape Alaska Toastmaster club, an ecumenical group that encourages and welcomes speeches based on faith and religious topics, will meet from 8 to 9 a.m. Friday at Denny's Restaurant, 3950 DeBarr Road. For details, call 229-1654 or 250-2500.

ALTAR TRAINING: New Season Christian Center, 639 W. International Airport Road, will have free altar worker's training, "Who Will Wash Their Feet" from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 6. Learn the roles, guidelines and how to counsel those responding to the altar call or invitation to discipleship, the key scriptures for salvation, rededication, baptism and more. All churches are invited. For details, call 258-2134.

MITZVAH MALL: Congregation Beth Sholom, 7525 E. Northern Lights Blvd., hosts Mitzvah Mall from 1 to 4 p.m. Dec. 7. More than 30 local nonprofits will offer the chance to purchase nonmaterial gifts that keep on giving such as paying a needy family's electric bill. For details, call 563-2712 or visit www.frozenchosen.org.

60TH ANNIVERSARY: Friends from the community are invited to join in celebration of God's faithfulness to Mountain View Baptist Church, 300 N. Bragaw St., for the past 60 years at 6 p.m. Dec. 7. For details, call 279-4316.

JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM: Joy Lutheran Church, 10111 E. Eagle River Loop Road., hosts an exercise and eating healthy program. Participants add earned "miles" to reach Bethlehem 6,013 miles away. The program continues until Christmas. Check-ins are Sundays before or after service. For details, call 694-9601.

UPRISING: Faith Christian Community, 4240 Wisconsin St., offers "Uprising" from 6 to 8 p.m. Sundays to Dec. 28 for ages 18 to 26. Enjoy worship and teachings and have questions answered. For details, call 243-1777.

BUDDHIST SERVICES: Join the Rev. Yuho Van Parijs at the White Lotus Center for Shin Buddhism/Myoko-in Temple at Alaska Pacific University Chapel, Atwood Building, at 11 a.m. Sundays to Dec. 31. For details, call 306-0620.

FINANCIAL PEACE: Sand Lake Baptist Church, 7434 Jewel Lake Road, will have a seminar on how to manage finances from 7 to 9 p.m. Mondays through Dec. 29. For details, call 243-2168.

TUESDAY TOTS: Babies, tots and parents gather to learn and play from 10 a.m. to noon Tuesdays through Jan. 27 at Anchorage Lutheran Church, 1420 N St. Free. For details, call 272-5323.

RELATIONSHIP RECOVERY: Anchorage City Church, 1301 W. 100th Ave., will host a divorce and broken relationship recovery group from 6:45 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays to Dec. 14. Topics will be accompanied by a video and Bible study, a sharing time and food. The cost is $20. For details, call 727-0543.

KIDZONE: River of Life Lutheran Church, 21301 Voyles Blvd., offers KidZone Bible school from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays to Dec. 24 with games, crafts and fun for elementary kids. Free. For details, call 227-7501.

ONGOING

COME ON IN: Trinity Presbyterian Church, 12310 Lorraine St., offers "Come on In" Sunday school from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Sundays. This program for intensive/special-needs children meets during adult worship and is staffed by trained professionals. Birthday parties can be arranged. It's free, but registration is required. For details, call 345-4823.

SPECIAL NEEDS: St. John United Methodist Church, 1801 O'Malley Road, will have a special-needs Sunday school for pre-teens and teens from 5:30 to 6:15 p.m. Sundays. For details, call 344-3025.

DHARMA TALK: The Rev. Koun Franz speaks at 10:25 a.m. Sundays at the Anchorage Zen Community, 359 E. 24th Ave. Instruction, study groups and other activities are offered. For details, call 566-0143 or visit www.alaska-zen.org.

ZEN NEWCOMERS: Receive basic instruction in seated and walking meditation from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at Anchorage Zen Community, 359 E. 24th Ave. A time to drink tea and ask questions will follow. Free. For details, visit www.alaska-zen.org.

GRIEF AND DIVORCE SUPPORT: Muldoon Community Assembly, 7041 DeBarr Road, sponsors free support groups from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturdays. Grief Share is for people who have experienced the loss of a loved one. Groups offer healing for adults and children going through separation and divorce. 272-3212 or 338-6777.

HEALTH SCREENINGS: The parish nurse offers blood pressure screenings and health consultations at 9 a.m. Sundays and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursdays at Joy Lutheran Church, 10111 E. Eagle River Loop Road. For details, call 694-9601.

SUPPORT GROUPS: Anchorage City Church, 1301 W. 100th Ave., offers prayer, study and support groups weekly. For details, visit www.anchoragecitychurch.org.

COFFEE BREAK: Join an informal women's Bible study at 7 p.m. Tuesdays at Trinity Christian Reformed Church, 3000 E. 16th Ave., and develop friendships with women from a variety of backgrounds. No previous Bible knowledge required. Meetings are also at 9:45 a.m. Wednesdays and include free child care for newborns through age 5. For details, call 272-8431 or e-mail trinitycrc@ acsalaska.net.

TIME WITH JESUS: King of Kings Lutheran Church, 1601 N. Lucille St., will have Bible stories, songs and activities for children, preschool age and younger on the first and third Tuesday of each month. A snack is provided. Free. For details, call 376-7771.

MOMS AND MORE: Mothers and their children are invited to join Faith Christian Community, 4240 Wisconsin St., for a weekly gathering at 10 a.m. Tuesdays for a time of worship, Bible study and small-group sharing. For details, call 243-1777.

24-HOUR PRAYER: The Alaska Center for Spiritual Living is sponsoring 24/7 prayer assistance by professionally trained prayer practitioners. All calls are confidential. Call 677-2937 or toll-free at 1-866-750-7729.

SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE: Change Will Come consulting service provides faith-based guidance for believers who seek understanding of how to implement spiritual living and advice for crisis situations. Appointments are available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekly, 3300 C St., Suite 117. Call Apostle Bailey at 360-0102 for an appointment or visit www.mychange willcome.com.

GIRLS PROGRAM: Girls Everywhere Meeting the Savior is a relationship-building program designed to meet the spiritual, social, physical and emotional needs of girls of all ages. GEMS meets at 7 p.m. Tuesdays at Trinity Christian Reformed Church, 3000 E. 16th Ave. For details, call 272-8431 or e-mail trinitycrc@acs alaska.net.

BOYS PROGRAM: Cadets is a nondenominational international church-sponsored Christian youth program where Christian men work with boys to share their love for Jesus through exploring, merit badges, Bible study, projects and time together. Cadets meets at 7 p.m. Tuesdays at Trinity Christian Reformed Church, 3000 E. 16th Ave. For details, call 272-8431 or e-mail trinitycrc@acs alaska.net.

INFINITE WAY: Recorded lectures by Joel Goldsmith will be presented at 11 a.m. Saturdays. A 15-minute meditation period will precede and follow each lecture. For details and location, call 522-0508.

BIBLE STUDY: First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, 3031 LaTouche St., will host an adult Bible study on the Gospel of Matthew at 9:30 a.m. Sundays with worship at 10:30 a.m. For details, call 272-0615.

BENEFIT COOKBOOK: Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church, 2800 O'Malley Road, offers "Tastes Like Home: Mediterranean Cooking in Alaska" for sale after services every Sunday. The cost is $25 plus shipping if purchased online. For details, call 348-0651 or visit www.medcooking alaska.blogspot.com.

CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER: Trinity Presbyterian Church, 12310 Lorraine St., offers brief reading and instruction, then quiet prayer at 11 a.m. Tuesdays and 4 p.m. Saturdays. For details, call 345-4823.

MONDAY MEDITATION: Jitters Cafe, 11401 Old Glenn Highway, Eagle River, hosts Buddhist monk lectures and meditation classes at 7 p.m. Mondays. Sponsored by the Tilopa Buddhist Centre. Suggested donation is $5. For details, call 250-9454 or visit www.meditateinalaska.org.

ADVENTURE CLUB: Sand Lake Baptist Church, 7434 Jewel Lake Road, will have the Adventure Club children's program from 5:30 to 7:15 p.m. Wednesdays for ages 6 through sixth grade, beginning with a meal. The program is free. Meals are $2 for adults and $1 for children. For details, call 243-2168.

PANCAKES PLUS: Everyone is invited to First Congregational Church, 2610 E. Northern Lights Blvd., for a complete breakfast including omelets and Belgian waffles from 9 to 10:15 a.m. Sunday (First Sunday of each month). For details, call 272-8363.

Matters of Faith is compiled by Joy Guest, who can be reached at 257-4315. To list an event visit events.adn.com, get registered (it's free) and submit your event. You'll get listed almost immediately in our searchable online calendar. Submit announcements by 5 p.m. Tuesday for publication on Saturday's Religion page.

This week

SUNDAY: First Sunday of Advent, St. Andrew's Day (Christian) To our readers

Creators Syndicate has launched a new comic strip, The Barn, featuring farm animals who are all too aware of their eventual fate, a butcher who wants to hasten that fate and the chef who longs to make the choicest of the animals his plat du jour. We're running the strip on a trial basis for a month. Let us know what you think. If reader feedback is good, we'll keep it. E-mail comics@adn.com or write Comics/newsroom, Anchorage Daily News, 1001 Northway Drive, Anchorage, AK 99508.

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