"The Perfect Gift: A Journey Through the Life of Christ" is an outdoor production with a 100-member cast presented by First Baptist Church of Wasilla, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13-14, 900 Leatherleaf Loop. Tours leave every 10 minutes. (1-907-376-4668)

New to Zen?

The Anchorage Zen Community offers a monthly newcomer's session the fourth Sunday of every month for people interested in Soto Zen Buddhism. The sessions are at Inner Dance Yoga Studio, 2610-A Spenard Road (at Spenard Road on 26th Avenue, next to Organic Oasis). Call 566-0143.

Blue Christmas

The Anchorage Unitarian Universalist Fellowship will offer a special "Blue Christmas" service at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 16, at 3201 Turnagain St. This quiet, contemplative service is for those who may feel disconnected from the forced gaiety of the season. The service honors these feelings with word, music, silence and candles. A simple meal of soup and bread will follow. This might be an appropriate service for those who have suffered a loss during the past year: loss through death, lost love, lost work, lost dreams. All are welcome. (www.anchorageuuf.org)

News from the Catholic archdiocese

• Ecumenical prayer service to remember the four church women martyred in El Salvador 23 years ago, 7 p.m. Tuesday, Holy Family Cathedral, Fifth Avenue and H Street. (272-0638)

• A television program showing the dedication of the Church of the Nativity of Jesus in Magadan, Russia, last Christmas, titled "A Tiny Piece of Heaven," will air on GCI Cable CREDO Channel 16 in December. Viewers in Anchorage, Eagle River and the Valley can tune in at 4:30 p.m. Monday, 7 p.m. Dec. 9, 6 p.m. Dec. 17 or 7 p.m. Dec. 26.

• Billings ovulation method of natural family planning class will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday, repeating Dec. 16, at Providence Alaska Medical Center. Cost is $20. (770-0444 or 297-7740)

• The Cyrene Group, offering support for widowed people, gathers at 8 a.m. today at the Blessed Sacrament Monastery, 2645 E. 72nd Ave., for a Mass in memory of members' spouses and deceased members. After the Mass, the group meets for breakfast at Sunrise Grill, 3230 Seward Highway. (Stella, 346-3732; Ruth, 258-0685; or Joan, 333-7826)

• The Saint Juean Diego Council of the Knights of Columbus invite those who are against abortion to participate in a National Night of Prayer for Life, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Dec. 8-9.

• "Praying With Icons -- An Advent Retreat" is from 7 p.m. Friday until after lunch Dec. 7. Father William McNichols, iconographer, and Maureen Cowles, spiritual director, will lead the retreat. (346-2343)

Build up spiritual body

Body Building 101 Winter Conference, sponsored by Healing Rooms of Alaska Inc., will be 9 a.m. to noon, 2 to 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Friday to Dec. 7 at Skyline Foursquare Church, 2150 E. Dowling Road. All Christian denominations are welcome to participate in this gathering to build up the body of Christ.The theme is "Apostolic Reformation for the Third Day Church." Out-of-state guests are Andre Ashby from Soul's Cry Ministry in Minneapolis and Alfonso and Cynthia Steele of Solid Rock Christian Center in Spokane, Wash. Friday and Saturday workshops include "Overcoming Rejection I & II," "Roadblocks to Healing," "The Power of Jesus' Blood" and "The Anointing That Empowers the Word." The Apostolic Third Day Church believes in the five-fold ministry and chooses to participate in the outworking of the Holy Spirit in signs, wonders, miracles and healing of God. Cost is $50 per person; register at the door. (258-2134, healmenow@aol.com)

Unitarian Universalist

The Rev. Charles "Chuck" Eddy will speak on "Diversity of People and Cultures in the State" at the 9 a.m. Sunday meeting of the Anchorage Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 3201 Turnagain St. Frances Dearman presents "A Guest at Your Table" at 10:45 a.m. (www.anchorageuuf.org)

Christian Science

"Transform Your Life, Improve Your World" will air on the Christian Science Radio Sentinel from 10:30 to 11 a.m. today on KBYR AM-700. Sunday's service will focus on "Ancient and Modern Necromancy, Alias Mesmerism and Hypnotism, Denounced" at 10 a.m. Sunday school for people up to age 20 is at the same time. Wednesday meetings are at 7:30 p.m. The church in Wasilla has its service at 10 a.m. on Lamont Way.