CORNERSTONE COMMUNITY: Join us this Sunday as Pastor Scott presents a special Christmas message. Service times are 9 and 10:45 a.m. At 6 p.m. we will be having a Gingerbread House contest and potluck dinner. Cornerstone Kid’s Church, nursery and preschool are available during both service times. We are located at 17900 Comconex Road. If you would like more information about our church and its activities you can call the church office at 825-1220 or check out our website at www.cornerstone-cc.com.

UNITED LUTHERAN: Join us Sunday, December 18, for the traditional service at 8 a.m. and or the contemporary service at 10:30 a.m. Communion will be served at both services. This Sunday’s sermon title is “Christmas Blessing.” Our children’s Christmas program will be this Sunday at 4 p.m. The title of the program is “It All Happened in the Country.” Nursery care is available for children 6 months to 6 years old. Sunday school is at 9:15 a.m. Everyone is welcome. To learn more about the weekly church activities, including Bible studies, and Youth, call 823-1971. United Lutheran is located at 649 Northgate Drive in Manteca.

CALVARY COMMUNITY: This Sunday at Calvary the message, “Priorities and Wisdom, the Shepherds’ Story” references scripture from Matthew and Luke.

Everyone is welcome to join us every Thursday to Pray 4 Manteca. This weekly prayer group is open to the community. It’s held each Thursday from 12 to 1 p.m. in Modular Room 401. Its duration is one hour but is also designed for those who may only be able to stay for ten minutes.

Easily accessible from any direction in the valley (from Interstate 5 or Highway 99, Lathrop Road exits), Calvary is located at 815 West Lathrop Road. For more information on our ministries and events, contact the church office at 239-1345 or www.calvarymanteca.org.

PRESBYTERIAN:  All are welcome to Manteca Presbyterian Church on this Fourth Sunday of Advent for the 10 a.m. worship service. Anne Talcott will lead the Praise Team in our opening songs and direct the choir with special sololists. Come hear Pastor Dave Warner’s sermon titled, “Manger Meditations: Wisemen.” How did they know? Our worship service is followed by a time of refreshments. Come join the fellowship. The church is located at 275 North Main Street. For further information phone us at 239-3159.

We would like to invite you, your family and friends to join us for our Christmas Eve Candlelight Service and Christmas Pageant on Saturday, December 24 at 8 p.m. Birthday party for Jesus to follow.

THE PLACE OF REFUGE:  Sunday at 10 a.m. we will have our corporate service at 486 Button Avenue. We’re anticipating an exciting time of worship, as we celebrate Jesus’ birthday together. Next Saturday, Christmas Eve, we will have a family service at 10 a.m. Then at 1 p.m. we will be hosting a free Christmas brunch and toy giveaway for the community. We will have toys for the first 400 children between the ages of 2 and 12 years old, and will be holding a free raffle for a flat-screen TV, so come on out. There will also be live music, bounce houses for the kids, and plenty of hot coffee. Come celebrate Christmas with us. There will be even more going on here at The Place of Refuge in 2012. We’re especially excited about the launch of our Young Couples home group in January, led by Pastor Brian and Andrea Compton. Join us January 21 for the All-Church Stockton Thunder game. Cost is $11 and we are taking sign-ups now. Give us a call at 239-1371 with any questions. We’ll see you this week at The Place of Refuge.