EDITOR’S NOTE: The Tribune-Star’s Church Briefs submission process has changed.

We will no longer accept submissions by fax, postal service or hand delivery. Only e-mailed reports to community@tribstar.com will be published.

Submissions may be approximately 500 words. (Please use computer word count function to measure.) There is no required minimum length.

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Briefs must be received eight days before Saturday publication. Please include a contact name and phone number. If announcing an event, list time, date, address and cost; notices will be published the Saturday prior to the event.

Terre Haute

St. Stephen’s Episcopal

Services Sunday in the historic church at 217 N. Seventh St., include Eucharists at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Sunday school and middle/high school youth group meet at 9 a.m. Afterward, join the camaraderie, coffee and conversation in the Great Hall.

There also is a noon Thursday service in the chapel.

For more details, visit www.ststephensth.indydio.org or call (812) 232-5165 Tuesday through Friday.

St. George’s Episcopal Church, West Terre Haute

This Sunday (Jan. 1, 2012) the Reverend Harold Smith will present Christian Education. Adult Christian Education is from 9:15 - 9:45 a.m. in the parish hall.

Smith also will be celebrant for Holy Eucharist, Rite II, and Prayers for Healing. Worship begins at 10 a.m. in the church. All are invited to stay for coffee, conversation and refreshments in the parish hall after the service.

Smith is a native of Muncie and served churches in Nebraska and Wyoming before returning to Indiana in 1995, where he served as vicar of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Lebanon and parttime as priest-in-charge at Trinity Church, Connersville. He resides in Indianapolis.

St. George’s Episcopal Church, “the friendly little church on the hill,” is located at 1337 N. Smith Place (on Ferguson Hill), West Terre Haute. For more information, contact Kelly Hammonds, bishop’s warden, (217) 826-5439; kellyjo829@yahoo.com or go to www.stgeorgeswth.indydio.org.

St. Ann Church

The small, vibrant Community of St. Ann Parish, 1440 Locust St., invites you to join us on New Year’s Day for our Sunday Eucharist at 11 a.m.

St. Benedict Church

The St. Benedict parish community will celebrate Saturday evening mass at 5:30 p.m. On Sunday morning, New Year’s Day, please join us for mass at 8:30 or 11 a.m. St. Benedict Church is located at 111 S. 9th St. All are welcome to join us.

St. Joseph University Parish

St. Joseph University Parish, 113 S. 5th St. invites you to celebrate with us on New Year’s Eve with mass at 5 p.m. New Year’s Day masses will be at 9 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. All are welcome to join us.

St. Margaret Mary Church

The St. Margaret Mary parish community invites you to join us for mass at 4 p.m. New Year’s Eve. On New Year’s Day, join us for mass at 11 a.m. We also will celebrate a Spanish Mass at 2 p.m. St. Margaret Mary parish community will celebrate the Christmas Season next Sunday, Jan. 8, with our annual Epiphany Dinner after the 11 a.m. mass in the Legacy Room. We are located at 2405 S. 7th St.

St. Mary-of-the-Woods

Village Church

St. Mary-of-the-Woods Village Church invites you to join us for New Year’s Day Mass at 9 a.m.

St. Patrick Church

St. Patrick parish community invites you to join us to celebrate mass at 6 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. New Year’s Day Mass will be at 9 a.m. St. Patrick Church is at 1807 Poplar St.

Sacred Heart of Jesus Church

Sacred Heart of Jesus parish, 2322 N. 13 1/2 St., invites you to join us for mass on New Year’s Eve at 5 p.m. New Year’s Day. Mass will be at 9 a.m. Please join us.

Centenary United Methodist

The congregation of Centenary, located at 301 North Seventh St., in Terre Haute’s Arts Corridor and adjacent to Indiana State University, welcomes you to our beautiful 145 year old church. We invite you to worship with us at 9:30 a.m., Sunday morning. Hear the Rev. Phyllis Peters usher in the New Year with a sermon of hope and a promise that God will be with you in 2012. Also listen to Bill Cain’s organ mastery and musical selections that will uplift you.

All Sunday School classes and Youth Group activities will not meet on New Year’s Day. The Friendship Class (Bible Study), the Pastor’s Class (Bridging the Hebrew and Christian Testaments), the College Age Class (discussing C. S. Lewis’s book “Screwtape”), all children’s Sunday School classes, and the “Worship Alive” contemporary evening service will resume on Jan. 8, 2012.

The Church’s Seventh St., entrance is handicapped accessible, and ample parking is located behind the church. Consider particpating in our “Prayer and Meditation Time,” led by Lay Preacher Tom Barnett on Thursdays, from 11 a.m. to noon. Our Wednesday Evening Bible Study, meeting from 6:30-7:30, led by Pastor Wagner, will resume on Jan.18, 2012.

If you have interest in Centenary’s music programs, such as the Chancel Choir, please let us know. Directed by Erich Kendall, our choir rehearsals are Sunday mornings at 8:30 a.m., prior to the church service. Also our Handbell Choir is directed by Debbie Thompson. If you would like to participate in Sunday School, in youth activities, directed by Amanda Tramel, and in our very active women’s ministries, please call the Church Office, any day, at (812) 232-2319.

Oregon Baptist Church

Start the New Year with Christ. Join us on Sundays for Sunday School at 9:30 a.m. and Worship at 10:30 a.m. with Pastor Fred Harrison leading. Pastor Fred will be doing a series of sermons on “Loneliness”. His first sermon is “Loneliness within a Marriage” based on the scripture in Ephesians 5:22-33. God shares wisdom on relating in a relationship.

Oregon Baptist Church is located at 11200 So. Carlisle St., and our phone number is (812) 299-2112.

St. Mark United Church

of Christ

No services will be held at St. Mark UCC on Jan. 1. We will resume our normal service on Jan. 8.

Berean Baptist Church

Berean Baptist starts the New Year off with Sunday School at 9:30 with a Bible Study based on the book of Daniel with Dave Thomas teaching the class. Lives are being enriched from the deep truths presented in this study.

 At 10:30 Pastor Larry Lilly will preach a sermon titled, “So What’s New?” This sermon is Bible based on and deals with the opportunities presented by the Lord in the New Year. Larry will share the importance of having a fresh outlook on life as Christ presents the many chances to make a difference in someone’s life. Dick and Judy Triestram will present illustrated Gospel lessons for the children. The congregation will sing hymns of praise in the fullness of Christ. Charlie Davis will share a special song about Jesus.

At 6 there will be special selections of music by the congregation, a time of testifying of God’s goodness in 2011 and sharing of things hoped for in 2012. Joyful Noise will present special music and Pastor Lilly will preach on the subject “God’s New Song for 2012.”

Berean Baptist Church is located at 6770 N. Clinton St., Terre Haute

Terre Haute Reformed

Presbyterian Church

Please join us for worship this Sunday! Pastor Bill Roberts will be preaching. The Terre Haute Reformed Presbyterian Church meets in the Church building at the South-East corner of 6th and Washington (1400 South 6th Street). Sunday School, for children and adults, begins at 9:30 AM and Worship begins at 10:45 AM. A nursery for children three and under is available during the worship service. After Worship a meal will be provided and all are welcome to stay for food and fellowship!

Peniel United Methodist Church

The church is at Kennedy Crossing Road in Brazil.

Happy New Year to everyone, 2012 already! Let’s pray for a better economic future and a true peace on earth.

We can start out the new year with communion this Sunday, January 1. Our Sunday School session begins at 9:45 a.m. with Church Services following at 10:45 a.m.

The scripture this Sunday is from Genesis 1:1-5.

Pastor Pippin’s message is “Time to Renew.”

Part of our “Greeting” is “Our hearts are open, our minds are ready.”

For more information contact Pastor Pippin at (812) 443-8489.

Church of Christ at Terre Haute

One of the differences between the Church of Christ and many churches today is the absence of mechanical instruments of music in our worship. Sometimes we are asked why it is that we sing and do not play. Come be with us this Sunday as we discuss the subject, “Why We Sing and Don’t Play.” The church of Christ at Terre Haute assembles in the meeting room of the Holiday Inn Express & Suites, 2645 S Joe Fox ST (Exit 11, I-70 & SR 46) Sundays at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. and Wednesdays at 7 p.m. We are committed to speaking where the Bible speaks and being silent where the Bible is silent. Find us on the web at www.churchofchristatterrehaute.com. Call (812) 320-4450 for a free home Bible study.

First Unitarian Universalist Congregation

The church is at 1875 Fruitridge Ave.

Sunday, January 1 at 10:30 a.m. — New Year’s Eve Around the World Presented by Dennis Evers & Jean Kristeller.

Dennis and Jean have traveled the world over many years. Different countries have different ways of celebrating the New year, which is often a trigger (or an excuse), for New Year’s Resolutions, we will be suggesting some ideas relative to personal and world applications, and in the principles of our UU Congregation.

Sunday, January 1 at 9:15 am Our Adult Education Group, The Rationalist Free Thinkers Discussion Group, led by Dr. Ed Warner will meet in the library. This week their topic will be What Do You Hope For in The New year? What do you really wish for?

Children’s Religious Education begins at 10:50 - There are two groups, youth ages 5 to 9 and Tweens, ages 10 and up. Childcare for younger children is provided for the entire service.

We welcome everyone to Unitarian Universalist Congregation. Our regular service is each Sunday morning at 10:30 A.M. We have disabled access, and can provide large print bulletins and hearing assistance devices if needed. We also provide childcare for young children. We can be reached by Phone: (812) 232-1193 or visit our website: www.terehauteuu.org.

Memorial United Methodist Church

Memorial United Methodist Church, located at 2701 Poplar Street, Terre Haute, invites you to worship with us each Sunday. Parking is available in our large lot behind the church on Oak Street.

On Sunday January 1, 2012 we will have one service at 10 a.m. with Sunday School at 8:45am. Rev. Scott Johnson’s sermon will be “Gifts for a New Year.” Fresh off the unwrapping and mess of the Christmas morning experience, the returning of gifts that don’t fit, don’t work, or don’t fit my life style, we come to the gift of a New Year. The Magi brought Jesus gifts that we sometimes consider odd, but they certainly did seem symbolic. What about today? Would the same gifts be good gifts for us as we begin a new year? Scripture will be Matthew 2:1-12 and Ephesians 3:1-12.

Tai Chi with Rebecca Graves meets every Tuesday and Thursday from 3 to 4 p.m. Now offering a “gentler” form of Tai Chi for Arthritis. Everyone is welcome.

The Sewing Stitches Circle meets the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month at 1 p.m. Everyone is welcome.

The Knit Wits yarn ministry meets the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month from 1 to 3 p.m. and the 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month at 5 p.m. Newcomers are always welcome. If you like to knit or crochet or would like to learn, please join us.

For more information, call the church office at (812) 234-0776, fax us at (812) 235-3574 or visit www.umcmemorial.com.

Central Christian Church -

Disciples of Christ

We are pleased to welcome the congregation of St. Mark United Church of Christ, and preacher Rev. Teresa Higus who are joining us for worship on New Year’s Day. Our service will begin at 9:30 am. A children’s moment will be held, and the children will gather donations for their Blessing Box during this time. Nursery Care is provided during the service. After the service we will gather for a time of donuts and drinks.

As part of our Outreach Ministry we have Fair Trade coffee, tea, and chocolate bars for sale. Sunday is the last day of our Food Drive for Booker T. Washington Center, and the collection of gloves, mittens, and hats for our Fuqua Elementary School Mitten Tree.

Adult Bible Study will be held at the church with Rev. Zelensky on Monday morning at 9 a.m.

On Monday we will also celebrate communion with our friends at Bethesda Gardens at 10:30 a.m., and at Wyndmoor at 11 a.m.

Please join us at 4950 E. Wabash Ave. The church office or our minister, Rev. Rebecca Zelensky, can be reached at (812) 877-9959. Our church website is www.cccthdisciples.org.

Central Presbyterian Church

Central Presbyterian Church (125 N. Seventh St.) will gather tonight for a New Year’s Eve service of reflection and remembrance. The service, which will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall, will be led by Rev. Scott Paul-Bonham and will combine the church’s English- and Korean-language worshipping congregations. The evening also will include traditional Korean New Year’s games.

Participants are encouraged to bring an appetizer or dessert to share after the service. Services will continue on Sunday with traditional worship at the normal time — 10:30 a.m. — but Sunday school will not be held on Sunday morning. Rev. Paul-Bonham’s sermon will be based on Epiphany themes. A time for conversation and fellowship follows the 10:30 worship service, downstairs in Fellowship Hall. Nursery care is provided. Korean-language worship begins at noon, followed by a communal meal downstairs in Fellowship Hall. The church office will be closed on Monday. On Friday at 4 p.m. Korean students meet at the church for Bible study and supper. Also on Friday, from 5:30 to 9 p.m., the church will host Parents’ Night Out. The Christmas season at Central ends on Saturday morning, when at 9, members will remove and store the Christmas decorations for next year. For more details, call the church office (812) 232-5049 or visit us online: www.thcpc.org.

Central Christian Church

God calls Central Christian Church to be a welcoming and open faith community where Christian love, action, and discipleship unite.” (Vision Statement of Central Christian Church, D.O.C., Terre Haute, IN.) Central Christian Church is an Open and Affirming Congregation.

The Church of Jesus

Christ of Latter-day Saints

1845 N. 6 1/2 St. Terre Haute; phone: (812) 234-0269.

If you have questions about our faith, or you’d like to schedule a meeting with our missionaries, please visit www.Mormon.org.

Both of the local congregations that serve the Wabash Valley would like to invite you to join us as we worship and fellowship together.

Wabash Ward/Young Single Adult Ward, Bishop Geno Magallanes:

Sacrament Meeting: 9 a.m.

Sunday School & Primary: 10:10 a.m.

Relief Society & Priesthood: 11:10 a.m.

Honey Creek Ward, Bishop Chris Newton:

Sacrament Meeting: 11 a.m.

Sunday School & Primary: 12:10 p.m.

Relief Society & Priesthood: 1:10 p.m.

Seelyville UMC

Pastor Jack Diel and the Seelyville UMC Family invite you to join us to celebrate The Epiphany of the Lord on Sunday, January 1, 2012. Rev. John Davis, Assistant West District Superintendent of the United Methodist Church, will lead us in worship as we welcome the arrival of the Kings. The sermon title is “Presents or Presence?” and we will join together with familiar hymns “We Three Kings,” “Be Thou My Vision,” and “This is a Day of New Beginnings.” Jane Linville is the organist with special music by Michael Boswell and Sharon Boyce. There will be no choir rehearsal or anthem on New Year’s Day. Jo Phillips is our liturgist with Kevin Maher in charge of our audio/visual system.

A welcoming reception time follows the worship service with Sunday School classes beginning at 10:45 a.m. The church office will be closed on Monday, January 2 which is a Federal, State and Local holiday. The office reopens on Tuesday, January 3 and the Prayer and Bible Study group will meet at 10 a.m. in the church library.

We wish Pastor Jack safe travels during his two week mission trip to Mexico and a successful labor of love with participants working to assist a Mexican village.

Seelyville United Methodist Church is on the corner of US 40 & 2nd Street in Seelyville. The church office phone number is: (812) 877-1868 with email addresses of seelyvilleumc@frontier.com or www.seelyvilleumc.org. “We are a caring family making disciples for Jesus Christ.”

Rosedale Baptist Church

The church is at Depot and Middle Street in Rosedale. Call (765) 548-2857.

Pastor: Randy McPike

Sunday Worship Service: 9:30 a.m.

Sunday School: 10:30 a.m.

Sunday Eve Service: 7

Wednesday Night Prayer and Bible Study: 7

Every third Sunday of the month come and join us for our “New Youth Group Program.”

At 11:30 there will be music and a skit for the kids, followed by lunch and a lesson. There will be something new and different every month.

Breden Memorial United Methodist Church

Today is the beginning of a new year. This year has yet to be uncharted and not touched by human hands. It presents for us a door to walk thru that we have never opened before.

What each of us do with it rests solely in our hands. “I wish there were some wonderful place called The Land of Beginning Again, Where all our mistakes and all of our heartaches, And all of our poor, selfish grief, Could be dropped like a shabby coat at the door, And never put on again.”-poet Louise Tarkington.

Pastor’s New Year’s Day message will be “A Door of Opportunity.” The scripture lesson is found in I Corinthians 16:1-9. It is a challenge for each of us to improve the future and make it better than the past. Breden is experiencing some growth. Come and grow with us.

AA meets Tuesday at 6 p.m.

Ladies’ Prayer Group meets Wednesday at 9:30 a.m.

Unity Presbyterian Church

Worship service at 1207 E. Springhill Drive is 10:30 a.m. All are welcome! Our Pastor is Linda Peters. Her sermon: “Taking Pleasure in God’s Gift of Life,” based on Psalm 8 and Ecclesiastes 3:1-13.

For the month of January, we are praying for McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago. This week, we are praying for the POV Candidates and Inquirers. We also, will pray for West Vigo Elementary School. Join us for a Praise Service each Thursday evening at 6 with dinner following the service. Church office: (812) 299-2206.

A variety of wildlife make their home on our site. You are welcome to come and explore. Our outdoor sanctuary is behind the office building enjoy a time of rest and quiet.

United Methodist Temple

United Methodist Temple meets at 5301 U.S. 41 South for worship, the most important activity in life. Worship is God enjoying us enjoying God in a mutual ministry of care and awareness for all of Creation. Meeting at 8:45 a.m. for our traditional service and 11 a.m. for our praise service, we invite any to join us for our time of praise.

 The Welcome Café opens at 10 a.m. for coffee and snacks and Sunday school exists for all ages. The Gathering is a time of sharing music in the fellowship hall for all who can come and share. In each service there is a children’s message designed to fit the theme of the day and then children can either sit with parents or go to Kid’s Own Worship. We celebrate children at United Methodist Temple every Sunday.

The lectionary theme for this Sunday is “Worship: the Purpose of Life.” As we look into the Epiphany scriptures (Matthew 2:1-12, Ephesians 3:1-12) they show a group of wise men from distances coming to worship an infant destined to change the world. We see a tiny refugee family fleeing hostile authorities. One aspect of worship is witness. Every Christian is called to witness to his/her faith. The Church is called to bring to the world all the rich wisdom of God in all its variety, according to Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians. The Church then is an essential part of the plan of God to reach the whole creation with good news of “the boundless riches of Christ.” (Ephesians 3.8).

Wisdom is what is needed for our time. Wisdom points us to God the source and center of all love, and all living. Wisdom creates a vast team for the renewal of the earth, our families, and our human family. Come and join us as we celebrate the wisdom of Jesus Christ our Lord, a wisdom that puts peace at the center.

Our UM Temple schedule is as follows: Office Hours 8:30-12:30, 1:30 to 3:30 pm every weekday. Thursday 10 a.m. Piecemakers (quilting); 6 p.m. Bells and 7:15 p.m. choir. Friday 10:30 Christian Yoga. See our website for meetings of United Methodist Temple Youth at www.terrehauteumtemple.org. Pastor Steve Cain can be reached at (812) 870-5749. Our music director Jill Kuckewich can be reached at (812) 299-1898 for questions about bells, choir, youth and Kids Hope USA. Our secretary Margaret Fulsom can be reached at the same number or thumt@frontier.com. Temple Preschool is directed by Janet Friedrich, and can be reached also through this number.

New Life Fellowship

Come join us for a beautiful communion service on New Year’s Eve. Our first service in 2012 will be at 6 p.m. on Sunday, January 1. Come worship at New Life Fellowship where no one has a past and everyone has a future. Our regular service schedule resumes on Sunday, Jan. 8 with Sunday School and Morning Worship at 10 a.m.; Sunday Evening Worship at 7; Home Friendship Groups, Adult Bible Study and Kidz Church on Wednesday evenings. Call (812) 877-9348 for more information or visit our website at www.newlifeterrehaute.com.

Eighth Ave. Baptist Church

 We here at Eighth Ave. Baptist Church will be going through a time change in our Sunday morning worship services effective Sunday Jan. 1 through Sunday April 1:











Sunday School will be from 9 to 9:50 a.m.

Morning Worship will run from 10 to 11:15 a.m.

Regular Sunday evening services will remain at 6.

 If you have any questions regarding these changes, please feel free to contact our Church Office, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to noon, at (812) 235-5401.

First Baptist Church

Our New Year’s Day worship service will be at 10:15 a.m. and there will be no Sunday School on this Sunday. This will be our Student Day at Christmas Service which has been planned and will be led by members of our College Sunday School class. Joshua White, who is a freshman at Indiana State University, will bring the message and Brittany Jackson, a junior music major at Taylor University will serve as the worship music leader. The children’s story will be presented by Elizabeth Browning, also a student at Indiana State and various other college students will be involved in other aspects of the service. The service of communion will be observed as usual on the first Sunday of the month.

Matt Millington, our Minister of Discipleship and several of our college students will be leaving tomorrow morning to go to Atlanta to attend the Student Ministry Passion Conference. This conference will be held in the Georgia Dome and the theme is “A Generation United for His Renown.” The purpose of this conference is to “engage the university moment with the compelling message of Jesus Christ and the story He is writing around the world.”

First Baptist Church is an American Baptist congregation located at 4701 E. Poplar Drive. Further information is available on our website: www.thfbc.org.

Maple Avenue United Methodist Church

Maple Avenue United Methodist Church welcomes all to ring in the new year and worship with us at our only service time this week of 9:30 a.m. Pastor David Rockhill will give a sermon titled “The Gift of Do-Overs” which will incorporate scriptures Philippians 2:5-11. Children’s Sermon will be given and a soloist will sing special music. We will return to our regular worship times on Sunday, January 8, 2012.

Maple Avenue offers many programs for adults and children alike. Programs available to all include: GED Classes, Adult Basic Education Classes, After School Tutoring (Grades 1-5), After School Open Gym, (Grades 1-5), Daycare, Preschool. Music Programs Include: The Chancel Choir, Summer Dinner Theatre Productions, Spring Cabaret, Christmas and Easter Cantatas with Orchestra and Children’s Choir. Missions and service opportunities include: Prayer Chain, Operation Classroom, Penny Drive for Lebanon Children’s Home, United Campus Ministries, Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard, Habitat for Humanity, and 14th & Chestnut Community Center. There is something for everyone at Maple Avenue UMC and we hope you will join us for an inspirational worship service. For more information, check us out on the web at www.gbgm-umc.org/maple_ave_umc or call us at (812) 232-7263.