Community Briefs

Christmas Eve service will be held in rural Champion Hill Church Saturday, December 24, at 4:30 p.m. Pastor Marlene Janssen will lead the congregation. Refreshments will follow.

The Wellman Advance office will be closed Monday, December 26, in observance of the Christmas holiday and Monday, January 2, 2012, in observance of New Years. Deadlines for news and advertising for the December 29 issue is Friday, December 23, and for the January 5 issue Friday, December 30 at 4 p.m.

The ALC annual mitten tree is in the lobby of the Wellman Co-op Telephone Company where it will remain through Christmas. Mittens and other cold weather items, such as gloves, mittens, hats, boots, scarves, sweatpants and sweatshirts may be left on or under the tree. Monetary donations to purchase similar items will be accepted. The winter items will be distributed to children at Sunrise Daycare and Wellman Elementary School and Pre-School after the holidays.

The Christmas Potluck will be held at the Goodwin Senior Dining Site in Wellman Sunday, December 25 at noon. Bring a dish to pass and your our table service. Federation Bank will provide the meat and potatoes.

Asbury United Methodist Church will hold a special worship service “The Longest Night Service” Thursday, December 22, at 7 p.m. The holidays are a time of merriment, but also the time of year with the longest nights, and the service is offered to make times for remembering, sharing the hurting places with God, and preparing for the coming of Christ.

Members of the Wellman Garden Club are reminded to bring a donation for the food pantry to the Christmas luncheon at Salena Bontrager’s home Friday, December 16 at noon. Meet at Asbury U.M. Church parking lot at 11:30 to carpool.

Mid-Prairie music students will bring two concerts of holiday music to the community. The Ladies Lyrica choir will perform under the direction of Collette McClellen in the high school in Wellman Monday, December 12, at 7:15 p.m.  The Middle School Choir and Band students will present a concert Thursday, December 15 starting at 7:15 p.m. The band  is under the direction of Ross Schumaker and the choir is directed by Luetta Ropp. Admission for both concerts is $2 for adults, students are free.

The St. Joseph’s Christmas Tour of Homes will be held Sunday, December 11 from 4-7:30 p.m. Tickets are available at each of the following homes on the tour: Shannon and Donna McCain, 716 14th St., Wellman; Doug and Leslie Slaubaugh 106 Fairview Dr., Wellman; Randy and Vicki Erwin 1910 Ginkgo (5 miles south of Wellman); Phyllis Martin 501 11th St., Wellman; and St. Mary’s Rectory, in Riverside.

Jubilance Children’s Choir, a community choir led by Rhonda Miller, will be giving their Christmas concert at Kalona Mennonite Church Sunday, December 11 at 4 p.m.

A-2-Jr. “Community” Christian Youth group (for middle school teens) will meet Wednesday, December 21, in the Wellman Elementary gym. For more information contact Aaron Fleming at 319-646-2390.

A Holiday Craft and Gift Sale and Cookie Walk will be held December 10 at 9 a.m.  – 1 p.m. at Asbury United Methodist Church, Highway 22 and 8th Avenue, Wellman, Iowa. Sloppy Joe or hot dog lunch will be serving from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Eat in or carry out.

Call Deb Seward at (319) 646-2488.

A-2-J “Community Christian Youth Group (High School Teens) will meet from 6:30 – 8:15 p.m. Wednesday, December 7 at the Wellman Elementary gym. For more information contact Deb Yoder at 319-656-3547.