Churches

The Diocese of Minnesota Junior High Youth Event will be this weekend at St. Paul's Episcopal Church with 70 youths expected. On Sunday, the first Sunday of Advent, the Rev. Paul Rider, diocesan youth director, will preach at both worship services. The Advent Wreath will be blessed in memory of George Bahr at the 8:30 a.m. service. At the 10:30 a.m. service, Hanna Johnson and Caitlyn Jo Searles will be baptized.

Craft and bake sale

There will be a craft and bake sale from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 8 at Mission of the Cross Church, south of Crosslake. Chili, soup and home baked bread will be served. Mission of the Cross Ladies Guild will sponsor the event.

National Day of Prayer, Fasting

The Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls will have a World Healing and Reconciliation, a national day of prayer and fasting, Dec. 7. Two prayers services will be from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. and 7 to 8 p.m. at Sacred Heart Chapel at St. Francis Convent.

The Berge Family

The Berge Family will perform at 10:15 a.m. Sunday at Lakeside Baptist Church in Backus. They are a gospel bluegrass band from Bemidji that includes husband and wife, Ken and Rebecca, and their two daughters, Melanie and Mindy. They were nominated for Midwest Bluegrass Gospel Band of the Year by the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America.

Silent auction fund-raiser

Riverside Union Church will have a silent auction fund-raiser with miscellaneous items from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. The church is seven miles south on 13th Street, County Road 45. Lunch will include sloppy joes, coffee and pop. The proceeds will go for the new church building.

Advent service

Living Savior Lutheran Church will have its first Advent services Wednesday. There will be a soup, salad and sandwich supper at 6 p.m. followed by worship at 7 p.m.

Cookie walk

There will be a cookie walk from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday at First Presbyterian Church in Brainerd with homemade Christmas cookies. Soup and sandwiches for lunch will be $4. All proceeds will go to the missions.

Live nativity

The live nativity at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Pequot Lakes will begin from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday with a smaller version in a truck parked next to the chamber building. The full live nativity is set for Dec. 19 with viewing from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the church. There is no charge but a food shelf item is appreciated.

St. Francis Guild meetings

St. Clare's, no meeting; St. Agatha's Guild will meet at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 12 at the home of Ann Richardson; St. Maria Garetti, Christmas tea, Dec. 6; Mary Margaret's Guild will meet at noon Dec. 13 at Charlie's; St. Barbara and St. Lucy's Guild will meet at 12:30 p.m. Dec. 13 at the Sawmill Inn; St. Elizabeth's Guild will meet at noon Dec. 13 at the home of Rose Speldrich; St. Francis Cabrini's Guild will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, St. Francis Tea; St. Helena, breakfast meeting at 8:30 a.m. Dec. 13 at Northwind Grille; St. Joan of Arc's Guild will meet at 1 p.m. Dec. 13 at the Ivy Room; St. Jude's Guild will meet at 6 p.m. Dec. 11 at Ginny Wasnie; St. Julianna's, no meeting until April; St. Rita's Guild will meet at 8:45 a.m. Dec. 13 at Northwind Grille; St. Ann's Guild, no meeting.