BANGOR — ‘The Pastor Unawares’
The play, “The Pastor Unawares,” will be presented at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 19-20, and at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21, at the Union Street Brick Church. Taking parts in the play will be Dylan Brennan, Kelly Nelson-Santiago, Kim Slininger and Dennis Hamrick as Pastor Thomas.
Admission is free and refreshments will served. For information, call 945-9798.
Kwanzaa celebration and vigil
BANGOR — The public is invited to a Kwanzaa celebration and vigil sponsored by the Maine Human Rights Coalition 6-8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20, at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Bangor, 120 Park St. Kwanzaa is a Black cultural celebration.
The Rev. Arthur Vaeni of UUSB, will give the invocation. James Varner of the MHRC, will give the Kwanzaa presentation. A sampling of ethnic foods will be served.
A brief vigil held for the several African-American men killed by police in recent months and for the victims’ families. For information, call James Varner at 827-4493.
Christmas Masses
AREA — Saint Paul The Apostle Parish announced this Christmas Masses schedule:
Wednesday, Christmas Eve, Dec. 24
Bangor: 4 p.m., 7 p.m. and midnight St. John; 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. St. Mary.
Brewer: 4 p.m. St. Joseph.
Hampden: 4 p.m. St. Matthew.
Thursday, Christmas Day, Dec. 25
Bangor: 8:30 a.m. St. Mary; and 10:30 a.m. St. John.
Winterport: 8:30 a.m. St. Gabriel.
Solstice celebration
HOLDEN — A celebration to mark the longest night of the year will take place 3-4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20, at Fields Pond Audubon Center. Participants will recreate Eve Bunting’s classic story, “The Night Tree,” by making a “night tree” to share with wild creatures. The event, open to all ages, also will offer hot cider and indoor activities.
The cost is $5 family. For information, call 989-2591.
Blankets needed
BANGOR — Bangor Humane Society reports that it currently has a lot of hand towels and full size towels which are great for cleaning and keeping its kitties comfy. But the facility is out of blankets for the dogs in its care and is seeking donations of throws, comforters, sheets and dog beds.
Warm bedding for cats, such as fabric scraps, cat beds and soft blankets that can be cut to make many cat beds are needed.
Anything new or used will be accepted.
Christmas Bird Count
AREA — Be a birder, covering a piece of territory within the Bird Count Circle. Or, be a bird feeder watcher. If you live inside either circle, and have a bird feeder, you can count birds for an hour. Then email or call in how many of each species came to your feeder.
The Orono-Old Town Christmas Bird Count will take place Saturday, Dec. 20.
The Bangor-Bucksport Christmas Bird Count will take place Saturday, Jan. 3.
There is no cost to participate. Call Fields Pond Audubon Center at 989-2591 to learn how to get involved in the Christmas Bird Count.
Bangor Community Chorus
BANGOR — Members of the Bangor Community Chorus with conductor Douglas A. Beck invite the public to share with them the holiday season, as they close their 45th year, with the performance of their annual Christmas concert, to be held at 4 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 21, at First United Methodist Church, 703 Essex St. The Children’s Chamber Choir of Old Town Elementary School will join the Bangor Community Chorus in singing several selections.
Beck joined the chorus last year as its seventh conductor. He is known in the community as a teacher of voice, piano and organ, and for his work with many area churches. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music from the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, and has been widely applauded in the United States and abroad as a conductor and keyboard artist. He also serves as artistic director at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church In Waterville.
Directed and accompanied by Beck, the Bangor Community Chorus will present a program of distinctive choral music, varying from spiritual, to inspirational, to popular Christmas favorites. Recurring themes reflect the promise of peace and love, as well as the beauty and magic of winter. Carols will include Beck’s arrangement of “Silent Night.” The Hallelujah Chorus from “The Messiah” by George F. Handel will be the chorus’ featured presentation.
The concert is free and open to the public. Donations will be accepted.
Musica Sacra
BANGOR — Musica Sacra will take place at 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21, at St. John’s Catholic Church, 207 York St. The event will feature choral and instrumental favorites by the choirs of St. John’s Catholic Church, with Isleen Halvorsen, harpist, student instrumentalists and Kevin Birch, director. Donations will support food assistance needs in the community.
Fly tying course
BANGOR — The Penobscot Fly Fishers will offer an eight-week basic fly tying course 6-8 p.m. Mondays at the Penobscot County Conservation Association, 570 North Main St. Classes will start on Monday, Jan. 5.
Organizers said the course is designed to expose students to a variety of tying tools, techniques and materials in order to give them a solid foundation in the craft. The evenings will start with a discussion of the pattern that will be tied and the materials used, followed by a demonstration of the pattern by one of the instructors.
The students will then head to their vises to practice the pattern under the tutelage of the staff.
The course fee is $40 and includes all materials and use of fly tying tools during class time. Students who have tying equipment are invited to bring it.
Students under 17 must be accompanied by an adult. Everyone participating will be required to sign a waiver form. The class is limited to 24 students on a first-come, first-served basis.
To register, send a check to: Penobscot Fly Fishers, P.O. Box 651, Brewer, ME 04412. Participants also may opt to pay for the class by using the PayPal button penobscotflyfishers.com.
For information, contact Rob Dunnett at 907-9008 or treasurer@penobscotflyfishers.com.
Angel Tree tags
BANGOR — The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program is in full swing, and there are still many children whose tags are awaiting a generous individual or group to purchase a gift for them.
The Angel Tree program will provide toys for more than 1,500 Bangor-area children this Christmas. Tags are available in the Macy’s Court at the Bangor Mall, or by stopping by The Salvation Army’s offices at 65 South Park St.
Each Angel tag has basic information about a child whose family sought assistance, such as age, gender, and a wish list of toys or other gifts such as clothing. Individuals are then able to take the tag, purchase an item for that particular child and return it to the tree at the Bangor Mall. The Salvation Army then gives the gifts to the parents for their children to open on Christmas morning.
Those who have volunteered to help sign out tags at the Angel Tree in past years and would like do so again this year are encouraged to call Mary MacKay at 941-2990.
Shopping day for children
BUCKSPORT — The Bucksport area United Methodist churches are sponsoring a free shopping day for children of families in need, 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, Dec. 20, at Franklin Street United Methodist Church.
The children will shop for gifts for their families, in addition to items needed for their homes, such as small appliances, bedding and other household items. Parents will be allowed to make suggestions, but the children will pick out the gifts and wrap them to give to family members.
Donations to the program will accepted and may be dropped off at the Franklin Street United Methodist Church during regular office hours.
The Make a Difference Team from Bucksport High School will serve as “elves” to help the children select and wrap the gifts. Santa will be present and children will receive a photo with Santa to take home as well.
For information, call the church office at 469-3622. The shopping is done on a first-come first-served basis. No reservations are necessary. Children must be school age and be present in order to select the gifts to be given.
Christmas Cantata
EDDINGTON — The North Brewer Eddington United Methodist Church will present the Christmas cantata “Mary, Did You Know?” under the direction of Herbert Hopkins, with accompanist by Dora Rexrode and narration by Dan Day. It will be presented at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 21 at the North Brewer Eddington United Methodist Church in Eddington and at 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21 at the Brewer First United Methodist Church, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 28 at Sunbury Village.
Choir members are Bob Adams, Merrill Boynton, Dottie Boynton, Donna Boyle, Jeanette Collins, Dan Day, Gail DeBeck, Doug Gardner, Cokie Giles, Colin Graebert, Herb Hopkins, Carol Jordan, Melva Kent, Roscoe Kent, Cheryl Long, Weldon Long, Andrea Longley, Ethel Mathews, LaForest Mathews, Jessie Mellott, Ruth Munson, Joy Royal-Nevers, Dora Rexrode, Molly Stevens and Patrick Stevens.
The public is invited to attend any of the performances.
Holiday party
EDDINGTON — The Eddington Fire Department will host its seventh annual Community Holiday Party, 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, Dec. 20, at the fire department. The event will feature family fun such as meetings with Santa, face painting, and making holiday cards and ornaments.
Admission is free, but donations will be accepted to benefit future community events.