The Church and Community Events calendar is published each Friday. Items must be submitted by 10 a.m. Monday for that Friday’s calendar. Events should be emailed to communitycalendar@farmvilleherald.com.

DECEMBER 9-18

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS, will take place Dec. 9-11 and Dec. 16-18 from 5-8 p.m. at Bear Creek Lake State Park. Cost of admission is a donated toy. Pancake dinner with Santa will be at 5 p.m. on Dec. 11. These events are part of the Cumberland Christmas Mother campaign.

DECEMBER 9

COOKIES AND MORE, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. presented by the Farmville United Methodist Women at Farmville UMC, 212 High St., Farmville in the social hall basement. Purchase homemade cookies, candy, pies, seasonal crafts and gifts. Carry-out or dine-in lunch will be available for $5.

VETERANS SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Farmville-Prince Edward Community Library, 1303 W. Third St. in Farmville. Call the Lynchburg office at (434) 582-5102 for the next scheduled date following this one and for any questions.

SANTA FOR SENIORS, sponsored by Piedmont Senior Resources. Make Christmas for a senior this year by donating items such as laundry detergent, toilet paper, paper towels, cleaning supplies, soap, toothbrushes, lap blankets, lotion, canned foods, etc. Drop your items off at Piedmont Senior Resources or Real LIving Cornerstone by Dec. 9. For more information, call (434) 767-5588.

PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY TRIAD, to meet at the Firemen’s Sports Arena, 1328 Zion Hill Road, Farmville. A spaghetti lunch will be provided beginning at noon. Representatives from Select Therapy will be our guest speakers and will provide a program on fall prevention. Local law enforcement will also be available to provide updates on current scams and frauds. All persons, regardless of age, who are interested in crime prevention and the overall safety and security of our Senior Citizens are encouraged to attend. In addition to lunch, door prizes will also be available. For more information, contact Karla Ellington at (434) 298-6897.

DECEMBER 10

AGENT ORANGE SYMPOSIUM FOR VIETNAM ERA VETERANS, 1-4 p.m. at the STEPS building in Farmville, 225 Industrial Park Road. There will be special guest speakers, and Vietnam War veterans and their families will be invited to participate in an open forum about the health effects they’ve experienced because of wartime exposure to Agent Orange. There will be light refreshments and some break-out sessions to meet with various agencies who can assist with educational information to include veteran service officers. For more information, email the Piedmont Area Veterans Council and Community Resources at pavc23901@aol.com.

BOOK READING AND TRAIN RIDE, Experience the excitement of the beloved children’s book The Polar Express with the annual book reading and train ride at the Buckingham Branch library. This year, the train leaves at 3:45 p.m. from the Buckingham Branch Railroad Station. Children in second through fifth grade will ride the train and hear the story read aloud, then meet back up with parents and siblings at the library for cookie decorating and a visit from Santa. Call the library at (434) 983-3848 if you have a question or to register ahead of time.

10TH ANNIVERSARY, 3 p.m. Mercy Seat Baptist Church, of Pastor Walter M. Fells. The Rev. William Johnson III of Union Grove Baptist Church of South Chesterfield, will be the guest speaker, accompanied  by his choir. The public is welcome to attend.

SWAP MEET/GIVEAWAY, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at New Jerusalem Baptist Church, Appomattox. Various types of clothing, household items, and non-perishable foods will be available. Everyone is welcome to come out and shop for free. Rev. Dr. C.L. Gray, pastor.

CHRISTMAS PROGRAM, 2 p.m. at the Antioch Baptist Church, Keysville. The public is welcome.

DECEMBER 10 AND 11

ANNUAL ANTEBELLUM SAINT NICHOLAS, at Sailor’s Creek Battlefield Historical State Park Visitor Center. Saint Nicholas will receive visitors and children of all ages. Come by and have an image struck with the jolly man himself. While waiting, children and adults can partake in arts and crafts stations such as coloring, making bird feeders out of pine cones, and many more. Pictures will be taken at the Visitor Center on Saturday, Dec. 10 from noon-4 p.m. and on Sunday, Dec. 11 from 2-4 p.m. Admission is free.

DECEMBER 11

HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at Appomattox Court House National Historic Park. The village will be decorated with freshly made hand-crafted wreaths made from local greenery and will offer a glimpse of 1860s Virginia when families celebrated a more simply decorated, Civil War-era Christmas. There will also be a children’s craft station, where old fashioned Christmas ornaments can be made as keepsakes. The Visitor Center will be the stop for hot coffee and refreshments. For more information, call the Visitor Center at (434) 352-8987, ext. 226, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

NO SUNDAY SCHOOL, at Calvary Baptist Church on Sandy River Road, Burkeville. The regular worship service will be held at 11 a.m.

2016 CUMBERLAND CHRISTMAS PARADE, 2 p.m. in the village of Cumberland Court House. The 75th Anniversary of World War II will be the theme this year. Entries should in some way be connected to this time frame in history. It might be a tree decorated at the time of war or a song that was made popular. Entry forms may be picked up at one of the following places: NAPA in Cumberland, Custom Interiors in Cumberland, Ashby Antiques in Farmville or from Stephany Johnson in the courthouse building. You may also ask for one to be emailed to you by going to: barbmein@aol.com. There is a $10 entry fee to help with expenses, churches, school organizations, county officials and civic organizations are exempt from this fee.

CHRISTMAS PROGRAM, 6 p.m. at Cedar Baptist Church, 3992 Bell Road, Dillwyn. “It’s All About That Baby” will be presented. Refreshments will be served afterwards.

CHRISTMAS COLORS, 4 p.m., at the Carver Price Cultural Center, 106 Patricia Anne Lane, sponsored by the Appomattox branch of the NAACP. Various choirs from area churches will render Christmas songs, instrumental solos and verse. Everyone welcome. Refreshments will be served.

DECEMBER 12

FREE CONCERT, 7:30 p.m., by the Heart of VA Community Band at Wygal Hall (Music Building), Longwood University. Featuring holiday favorites and classics including Leroy Anderson’s Sleigh Ride. The audience is urged to sing along to the carols.

DECEMBER 13

VOLUNTEER OPEN HOUSE, 2 p.m., New Century Hospice of Farmville, 201 North Main St., Suite 300. Come by to meet the team, enjoy some refreshments, and find out about the huge difference volunteers make in the lives of patients. This is a chance to discern if hospice volunteering is right for you. If you decide to get involved, applications will be available. For more information, contact Amanda Hayes-Bowman at ahayes-bowman@newcenturyhopsice.com or (434) 395-1042.

DECEMBER 14

ADVENT SERVICES/LUNCHEON, noon, at Payne Memorial United Methodist Church. The theme this year is “Do Not Be Afraid.” The speaker will be the Rev. Cameron Cloud speaking on the topic of “Storms of Life.” The scripture reading is from Is. 41:10, 43: 1-3 and 5a. Please join us in the Social Hall at the church located at 1 Stoney Point Road, Cumberland (across from the courthouse).

DECEMBER 15

POST MEETING, 6:30 p.m. of the Farmville Jack Garland American Legion Post 32 and the Legion Auxiliary. The meeting will take place at Merk’s Place in Farmville for dinner and fellowship. All members are asked to attend.

DECEMBER 16 AND 18

CANTATA, 7 p.m. at Cartersville Baptist Church entitled “Holding on to Christmas.” The cantata will tell the Christmas story in word and song. The narration will be read by Fred and Tina Shumaker. The musical will include solos, adult choir and a children’s choir. Everyone is welcome to attend and refreshments will follow in the fellowship hall.

DECEMBER 17

DILLWYN CHRISTMAS PARADE, 10 a.m. Stop by town hall after the parade to visit with Santa and enjoy refreshments.

ORDINATION SERVICE, 3 p.m. for Minister Loretta Bailey and Minister Angela Cook at Salem Baptist Church, Red Oak.

BINGO, at Cartersville Volunteer Rescue Squad has been cancelled. Hoping to see you the third Saturday in January 2017.

APPOMATTOX CHORAL SOCIETY, 7:30 p.m. directed by Dr. Mark Landry, in the sanctuary of Liberty Baptist Church, Appomattox. This evening of the arts is sponsored by Appomattox Christian Academy, a mission of St. Andrew’s Reformed Episcopal Church, as a gift to the community during the season of giving and is free to all. General seating begins at 7 p.m. This performance of the Christmas portion of Handel’s famous Oratorio, Messiah, includes local guest soloists and choir members accompanied by a full Chamber Orchestra comprised of professional area musicians. To learn more, call Appomattox Christian Academy at (434) 352-7373.

DECEMBER 18

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA and CHRISTMAS CAROLING, 9:30 a.m. (breakfast) and 5 p.m (caroling) at Fitzgerald Memorial Baptist Church, 14 Fitzgerald Road, Cumberland.