The Christian Women’s Connection December Brunch is set for Monday, Dec. 10, from 8:45 to 10:30 a.m. in the Lighthouse Point Room at the Danversport Yacht Club, 161 Elliott St., Danvers. Speaker Mim McCarthy will share a dramatic presentation of how she “had it all” but found it wasn’t enough, lost it all and gained peace. Brunch is $13 inclusive. All women are welcome to attend, and free child care is available for children up to age 5. Reservations are required by Saturday, Dec. 8. For more information, to make a reservation, for child care or for a cancellation, call Jan at 978-532-1379 or 978-303-7873 or Laura at 978-532-2157.
Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish presents an Advent Reflection Program, which will focus on four manageable themes: “The Three Comings of Jesus,” “St. John the Baptist,” “St. Joseph: A Man Forgotten” and “Our Blessed Mother Mary.” Father Steele, Linda Newall and Pat Bachelder will lead the discussion. Participants will use Archbishop Timothy Dolan’s Advent Book. Sessions meet on Tuesdays, Dec. 4 and 11, from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. or 7 to 8 p.m. at 80 Atlantic Ave., Marblehead. All are welcome to participate. For more information or to register, contact Kathleen Nelson at 781-631-8340 or Father Steele at 781-631-0086. Participants will receive Dolan’s book at the first meeting.
The Unitarian Universalist Church of Greater Lynn is accepting registrations for Sunday faith development classes for children and youths ages 2 to 18. Participants spend 15 minutes in worship with their parents, starting at 10 a.m., and after a “Time for All Ages,” they will leave for their classrooms. Children, youths and adults spend time together for fellowship after the service and classes. For more information, contact Karen Brown, director of faith development, at 781-589-8836, ext. 12, or kbrown@uucgl.org. The church is at 101 Forest Ave., Swampscott.
Throughout December, St. Adelaide Church, 708 Lowell St., Peabody, will collect unwanted books in support of the North Shore Moving Market. Proceeds from the sale of donated books help provide free monthly grocery deliveries to the North Shore’s housebound elderly and handicapped residents. Books should be in new or good readable condition; no children’s books will be accepted. Books may be dropped off before Masses or in the church hall on Sundays from 8 a.m. to noon or Mondays and Tuesdays from 3 to 6 p.m., through the end of December. For more information, call North Shore Moving Market at 978-744-2532.
The Robert I. Lappin Charitable Foundation, in partnership with Richardson’s Ice Cream of Middleton, invites families of the PJ Library to donate new pajamas to its second New PJ Drive, set for Monday, Dec. 3, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at Richardson’s, 156 S. Main St. Pajamas of all sizes are needed. For more information, contact Phyllis Osher at 978-740-4404, or posher@rilcf.org.
As part of the Downtown Holiday Festival in Danvers, Maple Street Congregational Church will present a living Nativity today from 2 to 4:30 p.m., on the front lawn of the church, 90 Maple St. Church members will portray Mary, Joseph, wise men, shepherds, kings and angels, as well as shepherd boys and girls. At the same time, Santa Claus will be in the church’s Social Hall for visits and pictures with children. Cocoa, cookies and crafts will be available. The Danvers-area Girls Scouts will carol on the church’s front steps from 4 to 4:30 p.m. For more information, call 978-774-4510.
Holy Trinity United Methodist Church, 16 Sylvan St., Danvers, will offer an alternative for Christmas giving. In an attempt to benefit international artisans and communities in need, there will be selections available for purchase from Equal Exchange, A Greater Gift and A Bead for Life. Catalogs from Heifer International will also be available. The Alternative Christmas Market will be open after church on Sundays through Dec. 23. For more information, contact the church office at 978-777-7408.
Chabad of the North Shore’s Jewish Learning Institute presents “The Kabbalah of You: A Guide to Unlocking Your Hidden Potential,” the institute’s new, six-session fall 2012 course, led by Rabbi Yossi Lipsker. Sessions meet for six consecutive Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m., through Dec. 12 at Chabad Community Shul, 44 Burrill St., Swampscott. Through the examination of the entire spectrum of what it means to be human, “The Kabbalah of You” offers recipes, tips and techniques for discovering where one’s true meaning lies, and making it a part of one’s daily existence. Sessions help participants see life as the mysterious, challenging and satisfying wonder that it really is. The program is designed for people at all levels of Jewish knowledge, including those with no prior experience or background. For more information or to register, call 781-581-3833 or visit myjli.com.
Torah Hub, a North Shore Adult Jewish Education Collaborative, is a free program that explores Judaism and Social Justice. The Monday night portion of the series, led by Temple Sinai’s Rabbi Fine, will be held at Aviv Center in Peabody on Dec. 10 at 7:30 p.m. Topic focuses on “Jewish Food Ethics for the 21st Century.” The Thursday night portion of the series, led by Rabbi Margie Klein of Congregation Sha’arei Shalom, will be held at the NSJCC in Marblehead at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 6, focusing on “Transforming Ourselves, Transforming the World.” The final session, featuring a symposium led by local rabbis, is set for Dec. 13 at 7:30 p.m. at the NSJCC in Marblehead. All sessions are free. Registration is required and can be done at www.jfns.org/torahhub.aspx, or contact Alanna Cooper at acooper@jfns.org or 978-224-4096.
North Shore Players will present “Prairie Lights,” a holiday musical, on Dec. 1, 2, 7, 8 and 9, running Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. in the Hogan Regional Center Auditorium, 6 Hathorne Circle, Danvers. “Prairie Lights” tells the story of a Jewish brother and sister who journey west on an Orphan Train in 1905. Arriving with other homeless youths in a tiny Nebraskan town just before the holidays, the siblings are adopted by Wellspring’s only Jewish couple. As Christmas and Hanukkah approach, orphans and residents alike are on a quest to reunite Wellspring after being threatened by a fearful banker. For more information and directions, visit www.northshoreplayers.org.
Chabad North Shore’s annual Run-A-Latke, a family 5K run and Hanukkah party, will be held Sunday, Dec. 9, at 10 a.m. at Chabad Community Shul, 44 Burrill St., Swampscott. Hanukkah programming will be available for kids while adults run. Attendees can race, eat latkes and doughnuts, and help build a huge Lego menorah. Register at the door or online at www.nsjewish.com or raceit.com.
