Mills River Presbyterian Church invites the community to join them in a variety of holiday events this December. From special services in the holiday-decorated Sanctuary to a cookie sale in Fellowship Hall, the Mills River church will offer the following activities, which are open to the public:

• Fourth Annual Cookie Walk – Saturday, December 10, 2022, from 10am to 1pm in the church Fellowship Hall. Purchase an empty box for $10 and then select two dozen of your favorite homemade cookies to fill the box. Ideal for the family, to use as gifts or for the office. There are also several food items available for sale, including jars of homemade Chex Mix for $5 and Soup Mixes in a Jar for $8. 

• Traditional Moravian LoveFeast and Candle Service – Sunday, December 18, 2022. Service is at 11am in the church Sanctuary.  The LoveFeast is hallmarked by traditionally-clad people serving coffee and LoveFeast buns to attendees. The buns are made from a recipe which includes citron and orange peel as flavoring. The coffee is mixed with sugar and cream and served in simple, white porcelain mugs that have been used in almost all American Moravian Churches over time.

Candles used in the service are hand-poured beeswax and tallow from tin molds that have been handed down through the generations. They are hand-wrapped (trimmed) in flame-proof crepe paper to prevent hot wax from dripping onto the holder’s hands. The Moravian custom of distributing lighted candles during a church service was begun in Germany in 1747.

• Blue Christmas Service – Sunday, December 18, 2022. Service is at 3pm in the church Sanctuary. Specially-created for people who may yearn for comfort, hope, support and renewal during the holiday season. Individuals and families are welcome to this time of quiet reflection, music and worship during this communion service of wholeness and healing.

• Family Christmas Eve Candlelight Service – Saturday, December 24, 2022 at 5:00pm in the church Sanctuary. Filled with favorite Christmas carols and stories, this service is tailored for the entire family. The one-hour Candlelight Service is family-friendly and people of all ages are invited to attend.

• Christmas Day “Hot Chocolate and Hymn Sing” – Sunday, December 25, 2022 at 10am in the church Fellowship Hall. Wear your favorite holiday sweater, your sweatpants or even your comfy pajamas. This hot cocoa Christmas sing-a-long features all your favorite carols and fellowship.

• Puzzle Swap – Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays throughout December from 9am to 1pm. Stop by the church parking lot entrance to “bring a puzzle and leave a puzzle” so that your family can enjoy the fun of this family activity during the holiday season.

• New Year’s Day “New Year, New You” Service – Sunday, January 1, 2023 at 11am in the church Sanctuary. Start off 2023 with this communion service at Mills River Presbyterian Church. Join together for singing, lessons and children’s Sunday School launching us into the new year.

Mills River Presbyterian Church is located at 10 Presbyterian Church Road in Mills River, accessible from School House Road or Highway 280. For more information, call 828-891-7101 or visit www.millsriverpresbyterian.org.