Local Meditations on Christmas

Pastors from local churches offer special holiday messages.

Throughout December local religious leaders have offered messages relating to the Christmas season and the story of Christ's birth.  Here are excerpts from two recent sermons. If you would like to share a Christmas message, you can do so by creating a PDF file and uploading it here. Or, you can post it directly into our announcements section.   Excerpt from Advent Sermon of Rev. Scott MacDonald, First Evangelical Lutheran Church. (Full text attached.) In recent weeks we looked at the gift and of Faith, (faith, the gift that trusts Christ’s promises,) the gift of hope, (hope that looks forward to whathe promises,) and today the gift of his love. Faith-hope-love, these three.They remain! So, they are like members of the same family. They …

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A Surprise Act of Generosity at Van Bokkelen

Klehe Bradshaw saved her babysitting money and donated bags of food to 10 families with children at Van Bokkelen Elementary School.

The community at Van Bokkelen Elementary School recently got a surpise dose of generosity from a local middle schooler. 13-year-old old Klehe Bradshaw, who attends Chesapeake Point Science School, recently used her own savings to buy food for needy families at the Severn school. According to school social worker Claudette Robinson, Klehe had been saving money from babysitting for more than a month. She used the money to buy food and other items for 10 families at the school. "It was so touching," Robinson told Patch. "We had one parent who had just come to the office to inquire about our school’s food pantry that no longer exists and was able to receive a direct donation from [Klehe]." "There are still some great people in the world and …

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PHOTOS: Decorations at the Old Bank Building

Photographer Tommy Warshaw captured these pictures of the fine holiday decorations at the Odenton Heritage Society's old bank building near the MARC Station.

There are a lot of great scenes of holiday cheer around town. We especially enjoyed these photos of decorations near the Odenton Heritage Society's old bank building near the MARC station. Tommy Warshaw took the photos recently when he was in the neighborhood. These are images that many people might not see as they rush off the MARC train in the evenings, and the White Rabbit coffee shop, which now occupies the building, is only open on weekday mornings. Do you have any great photos of holiday decorations in the Odenton-Severn area. Share them here! Editor's Note: A previous version of this article made reference to the Whistle Stop as the coffeeshop located in the old bank building. Roger White of the Odenton Heritage Society wrote to …

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Last Day to Enter the Patch Deck the House Contest

Is your house lit up like a runway? Then enter the Patch Deck the House contest. The top prize is $100,000 to local schools.

MARC Announces Holiday Schedule

The rail service has announced a series of modifications for service on days between Dec. 21 and Jan. 1.

The MARC train service has announced a series of schedule changes to accomodate the holidays. Dec. 21 - Special Penn Line train departing Union Station at 2:50 p.m. making all stops to Perryville. Train 640 (5:25 p.m. departure from Union Station) is cancelled. Train 442 (5:50 p.m. departure) will operate through to Martin Airport, arriving at 7:17 p.m. Dec. 24 MARC will operate the Penn and Brunswick Lines on an “S” schedule. Only trains with an “S” under their train number in the timetables will operate. Some trains make extra stops as noted in the timetables. There will be no service on the Camden Line, but tickets will be honored on the Penn Line. Dec. 25 There will be no MARC Train Service on Christmas Day. Amtrak will NOT honor MARC …

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Weekend Planner: Santa, Craft Fairs and Plays

If you're looking for some holiday themed events, check out these things going on around Odenton and Severn.

  Breakfast With Santa When: Saturday, 9 a.m. Where: Delmont United Methodist Church Details: This free event includes breakfast and a visit with santa, caroling and crafts. If you come, please bring a new or gently used stuffed animal for "Lauren's Luggage," a charity that helps families displaced by fire. Holiday Craft Fair at Arundel High When: Saturday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Where: Arundel High School Details: Come get some holiday shopping done! There will be tables from wide range crafters and vendors. Festival of Lessons and Carols When: Sunday, 4-6 p.m. Where: 4419 Llewellyn Ave., Fort Meade Details: St. George's Episcopal Community at Fort George G. Meade is presenting A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols. It will be held in the main …

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Enter Patch's 'Deck the House' Contest, Get $100,000 to Local Schools

Do you go all-out with the holiday decorations? Enter Patch's Deck the House contest and get your electric bill paid, or even have $100,000 donated to local schools.

Arundel Mills Tree Lighting Set for Tuesday

The Oriole Bird will be on hand to help light the 25-foot tree.

Arundel Mills will hold its Christmas Tree lighting on Tuesday, and shoppers could get a free coupon book if they drop off an item for Toys for Tots.  The lighting of the 25-foot tree will take place at 7 p.m. in the food court area in Neighborhood 2. The Baltimore Orioles mascot, the Oriole Bird, will be on hand to help celebrate.

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number9dream

6:49 pm on Monday, December 3, 2012

If you go don't forget to pack some heat.   more ›