Elks dinner tonight, bake sale Sunday

ESCANABA — Friday night dinners at the Escanaba Elks lodge are served from 5 to 9 p.m. During the Christmas season, there are also sing-a-longs each Friday.

On Sunday, Dec. 9, brunch will be served from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the Elks Auxiliary will hold their annual bake sale.

Rapid River Readers set meeting for Dec. 13

RAPID RIVER — Rapid Readers’ December novel, “Right Ho, Jeeves” by P. G. Wodehouse, will be discussed on Thursday, Dec. 13 at 10 a.m. at Jack’s Restaurant in Rapid River. January’s title is Hendricks and Pekhanen’s “The Wife Between Us.” The group meets on the second Thursday of the month in Rapid River. New members are welcome. Contact Peg Netchey at 428-9668 with any questions.

Advent-Christmas ­concert set for Sunday

ESCANABA — In keeping with long-standing tradition at the church, the choirs of First Presbyterian Church will present their annual Advent-Christmas concert Sunday, Dec. 9, at 7 p.m.

The Sanctuary Choir will perform a variety of sacred Advent and Christmas music, including their traditional concert opener, “Fanfare for Christmas Day”; a haunting setting of “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” featuring violinist Cassidy Magnuson; an African-America spiritual; and a chorus from Handel’s “Messiah.”

First Bells handbell choir will also participate in the concert, offering a setting of “I Saw Three Ships” accompanied by string quintet and “Silent Night” performed on handchimes and featuring the choir’s new fourth- and fifth-octave bass chimes.

The centerpiece of the concert will be the premiere of a new piece that was commissioned by the bell choir in memory of charter members Paddy and Don Fitch. Sandra Eithun, a prolific handbell composer and graduate school classmate of Director of Music Ann Wood, has written a stunning setting of “Joy to the World” for the choir. The piece will be published next year.

The public is cordially invited to attend the concert. A free-will offering will be received. Punch and cookies will follow the performance. Call the church office, 786-2932, if you need a ride to the concert.

MARSP Christmas party

MANISTIQUE — MARSP members from Schoolcraft and Eastern Delta counties will gather for a Christmas party/gift exchange at the Comfort Inn on 617 East Lakeshore Drive in Manistique on Wednesday, Dec. 12, at 11:30 a.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring nonperishable food items or paper products for our area food pantries.

Afternoon with Santa

HERMANSVILLE — A free afternoon with Santa will take place on Dec. 9 from noon to 3 p.m. at the American Legion Hall in Hermansville. Hot dogs, chips, hot chocolate, cookies and coffee will be available. Bring the kids for pictures with Santa. The public is welcome.

NAMI Support Group to meet Monday, Dec. 10

MARQUETTE — The National Alliance on Mental Illness-Alger/Marquette offers free, confidential peer support groups and educational meetings for individuals living with mental illness, and friends or families living with an individual with mental illness.

A support group will gather Monday, Dec. 10 at 7 p.m. in the Baraga Place Conference Room, 129 West Baraga Avenue in Marquette. For more information call 906-360-7107 or visit www.namiam.org.

In case of bad weather, if NMU cancels evening classes, the NAMI meeting will also be cancelled.

Taco Tuesday at American Legion

GLADSTONE — The American Legion Post 71, located at 802 Delta Avenue in Gladstone, will be having Taco Tuesday from 4:30 until 6:30 p.m. every Tuesday.