comingevents

Tell us about your upcoming events, and we'll tell the rest of the community!  If your school, church, club, civic group or charitable organization has a public event scheduled, announce it here.  Simply write a paragraph telling us WHO, WHAT, WHEN, and WHERE, and post it as a COMMENT below.  We'll re-post it as a Coming Event, and also publish it, if space allows, in one or more of  the following newspapers:  The Lake Murray News, The New Irmo News, The Northeast News, and The Cayce West Columbia News.  (Please include your name and phone or email address at the end of your announcement.)

Looking for a way to make “2010” count? Do you want a year that isn’t filled with broken resolutions? We’ve got a suggestion. Why not take your deep love and concern for children and make a difference in the life of an abused or neglected child. Our program will provide you a unique opportunity to work one-on-one with a child. We give hope to children who are in need of a caring adult in their lives. The Lexington County program is looking for volunteers. Our next training class will begin Tuesday, January 19, 2010. For more information or to request an application, please contact Karen Joiner or Lisa Crawford at 957-6484 or visit our website at Lexington.scgal.org.

GriefShare a 13-week seminar and grief recovery support group meets at Saxe Gotha Presbyterian Church, 5503 Sunset Blvd. in Lexington. The seminar begins Sunday, January 10, 2010 and runs through April 4, 2010, from 5 - 7 pm. Childcare will be provided.

GriefShare features nationally recognized experts on grief and recovery topics.

Seminar sessions include "The Journey of Grief," "The Effects of Grief," "When Your Spouse Dies", "Your Family and Grief,"
"Why?" and "Stuck in Grief."

For more information call Saxe Gotha Presbyterian Church at 359-7770 ext. 18

We Know It Hurts, and We Want To Help.

The Greater Columbia Chapter of the U.S. Amateur Ballroom Dancers Association (USADance) will hold their regular twice-monthly dances on Saturday, January 9, and Saturday, January 23, at the Hugh Dimmery Memorial Center (The Barn), 680 Cherokee Lane, West Columbia, from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Dress for these events is casual. Admission is $5.00 for USADance members and $8.00 for non-members. Non-alcoholic drinks, refreshments and snacks will be available, and a complimentary dance lesson with professional instructor will be offered from 7:45 until 8:15. Go to www.USADance.us for more information.

USADance is a non-profit, charitable, educational organization, which is dedicated to the promotion of amateur ballroom dancing for social dancers, competitors, and the public. The Greater Columbia chapter sponsors monthly dances and workshops for the enjoyment of those in the Midlands of South Carolina with an interest in dance.

Palmetto Painters, a SC Chapter of the Society of Decorative Painters,
will meet at 10:00 am on Saturday, January 9, 2010, at the Cayce-West
Columbia Branch of the Lexington County Library. Our program will be
a pen and ink design under plexiglass. For additional information,
call (803) 781-2340 or visit our website at www.PalmettoPainters.com.

Southern Historian and Author to Discuss Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War at the Irmo Branch Library

Dr. John Chandler Griffin, USC Distinguished Professor Emeritus and prolific author of Southern history, will present a slide presentation and discussion based on his new book, Mr. Lincoln and His War, on Tuesday, January 5, 7:00 p.m., at the Irmo Branch of the Lexington County Public Library System, 6251 St. Andrews Road, Columbia. Dr. Griffin has extensively researched Abraham Lincoln, particularly in the Civil War years, and offers a fascinating perspective on our 16th president. In his new pictorial biography, which will be available for purchase and signing after the program, Dr. Griffin explores such questions as:

Who was Lincoln’s real father?

As president, was Lincoln essentially a prisoner of certain members of Congress?

Did Lincoln goad the South into firing the first shots at Fort Sumter?

Are certain high-level officials implicated in Lincoln’s assassination?

All library programs are free and open to the general public. Dr. Griffin’s presentations are always informal, humorous, and appropriate for adults and older students. Come for an enjoyable and enlightening evening. For more information, contact Charlie Band at 803-798-7880 ext. 4, or www.cband@lex.lib.sc.us.

Grace United Methodist Church 410 Harbison Blvd. (732-1899) will have a New
Years Eve Watchnight Service on Thursday December 31st at 6:30 pm. This
service celebrates the promises of God and gives the worshippers an
opportunity to recommit themselves to serving God in the New Year.

Lieutenant Governor André Bauer is hosting his annual New Year's Eve Party on Thursday, December 31st beginning at 8:00pm at the South Carolina State Museum, 301 Gervais Street, Columbia, SC 29201 as a political fundraiser for his upcoming campaign for Governor. RSVP to 803.926.1826 or by email to: bauerparty@gmail.com

The South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles will be closed on Friday, January 1, 2010, in observance of the New Year state holiday. Branch offices that offer Saturday service will also be closed on January 2. All offices will resume normal operations on Monday, January 4.

SCDMV customers have the option of processing many transactions online at the DMV Web site, www.scdmvonline.com.

Grace United Methodist Church 410 Harbison Blvd. (732-1899) will have a Christmas Eve Candlelight and Communion Service on Dec. 24th at 6 pm.

The South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) branch offices that offer Saturday service will be closed on December 19 for computer system maintenance.

All SCDMV offices will be closed on December 24, 25 and 28 in observance of the Christmas state holiday. Branch offices offering Saturday service will be closed on December 26.

SCDMV customers also have the option of processing many transactions online at the agency web site, www.scdmvonline.com.

Girl Scout Cadet Troop #2374 is hosting a Pancake Breakfast with Santa on December 19,2009 at the Fatz Café located at 7420 Broad River Road in Irmo. Breakfast will be served from 7:30am-10:30am and will include pancakes, sausage, fruit, and your choice of beverage. Tickets are $7. All children 3 and under eat free. Proceeds will be used to help send the troop members to the Girl Scout National Headquarters in New York. To purchase a ticket, please contact Barbara Areheart at 732-6581. Come celebrate the holidays with the Girl Scouts!

Bethel Lutheran Church in White Rock is holding a blood drive on Thursday, December 17, 2009 from 3:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Any persons wishing to make an appointment may call Ms. Donna Brown of the Red Cross at (803) 251-6145 or her cell (803) 735-7672, or Bethel Lutheran Chruch at (803) 781-2134.

Bethel Lutheran Church is located at 2081 Dutch Fork Road, White Rock, SC.

The Union United Methodist Church Chancel Choir, Soloists, and Orchestra will present the story of God’s greatest gift of Love, The Messiah, by George Fredric Handel on Sunday Morning, December 13th, at 8:30 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. in the Church Sanctuary. Union United Methodist Church is located at 7582 Woodrow Street in Irmo. For additional information, call (803) 781-3013; or visit the website: www.unionunitedmethodist.org

A Holiday/Christmas Musical Drama will be presented at Christian Life Church during December.

"A Holiday Spectacular" is free. The public is cordially invited for an evening of music and drama presented by the kids choir.

Dates and times of the performances are Saturday, December 12 at 6pm; and Sunday, December 13 at 6pm, in the Christian Life Church Main Auditorium.

Christian Life Church is located at 2700 Bush River Road, Columbia SC 29210.

The popular USC Carolers will perform at the Irmo Branch of the Lexington County Public Library System, 6251 St. Andrews Road, Columbia, on Thursday, December 10, at 6:00 p.m. This free festive evening of Holiday music is appropriate for all ages. For more information contact Charlie Band at 798-7880 ext. 4 or cband@lex.lib.sc.us.

Holiday Plant Care Workshop: Join SC Midlands Master Gardeners to learn ways to keep you holiday plants looking good through the New Year. Amaryllis, Christmas cacti, poinsettias and fresh greenery will be discussed; along with ways to incorporate these plants into you garden. Tues, Dec 8 at 6:30 p.m. Lexington County Public Library, 5440 Augusta Rd., Lexington. Reservations suggested: (803) 785-2600.

The 2009 Riverland Hills Baptist Church Christmas Concert will be held on two nights, December 6 & 7, at 7:00 p.m.

You can experience the pageantry and tradition of your favorite Christmas carols, as well as thrilling new choral and orchestral music. Doors open at 6:15 p.m.

Visit the Riverland Hills Baptist Church website -- www.riverlandhills.org -- for more information.