Eight United Methodist churches in northern Baltimore County and Carroll County that are decorated for Christmas have invited the public to visit them tomorrow for music, drama, dance and "country hospitality." The self-conducted tour starts at 8 a.m. in Hampstead.
"People are free to jump in or out of the tour at any time," explained the Rev. Scott C. Schuler, co-pastor of Salem United Methodist Church at 18217 Falls Road in Hampstead, where breakfast will be served.
From there, participants will be urged to drive through the countryside to visit any or all of the other seven churches. "We will have an itinerary available to help people decide," Mr. Schuler said.
Lunch will be served at West Liberty United Methodist Church. The remaining churches on the tour are Mount Zion, Pine Grove, Maryland Line, Parke Memorial, Vernon and Mount Carmel.
A ticket for admission to all of them is only $1. If breakfast or lunch is added, the cost is $4. For $7, both meals are provided.
"People get so frantic at Christmas time," Mr. Schuler said, "and we think the Lord has led us to a way to replace this tension with a peaceful and spiritual time together out here in the country, made all the more attractive given that we are only about 20 minutes from the [Baltimore] Beltway."
Further information, including directions to the churches: 239-9312.
Holiday tension
Rabbi Andrew Bossov and social worker Beth Land Hecht will lead discussions Sunday on "December Dilemmas" for couples in which one partner is Christian and the other Jewish.
Sponsored by Jewish Family Services and the Baltimore Board of Rabbis, the program will explore the family conflicts that can result from efforts to celebrate both Christmas and Hanukkah. Discussions begin at 10 a.m. at Baltimore Hebrew Congregation, 7401 Park Heights Ave.
4( For information: 466-9200, Ext. 381.
For Altar Society
St. Ignatius Roman Catholic Church, Calvert and Madison streets, will hold its annual Christmas bazaar to benefit its Altar Society from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. tomorrow and from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday.
Home-baked goods, other foods, gifts and greens will be for sale in the church's John Sharp Hall. It is entered from the ground level on Calvert Street.
& Information: 727-3848.
Maryland grants
Mazon, a national Jewish organization dedicated to alleviating hunger, has announced two grants for Baltimore projects, bringing to $178,750 the total to Maryland groups since 1986.
Allocations nationally in 1994 totaled $1,750,000.
The new Baltimore grants are $18,000 to the Maryland Food Committee and $6,000 to Jewish Family Services for support of its kosher food pantry.
These are among new grants to 102 Jewish and nonsectarian agencies in the United States and abroad totaling $875,000.
Rabbi Mark Loeb of Pikesville's Beth El Congregation, who is national chairman of the organization, said: "Mazon's grants provide material well-being to those who are hungry and spiritual well-being to Jews who contribute to this effort. It is a partnership which nourishes us all."
Since its founding eight years ago, Mazon has given $8.6 million to feeding programs, food banks, shelters, advocacy groups and relief, counseling and development projects. Information: (212) 475-5427.
Christmas cantata
"He Gave Everything," a choral work composed and arranged by Ron and Shelly Hamilton, will be presented at 7 p.m. tomorrow and Sunday at Faith Bible Church, 5810 Timberview Drive, Elkridge.
The public is invited. "Come and hear, through drama and song, how a family reaches out to those less fortunate at this special time of year and how you, too, can make a difference in someone's life," said the Rev. Alex Poindexter, pastor of the church. Information: 796-2727.
Hispanic Mass
Cardinal William H. Keeler and Auxiliary Bishop John H. Ricard will concelebrate the annual Mass honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe after an outdoor procession and recitation of the Rosary at 2:15 p.m. Sunday at the Roman Catholic Cathedral of Mary Our Queen. Auxiliary Bishop Roberto Gonzalez of Boston will preach.
& Information: 522-2668.