Veteran actor Graham Thatcher will play the role of Charles Dickens in a dramatization of "A Christmas Carol" at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 23, at Grace United Methodist Church, 10060 Foothills Drive in Piedmont.

Dickens himself tells the famous story of Scrooge, Jacob Marley, Tiny Tim and all of the ghosts of Christmas with immediacy, terror, excitement, love and grace, according to a press release. The story transports the audience to another time and place so that they might better understand their own times, where they have been and what they have become.

The one-hour family performance will be followed by carols, cookies and a couple of surprise visitors from the North Pole. Admission is by freewill donation to support Project Shelter to build houses in Juarez, Mexico, next summer. The public is invited to attend. For more information, call 787-7099.