Love of community, faith and the written word have spurred Maria Baber’s practice of writing plays performed at Oakwood United Methodist Church.

Baber, 77, lives in a cottage on Ampthill Road, which she said had been converted from a goat shed.

She said her plays for the church, which she is a member, have been about the Christmas holiday, have highlighted Biblical figures like Amos and Jonah and have sought to provide humor and spiritual insight.

“I like to write little plays for the people who are in it,” Baber said.

Baber’s playwrighting has developed from the English degree she had received at Lynchburg College, and her more than 20 years teaching English at the high school level.

Baber noted at an earlier time in the church’s history, she had had more teenagers in the plays. As they have moved away to college, Baber said the congregation has consisted more of working adults or retired mature adults.

She said her plays focus on narration and singing to give the members of the church who participate less work as they balance the play with other holiday activities.

“Not many people have the time. They are retired or work full time,” Baber said. “With narration carrying the play and a little acting, it can be a lot of fun.”

This year’s play, happening Sunday at 5 p.m., will focus on the holiday of Epiphany. It will include a narrator and chorus, music and speech, humor and spiritual insight.

She said the celebration, which can often be forgotten compared with Christmas, focuses on the gifts presented by the Magi to Jesus and Jesus’ baptism.

“It was light coming into the world,” Baber said.

In addition to providing insight on faith, Baber said the plays also bring people together.

“They do bring about community,” Baber said. “People can have cookies, talk and laugh, see people in the community that they haven’t in a while, and educate a little and give spiritual insight.”

Being with the elderly members of the community has also been special to her. Until 2005, she had worked at the retirement community that is currently The Woodland in Farmville.

“Working with elderly people who are so mature, it really is a gift,” Baber said.

While Baber has had ongoing health issues and often stays at home, she continues to be involved in her community.

She is a member of the Cartersville Garden Club, where she had previously been Master Gardener and Master Naturalist. She helps organize a coalition of area churches that unite faith and racial groups. She also enjoys reading books relating to philosophy, mysticism and the Christian faith and taking photos of her calico cat, Kate, who said she has gained quite a following on Facebook.

“She’s the owner, mistress and queen of the house,” Baber said with a laugh.

She said age has given her the freedom to not care what others think, and to experience a deep love and compassion for those around her, something she said she continues to practice.

Paraphrasing a quote from Aristotle, Baber said, “Happiness is a golden life, and you only know it when you’re going to die.”

“I think happiness is not a golden life, but compassion is,” Baber said. “I think compassion is a golden life.”