With Christmas just over a week away many area churches have special services planned. Several churches provided information to The Daily Herald.
Grazierville United Methodist Church will hold a special Christmas service of healing on Thursday, December 21. The “Service of the Longest Night” will begin at 7 p.m. There will also be morning worship at 9:15 a.m. on Sunday, December 24, as well as candlelight Christmas Eve service at 9 p.m.
Tyrone Presbyterians have a full schedule on Christmas Eve day. First Presbyterian Church will start the day off at 9 a.m. with breakfast and Bible for kids with Sunday church school beginning at 9:15 a.m. at 10:30 a.m. the service for the Lord’s day will be held with guest pastor, Reverend Norman Huff. Then, Christmas Eve candlelight service will be held that evening at 7:30 p.m.
Christ United Methodist Church on Pennsylvania Avenue will hold Christmas Eve candlelight service on Sunday, December 24 at 7 p.m. Information from the church says, “‘A witness from the stable’ will visit us on Christmas Eve. Please join us as we hear an account of the birth of Christ from a character found in the second chapter of the Gospel of St. Luke. Our doors and our arms are open to welcome you to this and all services as we celebrate the birth of our Lord.”
First English Lutheran Church, 17 W. 13th Street, will host a traditional Christmas Eve candle light service with special music at 7 p.m. all are invited to join members for this service of word and sacrament.
Beginning at 6:30 p.m. the Tyrone Church of the Brethren, 18th Street and Adams Avenue, will hold Christmas Eve service. The message will be “Through the eyes of a shepherd”. The senior choir will lead participants in caroling and worship. The H.A.L.O. youth choir will also be featured. The service will be followed by a time of rejoicing with the Lights of Christ youth group and cookie and punch fellowship.
Christmas Eve candlelight service will be held at Warriors Mark United Methodist Church on Sunday, December 24 at 7 p.m. Bring the family and enjoy an evening of candlelight, music and an uplifting message to help focus on the true meaning of Christmas. The Steinbeiser Gospel Band will provide special music. Weather permitting, the streets of Warriors Mark will be lined with Luminaries, a custom that started in Mexico many years ago as a symbol of light that would lead the Wisemen to baby Jesus’ manger. The WMUMC is handicapped accessible. Following the Christmas Eve service there will be a hymn sing led by the Steinbeiser Gospel Band at 8 p.m.
The public is invited to the Christmas Services at Wesley United Methodist Church, Logan Avenue, Tyrone. The 10:30 a.m. Sunday morning service on December 24, will feature the Wesleyan Choir and special music by Mary Ann Kurtz and Joan Cramer. The Christmas Eve programs will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a half hour concert of Christmas music by harpist Melissa Pan. The concert will be followed by the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service which will feature the children\\\’s and Wesleyan Choirs and special music by Max Dick, David and Myra Hess and clarinetist Jenna Dillon. Those attending the candlelight service are ask to bring a freestanding candle which will be used during the service of \\\”Family Candles.\\\” Silent candlelight communion will be administered from 10 to 11 p.m. in the Sanctuary. For more information, please call the church office at 684-3341.
Bald Eagle United Methodist Church will hold morning worship on Sunday, December 24 at 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. with Sunday school at 9:15 a.m. A candlelight Christmas Eve service will be held at 7 and 11 p.m. Then, on Christmas day, a special morning service will be held at 10 a.m.
Everyone is invited to experience the Nativity at Olivet Baptist Church. The morning message on December 24 at 9 and 10:30 a.m. will be “What in the world was God thinking?” Then at 6 p.m. Christmas Eve service, the message will be “We’re no longer home alone”. Also, on Sunday December 31 “The hope of the wise men” will be discussed. Olivet Baptist is located at 508 Cambria Street in Bellwood. Visit the church online at www.obchurch.com.
Many other area churches have special services planned in the upcoming weeks. Keep checking The Daily Herald and the community calendar for more events.
