Area congregations schedule special Christmas services and events St. Luke’s Lutheran

Bally Mennonite

Bally: A Christmas Eve Candlelight Service with a special service of scripture and carols will be held at 7 p.m. on Sunday at Bally Mennonite Church, Route 100. Everyone is welcome.

Bethel UMC

Spring City: Pre-service Christmas Eve music at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday at Bethel United Methodist Church, 952 Bethel Church Road. Christmas Eve service will begin at 7 p.m.

First UCC

Royersford: The Birth of Christ will be celebrated on Christmas Eve at First United Church of Christ, 367 Washington St. Brunch and Casual Worship will be held at 10 a.m. in the Social Hall. A Candlelight Worship Service will be held at 7 p.m. in the Sanctuary. All are welcome.

First Presbyterian

Pottstown: The Christmas Eve Family Candlelight Service will be held at 5 p.m. in the sanctuary at First Presbyterian Church where the children’s choirs will present “Midnight Miracle.” The Candlelight Communion Service will begin at 10:30 p.m. with special music from “Messiah” beginning at 10 p.m.

Centenial Lutheran Kimberton: The fourth

candle of the Advent wreath will be lit on Sunday at the 9:30 a.m. worship service at Centennial Lutheran Church, 1330 Hares Hill Road. Candlelight services of Holy Communion on Christmas Eve will take place at 5 and 8 p.m. Special Christmas music will be presented at 7:30 p.m. All are welcome.

Good Shepherd UCC

Boyertown: Christmas Eve Evening Services at good Shepherd United Church of Christ, 35 W. Philadelphia Ave., with Candlelight at all services will include a 5 p.m. Family-focused Service (no communion); 7:30 p.m. Traditional Christmas Eve Service with communion and includes instrumental and choir music, and 10 p.m. Quieter Christmas Eve Service with Communion. All are welcome. Obelisk: No morning services or Sunday School will be held at Saint Luke’s Lutheran Church, Route 73 and Neiffer Road, on Sunday. The Rev. Paul Chapman will lead the candlelight Holy Communion evening services at 4, 7 and 10 p.m.

Christ Lutheran

Barto: The fourth Advent candle will be lit during the 9 a.m. service on Sunday at Christ Lutheran Church, 222 Niantic Road. Christmas Eve services will be held at 3 and 9 p.m. The 3 p.m. service will have a service of communion with special music by Transformation Praise Band and various musical presentations by members of the congregation. The 9 p.m. service will be a service of Communion and Candle Lighting with special music by the Senior Choir and various musical presentations by members of the congregation. All are welcome.

Calvary UCC

Barto: A Christmas Eve Holy Communion Service will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday and at 7:30 p.m. a Christmas Eve Candlelight Holy Communion Service will take place at Calvary United Church of Christ, 1231 Route 100.

St. James Lutheran

Limerick: “Shining Star” food baskets will be delivered to area residents starting at 9:30 a.m. today. Over 300 baskets will be delivered from St. James Lutheran Church, 93 Kugler Road. A Family Contemporary Service will be held at 5 and 7 p.m. on Sunday, Christmas Eve. A “Youth Led Service” will start at 9 p.m. The “Traditional Candlelight Service” will start at 11p.m. Communion will be part of each service.

Trinity UCC

Pottstown: There will be no Sunday School on Dec. 24 at Trinity United Church of Christ, 60 N. Hanover St. Morning worship will begin at 9:30 a.m. The Christmas Eve Candle Light service will begin with special Christmas music at 7 p.m. followed by the service of lessons and carols. All are welcome.

Christ Episcopal

Pottstown: A Family Christmas Eve Service will be held at 5 p.m. on Sunday at Christ Episcopal Church, 316 High St. Carols will be sung, children will take part in the service and there will be special music during the offertory sung by Lisa Baro and Stephanie Laidig. The second service is at 10:30 p.m. which includes carol singing by the congregation, anthems by the choir and Midnight Mass. Choir Soloist Joseph Stalnaker. Anthem under the

direction of Shirley Dietz. Christmas Day Eucharist will be offered at 9;30 a.m., a low Mass with no music.

Cedarville UMC

North Coventry: The Mission Team at Cedarville United Methodist Church, 1092 Laurelwood Road, is hosting a Pork and Sauerkraut Dinner to raise funds for their 2018 Adult Mission Trip. It will be held on Monday, Jan. 1 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The menu includes pork or hot dogs, sauerkraut, mashed potatoes, green beans almandine, applesauce, rolls, dessert, and drinks. Tickets are $9 for adults, $4.50 for children 10 and under, and $3 for a kid’s hot dog meal. Tickets can be ordered in advance and picked up at the door by calling the church office at 610-326-4173(just leave a message with the name, phone number and number of tickets). A limited number of tickets will be available at the door, advanced sales recommended.

Shepherd of the Hills

Bechtelsville: The Youth Club choir will hold a special rehearsal from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at Shepherd of the Hills Church, 527 Hoffmansville Road. Christmas Eve services will be held at 7 and 9 p.m. with a story time at 8:15 p.m.

Mount Carmel UMC

St. Peter’s: There will be no 10 a.m. Sunday Service at Mount Carmel United Methodist Church, 2203 Harmonyville Road. There will be a Christmas Eve Service at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday. All are welcome.

St. John’s UCC

Pottstown: The annual Children’s Program, under the direction of Matt Moyer, will be presented at the 10:15 a.m. service on Sunday at St. John’s United Church of Christ. The Fourth Advent Candle will be lit by Keith and Carla Edlund and the newly formed hand bell choir, under the direction of Erica Moyer, will perform. The Christmas Eve Candlelight Service will be held at 7:30 p.m. with the Creasy/Messing/Williams families lighting the Advent

candle. All are welcome. St. Luke Lutheran

Gilbertsville: The fourth candle on the Advent Wreath will be lit at the 9:30 a.m. service on Sunday at St. Luke Lutheran Church. The Interactive Family service will be held at 7 p.m. Christmas Eve. The service promises to be wonderful for children of all ages. The Cherub Choir will sing. Numerous musical offerings will be included in the prelude beginning at approximately 6:30 p.m. The candlelight communion service will be held at 10 p.m. The handbell choir, senior choir, and numerous vocal and instrumental offerings will be presented both before the service, and during.

Coventryville UMC

Pottstown: The Fourth Sunday of Advent will be marked with a single service at 10 a.m. at Coventryville United Methodist Church, 1521 Old Ridge Road, and will include a candle lighting. A Candlelight Christmas Eve service will be celebrated at 7 p.m. Both the Senior and Hand Chime Choirs will provide special music.

Emmanuel Lutheran

Pottstown: There will be a Worship Service with music at 10:15 a.m. on Sunday, and a 6:30 and 10 p.m. Candlelight Worship Service with music at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 150 N. Hanover St.

Zion’s UCC

Pottstown: The Fourth Sunday in Advent celebrates love at Zion’s United Church of Christ, Hanover and Chestnut streets. The candle will be lit by Joan and Jim Miller. Poinsettias in memory and honor of members and friends will grace the altar. There is no Sunday School. The Christmas Eve candlelight service is at 7 p.m. Opening the service are musical offerings to the Christ Child with instrumental and vocal solos. Julie and Dusty Rhoads will light the Christ candle. The Blessing of the Creche during the scripture features Chase Bartolini as Joseph and Emily Albitz as Mary. The Handbells will perform under the direction of Rev. Mary

Etta Mest. St. Peter’s Lutheran

Pottstown: Lighting of the Advent Wreath will take place for the Fourth Sunday of Advent at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, 564 Glasgow St. Participants at the 8 a.m. Service are Barbara and Howard Murphy; 10:30 a.m. Service are Tara and Mel Cusick and family. The Special Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at 7:30 p.m. will feature Holy Communion, Christmas Music by the Youth and Senior Choirs, singing of Christmas Carols, Trumpeter Frank Mann IV, displays of Poinsettias and Chrismon Trees, and the Pastor’s Christmas Message. White Gift Sunday (gifts for boys and girls ages 6 to 16 wrapped in white paper) ended last Sunday and 49 gifts were delivered to the Silver Springs-Martin Luther School in Plymouth Meeting. The church will serve the 5 p.m. Community Meal at First Presbyterian Church in Pottstown under the direction of Cindy Clouser, coordinator.

Shenkel UCC

North Coventry: There will be three services on Sunday, Christmas Eve, at Shenkel United Church of Christ, 1580 Shenkel Road. The 9:30 a.m. service in the Social Hall will include brunch. A Christmas Eve service at 7 p.m., geared toward families with children, will include communion, light sticks and a unique presentation of the Christmas story. At 10 p.m. there will be a traditional Christmas Eve candlelight service with communion and special Christmas music. Everyone is welcome.

Brown backs UCC

Spring City: The Good News Singers will be providing special music at the 10 a.m. service on Sunday at Brownback’s United Church of Christ, 640 Ridge Road. The Candlelight Holy Communion Service will begin at 7 p.m. the Worship Ensemble, Chancel Handbells, and Chancel Choir will all be performing. Following the Service, all are invited to Fellowship Hall for Social Hour hosted by the Sallade/Iezzi