CHRISTMAS SERVICES ACROSS COUNTY GO VIRTUAL, OUTDOORS

Congregations across North County are getting ready to celebrate Christmas with a variety of services adapted to pandemic precautions, but all the same seeking to bring the spirit of joy and peace. Some worship services are outdoors under the stars in church courtyards bedecked with lights, and some are virtual. Check church websites for updates before going out to a service and don’t forget face masks and if outdoors, an extra layer of warm clothing.

CARLSBAD

Christ Presbyterian Church hosts a Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship live online at 5 p.m. Dec. 24 to watch in real time or later and also outdoors at 7 p.m. with social distancing and masks at 7807 Centella St. Preregister for outdoor service at tinyurl.com/y5ptptbs. Visit christ-pres.church.

St. Michael’s by-the-sea Episcopal Church hosts Christmas carols, prayers, and its 2020 Christmas Pageant movie via Zoom from 4 to 4:30 p.m. Dec. 24 ; email becky@stmbts.org for the Zoom link. The annual Christmas Eve Solemn High Mass is from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Dec. 24 outdoors on the church lawn, 2775 Carlsbad Blvd., and the annual Christmas Day Mass is from 10 to 11 a.m. outdoors on the lawn. Fill out the online COVID-19 screening form online or in person upon arrival. Visit stmichaelsbythesea.org or call (760) 729-8901.

Redeemer by the Sea will hold an outdoor service of Carols & Candlelight at 4 p.m. Dec. 24 at 6600 Black Rail Road and online Christmas Eve services at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Dec. 24 at rbts.online.church. Recorded services are at redeemerbythesea.org/online-worship. Visit redeemerbythesea.org.

Daybreak Church will hold Christmas outdoor candle-lighting services at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. Dec. 23 and 4 p.m., 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. Dec. 24 at 6515 Ambrosia Lane. Visit daybreakchurch.org.

CARMEL VALLEY

Saddleback Church San Diego hosts a Prechristmas Drive-in from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Dec. 23 with Christmas music and a brief message in the parking lot of Canyon Crest Academy, 5951 Village Center Loop Road. Registration is required since parking is limited at bit.ly/2wkmtxm.

St. Peter’s Episcopal Church will hold online Christmas services this year via Facebook and Youtube, and all services will also be available for viewing after their scheduled times. On Dec. 24, the Christmas Eve service will be at 3 p.m. and the Lessons & Carols service at 7 p.m. The Christmas Day service will first stream at 10 a.m. Dec. 25. The Facebook and Youtube links along with service bulletins are at stpetersdelmar.net.

ENCINITAS

Bethlehem Lutheran Church will hold a livestreamed Christmas Eve service at 8:30 a.m. Dec. 24 and outdoor Christmas Eve services at 10 a.m., 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. at 925 Balour Drive. Sign-up is required for the outdoor services. Also, on Dec. 27, in addition to the livestreamed service at 8:30 a.m., Jamie Newcomb and Ursula Meyer will present “A Christmas Carol” in an outdoor service; sign-up is required. Visit blcenc.org.

St. Andrews Episcopal will hold an online Nativity Pageant at 2 p.m. Christmas Eve and an online Christmas Eve Worship Service, with “watch party,” at 4:30 p.m. Dec. 24. Visit standrewsepiscopal.org.

Seacoast Community Church will hold an outdoor candlelight Christmas Eve service at 4:30 p.m. Dec. 24 at 1050 Regal Road. Visit seacoast-church.org.

ESCONDIDO

The Church of St. Timothy will host outdoor Christmas Eve Mass at 2 p.m. with carol singing starting at 1:30 p.m. Dec. 24 and Mass at 4 p.m. with carols at 3:30 p.m. Christmas Day Mass is at 8:30 a.m. Dec. 25 with carols at 8 a.m. outside the church, 2960 Canyon Road. Masks are required; 70-80 seats available. Bring your own seating or be prepared to stand for about 45-50 minutes.

Baskets are available for Christmas donations. Visit sttimothychurch.com.

Community Lutheran Church will hold outdoor Christmas Eve services at 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Dec. 24 and an outdoor Christmas Day service will be at 9:30 a.m. at the church’s Escondido campus, 3575 E. Valley Parkway. Masks are required. The church’s Drive-in Christmas Concert is at 2 p.m. Dec. 20 in the parking lot of the Escondido campus. (No holiday services at the San Marcos campus.) Visit clcfamily.org.

Emmanuel Faith Community Church in Escondido will host outdoor Christmas Eve services at 1 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. Dec. 24 at the church, 639 E. 17th Ave. Call (760) 745-2541 or visit efcc.org/christmas.

The Church of the Resurrection holds outdoor Christmas Eve Mass at 8 a.m. (in English), Family Mass 5 p.m. (in English)., 7 p.m. Solemn Mass (in English) 8:30 Mass (in Spanish) Dec. 24 at 1445 Conway Drive. Christmas Day outdoor Mass is at 8 a.m, 10 a.m. (in English), and noon (in Spanish). Visit resurrectionchurch.org.

NORTH COUNTY

Rock Church hosts Christmas Eve at the Rock, an extended version of Rock Your Christmas with a special message for Rock Church at noon, 2 p.m. 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. at Sdrock.com/live, Facebook, Youtube, Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire TV. Rock Your Christmas is at 8 p.m. Dec. 23, 7 p.m. Dec. 24 and 8 p.m. Dec. 26 at fox5sandiego.com. North Coast Church will hold outdoor Christmas candlelight worship services Dec. 20 at the following times and locations: 4:30 p.m. in the Plaza, 1451 Montiel Road, Escondido; 6 p.m. at Carmel Mountain Ranch Community Park, Baseball Field, 10152 Rancho Carmel Drive, Rancho Bernardo; 4:30 p.m. at Pauma Valley Campus lawn, 32077 Community Church Drive, Pauma Valley; 4:30 p.m. in the main parking lot at the Fallbrook Campus, 1375 S. Mission Road, Fallbrook; 4:30 p.m. at Ramona High School outdoor stage, 1401 Hanson Lane, Ramona; 7:45 p.m. at The Plaza on the Vista Campus, 2405 N. Santa Fe Ave., Vista; and 5:30 p.m. at the Army and Navy Academy, Duffield Sports Center, Maffucci Field, 2600 Carlsbad Blvd., Carlsbad. Current CDC and San Diego County health guidelines will continue to be followed. Doublecheck times online and register online at northcoastchurch.com/christmas-candlelightworship-service.

OCEANSIDE

St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 1450 S. Melrose Drive, will host outdoor Christmas Eve Mass at noon (Vietnamese) and 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. (English) on Dec 24. Christmas Day Mass is at 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Dec 25 outdoors. Visit stmoside.org.

North Coast United Methodist Church will host five virtual Christmas celebrations. The Music of Christmas is online starting Dec. 20; The Longest Night, Dec. 21. A Zoom Christmas Eve service is at 6 p.m. Dec. 24 and a Traditional Christmas Eve service will be online starting Dec. 24. The online Christmas Day service is on Dec. 25. Visit northcoastumc.org.

RANCHO SANTA FE

The Village Church will hold 50-minute outdoor worship services with traditional Christmas music, carols and scripture readings on Christmas Eve at 4 p.m., 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. (with communion) on the church patio, 6225 Paseo Delicias; face masks are required and social distancing will be followed. There will be luminarias, a Nativity scene and Christmas tree. Online Christmas Eve worship is at villagechurch.org.

Horizon Christian Fellowship will hold outdoor Christmas Eve worship services at 5 p.m., 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. Dec. 24 at 6365 El Apajo Road. Visit horizon.org.

SAN MARCOS

Crossroads Church will hold an outdoor Christmas Eve candlelight and carols service at 4:30 p.m. Dec. 24 at 2406 N. Twin Oaks Valley Road. Bring your own hot chocolate and chairs. Visit crossroadscrc.com.

Calvary Lutheran Church will hold virtual services for Christmas Eve. The modern service is at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.; the traditional service is at 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. Dec. 24. The modern service will offer lessons and carols with candlelight and the traditional service will offer lessons, carols, candlelight and communion. Participants are encouraged to have candles ready at home for both services and bread, wine or juice for the traditional service. The services will also be available later on the church website. To view services, visit calvarylutheranchurch.org.

St. James and St. Leo Catholic Community will host outdoor Christmas Eve Mass at 3 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Dec. 24, and outdoor Christmas Day Mass at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Dec. 25 on the grassy area of St. James Academy, 623 S Nardo Ave. (with canopy and heaters), and 7 p.m. Christmas Eve in the parking lot of St. Leo Mission, 936 Genevieve St. (No Mass at the Mission on Christmas Day.) Visit stjamesandleo.org.

Solana Beach Presbyterian Church will hold online Christmas Eve services that can be viewed anytime and outdoor services at 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Dec. 24 at 120 Stevens Ave. Visit solanabeach.church.

VALLEY CENTER

Valley Center Community Church will hold two Christmas Eve services at 4:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. Dec. 24 outside under the tent at the new church campus, 29010 Cole Grade Road. Services include Christmas carols, special music, a brief Christmas message and candlelighting. Visit vccc.org.

VISTA

United Methodist Church of Vista will host an online Christmas Eve service going live at 8 p.m. Dec. 24 on Youtube. The service can viewed later as well. Visit umcvista.org.

linda.mcintosh@sduniontribune.com