Christmas Services
Recorder/Paul Franz
1794 Meeting House and the Central Congregational Church in New Salem CenterRecorder/Paul Franz
St John's Episcopal Ashfield Jesus as the God Shepard Tiffany windowRecorder/Paul Franz
St John's Episcopal Church in Ashfield exteriorRecorder/Paul Franz
St Johns Episcopal Ashfield interiorRecorder/Paul Franz
St John's Episcopal Ashfield past pastorsRecorder/Paul Franz
St John's Episcopal Ashfield Organ
Editor’s note: We want to thank area houses of worship for sending us information about their Christmas services. If you don’t see your church here, please contact it directly to see what is planned.
St. John’s Episcopal Church, corner of South and Main streets.
Sunday, Dec. 23, 10 a.m. Holy Eucharist. A visit from Saint Nicholas of Myra and a celebration of the 185th anniversary of the first service held at Saint John’s.
Christmas Eve, Dec. 24: Family Service, at
4 p.m. Carols and stories for all ages. Collection will benefit a new chapter of “MotherWoman,”a group for new mothers, to be held at the Corner House in the near future. Festive Eucharist,
10 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 30,
10 a.m. Service of Lessons and Carols
Bernardston Unitarian Church, 49 Church St.
Holiday Festivities: Pot Luck Brunch and Carol Sing with pianist Lynne Walker, 11:30 a.m., Sunday, Dec. 23.
To participate in the Santa grab bag, bring an item under $5. Free-will donation to Wounded Warriers Project.
www.bernardstonunitarian.org
First Congregational Church of Buckland — Mary Lyon Church, Upper Street.
Sunday, Dec. 23, 10:30 a.m. Worship Service.
Monday, Dec. 24, 9 p.m. Candlelight Service with Lessons and Carols
Charlemont Federated Church, 175 Main St.
Dec. 23, Fourth Sunday of Advent.
Dec. 24: Candlelight Christmas Eve Service of Lessons and Carols at
7:30 p.m.
Dec. 30: Alice Parker Carol SING! at 3 p.m.
No charge.
Second Baptist Church, Christian Hill, Ed Clark Road. All are welcome to join us for a traditional Christmas Eve Carol Sing, 8 p.m.
Rollo Kinsman will be singing “O, Holy Night” accompanied by Dennis Ainsworth at the old pump organ.
The First Church of Deerfield, 71 Old Main St.
Christmas Eve, Monday, Dec. 24, 4:30 p.m. Family Service includes children’s sermon, music in the English tradition and carols, followed by The Living Manger, 5:30, in “stable” across the street. 9 p.m. Service of Lessons and Carols; expanded choir, carols and readings from the gospel Luke’s story of the nativity.
Gill Church
Share a time of worship and song with the community on Christmas Eve at 5:30 p.m. We will be blessed by the accompaniment of musicians Linda Swehla (piano), Mickey Butler (violin) and John Lyons (harmonica). Join us to celebrate this time at our picturesque village setting in the center of Gill. Any inquiries can be made by calling Gary at 863-8613, or email gryngill@yahoo.com.
Northfield Mount Hermon’s Memorial Chapel.
A Christmas Eve Service will take place at 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 24. All friends, families, alumni, and neighbors are welcome.
School chaplain Michael Corrigan will preside over a service of readings and traditional carols. Piano accompaniment by Beatrice Dowdy. The collection will benefit the Greenfield Family Inn.
498-3338
Blessed Sacrament Church,
221 Federal St.
Masses for the Christmas Eve Vigil will be on Monday, Dec. 24, at 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. Special music, performed by the sanctuary choir, will begin at 3:30 p.m.
The Mass for Christmas Day, Tuesday, Dec. 25, will be at
10:30 a.m.
The Masses for the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God will be on Monday, Dec. 31, at the 4 p.m. and Tuesday, Jan. 1, at
8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
Christ Church of Franklin County will conduct its traditional Carols & Candles Christmas Eve Service, Monday, Dec. 24, at 7 p.m. at the Guiding Star Grange Hall, 401 Chapman St., Greenfield. For more information, call the church office 772-5860 or
www.christchurchgreenfield.org.
First Congregational Church,
43 Silver St.
Candlelight Service,
Dec. 24, 7 p.m. Family service with choir music, Christmas Carols, communion. Service ends with traditional singing of “Silent Night,” and church lit by candlelight only.
First United Methodist Church,
25 Church St.
Monday, Dec. 24, 7 p.m., Family Service; 11 p.m., Candlelight Service.
Holy Trinity Parish,
133 Main St.
Christmas Eve: Masses at 5:30 p.m. and the Solemn Mass of Christmas at 9 p.m. The choir will present a program of Christmas music at 8:30 p.m.
Christmas Day: Mass at
9 a.m. (No 5:30 p.m. Mass).
The Feast of Mary, Mother of God: New Year’s Day,
Jan. 1: Masses at 8 and 10:30 a.m.
The Feast of the Epiphany: Jan. 5 and 6: Masses will be at 5:30 p.m., 8 a.m., and 10:30 a.m.
Robbins Memorial Congregational Church, 55 Munson St.
Sunday, Dec. 23, Christmas Sunday, Worship at 10 a.m.
Monday, Dec. 24, Christmas Eve. 7 p.m. Candle light service of scriptures and carols and special music.
All are welcome. Call
774-5338 for more information, and to ask about handicapped access entrance.
Saint James Episcopal Church, corner of Federal & Church streets.
Christmas Eve, Monday, Dec. 24: 4 p.m., Lessons & Carols & Holy Eucharist; 10:30 p.m., musical prelude; 11 p.m., Choral Holy Eucharist on the Eve of the Nativity of Our Lord.
Christmas Day, Tuesday, Dec. 25, 9 a.m. Holy Eucharist of the Nativity.
Sunday, Dec. 30, 9 a.m. Lessons & Carols and Holy Eucharist.
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church,
23 Long Ave.
Christmas Eve candlelight service Monday at 7:30 p.m.
Second Congregational Church,
16 Court Square.
Sunday, Fourth Sunday in Advent, the Rev. Corey Sanderson will lead the 10 a.m. service
Monday, Dec. 24, Sanderson will lead the 7 p.m. Candlelight Service.
Unity in the Pioneer Valley,
6 Arch St.
We will be celebrating an early Christmas Eve service beginning at 6 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 24. There will be the traditional readings, with metaphysical interpretations, interspersed with lots of caroling, all within the luster of candlelight.
New Year’s Eve burning bowl ceremony: What better way to usher in the New Year than by burning away some habit or attitude you wish to get rid of and by replacing it with uplifting affirmations and strengths? Unity in the Pioneer Valley celebrates this annual event at 7 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 31.
This will be Rev. Carol’s last service as our minister.
Leverett Congregational Church, 4 Montague Road, across from the Leverett Post Office.
Candlelight Service, Sunday,
Dec. 23, 7 p.m. Come celebrate with traditional readings, choral anthems, and carol singing, closing with “Silent Night” by candlelight. All are welcome, child-friendly. For more information, call Claudia Gere 259-1741.
Leyden Methodist Church,
West Leyden Road.
Christmas Eve Service 5 p.m.
Covenant Church,
19 Bridge St.
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, 6:30 p.m.
First Congregational Church of Montague, 4 North St., Montague Center.
Traditional service of Lessons and Carols at 7 p.m. on Christmas Eve. 413-367-9467,
www.montaguechurch.org
We will also join other area churches in ringing our bells for several minutes to celebrate the birth of Christ at noon on Christmas Day.
St. Patrick Parish, 82 Main St.
Monday, Dec. 24, 4 p.m.,Vigil of Christmas Mass in lieu of Midnight Mass.
Monday, Dec. 24, 6 p.m., Vigil of Christmas Mass (Children’s Pageant).
Tuesday, Dec. 25, 10 a.m., Nativity of the Lord Mass
Bethany Lutheran Church,
62 Cheney St.
Candlelight Christmas Eve service, with Holy Communion, on
Dec. 24 at 7 p.m.
Presiding minister is the Rev. Janice Schuyler and musician is Stephanie Parker.
Following the service, light refreshments will be served.
Community Church of North Orange and Tully, Main Street and Creamery Hill Road, North Orange, opposite Goddard Park.
A Candlelight Christmas Eve Service will be Monday, Dec. 24 at
7 p.m. Community is invited for this festive service of celebration.
Guest preacher of the month, the Rev. Karen Dorshimer-Chaplin, will conduct the service. She is chaplain at UMass Medical in Worcester.
Central Congregational Church, 93 South Main St.
We hope you will join us for a joyous celebration on Christmas Eve. Beginning at 7 p.m., we will have a service filled with special music both instrumental and vocal, readings, candle light and even a parade for the children to welcome in the newly born Jesus. 978-544-6895 CentralChurchOrange.org.
First Congregational Church of Shelburne, Little Mohawk Road.
Sunday, Regular Sunday Service at 10 a.m.; Meet at the Fellowship Hall at 1:45 p.m. to begin Caroling Tour. Christmas Evening Services at 7 p.m. Christmas Day, no services scheduled.
Trinity Church, 17 Severance St.
Christmas Eve. 7 p.m. Carols and Candles family service. 11 p.m., Holy Communion
Trinity Church is fully accessible and all are welcome to join us.
South Deerfield Congregational Church.
The annual Christmas Eve Candlelight Service is at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 24, and will be led by the Rev. Jeremiah Rood, with organ music by Jane Filkins. The service will include the traditional scripture readings, with the singing of the familiar Christmas carols, and the choir will sing four anthems: “One Special Star,” “Christmas Peace Canon,” “Silent Night, Silent World,” and “And Love Was Born.”
The Sunderland Congregational Church, 91 S. Main St.
Christmas Eve Family Candle Light Service beginning at 7 p.m. The service will include the singing of favorite Christmas carols, reading of the Christmas story, special music from our handbell and vocal choirs. The service will conclude with everyone singing “Silent Night” by candlelight. All are welcome.
Our Lady of Czestochowa Church, 84 K St.
Monday, Dec. 24, the Vigil Mass of Christmas Eve will begin at 4 p.m. with the Blessing of the Christmas trees, manger and the Christmas hay to await the coming of the Christ Child. Carols will be chanted in English, Polish and Latin. After the Mass, which will be in English, the congregation, following an old Polish tradition, is welcome to take a memento of the Blessed hay for the centerpiece on their Christmas Eve dinner table.
The Midnight Mass of the Shepherds will begin at exactly midnight. It will be introduced at 11:30 p.m. with a concert of carols in English, Polish and Latin. As the bells ring the midnight hour of Christmas morning,
Dec. 25, the time of the birth of the Christ Child, a statue of the Infant Jesus will be blessed and carried in solemn procession around the church and then enshrined in the manger. The Mass will follow in English.
Tuesday, Dec. 25, The Mass of Christmas Day will begin at 10:30 a.m. with the solemn proclamation of the birth of Christ and the solemn procession to the manger. Mass will be in English with carols chanted in English, Polish and Latin.
Our Lady of Peace Church,
80 Seventh St.
Christmas Eve, Dec. 24:
4 p.m. Mass. Children’s Mass with Christmas pageant;
10 p.m., “Mass of Midnight “
Christmas Day, Dec. 25, “Nativity of the Lord,” 10 a.m. Mass.
New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31:
4 p.m. Mass.
New Year’s Day, Jan. 1, “Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God” and World Day of Prayer for Peace, 10 a.m. Mass.
Vernon Advent Christian Church, 4554 Fort Bridgman Road (Route 142) at the MA/VT state line.
Monday, Christmas Eve. 6:30 to 7:15 p.m., Candlelight service with Christmas carols. For information, call 498-4458.
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