Christmas Eve and Christmas services

Online editor’s note: The following Christmas Eve and Christmas services were taken from those submitted for the Journal-World’s Saturday’s Religion briefs. There also may be other Christmas religious services in the city not listed here.


Centenary United Methodist Church

The Centenary United Methodist Church, 245 N. Fourth St., invites the public to attend its traditional Christmas Eve candlelight service, held in its sanctuary at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Central United Methodist Church

Central United Methodist Church, 1501 Mass., will have a candlelight Communion service at 7 p.m. Wednesday. The Rev. Kevin Williams will preach the message, “No Way in a Manger!”

First Christian Church

First Christian Church, 1000 Ky. , will have a Christmas Eve candlelight serviceat 7 p.m. Wednesday and will feature Christmas music and choirs, including Children’s Choristers.

First Presbyterian Church

First Presbyterian Church, 2415 Clinton Parkway, will have two worship services to celebrate Christmas Eve. A 6 p.m. Wednesday service will worship with songs, children and live animals. A 10 p.m. service of Lessons and Carols will offer Communion and candlelight for a quieter celebration of the birth of Jesus.

First United Methodist Church

First United Methodist Church, 946 Vt., will have Christmas Eve services at 4 p.m. Wednesday (a children’s service for the entire family), 5:30 p.m. (traditional worship with family Christmas memories), 7:30 p.m. (music shared by the Chancel Choir and Celebration Ringers) and 10:30 p.m. (with Communion and special music by the Mid-Morning Worship Team).

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

“The Light of All People, A Candlelight Christmas Service,” will be at 8 p.m. Wednesday at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 2211 Inverness Drive.

The service will feature the Good Shepherd Choir with instrumental support by the Shepherd’s Strings. The service will include many favorite Christmas hymns.

A Christmas morning service will be at 10 a.m. Thursday.

Both services will include the celebration of Holy Communion.

Plymouth Congregational Church

Plymouth Congregational Church, 925 Vt., is planning Christmas Eve services. The Rev. Lewis Hinshaw, associate pastor, will lead a 4 p.m. Christmas Eve service Wednesday, suited for families with young children.

Traditional candlelight services will be at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Wednesday with the Rev. Peter Luckey. Child care will be offered at both services.

St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church

St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 1234 Ky., is planning several Masses for Wednesday night and Thursday morning.

Liturgies for Christmas Eve are 4:30 p.m., 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. and midnight Wednesday. Liturgies for Christmas Day are 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.

St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church

St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, 5700 W. Sixth St., will have its family Christmas Eve service, with a Christmas pageant, will be at 5 p.m. Wednesday. A 7 p.m. service, “Born in a Barn,” will be at the home of the Grahams.

A Christmas carol candlelight meditation will be at 10 p.m. Wednesday, followed by a choir-led Eucharist at 10:30 p.m.

There will be an 8:30 a.m. Eucharist Thursday.

Trinity Episcopal Church

Trinity Episcopal Church, 1011 Vt., is will start Christmas Eve celebrations with the family service at 5 p.m. Wednesday. The children’s pageant will be presented, followed by Holy Eucharist.

Trinity’s annual Christmas concert begins at 10:15 p.m. Wednesday, followed by the Festal Choral Eucharist with choir and orchestra at 11 p.m.

Holy Eucharist will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Christmas Day.

Trinity Lutheran Church

Christmas Eve services will be at 5 p.m., 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. Wednesday at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1245 N.H.

A nursery will be provided at the 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. services.

Each of the three services will be preceded by 30 minutes of carol singing and will feature vocalists and instrumentalists. The Trinity Choir will participate at the 7 p.m. service.

A Christmas Day service will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday. The church office will be closed Thursday and Friday.

Unitarian Fellowship of Lawrence

The Unitarian Fellowship of Lawrence, 1263 N. 1100 Road, will have its annual Winter Solstice/Christmas Eve Program will be from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, followed by a Christmas Eve Soiree from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m.

West Side Presbyterian Church

West Side Presbyterian Church, 1204 Kasold Drive, will have a Christmas Eve candlelight Communion service at 7 p.m. Wednesday, presenting the Christmas story in word and song. Jamie Messer and his family will light the Christ Candle, and the children’s choir will sing.

The Christmas joy offering will be received Sunday and Wednesday. This offering supports Presbyterian-related, racial-ethnic schools and also supplements pensions for retired ministers and their families.