Advent and Christmas Briefs
Meditation in Music Advent organ recital series concludes Dec. 21
All Saints' Episcopal Church will present its final Meditation in Music Advent Organ Recital from 12:15 to 1 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 21. Jackson Borges, organist and parish director of music for All Saints' Church and St. George's Chapel, will play an organ recital following the Healing Service at All Saints' Church. Featured will be works of the great masters, as well as seasonal works based on Advent hymns and chants.
All Saints' Episcopal Church is at 18 Olive Ave., Rehoboth Beach. There is no charge for admission; a freewill offering will be collected to support the parish music ministry. For more information, call 302-227-7202.
Long Neck to host Longest Night Service of support Dec. 21
The Longest Night Service will be held at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 21, at Long Neck United Methodist Church, 32051 Long Neck Road, Long Neck. The Christmas and Advent seasons are known for their expressions of joy, excitement and happiness. It is a time for family and friends to gather and for churches to worship, pointing to the hope that is found in the coming of the Christ child. But, this time of expectation can be overshadowed by the pain many people experience during this season, when suffering and loss, hurt and absence bring a feeling of disconnect from the rest of the festive world. Congregants will gather on the longest night of the year to support one another through song, the lighting of the Advent wreath, the word of God, communion and prayer. All are welcome.
St. Jude announces services Dec. 23-31
St. Jude the Apostle announced masses for the Fourth Sunday of Advent will be celebrated at 4 and 6 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 23; and at 8:30 and 10:30 a.m., Sunday, Dec. 24. Christmas Eve masses celebrating the Solemnity of Nativity of the Lord will be held at 4, 6 and 9 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 24, in the church. The 4 p.m. mass will be the family liturgy. Christmas Day masses will be held at 8:30 and 10:30 a.m., Monday, Dec. 25. On New Year's Eve, the vigil mass celebrating the Solemnity of Mary Mother of God will be celebrated at 4 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 31. New Year's Day masses celebrating the Solemnity of Mary Mother of God are scheduled for 8:30 and 10:30 a.m., Monday, Jan. 1. St. Jude The Apostle Church is on the northbound side of Route 1, Lewes just north of the Five Points intersection. For more information, go to www.stjudelewes.org.
St. Peter's Lewes announces services Dec. 24-31
St Peter's Episcopal Church announced services over the Christmas holidays through New Year’s Eve. Some of them are different from regular service times. A Holy Eucharist service will take place at 9 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 24. Christmas Eve services Sunday, Dec. 24, include a Children's Pageant Festal Eucharist at 5 p.m.; Festal Eucharist with handbells at 7 p.m., acoustic Christmas Eucharist in the parish hall at 9 p.m., and Festal Eucharist with choir at 11 p.m., with a prelude to begin at 10:30 p.m. A Festal Eucharist service will take place at 9 a.m., Christmas Day, Monday, Dec. 25. A Holy Eucharist service will be held at 5 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 30. Holy Eucharist services will be held at 8 and 10 a.m. and a LIGHT family service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Sunday, Dec. 31.
For more information, go to www.stpeterslewes.org.
Bethel UMC announces Christmas Eve schedule
Bethel United Methodist Church, 129 W. Fourth St., Lewes will hold a worship service at 10 a.m., Sunday, Dec. 24, in Fellowship Hall. Christmas Eve services Sunday, Dec. 24, at Bethel UMC will be candlelight communion at 3 p.m. in the sanctuary; candlelight Christmas pageant at 5 p.m. in Fellowship Hall; candlelight youth service at 7 p.m. in the sanctuary; and candlelight communion at 11 p.m. in the sanctuary. For more information, call 302-645-9426 or email office@bethellewes.org.
Christmas Eve services set at All Saints' Church & St. George's Chapel
All Saints' Church, 18 Olive Ave., Rehoboth Beach, will hold a Christmas Eve family service with the children's choir at 4 p.m. and a service at 10 p.m. that includes carol singing with the choir starting at 9:30 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 24. St. George's Chapel, 20274 Beaver Dam Road, Harbeson, will hold a family service of special music with the children at 4 p.m. and a candlelight service with the chapel choir at 7 p.m. For more information, go to www.allsaintsandstgeorges.org.
Christmas Eve service set Dec. 24 at Calvary Baptist
Calvary Baptist Church will hold its Christmas Eve candlelight service at 5 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 24. The church is at 22860 Dupont Blvd., Georgetown. For more information, call 302-856-3773
Christmas Eve candlelight service set at Groome UMC
Groome United Methodist Church will hold its annual Christmas Eve candlelight service at 5 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 24. The story of the birth of Jesus will be shared in a beautiful service of lessons and carols. The community is invited to attend. The church is at 701 Savannah Road, Lewes.
Candlelight service set at Coolspring Presbyterian Dec. 24
Coolspring Presbyterian Church, U.S.A., will hold a Candlelight Christmas Eve service at 5:30 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 24. There will be no Sunday morning service Dec. 24. The church is at 28843 Log Cabin Hill Road, Lewes. For more information, call 302-703-2545.
Unitarian Universalists announce two services Dec. 24
The Unitarian Universalists of Southern Delaware will hold a regular service at 10 a.m., Sunday, Dec. 24. The Rev. Michelle Collins said, "Through discussion and sharing, we'll explore aspects of each of our holiday traditions, be they Christmas or another holiday. We'll also enjoy a number of Christmas carols together, different ones from the evening service.”
Renowned mezzo soprano Carol Denenberg and Music Director Dr. Marcelle Schiff will share musical sounds of the season at UUSD's Christmas Eve service at 6 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 24. Music will begin at 5:50 p.m. before the service. Everyone is welcome.
Denenberg has been singing opera and oratorio throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and New York for more than 35 years. She received her vocal training from Dorothea DiScala of the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia and Gabriella Tucci of the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Denenberg is retired and now sings in Lewes and the surrounding area.
Schiff is on the faculty at Salisbury University. She is an active teacher, clinician, adjudicator, and accompanist with a specialty in vocal pedagogy. She earned her doctorate at Boston University and her master's at Westminster Choir College in Princeton, N.J., and has spent more than 25 years nurturing musical connections between young people and adults.
The Rev. Michelle Collins will lead UUSD's annual Christmas Eve evening service. The church is at 30486 Lewes-Georgetown Highway, Route 9, in Lewes, two miles west of the Coastal Highway. For more information, go to www.uussd.org.
Dec. 24, 25 services and dinner annouced at Long Neck UMC
Long Neck United Methodist Church offer several opportunites to worship Sunday, Dec. 24. The regular contemporary service will be at 8:45 a.m. and the traditional service will be at 11 a.m. Christmas Eve services will be offered at 6:30 and 11 p.m. for all to come, worship and celebrate the birth of the Christ child.
There will be a potluck Christmas dinner at 1 p.m., Christmas Day, Monday, Dec. 25. Everyone is invited and is asked to bring a covered dish that can feed six to eight people. A main course of ham and turkey will be provided. No one needs to stay home alone when they can enjoy fellowship and some real, down-home cooking.
Long Neck UMC is at 32051 Long Neck Road, Long Neck. For more information, call 302-945-9453.
St. Edmond announces services Dec. 24, 25, 31 and Jan. 1
St. Edmond Catholic Church Christmas Eve masses will be at 4 and 6 p.m. and midnight in the church, and 4 p.m. in the parish hall Sunday, Dec. 24. Services will be held at 8:30 and 10:30 a.m., Monday, Dec. 25, at 4 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 31, and at 8:30 and 10:30 a.m., Monday, Jan. 1. St. Edmond is at Laurel Street and King Charles Avenue, Rehoboth Beach. For more information, call 302-227-4550.
