Special Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services are aplenty this week in area churches.
The public is invited to worship Christmas Eve at a candlelight service at 7 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 302 E. Madison Ave.
Luminaries will light the sidewalks for the evening service. The sound of handbells will fill the air and candlelight and carols will fill the church for this joyous Christmas Eve service.
The worship service will begin with the call to worship “Christmas Fanfare” and “O Little Town of Bethlehem” under the direction of Paula Sutherland. The Chancel Choir under the direction of Jan Knewtson will present “Breath of Heaven,” “Mary, Did You Know?,” “No Golden Carriage,” “Christmas Lullaby” and “Go Tell It” with soloists Jim Gilpin, Lisa Whitney and Susan McKinnis and a vocal ensemble of Gilpin, Whitney and Elizabeth Cunningham.
The Cunningham family will be featured in a violin ensemble playing “O Holy Night.” Glen Cunningham will present a trumpet solo, “The Birthday of A King.”
Telling the Christmas story will be Jon Marshall and David St. Clair. Richard Knewtson will serve as moderator for the service. The youth will provide Scripture readings throughout the program.
Watch the light spread to all as each one present will be given a candle to hold and light during the singing of “Silent Night.” Piano accompaniment will be provided by Jan Knewtson and Kathleen McCollam. McCollam will also play the pipe organ.
Nursery care will be provided and an elevator is available.
Members of Grace Lutheran Church’s choir, 117 W. Miller Rd., will sing “While Shepherd Lately Knelt” at the 7 p.m. Christmas Eve service at Grace Lutheran. Christmas Day services begin at 10:30 a.m. The Lord’s Supper will be served at both services.
Christmas Eve services at Fellowship Regional Church’s Crux service at 202 S. Washington Ave. will begin at 7 p.m. The service will include the Lord’s Supper and candle lighting. Fellowship Regional Church’s Christmas morning worship will begin at 10:30 a.m. The message will be “Christmas is for Children.”
Christmas Eve services begin at 7 p.m. at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, 202 S. Walnut. Area residents are invited to attend.
Christmas morning worship services at Hope Chapel Assembly of God Church, 3 miles east of Moran on Highway 54, will begin at 10:30 a.m. The Lord’s Supper will be served. There will not be any Sunday school classes or evening worship services.
Area residents are invited to a 6 p.m. Christmas Eve communion service at First Christian Church, 1608 Oregon Rd. On Christmas morning, Sunday school will begin at 9:30 a.m. followed by worship services at 10:30.
Christmas Eve candlelight services will be at 5 p.m. at Salem United Methodist Church, 3 miles west of Iola on Highway 54 and 2 miles south on 800 Street, and at 7 p.m. at Calvary United Methodist Church, 118 W. Jackson.
Area residents are invited to celebrate Christmas Day services at 9:15 a.m. at Calvary United Methodist Church and at 11 a.m. at Salem United Methodist Church. During the Sunday school hour on Christmas Day members will conclude their Bible study, “The Journey to Bethlehem.” The Rev. Gene McIntosh will incorporate parts of the Bible study into his sermon.
