Services and other activities in churches this week include the following:
Abingdon Episcopal
Abingdon Episcopal Church, White Marsh, will hold Sunday services at 8 and 10:30 a.m. The 10:30 service will feature a Christmas pageant offered by the youth of the parish. Following the 10:30 service, the church will be greened to be ready for Christmas.
Christmas Eve services are 4 p.m. family service and 10:30 p.m. candlelight service. Christmas Day service is offered at 9:30 a.m.
Antioch Baptist
The Rev. Sean Cummings of Friendship Baptist Church, Newport News, will speak at the 11 a.m. Sunday service in Antioch Baptist Church, Susan.
Apostles Lutheran
Apostles Lutheran Church, Gloucester, will hold a Christmas program, “Live from the Streets of Bethlehem,” at 10 a.m., the fourth Sunday in Advent. A coffee fellowship will be held after the service. A Blue Christmas service will be held at 7 p.m.
A Christmas Eve Candlelight worship service will be held at 7 p.m. Dec. 24.
Online inks to the service are on the church’s website at apostles-elca.org.
Bellamy United Methodist
Bellamy United Methodist Church, Gloucester, will observe the fourth Sunday of Advent at the 8:30 a.m. and the 10:30 a.m. services. The Advent Bible study, “The Journey,” continues at 9:15. Nursery for birth-three years old and Children’s Church are both available at the 10:30 service. The Youth Group meets at 5 p.m. with dinner provided.
The Christmas Eve service will begin at 5 p.m. and will be held in the outside worship area and pavilion. Come enjoy cookies, warm drinks and s’mores around a campfire while hearing the story of the birth of Jesus, a release said. The service will close singing “Silent Night” in candlelight.
Bethany United Methodist
The sermon title of Pastor Paul Song of Bethany United Methodist Church, Gloucester Point, at 8:30 Sunday (informal worship) and at 11 a.m. (traditional worship) will be “The Song of the Lowry.” Sunday school for all ages begins at 9:45. Nursery for infants to three-year-olds is available beginning at 9:40.
The Christmas Eve communion and candlelight service will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday. The sermon title of Mr. Song will be “Hope Beyond All Hope.”
Bethel Church of Mathews
Landa Simmions will be the speaker at the 9:50 a.m. Sunday communion service in Bethel Church of Mathews, Onemo. Sunday school will follow at 11 o’clock.
The church will join Salem Church for a Christmas Eve service at 5 p.m. in the sanctuary of Salem.
The church continues to collect non-perishable items for Hands Across Mathews.
Bethlehem United Methodist
Bethlehem United Methodist Church, Bena, will present its annual Carols at Bethlehem service with the choir, handbells and soloists at 11 a.m. Sunday.
Beulah Church of New Point
The sermon title of Pastor Dede Parrish of Beulah Church of New Point, at the 11 a.m. Sunday service will be “Oh Bethlehem.”
A Christmas Eve candlelight communion service will be held at 9 p.m. Tuesday.
Central United Methodist
The sermon title of Pastor Rebecca Rumburg of Central United Methodist Church, Mathews, at 9:15 a.m. Sunday will be “Hope!” Sunday school follows at 10:15.
Christmas Eve candlelight and communion service will be at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
Church of St. Therese
Church of St. Therese, Gloucester, will hold Mass at 5 p.m. Saturday and at 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Sunday.
A Christmas Eve Mass will be held at 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. Tuesday and Christmas day will be at 10 a.m.
Church of the Living Word
The sermon title of Assistant Pastor Melvin Epps of Church of the Living Word, Hayes, at the 10 a.m. Sunday service will be “Moving Forward.”
“Titus” will be the 6:30 p.m. Wednesday Bible study topic.
First Baptist, Ordinary
The sermon title of Pastor Ward Warren of First Baptist Church, Ordinary, at 10 a.m. Sunday will be “For Unto Us a Child Is Born.” Church school begins at 9 o’clock.
First Morning Star Baptist
The sermon title of Pastor Larry J. Arrington, of First Morning Star Baptist Church, Bena, at the 11 a.m. Sunday service will be “Oh, What a Wonderful Child.” The combined choir will sing under the direction of Leander Myers.
Gloucester Point Baptist
The sermon title of Pastor Dillon Evans of Gloucester Point Baptist Church at 11 a.m. Sunday will be “Twin Advents.”
Gloucester Union Relief Association of Missionary Baptist
The Gloucester Union Relief Association of Missionary Baptist will hold a “New Year’s Closing Out Service” at 6 p.m. Dec. 31 in New Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Gloucester. The Rev. Vincent Pryor, president, will render the sermon.
Grace Covenant Presbyterian
The sermon title of Pastor Jesse Hill of Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, Gloucester, at 10:30 a.m. Sunday will be “Joy of the Beloved.”
A candlelight service will be held at 7 p.m. Christmas Eve. The sermon title of Pastor Hill will be “The Grace of God has Appeared.”
Gwynn’s Island Baptist
The sermon title of Pastor Ed Jordan of Gwynn’s Island Baptist Church at 10 a.m. Sunday will be “Reciprocal Love!” Special music will be provided by Heather Mackenzie.
Copies of this year’s Advent book will be available after the service.
Kingston Episcopal
Kingston Episcopal Parish, Mathews, will observe Advent IV and Hanging of the Greens with Holy Eucharist Rite I at 8 a.m. Sunday at Christ Church on Williams Wharf Road and Rite II at 10:30 a.m. at Kingston Chapel on Main Street.
On Christmas Eve, Holy Eucharist Rite II will be held at 5 p.m. at Kingston Chapel and Rite I at 8 p.m. at Christ Church. On Christmas Day, Holy Eucharist Rite II will take place at Christ Church at 10:30 a.m.
Mathews Baptist
The sermon title at the 9 and 11 a.m. Sunday services in Mathews Baptist Church, Hudgins, will be “A Stable Delivery.”
The fourth Sunday of Advent will be observed.
A candlelight Christmas Eve communion service will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the sanctuary.
Mathews Chapel United Methodist
The sermon title of Pastor Angie Hoen of Mathews Chapel United Methodist, Cobbs Creek, at the 10:50 a.m. Sunday service will be “Rejoice.”
Mount Zion United Methodist
The sermon title of the Rev. Calvin Griffin of Mount Zion United Methodist Church, Gloucester, at 9 a.m. Sunday will be “How are We Sacrificing?”
New Point Friends
The sermon title of Pastor Thomas Bunting of New Point Friends Church at the 11 a.m. Sunday service will be “The Greatest Love Story.”
Newington Baptist
Pastor Chris Grella of Newington Baptist Church, Gloucester, continues his Christmas message series, “Journey to the Nativity: Waiting,” at 10:30 a.m., the fourth Sunday of Advent. The nursery, for infants and toddlers, will be available.
Various Sunday school classes meet at 9 o’clock.
All Wednesday activities will resume at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 8.
A Christmas Eve candlelight service will be held at 6 p.m.
Olive Branch Global Methodist
The Rev. Randall Cupp of Olive Branch Global Methodist Church, Harcum, will preach at the 9:30 a.m. Sunday service. Bible study will follow at 10:30.
A candlelight Christmas Eve service will be held at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Providence Baptist
Providence Baptist Church, Hayes, will hold “Laugh Out Loud Christmas Tour” at 6:30 tonight, Thursday, Dec. 19. It will feature inspirational humorist Jamey Ragel and award-winning recording artist and producer Chris Golden. A love offering will be taken.
Saint Paul Comfort
The sermon title of Pastor Dede Parrish of Saint Paul Comfort Church, Susan, at the 9:45 a.m. Sunday service will be “Oh Bethlehem.”
Salem Community
Salem Community Church, Gloucester, will meet for worship at 11 a.m. Sunday.
The USDA Food Pantry will be open from 9-11 a.m. Friday.
A candlelight Christmas Eve service will be held at 10 p.m. Tuesday.
Severn
The sermon title of Pastor Ray “Bud” Goude at 11 a.m. Sunday in Severn Church, Naxera, will be “The Father’s Gift.” The choir will present “Glorious Impossible, the Miracle of Christmas” at 6 p.m. Sunday. Refreshments will follow.
A Christmas Eve service, “Christmas Eve in Heaven,” will be held at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
Shepherdsville Baptist
The sermon title of Pastor Douglas Riley of Shepherdsville Baptist Church, Gloucester, at 11 a.m. Sunday will be “Go, Tell it on the Mountain.” Members will present a Christmas play, “Santa’s Not-So-Helpful Helpers.”
This will be the last Sunday service of 2024.
Singleton United Methodist
The sermon title of Rev. Calvin Griffin of Singleton United Methodist Church, Ware Neck, at the 11 a.m. Sunday service will be “How are We Sacrificing?”
A Christmas Eve service will be held at 7 p.m.
For Zoom login information, email Calvin.griffin@cox.net.
Spring Hill Baptist
The sermon title of Pastor Ross Davis of Spring Hill Baptist Church, Cobbs Creek, at 11 a.m. Sunday will be “Our God in Flesh.”
The First United Baptist
The sermon title of Pastor E. Randolph Graham of The First United Baptist Church, White Marsh, for the 11 a.m. Sunday service will be “Looking Forward in Love.” The service will be streamed via Zoom and Facebook Live.
Union Baptist
Pastor Jared Berry of Union Baptist Church, Achilles, will preach at the 10:45 a.m. Sunday service. The choir will rehearse at 4 p.m.
A Christmas Eve communion service will be held at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
There will be no Wednesday services.
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of The Rappahannock
Don Kenefick will speak on “Echoes of Innocence—a Yuletide Reverie” at 10:30 a.m. Sunday in Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of the Rappahannock, White Stone.
Ware Episcopal
The church will celebrate at 10:30 a.m. Sunday a “NATIVITY” by Mark Hayes, with the Christmas pageant adapted by Patti Taylor for children and young adults.
Westville Baptist
The sermon title of the Rev. Lytle Buckingham of Westville Baptist Church, Mathews, at 10:45 a.m. Sunday will be “Advent: Love.” Sunday school, “Exodus,” will be at 9:45.
A Christmas Eve candlelight service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, with refreshments to follow.
Mission emphasis will be monetary donations for the Lottie Moon International Mission and non-perishable items to Hands Across Mathews and Mathews Social Services.
Westville Christian
The sermon title of Pastor Tim Dice of Westville Christian Church, Mathews, at 11 a.m. Sunday will be “A Song of Love.”
A Christmas Eve service will be held at 4 p.m. Families with children are encouraged to attend. The sermon title of Mr. Dice will be “Christmas is for Children.”
Zion Baptist
Zion Baptist Church, Cardinal, invites everyone to the presentation of “Christmas is…” at 10 a.m. Sunday. The service will include selected carols, Bible verses and readings related to the true meaning of Christmas. The guest speaker will be the Rev. Vernon L. Woodard of Newport News. A repast will follow the service and include chili, soups, stews, and homemade desserts.
Zion Hill Baptist
Pastor Eugene Comithier II of Zion Hill Baptist Church, Gloucester, will preach at the 11 a.m. Sunday service. The Male Chorus will sing. In-person Sunday school will be held at 9:45.
Zion Poplars Baptist
The Rev. Vincent Haley, associate minister of Zion Poplars Baptist Church, Gloucester, will preach at the 11 a.m. Sunday service. There will be congregational selections.