Christmas Eve at St. Stephen starts at 12:00 noon, Saturday, December 24, 2011, with a Service of Christmas Lessons and Carols in the Chapel of the Holy Trinity. The Chapel is located in the Education building. It is the first room on the left when you enter the education building from the covered walkway linking it to the sanctuary. Music will be led by a quintet of St. Stephen choristers.
At 5:00 p.m. is our popular Child-Friendly Candlelight Service in the
main Sanctuary. Enter through the wreathed doors in the front to see a dramatic retelling of the Christmas story led by Rev. Ritsch and the St. Stephen youth group. All children will be invited to be angels and shepherds as the Nativity story is told and they will receive a gift from the manger.
Prepare for worship at 8:00 p.m. with the St. Stephen Sanctuary Choir Carol Concert in the sanctuary. They sing carol arrangements from the United States, England, Scotland, France, Germany, and Austria.
Then at 9:00 p.m. we worship God with our Christmas Eve Festal Candlelight Service with the Lord’s Supper in the Sanctuary. Any baptized person is welcome to receive the Lord’s Supper, so please join us! The service is led by St. Stephen’s clergy; Rev. Ritsch will preach; and you will hear the St. Stephen Sanctuary Choir, handbell choir, and organ.
Christmas day, December 25, 2011, is Sunday this year, and to recognize the stillness of the day, we will have only one worship service at 10:00 am in the main sanctuary. This the 12th Annual Service of Christmas Lessons and Carols. This year it includes The Rio Brazos Recorder Trio. Their prelude will begin at 9:50 a.m. This is a traditional British Carol Service. Each lesson is read by a member of the congregation and followed by a Christmas carol sung by all.
New Year’s Day, January 1, 2012, also falls on Sunday. Again, we will have only one service, at 10:00 am. The Reverend Dr. Warner M. Bailey will be preaching. You are invited to join us in worship on this first day of the New Year.
Children are welcome in worship, but childcare is always provided for all services. It is in the education building. Ask an usher or staff member if you aren’t sure where to go.