Christmas 2023
Worship, livestreams, holiday schedule and more
This year, the Fourth Sunday of Advent falls on December 24. We will hold two services that morning for Advent IV, at 8 a.m. and 9 a.m., before transitioning to our Christmas Eve observance. The Advent IV services at 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. will be on the "This Sunday" page.
- Please note: the first of two family services will be at 2 p.m. (earlier than in the past).
- All Christmas Eve services are preceded by a half-hour of music.
- All services take place in the main church, with overflow seating available in the fellowship hall and Palmer Hall.
- All services include Holy Communion.
- All services will be livestreamed at the bottom of this page.
- During services with an asterisk (*) child care will be available for ages 4 and younger.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 24: CHRISTMAS EVE | Service booklet (all Christmas Eve services)
2:00 p.m.* and 5:00 p.m.,* Family services with Holy Eucharist: Rite Two
While these services are alike, we offer both to accommodate the large number of people who attend.
During these two services, overflow seating will be available in the fellowship hall and in Palmer Hall. For those unfamiliar with it, Palmer Hall is a family-friendly space for young children, those who need movement, prefer a smaller and less crowded environment, or who would like to use the soft space. The worship service from the main church will be livestreamed in Palmer Hall. The soft space is a large area with a rug and floor cushions for those who prefer to be on the floor. Children whose families choose to be in Palmer Hall will still be able to join in the celebration of the Eucharist with bells in the main church if they would like. Families with children in either of the overflow spaces who would like to join in the celebration at the main altar will be guided by ushers into the main church when it is time.
Music for 2 p.m. Christmas Eve service
- St. Stephen's Choristers and members of the St. Stephen's Choir
- String quartet
- Traditional carols
Music for 5 p.m. Christmas Eve service
- St. Stephen's Choir
- String quartet
- Traditional carols
Music for this service:
- Three cantors, violin, cello, and oboe
- Selections from Benjamin Britten's A Ceremony of Carols
- Seasonal instrumental music
- Traditional carols
11:00 p.m., Traditional Christ Mass, Holy Eucharist: Rite One | Service booklet (all Christmas Eve services)
Music for this service:
- St. Stephen's Choir and orchestra
- Antonia Vivaldi: Gloria
- Choral Eucharist setting by Giovanni Pierluigi Palestrina: Missa brevis
- Additional choral selections by John Rutter and Healey Willan
- Traditional hymns and carols
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25: CHRISTMAS DAY | Service bulletin
10:30 a.m., Holy Eucharist: Rite Two
Music for this service:
- Sanctuary (the Compline choir)
- Choral music by June Collin and Herbert Howells
- Traditional carols
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 31: CHRISTMAS I
8 a.m., Holy Eucharist: Rite One
10 a.m., Holy Eucharist: Rite Two*
5:30 p.m., Celtic Evensong and Communion*
Livestreams for Sunday, December 31 will be on the usual Sunday livestream page HERE.
THE FOLLOWING WILL NOT TAKE PLACE ON DECEMBER 24 OR 31
- Palmer Hall service (resumes January 7)
- Formation--Sunday Forum, Many Parents One Vine, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, youth Bible study (resumes January 7)
- Sunday Community Supper (resumes January 7)
- Sung Compline (resumes January 7)
FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 2024: THE EVE OF THE FEAST OF THE EPIPHANY
6:00 p.m., Lessons and Carols for the Feast of the Epiphany followed by supper and chili cook-off.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 7, 2024: THE SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY
Regular Sunday schedule resumes, including Palmer Hall service and Compline, Sunday morning formation for all ages, Sunday Community Supper.
Other things to know
- Suppers: The Wonderful Wednesdays supper will continue through Wednesday, December 13, then take a break until January. The Sunday Community Supper will take December 24 and 31 off.
- The parish office will close at noon on Friday, December 22, and will be closed on Monday, December 25 and Tuesday, December 26, as well as Monday, January 1, 2024. When the office is closed, there is no weekday Morning Prayer, and the May Fair House and Café are closed.
- The Café @ St. Stephen's will be closed during the week between Christmas Day and New Year's Day, and on January 1. It will be open on December 23 during the farmers market, and will re-open with its regular hours January 2, 2024.
- May Fair House will close for Christmas on Friday, December 22, at 3 p.m. and re-open Tuesday, January 16, 2024, at 10 a.m.
- The Farmers Market @ St. Stephen’s will take place on Saturday, December 23, in the parking lot, from 9 a.m. until noon. The market will be closed December 30.
Livestream
Livestreamed services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day will appear below. Other services (Advent IV, Christmas I) will be livestreamed on the This Sunday page.