Christmas Services
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services
Please note
- All services take place in the main church and will be livestreamed on this page.
- Overflow seating will be available in Palmer Hall and the fellowship hall; Palmer Hall features a “soft space” where younger
children can move freely or sit on floor cushions (parents must accompany children to the soft space). - Childcare is offered during services with an asterisk.
- All Christmas Eve services are preceded by a half-hour of music (1:30, 4:30, 7:30, and 10:30 p.m.)
- Please plan for your family or group to arrive early; seat-saving is not permitted.
We encourage people to arrive early for these well-attended Christmas Eve services to ensure that you can find seats with family or friends. It’s possible that you will arrive before or just as the previous service concludes and worshipers have not yet left the church (or staff and volunteers are re-setting the worship space). If that occurs and you are waiting outside, we will have a specific location for you to stand (indicated with stanchions) until the ushers open the doors to admit you. (This will be good practice for Easter services in the spring, when service times are more closely spaced!)
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 24, CHRISTMAS EVE
2 p.m., Holy Eucharist: Rite Two*
This child-friendly format includes a dramatic telling of the Christmas story in the Godly Play style and an invitation for the children to ring bells with the angels as part of the Eucharistic celebration. Music includes traditional carols and other music led by St. Stephen’s Choristers, members of St. Stephen’s Choir, and a string quartet.
5 p.m., Holy Eucharist: Rite Two*
This child-friendly format includes a dramatic telling of the Christmas story in the Godly Play style and an invitation for the children to ring bells with the angels as part of the Eucharistic celebration. Music includes traditional carols and other music led by St. Stephen’s Choristers, members of St. Stephen’s Choir, and a string quartet.
8 p.m., Celtic Christmas Service with Communion
Music will be led by three cantors, violin, cello and oboe; they will perform selections from Benjamin Britten’s Ceremony of Carols during the musical prelude and will lead traditional carols and play seasonal instrumental music during the service. Like our Sunday evening Celtic service, this one will include a brief reflection.
11 p.m., Traditional Christ Mass
Choral Eucharist: Rite One
St. Stephen’s Choir and orchestra will perform selections from
Part I of Handel’s Messiah during the musical prelude. Th e
choral Eucharist setting is by Giovanni Pierluigi Palestrina
(Missa brevis) and the choir will sing pieces by John Rutter
and Healey Willan and lead traditional carols and hymns sung
by the congregation. The service will include Holy Communion and a sermon.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, CHRISTMAS DAY
10:30 a.m., Holy Eucharist: Rite Two
The rector will preach, and Sanctuary, the Compline choir, will lead traditional carols and perform pieces by Eleanor Daley and David Willcocks during this Communion service.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 29, CHRISTMAS I
8 a.m., Holy Eucharist: Rite One
10 a.m., Holy Eucharist: Rite Two
5:30 p.m., Celtic Evensong and Communion
Note: no Sunday morning formation, Sunday Community Supper, or Compline
The regular Sunday worship schedule and the Sunday Forum resume January 5, 2025 (Christmas II). Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and youth Bible study resume January 12, 2025.
Click on the button to download a PDF of a print-friendly listing of these services.
See what each service will be like by looking at the service bulletins.