Holiday worship: Week of Dec. 21
At Bethel Presbyterian Church, located on Bethel Church Road, two services will be offered on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24. A special 4 p.m. service for families with young children will tell the story of Jesus’ birth in words, pictures and song. Worship will close with the lighting of safe candles during a moment of peace. At 9 p.m. there will be a traditional service for all ages. Anthems by the choir accompanied by a brass ensemble and songs by the bell choir will be featured. It will conclude with a traditional candlelight service. On Christmas Day, Dec. 25, there will be a worship service at 10:30 a.m.
At the Bible Chapel, McMurray, holiday worship services will include:
• Christmas Eve, Dec. 24 – 11 a.m. and 1, 3, 5 and 7 p.m. services at the South Hills campus; 3 and 5 p.m. services at the Robinson and Washington locations; and a 5 p.m. service at the Wilkinsburg location.
• Christmas Day, Dec. 25 – 10:45 a.m. at all locations and online. Nursery for children ages 0-2 is available at all campuses for each service.
For campus locations or more information, visit biblechapel.org.
At Christ United Methodist Church, Bethel Park, The Longest Night, a candlelit Christmas Celebration of Gratitude and Blessings, will take place from 7 to 7:45 p.m. Dec. 21, in the Worship Garden (weather permitting). Welcome a new service for the Christmas season on the winter solstice – the longest night of the year. This casual service of scripture, prayer, prose and music will celebrate our blessings and reflect on reasons to be thankful.
• Christmas Eve Worship Services, Dec. 24 include: Children’s Christmas Hour (a children’s Christmas story, no sermon) at 3 p.m.; Contemporary Worship at 5, 7 and 9 p.m. in the Christian Life Center; and Cathedral Worship at 7 (Children’s Choir), 9 (Chapel Choir) and 11 p.m. (Chancel Choir). Childcare for infants, toddlers and young preschoolers is available during the 5 and 7 p.m. services.
• New Year’s Eve Communion, 4 to 7 p.m. Dec. 31.
• Labyrinth & Prayer Stations, 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. daily, Dec. 27-31 (on Dec. 31, the labyrinth and prayer stations will only be available until 6 p.m.). Experience Christ through music, meditations of the heart, and communion.
For more information, visit www.christumc.net.
At Church of the Atonement, located on Washington Avenue in Carnegie, Christmas Eve worship will be held at 7 p.m. Dec. 24.
At Crossroads Ministries, Finleyville, holiday worship will include:
• Christmas Eve celebrations, 4 and 6 p.m. Dec. 24. Celebrations will last one hour and will include familiar Christmas carols and inspiring music and thoughts from God’s Word.
• Christmas day celebration, 10 a.m. Dec. 25. Bring the kids in their pj’s, along with donations of canned goods for the Finleyville Food Pantry.
• New Year’s Day celebration, 10 a.m. Jan. 1.
The church is located at 81 Walter Long Road. For more information, visit www.crsmin.com.
At In His Presence Church, Peters, a candlelight service will be held at 7 p.m. Dec. 23. There will be a dance presentation and drama to “I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day,” as well as special music and an easel art presentation. A cookie reception will follow.
• New Years Eve service, 7 to 9 p.m. Dec. 31. Refreshments will follow.
For more information, call 412 852 -2888.
At Mt. Lebanon Evangelical Presbyterian Church, located at 255 Washington Road, the following holiday worship services will be offered:
• Christmas Eve services on Dec. 24 will include a 5 p.m. Family Candlelight Service and a 9 p.m. Traditional Candlelight Service.
• On Christmas Day, Dec. 25, a Traditional Worship Service with Christmas Carols and Choral Anthem will be offered at 11:15 a.m.
• On New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31, a Traditional Worship Service with Communion will be held at 4 p.m.
• On New Year’s Day, Jan. 1, an 11:15 a.m. Contemporary Worship Service will be offered.
Nursery care will be available on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
For more information, visit www.mlepc.org or call 412-531-3387.
At Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, McMurray, holiday worship services will include:
• Blue Christmas Worship will be offered at 7 p.m. Dec. 21, for those feeling a loss this holiday season. Share in prayer and gentle songs with those who are experiencing the same.
• Christmas Eve services, Dec. 24 – Autism Service at 2:30 p.m. is a brief service that celebrates Jesus’ birth in a simple and comfortable way; Children’s service at 4:30 p.m. is for young children and their families, though everyone is invited to hear songs and a retelling of the Christmas story in an interactive way; Family Worship Service at 7 p.m. is a full worship service that includes special music, candles and a children’s sermon in addition to the main sermon; Candlelight Worship at 11 p.m. will usher in Christmas at the end of the service.
• Christmas Day worship, 10 a.m. Dec. 25.
Holy Communion will be offered at all Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services.
For more information, call 724-941-7467.
At Peters Creek Presbyterian Church, the following holiday worship services will be offered at St. David’s Episcopal Church, located on East McMurray Road in Venetia:
• Christmas Eve services on Dec. 24 will include a Family Christmas Eve Service at 5:30 p.m. and a Traditional Candlelight Christmas Eve Service at 9:30 p.m. For more information, call 724-941-6210.
• Christmas Day worship will be celebrated at 11:30 a.m. Dec. 25.
• New Years Day worship will be offered at 11:30 a.m. Jan. 1.
Childcare will be provided at all but the 9:30 p.m. candlelight service on Christmas Eve. For more information, visit www.peterscreekchurch.org.
At South Hills Assembly of God, Bethel Park, a Christmas Eve service will be held at 6 p.m. Dec. 24, and a Christmas Day service will be offered at 10 a.m. Dec. 25 with Christmas praise music and messages from Pastor Kendall Harris. A Happy New Year service will be offered at 11 a.m. Jan. 1, with a Biblical message for 2017 from Pastor Kendall Harris. For more information, call 412-835-8900 or visit www.southhillsassembly.org.
At St. Gregory Byzantine Catholic Church, Upper St. Clair, Divine Services for the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ will include:
• Christmas Eve, Dec. 24 – 4:30 p.m. Christmas carols; 5 p.m. Vesperal Divine Liturgy
• Christmas Day, Dec. 25 – 9 a.m. Third Hour, Christmas carols, Service of Artoclasia (Blessing of Bread); 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy, Anointing with Holy Oil (Mirovanije)
For more information, visit www.stgregoryusc.org.
At Sunset Hills United Presbyterian Church, Mt. Lebanon, there will be special family-themed activities throughout the Advent season, leading up to the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at 7 p.m. Dec. 24. For more information, visit www.shupchurch.org or visit the Facebook page.
At Thomas Presbyterian Church, Eighty Four, Christmas services will include a 6 p.m. Family-Oriented service and an 8 p.m. Traditional Candlelight service on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24. On Christmas Day, Dec. 25, there will be one service at 10 a.m. A New Years Day service will be offered at 10 a.m. Jan. 1. For more information, call 724-941-8910.
At Westminster Presbyterian Church, Upper St. Clair, the holiday worship schedule includes:
• Christmas Remembrance: A Service of Comfort and Hope, will be held at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 21, in Galbreath Chapel. Join with others who have lost loved ones at this special service.
• Christmas Eve Services on Dec. 24 will include a 5 p.m. family service, 7 p.m. contemporary service in the WROC (gym), and a 9 and 11 p.m. service of lessons and carols.
• Christmas Day services on Dec. 25 will include a 9:45 a.m. contemporary service in the WROC (gym) and an 11 a.m. traditional service in the sanctuary.
• Communion and Prayers, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Dec. 31 in Galbreath Chapel.
For more information, visit www.westminster-church.org.