Berks County churches schedule special Christmas Eve services [Religion Digest]
Dec. 23----Reformation Lutheran Church, 3670 Perkiomen Ave, Exeter Township, will have two services on Christmas Eve. At 4:30 p.m., there will be vocal and instrumental music. At 8:30 p.m., the service will include a brass quintet Al Rochlin and Greg Goleta, trumpets; Dustin Baumert and Brendan Noska, trombones; and Robert Benton Jr., timpani.
—Immanuel United Church of Christ, 99 S. Waverly St., Shillington, will hold three Christmas Eve Services on Sunday. At 10:30 a.m., a family friendly worship will feature "A Kazoo Christmas," an intergenerational retelling of the Christmas story with communion. At 8 p.m., a festival service with communion and candlelight will feature guest brass musicians and a special prelude prior to 8 p.m. At 10 p.m., a contemplative service with communion and candlelight with special music for guitar and piano.
—West Wyomissing Chapel, 2055 Reading Blvd., West Lawn will have a Christmas cantata, "The First Noel," by the Senior Choir at 9 a.m. on Christmas Eve.
—St John's (Hain's) United Church of Christ, 591 N. Church Road, Wernersville, will hold a Christmas Eve candlelight service that will include Christmas music before the service beginning at 6:30 p.m., followed by the service at 7 p.m. Special music will be presented by flutists Cynthia Miller-Aungst, Hannah Gelsinger, and Amy Kreider.
—St John Hill United Church of Christ, 620 Hill Church Road, Boyertown, will have a Cantata Service, "The Road to Bethlehem," on Christmas Eve at 9:30 a.m.
—Epler's Church United Church of Christ, 1151 W. Leesport Road, Bern Township, will hold a candlelight service with special music at 7:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve.
—St. John's Gernant's Church (A Federated Congregation) 13 Gernant's Church Road, Ontelaunee Township, will worship Sunday at 9:30 a.m. David Yoder will be guest soloist, singing "The Beautiful Spirit of Christmas." Performing at 7 p.m. on Christmas Eve will be the Koenig Brass Ensemble playing an assortment of carols. The service will start at 7:30 p.m.
—Kristen Diehl will be the guest organist at the 10:15 a.m. service on Sunday at Friedens United Church of Christ, 337 Main St., Oley, as well as at the 7 p.m. candlelight Christmas Eve service.
—Pianist Ron Stabinsky and trumpeter Dave Stahl will be the guest musicians at the 9:30 a.m. worship service on Sunday at Calvary United Church of Christ, 1231 Route 100, Washington Township. Organist Ernie Yeagley will be the guest musician at the 4 p.m. Christmas Eve service, a festival of lessons and carols.
—Calvary United Church of Christ, 640 Centre Ave., Reading, will have special music starting at 6:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve, with the service starting at 7.
—Christ Lutheran Church, 222 Niantic Road, Douglass Township, Montgomery County, will hold Coffee and Conversation on Sunday at 8:30 and 10 a.m. in the Welcome Center.
—St. John's Lutheran Church, 99 Church St., Hamburg, will hold a New Year's Day pork and sauerkraut dinner from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Dinner also includes mashed potatoes, roll and butter, applesauce, beverage and homemade desserts. Cost is $13 for adults and $6 for children under 12. Take out is available.
—St. Joh's Lutheran Church, 45 N. Reading Ave., Boyertown, will offer a free drive-thru takeout meal today from 4:30-5:30 p.m. A free meal will be available on Christmas day at 11:30 a.m.
—St. Paul's United Church of Christ, 5 W. Arch St., Fleetwood, will hold a caroling worship service on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. The Rev. William Worley, Conference Minister, will preach at both the 7 p.m. Christmas Eve family worship service and the 10:30 p.m. candlelight service.
—Allegheny United Church of Christ, 1219 Kurtz Mill Road, Brecknock Township, will hold a candlelight Christmas Eve service at 7 p.m. with congregation members performing carols on various musical instruments.
—Bern United Church of Christ, 3196 Bernville Road, Bern Township, will hold a candlelight Christmas Eve service at 7 p.m. featuring Lloyd Larson's cantata, "Love's Pure Light."
—Salem Lutheran Church, 8410 Lancaster Ave., Bethel Township, will welcome guest pastor the Rev. Barry Spatz on Sunday at its 9:30 a.m worship service. Originally from Berks County, he served a variety of churches, most recently in Jacob and Outwood of Schuylkill County. Now retired, he is living locally again and will also be the guest pastor on Dec. 31.
—St. John's Lutheran Church, 4125 Penn Ave., Sinking Spring, will hold a men's breakfast on Thursday at Red Plate. Call 610-678-1088, Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., to RSVP.
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