'Sing Messiah' set for Sunday at Grace Lutheran Church [Religion Digest]

Nov. 26—Editor's note: Beginning next Saturday, in order to be listed in the religion digest, there must be something significant about the worship service, such as special music or a guest speaker. We will continue to list events such as concerts, lectures, food sales or other fundraisers, Bible studies or prayer services that fall on a day other than Sunday. We will not simply list the time a service is being held.

—Grace Lutheran Church, 30 Liberty St., Shillington, will host the 44th annual Reading area "Sing Messiah!" on Sunday at 3 p.m. It will be conducted by William W. Snelling and feature guest soloists Katherine Aregood-Crusi, soprano; Maria Damore, alto; John Coakley, tenor; and Milo Morris, bass-baritone, accompanied by members of the Berks Chamber Orchestra. Bring your score and come to sing or just to listen to this beautiful work. A free-will offering will be received.

—St. John's Reformed Church, 4001 Penn Ave., Sinking Spring, will hold its CommUNITY Communion service on Sunday in observation of the first Sunday of Advent. The single combined worship service will begin at 10:30 a.m. The Christkindlmart celebration will follow with an afternoon of crafts, beginning at 3 p.m., followed by a pot luck dinner and Christmas fun at 5 p.m. in the church Fellowship Hall.

—Christ Lutheran Church, 222 Niantic Road, Barto, will worship on Sunday at 9 a.m. The adult Sunday school class will meet after worship in the parlor, and the confirmation class students will meet at 10 a.m. in room I. Coffee and Conversation is held at 8:30 and then again at 10 in the Welcome Center.

—The United Church of Christ worships at 10:15 a.m. at 301 W. Penn Ave., Robesonia, in person, by You Tube, by Facebook and by telephone. Details are available at 1zion.org or sprucc.org. This Sunday is the First Sunday of Advent with the lighting of the Advent Candle for Hope. Holy Communion will be offered. Tuesday Bible Study is offered at 9 a.m. by Zoom and at 6:30 p.m. in person or on Zoom.

—Reformation Lutheran Church, 3670 Perkiomen Ave., Exeter Township, will hold Advent Worship at 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday, with Holy communion offered at both services. The 10:30 service will be livestreamed on Reformation's Facebook page and may be viewed live or later at www.Reformationlutheran.org under worship videos. Prepare! An Advent Intergenerational Event begins at 9:30 a.m. in the parish hall with crafts, fresh Advent-wreath making and refreshments. Reformation's Advent devotional, written by members of Reformation, will be available in the narthex as well as in the Little Free Library located outside. Reformation will host Advent Vespers with Holden Evening Prayer on the Wednesdays in Advent. A covered-dish meal (meats provided) begins at 5:45 p.m. in the parish hall followed by the candlelight service in the sanctuary at 7 p.m. The Ringgold Band Christmas Concert (free-will offering) is Sunday, Dec. 4, beginning at 2 p.m., followed by a reception in the parish hall.

—St John's Gernant's (A Federated Congregation), 13 Gernant's Road, Ontelaunee Township, will worship Sunday at 9:30 a.m. The church is handicap accessible. A service of "The Hanging of the Greens" will be observed as it is the First Sunday of Advent. Liturgy will relate to the evergreens and floral adornments used to prepare for Christmas and the Christ Child. Advent communion will be offered. Musician for the service will be Shirley Breininger.

—Christ Episcopal Church, 435 Court St., Reading, will hold two worship services Sunday, each with Holy Eucharist: at 8, a said service (no music) and at 10, a service with music for families. Masks are optional. At 9 in the parlor, adult forum will present Bill Uhrich with "Berthold Imhoff — Church Art From Reading to Saskatchewan." Parking is available at the Abe Lincoln parking garage and the B&T Bank lot, both located off of Washington Street. Parking is also available beside the church on Court Street for those with disabilities or who need assistance. To access the Centering Prayer Zoom link or learn more about Christ Church, go to rdgchristchurch.org. On Thursday at 11, a Morning Prayer service from the Book of Common Prayer will be held in the church sanctuary.

—Friedens United Church of Christ, 337 Main St., Oldy, will mark the first Sunday of Advent. The Mission Team will be hosting an Advent Fellowship Brunch following the 10:15 a.m. service. Enjoy pancakes, pastries, coffee, tea and juice. Friedens UCC continues to offer both in-person service and participation via Zoom and YouTube.

—Calvary United Church of Christ, 640 Centre Ave., Reading, will begin the Advent Season this Sunday with special music and Holy Communion at 8 and 10:30 a.m. Harriet Rauenzahn will be guest musician and Kristen Diehl will be guest organist at the 10:30 service.

—Zion's Lutheran Church, 354 Zions Church Road, Shoemakersville, will celebrate the First Sunday in Advent at 10:30 a.m. with Holy Communion and lighting of an Advent candle. The service will be in person, on Facebook Live and the church website. Sunday school begins at 9:15. Zion's will host the Northern Berks Ministerium Advent Service on Thursday at 11:30 a.m. The service will be followed by a soup and bread luncheon. A free will offering will be collected to support the local Charity Emergency Fund.

—Schwarzwald Lutheran Church, 250 Church Lane Road, Exeter Township will hold in-person worship service in the Sanctuary at 10:30 a.m. Also, an outdoor Lenten Vespers will be held from 5 to 5:20 p.m. each Sunday in Advent for the lighting of the Advent Wreath.

—St. Paul's United Church of Christ, 5 W. Jackson St., Fleetwood, will have worship services Sunday at 9 and 10:30 a.m. (also online at 9). The links to the FaceBook Page and YouTube Channel are at www.stpaulsfleetwood.org. Worship leaders will be Tina Koch at 9 and Vicky Garl at 10:30. Special music will be "Mary, Did You Know?" with Tina Koch and Bob Ames at 9 and "Of the Father's Love Begotten" with the Chancel Choir at 10:30.

—Kissinger's Church, 715 Berkshire Blvd., Wyomissing, will hold an Hour of Prayer on Wednesday at 4 p.m. The public is invited to attend to submit prayer requests and to pray for others. Pray for our country and for each other.

—St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 45 N. Reading Ave., Boyertown, will worship Sunday at 9:30 a.m., livestreamed on YouTube (St. John's ELC Boyertown). Children's Sunday School is at 9:30 a.m. Register at stjohnsboyertown.org. Free drive through, take-out meal every Saturday from 4:30-5:30 p.m. No registration necessary.

—Trinity United Church of Christ, 2449 Cumberland Ave, Mount Penn, will celebrate the First Sunday of Advent at 10:15 a.m. Leading in the lighting of the Advent candle are Silvia and Jeff Motze. Church School for adults is held at 9 p.m.

—St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 4125 Penn Ave., Sinking Spring, will hold in-person worship Sunday at 9 a.m. with holy communion along with special music. The service will be livestreamed on Facebook. The church craft show is Dec. 3 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the Christmas Cantata is Dec. 18 at 7 p.m.

—St. Peter's UCC of Molltown, 219 Maidencreek Road, will hold its Christmas Bazaar next Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., with vendors, white eephant sale, cookie sale, light breakfast and lunch available. Mike & Linda Hertzog will provide special Christmas music at the 10:15 a.m. worship service on Dec. 18.

—Maidencreek Church, 261 Main St., Maidencreek Township, will worship with Confirmation on Sunday at 9 a.m. Music includes piano selections by Miles Esterly, Amelia Rarick, and Kimberly Ayrton; a piano duet by Megan Esterly and KImberly Ayrton; and Senior Choir anthem with Kelli Rosenberger on flute. The in-person service is livestreamed to Facebook and YouTube. Links can be found at www.maidencreekchurch.org.

—Bern Reformed UCC, 3196 Bernville Road, offers live worship Sunday at 9:30 a.m., or participate in the parking lot from your vehicle by means of an FM 87.9 transmission, or on Facebook. Lighting the "Candle of Hope," together with familiar carols, will usher in the season of Advent.