Advent and Christmas 2020: Events, resources & services
See below for a listing of services as we celebrate Advent and Christmas throughout the month of December. If you have an event to add to the list, please email to Molly Hamilton at mhamilton@episcopalchurchsc.org. There are also a number of resources available that can be helpful as you celebrate Advent or Christmas in your church or home. Scroll down this page, or click here to learn more about these resources.
Navigate directly to the events below through the following links:
Navigate directly to the events below through the following links:
Christmas Message from the Presiding BishopPresiding Bishop Michael Bruce Curry delivers a message of hope for this Christmas.
Bishop Curry proclaims during the message: "While we may not feel joyful this year – as the pandemic of disease continues to bring sickness and death, when fear and mistrust – a darkness – threatens to overcome the light – we, as followers of Jesus Christ must bear joy to this aching world. We must shine light into the darkness. Joy to the world!" Watch the full video message by clicking the video on the right, or you can read the text of the message and find another link to the video at this link. |
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#AdventWord
For the seventh year in a row, #AdventWord will gather prayers via a global, online Advent calendar. Virginia Theological Seminary is offering meditations and images during this holy season beginning Sunday, November 29. Images and meditations can be experienced via the #AdventWord website, direct daily emails, as well as on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and ASL videos via YouTube. Special Advent Services and Events
All Saints Episcopal Church, Hilton Head Island, will continue Thursday morning outdoor, in-person Eucharist at 10am, Saturday afternoon outdoor, in person at 4pm (due to the time change) and Sunday morning streamed online Eucharist at 10:15am. Notice will be provided as soon as possible if the service needs to be moved indoors and streamed due to weather conditions. Communion and hospitality will continue to be available through Zoom, for those who wish to participate in a small group Eucharist. St. George's Episcopal Church, Summerville will continue Wednesday Evenings in Advent, but with a twist due to the pandemic. Some events will be virtual and some will be in person (sign up on the church website will be required for the in-person events). Events will be as follows:
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 29 Advent Lessons and Carols at 7 pm at Grace Church Cathedral. The cathedral offered this service in person and livestreamed it on their YouTube page. Watch it at this link. SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6 Advent Lessons & Carols with The Episcopal Church of the Messiah in Myrtle Beach. This service was offered virtually on YouTube and can be watched at this link. Christmas Lessons & Carols and Other Services
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13 Christmas Lessons & Carols at Grace Church Cathedral, Charleston at 7 pm. This may be attended in person, and it will also be available on the church's YouTube page at www.youtube.com/user/GraceChurchChrlstn. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18 The Washington National Cathedral offered a special service entitled "Gospel Christmas: O Holy Night at Washington National Cathedral." Watch it at this link. SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20 Children's Christmas Pageant at Grace Church Cathedral, Charleston at 9 am. This may be attended in person, and it will also be available on the church's YouTube page at www.youtube.com/user/GraceChurchChrlstn. A Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols with St. Stephen's, Charleston at 5 pm. This annual tradition will continue online this year, featuring traditional Christmas carols by William Grant Still, Harold Darke, Henry Walford Davies and more! The service will be uploaded to the St. Stephen's YouTube page at this link. MONDAY, DECEMBER 21 Candlelight Concert for Winter Solstice at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in North Myrtle Beach at 5 pm. This service will be held in the church sanctuary; reservations are required by contacting the church office. 
'Blue Christmas' Services
Wednesday, December 16 at 5:30 p.m. Blue Christmas: A Service of Remembrance and Hope Grace Church Cathedral, Charleston: Anyone who is coping with grief, a broken relationship, financial difficulties, or any kind of loss or loneliness may find the holidays especially difficult. The Blue Christmas Service is a way to acknowledge sadness and concern amid a world that is focused on celebration. Wednesday, December 16 The Washington National Cathedral shared a Blue Christmas Service that may be watched at this link. Monday, December 21 at 5 pm A Blue Christmas Service offered by St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Charleston. This service will be uploaded to the St. Stephen's YouTube page at this link. |
Christmas ServicesChristmas Eve, December 24 All Saints Episcopal Church, Hilton Head Island 3 pm - In-person Family Service outside 8 pm - Holy Eucharist online with special music Church of the Holy Communion, Charleston Music at 4:30 pm Solemn High Mass of the Nativity at 5 pm Calvary Episcopal Church, Charleston Christmas Eve services at 4 pm and 6 pm (reservation required, please email church office at this link) Church of the Messiah, Myrtle Beach Holy Eucharist at 4:30 pm in the "Back Lot" - Tune in from your car radio (4201 North Kings Highway, Myrtle Beach) Church of the Good Shepherd, Summerville Holy Eucharist (Family Service) at 2 pm (reservations required) Holy Eucharist at 6 pm (reservations required) East Cooper Episcopal Church, Mt. Pleasant Holy Eucharist at 12 noon on Zoom (click here to join - Meeting ID 984 0062 1152 Passcode: worship) Episcopal Church on Edisto, Edisto Island Christmas Eve will be celebrated during an in-person worship service at the church at 4 pm on December 21; the service will be shared on Christmas Eve on the church's Facebook page at 4 pm during a "Watch Party." Grace Church Cathedral, Charleston Visit with manger animals in the garden from 1-4 pm Family Eucharist at 4 pm* Choral Eucharist at 6 pm Choral Eucharist at 8 pm * Choral Eucharist at 11 pm Services marked with * will be shown on Grace YouTube page Holy Cross Faith Memorial, Pawleys Island Simple service at 10 am with no music An online service with a "full Festal Eucharist" will be made available on the church's YouTube page later in the day. St. Anne's Episcopal Church, Conway Christmas Eve creche display from 11 am to 4 pm at the church Christmas Eve service on Zoom at 5:30 pm (check out the church website or Facebook page for more details) St. Francis Episcopal Church, Charleston Christmas Eve Service on Zoom at 5 pm (click here to join) St. George's Episcopal Church, Summerville Contemporary Service at 5 pm Traditional Christmas Eve service at 8 pm The 8 pm service will be offered through the church Facebook page. Reservation required for in-person services. St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Charleston Holy Eucharist at 6 pm St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Port Royal In-person service of Holy Eucharist with carols on the St. Mark's Green at 4 pm. Online service to also be made available. St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Charleston All services will be offered online. Details TBA. St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, North Myrtle Beach Choral Prelude at 2:45 Holy Eucharist at 3 pm Held in the church parking lot. St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, St. Stephen Holy Eucharist at 6:30 pm St. Thomas Episcopal Church, North Charleston Online service at 10 am on Zoom Outdoor Worship Service at 2 pm Worship Service in the sanctuary at 5 pm (registration required) National Christmas Eve servicesThe Episcopal Church will offer digital Christmas Eve services on its website and Facebook page.
St. Bartholomew's Church, New York City The Episcopal Church invites all to share in this Christmas Eve Festival Eucharist which begins with a musical prelude at 6:30 pm before the service starts at 7 pm. The service will premiere on The Episcopal Church’s Facebook page (facebook.com/Episcopalian), as well as the St. Bart’s website (stbarts.org), Facebook page (facebook.com/stbartsnyc), and You Tube channel (youtube.com/stbartsnyc). Washington National Cathedral Family Christmas Service online at 12 pm Holy Eucharist at 8 pm Register (for free) at this link to receive emails on the day of the services to connect directly Christmas Day, December 25
All Saints Episcopal Church, Hilton Head Island Online service to be available by 10 am Church of the Holy Communion, Charleston Low Mass at 10 am Grace Church Cathedral, Charleston Choral Eucharist at 10 am with Choir & Carols Holy Cross Faith Memorial, Pawleys Island Simple service at 10 am (no music due to pandemic) St. Anne's Episcopal Church, Conway Morning Prayer on streamed through Zoom on Facebook Live at 10 am (check out the church website or Facebook page for more details) St. George's Episcopal Church, Summerville Christmas service at 10 am (sign-up required) St. Stephen's, Charleston All services are online. Visit St. Stephen's YouTube page. St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, North Myrtle Beach Nativity of our Lord, Eucharist at 10 am in the Sanctuary (Reservation required; contact the church office) Christmastide Saturday, December 26: Feast of St. Stephen Services to be added. Sunday, December 27: First Sunday after Christmas Day More services to be added. All Saints Episcopal Church, Hilton Head Island Online Lessons & Carols at 10:15 am Church of the Holy Communion, Charleston Lessons & Carols with Mass at 9:15 am Church of the Messiah, Myrtle Beach 10 am - A Festival of readings and music based on a liturgy from Bruton Parish in Williamsburg. The service will be posted on the church website and YouTube page. Holy Cross Faith Memorial, Pawleys Island Virtual Lessons & Carols will be posted on the church's YouTube page at 9 am St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Port Royal In-person service of Holy Eucharist on the St. Mark's Green at 10 am. Online service to also be made available. Monday, December 28: Feast of St. John Services to be added. Tuesday, December 29: Feast of The Holy Innocents Services to be added. Friday, January 1: Feast of the Holy Name St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, North Myrtle Beach Holy Eucharist at 10 am in the Sanctuary, please contact the church office for a reservation. Sunday, January 3: Second Sunday after Christmas Church of the Messiah, Myrtle Beach The Feast of Lights at 10 am on the church YouTube page. -- the traditional liturgy anticipating the Feast of the Epiphany. |
Resources for Advent
#AdventWord
For the seventh year in a row, #AdventWord will gather prayers via a global, online Advent calendar. Virginia Theological Seminary is offering meditations and images during this holy season beginning Sunday, November 29. Images and meditations can be experienced via the #AdventWord website, direct daily emails, as well as on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and ASL videos via YouTube.
'Journeying the Way of Love'
Curriculum and Advent Calendar
Journeying the Way of Love is a four-week Advent curriculum pegged to readings and themes from the Sunday lectionary. Sessions are designed for use during the Christian formation hour offerings at churches and ministries exploring the Way of Love.
The curriculum and advent calendar can be downloaded here.
Digital Invitation Kit - The Episcopal Church
Advent is a special time of preparation and anticipation, as well as the beginning of the liturgical year. This combination creates a wonderful opening to invite those who are seeking something greater than themselves – those who are seeking the Good News of the Way of Love. The Episcopal Church offers a Digital Invitation Kit to help you to offer that invitation with great joy and hope.
The kit may be downloaded here.
Advent Toolkit
Episcopal Relief & Development
Episcopal Relief & Development is offering resources for the holiday season, such as prayers, activity guides and an Advent calendar poster from the online Advent Toolkit.
Making Home: Advent Meditations on Refugee Ministry
On behalf of Episcopal Migration Ministries, The Rev. Canon Maria Tjeltveit, Rector of The Episcopal Church of the Mediator, Allentown, PA, is sharing Advent meditations that lift up the ministry that Episcopalians do with refugees, as well as with asylum seekers and immigrants, based on her own personal experience and interviews with others. You may click here to subscribe to receive the daily meditations.
Learn more here.
For the seventh year in a row, #AdventWord will gather prayers via a global, online Advent calendar. Virginia Theological Seminary is offering meditations and images during this holy season beginning Sunday, November 29. Images and meditations can be experienced via the #AdventWord website, direct daily emails, as well as on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and ASL videos via YouTube.
'Journeying the Way of Love'
Curriculum and Advent Calendar
Journeying the Way of Love is a four-week Advent curriculum pegged to readings and themes from the Sunday lectionary. Sessions are designed for use during the Christian formation hour offerings at churches and ministries exploring the Way of Love.
The curriculum and advent calendar can be downloaded here.
Digital Invitation Kit - The Episcopal Church
Advent is a special time of preparation and anticipation, as well as the beginning of the liturgical year. This combination creates a wonderful opening to invite those who are seeking something greater than themselves – those who are seeking the Good News of the Way of Love. The Episcopal Church offers a Digital Invitation Kit to help you to offer that invitation with great joy and hope.
The kit may be downloaded here.
Advent Toolkit
Episcopal Relief & Development
Episcopal Relief & Development is offering resources for the holiday season, such as prayers, activity guides and an Advent calendar poster from the online Advent Toolkit.
Making Home: Advent Meditations on Refugee Ministry
On behalf of Episcopal Migration Ministries, The Rev. Canon Maria Tjeltveit, Rector of The Episcopal Church of the Mediator, Allentown, PA, is sharing Advent meditations that lift up the ministry that Episcopalians do with refugees, as well as with asylum seekers and immigrants, based on her own personal experience and interviews with others. You may click here to subscribe to receive the daily meditations.
Learn more here.
Living Compass Advent Devotional
Living Compass has launched an Advent Devotional called "Practicing Peace With All Your Heart,Soul, Strength, and Mind." Designed for use as an individual reflection or for group study, the guide provides a foundation for seeking a deeper experience of Advent, an experience that will help prepare us for the true meaning of Christmas.
Learn more here.
Living Compass has launched an Advent Devotional called "Practicing Peace With All Your Heart,Soul, Strength, and Mind." Designed for use as an individual reflection or for group study, the guide provides a foundation for seeking a deeper experience of Advent, an experience that will help prepare us for the true meaning of Christmas.
Learn more here.
'Advent In A Box'
Advent in a Box is a resource created by the Christian educators at Family Ministry Tools to help churches equip families to have faith conversations at home. The goal is to send home interactive, fun, and biblically sound activities that engage families and help them grow in their faith.
Learn more here.
Advent in a Box is a resource created by the Christian educators at Family Ministry Tools to help churches equip families to have faith conversations at home. The goal is to send home interactive, fun, and biblically sound activities that engage families and help them grow in their faith.
Learn more here.