Advent and Christmas 2017: Events, resources, services
Detail of Nativity fresco in the Lower Church of San Francesco, Assisi, c. 1310s by Giotto di Bondone. Via Wikimedia Commons.
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The Bishop's Christmas Letter
"The Manger proclaims that God loves us in our humanity and is for us in brokenness as well as joy," Bishop Skip Adams says in his Christmas Letter for 2017. Read it here. CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES
(Please note that the Fourth Sunday of Advent is also on December 24, and many churches will also be having morning services for Advent IV in addition to their Christmas Eve services later in the day.) Sunday, December 24 All Saints, Hilton Head Island (Advent IV at 9:00 am) 5:00 pm Family Eucharist with Presentation of the Nativity 8:00 pm Candlelight Eucharist Cheraw Episcopal Worship Group 5:00 p.m. Christmas Eve service at First Bank, Cheraw East Cooper Episcopal Church 4:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Service, at Stuhr's Chapel 1494 Mathis Ferry Road, Mount Pleasant, SC The Episcopal Church on Edisto (Advent IV at 10:00 a.m.) 4:45 p.m. Carols 5:00 p.m. Celebration of the Nativity Church of the Epiphany, Summerville 6:00 p.m., Rite II, with Holy Eucharist Good Shepherd, Summerville (Advent IV - 10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite II) 5:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Service Grace Church Cathedral, Charleston (Advent IV at 8:00 & 10:00 am) 3:15-4:15 p.m. Visit with Manger Animals 4:00 p.m. Family Eucharist with St. Cecilia Choir, Junior Choir & St. Gregory Chamber Choir 6:00 p.m. Choral Eucharist with the Parish Choir, Organ, Brass Quintet & Timpani 8:00 p.m. Choral Eucharist, with St. Gregory Choir, Nicholas Choristers, Organ, Brass Quintet & Timpani 11:00 p.m. Choral Eucharist, Rite I with St. Gregory Choir, Organ, Brass Quintet & Timpani Church of the Holy Communion, Charleston (Advent IV at 7:30, 8:00, 9:00 and 10:30 am) 5:00 pm Family Mass 10:00 p.m. Music 10:30 p.m. Solemn High Mass of the Nativity Holy Cross Faith Memorial, Pawleys Island (Advent IV at 9:00 am) 4:00 p.m. Christmas Pageant 8:30 p.m. Candlelight Service Church of the Messiah, Myrtle Beach (Advent IV Matins and Carolfest at 10:00 am) 6:00 p.m. Eucharist of the Nativity (with St. Philip Lutheran Church) at 6200 North Kings Highway The Episcopal Church in Okatie (Advent IV Morning Prayer at 9:00 am) 6:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Eucharist St. Anne's, Conway (Advent IV at 10:00 am) 5:00 p.m. at Lackey Chapel at Coastal Carolina University St. Catherine's, Florence (Advent IV at 11:00 am) 5:00 p.m. at Cross and Crown Lutheran Church in Florence St. Francis, Charleston (Advent IV at 10:00 a.m.) 5:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Eucharist at Stuhr's West Ashley Chapel St. George's, Summerville (Advent IV at 10:00 am) 6:00 p.m. Contemporary Family Service 10:00 p.m. Christmas Music & Strings 10:30 p.m. Christmas Eve Traditional Festival Eucharist St. James-Santee, McClellanville (Advent IV at 10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite I) 6:00 pm Caroling 6:30 p.m. The Great Feast of Christmas Eve- Holy Eucharist Rt. II, special music, and creche. St. Mark's, Charleston 5:30 p.m. Music 6:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Eucharist St. Mark's, Port Royal (Advent IV at 11:00 a.m.) 4:45 p.m. Caroling 5:00 p.m. Christmas Eve service St. Stephen's, Charleston (Advent IV, 11:00 a.m.) 3:00 p.m. Children’s Christmas Eve Service 8:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Service St. Stephen's, North Myrtle Beach (Advent IV at 8:00 and 10:30 am) 6:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Service 9:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Service St. Thomas, North Charleston 5:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Service and Family Christmas Play CHRISTMAS DAY Monday, December 25 All Saints, Hilton Head Island 9:00 am Holy Eucharist Rite I with Carols The Episcopal Church on Edisto 10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist Church of the Epiphany, Summerville Christmas Day, 9:00 a.m., Rite II, with Celebratory Eucharist Grace Church Cathedral, Charleston 10:00 a.m. Christmas Day Eucharist with Carols & Choir Church of the Holy Communion, Charleston 10:00 a.m. Low Mass with Hymns Holy Cross Faith Memorial, Pawleys Island 10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist St. Anne's Conway 10:00 a.m. at Lackey Chapel at Coastal Carolina University St. Stephen's, Charleston 10:00 a.m. Christmas Day Service St. Stephen's, North Myrtle Beach 10:00 a.m. Combined Christmas Day service Advent Services
DECEMBER 3 5:00 p.m. Southern Deanery Advent Lessons and Carols At The Episcopal Church in Okatie Advent Lessons and Carols 7:00 p.m. Grace Church Cathedral's St. Gregory Choir and St. Nicholas Choristers present this service of readings for the season of Advent paired with anthems and hymns for the season. DECEMBER 6 7:00 p.m. Advent Taizé Service at St. George's, Summerville. The Taizé Music Team will lead a special Advent service with candles, incense, music and Eucharist, engaging all the senses in the presence of God. DECEMBER 10 Advent Lessons and Carols 4:00 p.m. All Saints, Hilton Head Island Advent Lessons and Carols 4:00 p.m. St. Alban's, Kingstree Advent Lessons and Carols 10:00 a.m. St. Stephen's, North Myrtle Beach DECEMBER 17 Advent Lessons and Carols 10:00 a.m. Church of the Messiah, Myrtle Beach A Service of Advent Lessons & Carols 5:00 p.m. Holy Cross Faith Memorial, Pawleys Island The service will be followed by a simple supper. DECEMBER 20 7:00 p.m. Advent Compline Service at St. George's, Summerville. Compline is an end-of-day service that dates back to monastic forms of worship. This service, drawn from the Book of Common Prayer, will be set to the plainsong chant Veni Emmanuel (O Come, O come Emmanuel). Chant, incense, candlelight, and silence all make this a sensory experience that helps us to slow down, catch our breath, and remember our deep desire for God's restoration and healing while we await His coming. |
The Presiding Bishop's Christmas Message
“Have a blessed Christmas, a wonderful New Year, and go out and make music in the heart of the world,” Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop and Primate Michael Curry says in his Christmas Message 2017. Read the full message here. Click on the image above to see the video. 'Blue Christmas' Services Sunday, December 10 at 5:00 p.m. Blue Christmas: A Service of Remembrance and Hope Holy Cross Faith Memorial Episcopal Church, Pawleys Island, offers this service for those who are struggling with finding joy this Christmas season because of change or loss, loneliness or insecurity, stress or despair. All are welcome for this time of prayer, music, and scripture readings as we ask for God’s comfort, peace, and healing during this difficult time of the year. Wednesday, December 13 at 5:30 p.m. Blue Christmas: A Service of Remembrance and Hope Grace Church Cathedral in 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. Music from the St. Nicholas Choir along with prayers and readings remind us of God’s loving and healing presence for all who mourn and struggle. Refreshments will be offered afterward in Hanahan Hall. Thursday, December 21 Blue Christmas Service, 7:00 pm St. Stephen's Charleston: On the longest night of year St. Stephen's offers a contemplative service designed for those for whom the holidays can be a particularly difficult time of year. Blue Christmas Service, 6:00 p.m. St. Anne's Conway: (Service will be held at Kingston Presbyterian Church, 800 Third Ave, Conway, SC US 29526) Grief, a broken relationship, financial trouble, loss, or loneliness can leave people hurting in the holiday season. Because we know that the holidays can be a difficult time for many, St. Anne’s is partnering with First United Methodist Church and Kingston Presbyterian Church to offer a “Blue Christmas” service. The Blue Christmas service is a way to make space for and time for acknowledging sadness and concern for anyone who is having a hard time this year. Special Christmas Events
Wednesday, December 6 Voorhees Christmas Concert The Voorhees College Choir presents “A Down Home Christmas Celebration at Voorhees,” on Wednesday, December 6 at 6:00 p.m. in Massachusetts Hall Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public, with a free reception following the concert. For more information, contact Rachel Jones, choir director, at (803) 780-1277 or rmjones2@voorhees.edu. Sunday, December 10 Christmas Lessons & Carols at Bishop Gadsden 4:00 p.m. The St. Gregory Choir of Grace Church Cathedral presents a service of Lessons and Carols at the Chapel at Bishop Gadsden on James Island, Charleston. Wednesday, December 13 7:00 p.m. Student Concert The Summerville Christian Home School Orchestra offers a concert at St. George's, Summerville. Sunday, December 17 A Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols 5:00 p.m. St. Stephen's, Charleston offers a service of Lessons and Carols for Christmas, with the St. Stephen's Choir, Margaret Kelly Cook, soprano and Kimberly King, flute; with works by Thompson, Manz, Warlock, Darke, Wilhousky, and others.This will also be an opportunity to hear the brand-new organ at St. Stephen's. A Christmas Festival of Lessons and Carols 7:00 p.m. Grace Church Cathedral in Charleston presents this service of readings and music in the tradition of King's College, Cambridge, with the St. Gregory Choir and St. Nicholas Choristers. Resources for Advent'Preparing to Become the Beloved Community'
A newly developed Advent resource is now available to help Episcopalians everywhere to take up Jesus’ ministry of reconciliation and healing. Every congregation is being mailed Preparing to Become the Beloved Community, a multi-fold poster and resource pack with prayer, reflections and activities for each week of Advent. The resources can also be downloaded here. Preparing to Become the Beloved Community was developed by the Episcopal Church’s Racial Reconciliation Team. Read more about this resource here. #AdventWord
Be part of the Anglican Communion’s Global Advent Calendar. It’s an innovative way to engage in the season of Advent with people all over the world. Starting on December 3, the Anglican Communion with the Society of Saint John the Evangelist Brothers and also in partnership with Virginia Theological Seminary invite you to:
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. Advent studies
Church of the Messiah, Myrtle Beach Wednesdays at 7:00 pm The Path to Bethlehem: Evening Prayer (joint service with St. Philip Lutheran Church) St. Catherine's, Florence and Cross and Crown Lutheran Church are joining to provide Advent Lessons and Carols each Wednesday during Advent. A simple supper of soup and sandwich is served at 6:00 p.m. followed by a program at 7:00 p.m. |