Advent and Christmas 2019: Events, resources & services
Christmas Message from
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Christmas Message From
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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 [email protected]. 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:
#AdventWord
Read our daily reflections through the Season of Advent and join others across the Anglican Communion in this daily devotion, creating a global Advent calendar. Advent Studies, Quiet Days,
and Special Events FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6 All Saints Episcopal Church, Hilton Head Island, offers An Evening with Saint Nicholas: Meet the Gift Giver Behind the Legend at 5 pm. All are welcome to join in this festive evening including dinner, carols and storytime. If you are able, please either bring a small small toy, piece of clothing, or book for a child in need that we can add to our Angel Tree; or a canned/boxed food item to share with a family in our community. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7 Grace Church Cathedral, Charleston. Advent Quiet Day beginning at 9 am in Hanahan Hall. Bishop Will Willimon will be the guest speaker and the theme for the morning will be based on Willimon’s 2013 book, Incarnation: The Surprising Overlap of Heaven & Earth. Learn more here. SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15 All Saints Episcopal Church, Hilton Head Island, Third Sundays at Three: Advent Jazz Vespers at 3 pm. The service will feature meditative music performed by a jazz trio intermixed with scripture and prayer. A reception featuring hot chocolate follows the service. Advent Services
WEDNESDAYS IN ADVENT Calvary Episcopal Church, Charleston, will offer "Jazzvent" each Wednesday during Advent beginning at 5:15 pm. Come enjoy jazz and worship followed by supper (at 6 pm in the Parish Hall). Mr. Lonnie Hamilton III will graciously provide jazz saxophone music as part of the worship. Dates are: Dec. 4, 11 and 18. St. Catherine's Episcopal Church, Florence, will together with Cross and Crown Lutheran Church, offer Simple Supper and Service on Wednesdays during Advent: Dec. 4, 11 and 18. St. George's Episcopal Church, Summerville, will offer a special Wednesday evening program at 7 pm during Advent. Programs include: St. George's Chamber Players (Dec. 4), Advent Taize Service (Dec. 11), and Summerville Christian Home School Orchestra (Dec. 18). Wassail & Toast (cookies) Fellowship afterward in the Christian Ed building. SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1 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. SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8 St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, North Myrtle Beach offers a service of Lessons & Carols at 9 am followed by the ECW Cookie Walk. SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15 The Church of the Good Shepherd, Sumter, will offer an Advent Service of Lessons & Music at 2 pm at 401 Dingle Street in Sumter. The service will feature Krystin Cote, violinist; John Spann, organist; and Cierra Stewart, vocalist. A reception will follow. Messiah, Myrtle Beach offers a service of Advent Lessons and Carols at 12:15 pm at St. Philip Lutheran Church, 6200 N. King's Highway. Christmas Lessons & Carols
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15 At Bishop Gadsden: The St. Gregory Choir of Grace Church Cathedral sings a traditional service of Lessons & Carols in the Chapel at Bishop Gadsden at 4 pm. SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22 Holy Communion, Charleston (218 Ashley Avenue) at 4 pm. The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols with works by Ord, Palestrina, Hallock, Darke, Stopford, and Rutter. A freewill offering will be received. Contact Clara Godshall, 843-697-6978 for more information. St. Augustine's, Pinewood/Wedgefield at 11 am will present the service of Nine Lessons and Carols, based on the King’s College format. The service short children's Christmas Pageant. St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Port Royal Community Carol Sing at 4 pm St. Stephen's, Charleston at 5 pm The annual Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols featuring traditional carols and spirituals by Gardner, Warlock, Manz, and more. A festive reception will follow. Click here for more information. Grace Church Cathedral, Charleston at 7 pm Christmas Lessons and Carols in the tradition of King's College, Cambridge, with hymns, carols and anthems sung by the St. Gregory Choir and St. Nicholas Choristers. 
'Blue Christmas' Services
Wednesday, December 11 at 5:30 p.m. Blue Christmas: A Healing Service of Remembrance and Hope Holy Cross Faith Memorial, Pawley's Island offers this service at 5:30 pm for those who struggle with finding joy during the Christmas Season. Wednesday, December 11 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. 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 19 at 7 pm Blue Christmas Service St. Stephen's, Charleston offers this annual service for those for whom the holidays can be a particularly difficult time. The service is a reminder of the promise of light amidst even the darkest places in human life. |
Christmas ServicesChristmas Eve, December 24 All Saints Episcopal Church, Hilton Head Island Family Service with Nativity at 5 pm Candlelight Holy Eucharist at 8 pm with Christmas Choral Prelude at 7:30 pm Calvary Episcopal Church, Charleston Holy Eucharist at 6 pm Church of the Holy Communion, Charleston Family Mass and Pageant at 5 pm Music at 10 pm Solemn High Mass of the Nativity at 10:30 pm Church of the Messiah, Myrtle Beach Holy Eucharist at 6 pm Church of the Good Shepherd, Summerville Holy Eucharist with Children's Christmas Pageant at 5 pm The Episcopal Church on Edisto, Edisto Island Christmas Eve Service and Carols at 4:45 pm The Episcopal Church in Okatie, Ridgeland Holy Eucharist at 6 pm Grace Church Cathedral, Charleston Visit with manger animals in the garden at 3:15 pm Family Eucharist at 4 pm Choral Eucharist at 6 pm (with organ, brass & timpani) Choral Eucharist at 8 pm (with organ, brass & timpani) Choral Eucharist at 11 pm (with organ, brass & timpani) Holy Cross Faith Memorial, Pawleys Island Holy Eucharist with Christmas Pageant at 4 pm Candlelight Holy Eucharist at 8 pm St. Anne's Episcopal Church, Conway Holy Eucharist at 5 pm in Lackey Chapel St. Catherine's Episcopal Church, Florence Holy Eucharist at 4 pm St. George's Episcopal Church, Summerville Contemporary Family Service at 6 pm "Midnight Service" with special choir music and strings at 10 pm Christmas Eve Traditional Festival Eucharist at 10:30 pm St. James-Santee Episcopal Church, McClellanville Holy Eucharist at 6:30 pm St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Charleston Holy Eucharist at 6 pm (special music begins at 5:30 pm) St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Port Royal Family Service (Holy Eucharist) at 4 pm Candlelight Holy Eucharist at 6 pm St. Stephen's, Charleston Children's Service at 3 pm Christmas Eve Service at 8 pm (Christmas strings and piano begins at 7:30 pm) St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, North Myrtle Beach Festive Holy Eucharist Family Service at 6 pm Musical Prelude & Holy Eucharist Candlelight Service at 9 pm. St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, St. Stephens Holy Eucharist at 6:30 pm Christmas Day, December 25 All Saints Episcopal Church, Hilton Head Island Holy Eucharist at 9 am Calvary Episcopal Church, Charleston Holy Eucharist at 10 am Church of the Holy Communion, Charleston Low Mass at 10 am (only one mass to be said; come as you are!) Holy Cross Faith Memorial, Pawleys Island Holy Eucharist at 10 am Grace Church Cathedral, Charleston Choral Eucharist at 10 am with Choir & Carols St. Anne's Episcopal Church, Conway Holy Eucharist at 10 am in Lackey Chapel St. George's Episcopal Church, Summerville Holy Eucharist at 10 am St. Stephen's, Charleston Holy Eucharist at 10 am St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, North Myrtle Beach Holy Eucharist at 10 am Christmas Eve services onlineThe Episcopal Church will offer digital Christmas Eve services on its website and Facebook page.
Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols – 4 p.m. EST Saint Thomas Fifth Avenue, New York, New York The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols (service bulletin here) is one of the pivotal and most popular choral services of the year. For many, it marks the beginning of Christmas. The service follows a format in which nine lessons are interspersed among 12 carols, motets and hymns. The lessons – which cover the fall of humanity, the promise of the Messiah, and the birth of Jesus – are read by nine representatives of the Saint Thomas parish. Christmas Eve liturgy – Noon and 6 p.m. EST St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church, Seattle, Washington This traditional Christmas Eve liturgy (service bulletin here) with Holy Eucharist and congregational singing of carols, includes an effort to intentionally create more space for silence and listening. Following the sermon the congregation observes a full three minutes of silence and listening indicated by the pealing of bells. The liturgy uses the expansive language version of the Holy Eucharist Rite Two approved for trial use at The Episcopal Church's 2018 General Convention. Grace Church Cathedral also plans to livestream some of its Christmas Eve services on its YouTube channel. Christmastide Thursday, December 26: Feast of St. Stephen Church of the Holy Communion, Charleston 8 am Low Mass St. Stephen's, Charleston 10 am Holy Eucharist Grace Church Cathedral, Charleston 12 noon Holy Eucharist Friday, December 27: Feast of St. John Church of the Holy Communion, Charleston 8 am Low Mass Grace Church Cathedral, Charleston 12 noon Holy Eucharist Saturday, December 28: Feast of The Holy Innocents Grace Church Cathedral, Charleston 12 noon Holy Eucharist Sunday, December 29: First Sunday after Christmas Day Services to be added All Saints Episcopal Church, Hilton Head Island Holy Eucharist with Lessons & Carols at 10:15 am Calvary Episcopal Church, Charleston Holy Eucharist at 10:30 am Church of the Good Shepherd, Summerville Holy Eucharist at 10:30 am Church of the Holy Communion, Charleston Lessons & Carols with Holy Eucharist at 9 :30 am Holy Cross Faith Memorial, Pawleys Island Holy Eucharist at 8 am Holy Eucharist with Carols at 10:30 am St. Anne's Episcopal Church, Conway Holy Eucharist at 8:30 am and 10 am in Lackey Chapel St. Catherine's Episcopal Church, Florence Combined service of Lessons & Carols with Cross & Crown Lutheran Church at 10:15 am St. George's Episcopal Church, Summerville Holy Eucharist at 8 am (Rite I) Holy Eucharist with Kids' Church (Rite II) at 9:30 am Holy Eucharist at 11 am (Rite II) St. James-Santee Episcopal Church, McClellanville Holy Eucharist at 10 am St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Charleston Holy Eucharist at 10 am St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Port Royal Holy Eucharist at 9 and 11 am St. Stephen's, Charleston Holy Eucharist at 8 am Choral Eucharist at 11 am St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, North Myrtle Beach Holy Eucharist at 9 am (Potluck meal to follow) Wednesday, January 1: Feast of the Holy Name Services to be added. St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, North Myrtle Beach Holy Eucharist at 10 am |
Resources for Advent
#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 2, the Anglican Communion with the Society of Saint John the Evangelist Brothers and also in partnership with Virginia Theological Seminary invite you to:
'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.
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 2, the Anglican Communion with the Society of Saint John the Evangelist Brothers and also in partnership with Virginia Theological Seminary invite you to:
- Sign up
- Pray through Advent
- Use your phone camera
- Help create a Global Advent Calendar.
'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.