Advent and Christmas 2023: Events, resources & services
Below find 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.
Navigate directly to the events below through the following links:
Navigate directly to the events below through the following links:
#AdventWord
AdventWord is a global, online Advent calendar, offered by Forward Movement, a ministry of The Episcopal Church. Images and meditations can be experienced via the #AdventWord website, direct daily emails, as well as on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Special Advent Services and Events
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3 Advent Lessons & Carols at Grace Church Cathedral, Charleston at 7 pm. This beautiful candlelight service can be watched onlilne at this link. SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10 St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Port Royal Advent Lessons & Carols at 11 am St. George's Episcopal Church, Summerville Advent Taizé Service at 6 pm. Taizé prayer is meditative in character. Simple repetitive chants anchor the prayer time together and become a calming influence during this hectic pre-Christmas season. Songs of praise and thanksgiving frame readings from the Psalms and Scriptures. The focus is on songs that celebrate the Light of Christ. Therefore, the symbols of darkness and light play an important part in this contemplative service of prayer and meditation. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16 St. Catherine's, Florence Special Christmas Carol Sing with cocoa and cookies for all! SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17 Grace Church Cathedral, Charleston, at 9 am Family Eucharist and Children's Christmas Pageant St. George's Episcopal Church, Summerville Advent Concert, Ward and friends, at 6 pm. Special Advent and classical music will be offered on this night by Ward Moore, our director of music along with Allison Harvey, violinist, and a couple of other surprise guests! Please come and bring a friend or lots of friends to this concert the week before Christmas! St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Charleston at 5 pm A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at 5 pm. All are welcome to attend this Christmas tradition based on the historical service held annually at King's College, Cambridge. The service will feature the St. Stephen's Choir led by Choirmaster Wayne Helmly. Grace Church Cathedral, Charleston, at 7 pm Christmas Lessons & Carols (nursery provided) with the St. Gregory & St. Nicholas Choir. Service will also be shared live on the church's YouTube page at this link: https://www.youtube.com/user/GraceChurchChrlstn. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19 St. Stephen's, North Myrtle Beach at 4 pm Winter Solstice Candlelight Concert. 'Blue Christmas' Services
Wednesday, December 13 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 (nursery provided). Wednesday, December 13 at 5:30 pm Blue Christmas: A Healing Service of Remembrance & Hope Holy Cross Faith Memorial, Pawleys Island Thursday, December 21, at 6 pm Blue Christmas Service at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Charleston, located at 67 Anson Street. |
Christmas ServicesChristmas Eve, December 24 Find the Episcopal Church closest to you on our website at this page. Most, but not all, services are listed below. All Saints Episcopal Church, Hilton Head Island 9 am – Advent IV – Holy Eucharist 4:30 pm - Prelude music begins 5 pm - Family Service in the style of Saturday@5 7:30 pm - Prelude music begins 8 pm - Candlelight Eucharist with choir and special music Calvary Episcopal Church, Charleston 10:30 am - Advent IV – Holy Eucharist 5 pm – Christmas Eve service Christ Church, Mt. Pleasant 5 pm - Holy Eucharist in the main church 11 pm - Holy Eucharist in the historic church Epiphany Church of Summerville 4 pm – Christmas Eve Eucharist Episcopal Church in Okatie, Ridgeland 10 am - Holy Eucharist 5 pm - Christmas Eve Service Episcopal Church on Edisto, Edisto Island 10 am - Holy Eucharist (Advent IV) 5 pm - Christmas Eve Holy Eucharist Good Shepherd, Summerville 8 am – Holy Eucharist, Rite I (Advent IV) 10:30 am – Holy Eucharist, Rite II (Advent IV) 5 pm - Holy Eucharist Rite II – Christmas Eve service Grace Church Cathedral, Charleston 8 am - Holy Eucharist (Advent IV) 10 am - Choral Eucharist (Advent IV - nursery provided) 4 pm - Family Eucharist with choir (nursery provided) 3:30-6 pm - Visit the manger animals in the Garden of Remembrance 6 pm - Choral Eucharist with Choir & Brass (nursery provided) 8 pm - Choral Eucharist with Choir & Brass* 11 pm - Choral Eucharist, Rite I, with Choir & Brass* * Service will also be shared live on the church's YouTube page at this link. Holy Communion, Charleston 10 am – Sung Mass 11:30 am – Greening of the Church 4:30 pm – Christmas Pageant and Mass Holy Cross Faith Memorial, Pawleys Island 8 am - Holy Eucharist (Advent IV) 4 pm - Holy Eucharist with Christmas Pageant 8 pm - Candlelight Holy Eucharist Messiah, Myrtle Beach 10 am - Holy Eucharist (Advent IV) 7 pm - Christmas Eve service Saint Anne's Episcopal Church, Conway TBD – One service in the evening St. Bartholomew's, Hartsville 10 am - Holy Eucharist (Advent IV) 5 pm - Christmas Eve Service 8 pm - Christmas Eve Service St. Catherine's, Florence 10:30 am - Holy Eucharist St. David's, Cheraw 5:00 pm - Christmas Eve Holy Eucharist St. George's Episcopal Church, Summerville 10 am – Lessons and Carols (Advent IV) 6 pm – Celebration of Christmas Communion (oriented toward families and children) 8 pm – Festival Celebration of Christmas Communion accompanied by strings and a prelude of carol singing beginning at 7:30 pm St. James Episcopal Church, James Island 8 am - Advent Lessons & Carols (Advent IV) 10 am - Advent Lessons & Carols (Advent IV) 5 pm – Festal Service of Holy Eucharist including the traditional “Silent Night” by candlelight St. John's Episcopal Church, Johns Island 8 & 10 am – Fourth Sunday of Advent 4 pm – Grace Chapel (Rockville) – The Feast of the Nativity of our Lord 6 pm - Holy Eucharist at St. John's - The Feast of the Nativity of our Lord St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Charleston 10 am – Holy Eucharist (Advent IV) 5 pm - Christmas Eve Service, beginning with music and carols Additional parking available in Ashley Hall parking lot at corner of Warren & Smith Streets St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Port Royal 9 am – Morning Prayer 4 pm – Family Christmas Eve Service 6 pm – Christmas Music & Caroling 6:30 pm - Festive Holy Eucharist St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Charleston 9 am – Combined service of Holy Eucharist (Advent IV) 6 pm - Festive Holy Eucharist/Family Christmas Eve Service 8:30 pm - Christmas Carols 9 pm – Candlelight Christmas Eve Service St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, North Myrtle Beach 9 am – Combined Worship Service – Fourth Sunday of Advent 6 pm - Christmas Eve Family Service 8: 30 pm – Christmas Carols & Holy Eucharist Candlelight Service St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, St. Stephen 9:30 am – Fourth Sunday of Advent St. Thomas Episcopal Church, North Charleston 10:30 am – Fourth Sunday of Advent 5 pm - Christmas Eve Service National Advent/Christmas servicesWashington National Cathedral, Washington, D.C. The Cathedral has a full slate of holiday concerts and worship services. Find out more on their website at this link: cathedral.org/worship/advent-christmas/ SUNDAY, DECEMBER 24 at 10 pm Join us for one of the most beautiful services of the year as we herald the Light made known to us on this holy night. We celebrate Christ’s birth with readings from Holy Scripture, favorite hymns, and seasonal choral and instrumental music. Watch live at this link. Christmastide
Sunday, December 25: Christmas Day More services may be added to this listing as they are provided to the diocese. Most churches in our diocese will offer a service on this day. Find the Episcopal Church closest to you on our website at this page. Most, but not all, services are listed below. All Saints Episcopal Church, Hilton Head Island 9 am - Eucharist with carols (one service) Calvary Episcopal Church, 106 Line St., Charleston 10 am – Christmas Day service Christ Church, Mt. Pleasant 10 am in the historic church Epiphany Church of Summerville 9 am - Christmas Day service Episcopal Church in Okatie, Ridgeland 10 am - Christmas Day service Episcopal Church on Edisto, Edisto Island 10 am - Christmas Day Holy Eucharist (spoken) Grace Church Cathedral, Charleston 10 am - Holy Eucharist with Choir & Carols Holy Communion, Charleston 10 am – Low Mass Holy Cross Faith Memorial, Pawleys Island 10 am - Holy Eucharist Messiah, Myrtle Beach 10 am - Christmas Day Service Saint Anne's Episcopal Church, Conway 10 am – Holy Eucharist St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church, Hartsville 9 am - Christmas Day Service St. Catherine's, Florence St. David's Episcopal Church, Cheraw No service on Christmas Day St. George's Episcopal Church, Summerville 10 am - Lessons and Carols St. John's Episcopal Church, Johns Island 10 am – The Feast of the Nativity of our Lord St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Port Royal 10 am - Christmas Day Holy Eucharist St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Charleston 10 am - Christmas Day service St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, North Myrtle Beach 10 am - Christmas Day Holy Eucharist St. Thomas Episcopal Church, North Charleston Tuesday, December 26: Feast of St. Stephen Services to be added. St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Charleston 10 am - Holy Eucharist Wednesday, December 27: Feast of St. John Services to be added. Holy Communion, Charleston 8 am – Low Mass Thursday, December 28: Feast of The Holy Innocents Services to be added. Monday, January 1: Feast of the Holy Name |
Resources for Advent
'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.
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.