Advent is a season of preparation and anticipation leading up to Christmas. Join us as we prepare our hearts and our minds to once again celebrate the birth of Emmanuel, God with us!
Our Advent Schedule
First Sunday of Advent (Nov. 28)
(No Sunday School)
11:00 am – Worship
Second Sunday of Advent (Dec. 5)
8:30 am – Worship
9:45 am – Sunday School for all ages, including the addition of Stories and Songs
Stories and Songs is a new intergenerational offering for Advent (Dec. 5, 12, and 19) that includes reading Christmas books, hearing stories, singing carols, and reading scripture. All are welcome!
11:00 am – Worship
Third Sunday of Advent (Dec. 12)
8:30 am – Lessons and Carols
9:45 am – Sunday School for all ages, including Stories and Songs
11:00 am – Lessons and Carols
Fourth Sunday of Advent (Dec. 19)
8:30 am – Worship
9:45 am – Sunday School for all ages, including Stories and Songs
11:00 am – Worship
Longest Night (Dec. 21)
7:30 pm – Worship
While things may be merry and bright for some during the holiday season, others may feel sadness and pain. For some, this time of year can be the loneliest of all times. The Longest Night is a service to acknowledge such feelings. Gather with us for words of comfort, prayers for hope, candles, gentle music, and silence.
Christmas Eve (Dec. 24)
4:00 pm – Family Christmas Eve service
7:00 pm – Candlelight Christmas Eve service (music from the youth choir)
9:00 pm – Candlelight Christmas Eve service (music from the Chancel Choir)
First Sunday of Christmas (Dec. 26)
11:00 am – Worship (a Christmas hymn sing!)
Opportunities to Give
Gifts of Beauty and Bounty
It is the UPC tradition during Advent to honor and remember the people in our lives through Christmas Gifts of Beauty and Bounty. Your gift can be used to purchase a poinsettia which will be placed in the chancel, or as a contribution to the Inter-Faith Council for Social Services to support our neighbors in need. (You can also choose to do both with your gift!) The names of those honored and remembered with these gifts will be in the Sunday Worship Bulletin on December 12. Click here to learn more and to give.
Alternative Gift Market
Are you feeling a little overwhelmed by the prospect of shopping for Christmas this year? Not sure what to get that friend or family member who has everything? Let us help! At the UPC Alternative Gift Market, you can make donations in honor of your loved ones that will help support our partners around the world who are working to serve and support those in need – no gift wrap required. The online market will open in mid-November (upcch.org/agm), and we will also have a physical table at the Advent Craft Festival.
Devotional Resources
The Season of Almost
This daily devotional is written by Kate Bowler. You can download a copy here, or a few copies of this will be printed and available in the narthex.
Following the Star
This online devotional is provided by d365.org with brief prompts for reflection and prayer, and instrumental music. To recieve a daily email during Advent and Christmas, click here.