Berks churches announce details on holiday season services [Religion Digest]

Dec. 17----St. Michael's Church, 529 St. Michaels Road, Tilden Township, will worship on the fourth Sunday of Advent at 10:15 a.m. The St. Michaelaires, under the direction of Elaine Balthaser, will lead worship. The children's Christmas program will be part of worship. Pew candles will be set up after worship. A luncheon will be held after worship before caroling. There will be candlelight Communion Christmas Eve worship is at 4 and 7 p.m. The 4 p.m. worship service is designed especially for children. Special music begins 6:30, before the 7 p.m. service. On Christmas Day, worship will be at 10:15 a.m. with music and a hymn sing led by Elaine Balthaser. A noisy offering (plate money) will be taken for the Salvation Army.

—Calvary United Church of Christ,1231 Route 100, Barto, will worship on the fourth Sunday of Advent at 9:30 a.m. The service is also livestreamed on Facebook and by Zoom by calling 646-558-8656 and entering the meeting ID 913 8085 8414, passcode 848423. Special music will include the Rev. Dave Brumbaugh, pastor, on trumpet. Christmas Eve worship will be held at 4 p.m., with Holy Communion, featuring Jacob Latshaw on cello. On Christmas Day, worship will be held at 9:30 a.m. with guest pianist and vocalist Jane Maini. There also will be carol singing, a Christmas story and a hunt for gifts and treasures.

—Christ Lutheran Church, 222 Niantic Road, Barto, will worship on the fourth Sunday of Advent at 9 a.m. Coffee & Conversation will be held at 8:30 and then again at 10 in the Welcome Center. The adult Sunday school class will meet after worship in the parlor, and the confirmation class students will meet at 10 in room I. Decorating of the church for Christmas will be held immediately following the worship service.

—St. John's Gernant's Church (A Federated Congregation), 13 Gernant's Road, Ontelaunee Township, will worship Sunday at 9:30 a.m. in Memorial Hall, 12 Gernant's Road, which is handicap accessible. Choir Anthem will be "Waiting." Musician for the service will be Shirley Breininger. Christmas Eve service will be in the church, which is handicap accessible. Christmas music will be from 7 to 7:30 p.m. with Candle Lighting. Worship will begin at 7:30. The Koenig Brass Ensemble will provide selections throughout the service along with the Church Choir. Shirley Breininger will be organist for the service.

—St. John's Reformed Church, 4001 Penn Ave., Sinking Spring, will hold a Christmas Eve Eve service on Dec. 23 starting at 7:30 p.m. The service will feature the Just Worship praise band and will include communion and a candlelighting service. All are welcome. St. John's will hold two services on Dec. 24. The Christmas Eve Children's Worship will begin at 5 p.m. and feature the children re-enacting the familiar story through Scripture and song. The traditional Christmas Eve service will begin at 7:30 p.m and include bell choir performance, communion, and candlelighting service. On Christmas Day, the church will hold a single service with traditional worship starting at 10:30 a.m. (No Sunday school). On New Year's Day, the church will hold a single service featuring the Just Worship praise team starting at 10:30 a.m. (No Sunday school).

—St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 4125 Penn Ave., Sinking Spring, will hold in-person worship Sundays at 9 a.m. with holy communion along with special music. The service will be livestreamed on Facebook. Christmas Cantata is Sunday at 7 p.m. Christmas Eve Candlelight Services are scheduled for 5 ( children's worship), 7:30 and 10 p.m.

—The United Church of Christ worships at 10:15 at 301 W. Penn Ave., Robesonia, in person, by YouTube, Facebook and telephone. Details can be found at 1zion.org or sprucc.org. The children and young people will present a program called "Starlight," created and directed by Sheri Rowe, during Sunday's. The featured song is "Little Star of Bethlehem," written by Rev. Robert Masenheimer, organist. The fourth Advent Wreath Candle for Love will be lit by the Palmer family. Christmas Eve Services will be offered at 7 and 11 p.m. with Holy Communion and individual candlelight. Christmas morning service is scheduled for 9:15 with Holy Communion.

—Zion's Lutheran Church, 354 Zions Church Road, Shoemakersville, will celebrate the Fourth Sunday in Advent at 10:30 a.m. with the lighting of the 4th Advent candle. The Sunday school Christmas Program will be part of the service to include Holy Communion. The service will be available in person, Facebook Live, and the church website. Sunday school for all ages begins at 9:15 a.m. Volunteers are needed immediately after the service to take down the Advent Swags, hang the Christmas Swags and place the pew candles for the Christmas Eve services. Christmas Holiday services are as follows: Dec. 24, 3:30 pm Special Music for Christmas followed by a 4 p.m. family-centered worship with Holy Communion and 6:30 p.m. Special Music for Christmas prior to the 7 p.m. Holy Communion Candlelight service. Christmas Day will be a service of Lessons & Carols at 10:30 a.m. Services will be available in person, Facebook Live, and the church website.

—Reformation Lutheran Church, 3670 Perkiomen Ave., Exeter Township, will hold Advent Worship on SUnday at 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. with holy communion offered at both services. The 10:30 service will be live-streamed on Reformation's Facebook page and may be viewed live or later at www.Reformationlutheran.org. under worship videos. "Bethlehem's Story," under the direction of Dr. Heidi Rochlin, will be presented by the Sunday school students at the 10:30 service. On Wednesday, Advent Vespers with Holden Evening Prayer begin with a covered-dish meal (meats provided) beginning at 5:45 p.m. in the parish hall followed by the candlelight service in the sanctuary at 7.

—Schwarzwald Lutheran Church, 250 Church Lane Road, Exeter Township, will hold in-person worship in the Sanctuary at 10:30 a.m. Sunday. Outdoor Lenten Vespers will be held from 5 to 5:20 p.m. each Sunday in Advent for the lighting of the Advent Wreath.

—Maidencreek Church, 261 Main St., Maidencreek Township, will worship at 9 a.m. Sunday with its 19-voice choir singing the Cantata, "Mary Did You Know"; plus piano solos by Megan Esterly, Tallulah Johnson and Molly Johnson; a flute solo by Kelly Rosenberger; and a selection by the Bell Choir. The in-person service is live streamed to Facebook and YouTube. Links can be found at www.maidencreekchurch.org.

—St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 45 N. Reading Ave., Boyertown, will worship Sunday at 9:30 a.m. with a livestream on YouTube (St. John's ELC Boyertown). Children's Sunday School is at 9:30 a.m. (register online). The Blue Christmas service is Dec. 21 at 7 p.m., Christmas Eve services are at 3 and 8 p.m. and Christmas day service is at 10:30 a.m. woth a free meal from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. A free drive through, take-out meal is offered every Saturday (excluding Dec. 24) from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. No registration necessary. For more information, see stjohnsboyertown.org.

—On Sunday at Christ Episcopal Church, 435 Court St., Reading, two worship services will be held, each including Holy Eucharist: at 8, a said service (no music) and at 10, a family service with music. At 9 in the parlor Adult Forum will be held, featuring Chris Spohn with "The Veteran's Coalition of PA" which provides food, shelter and clothing for veterans and their families. Masks are optional. Parking is available at the Abe Lincoln Hotel parking garage or the M&T Bank lot, both located off of Washington Street. Parking is also available beside the church on Court Street for those with disabilities or who need assistance. On Thursday at 11, a Morning Prayer service from the Book of Common Prayer will be held in the church sanctuary. Go to rdgchristchurch.org to access the Zoom link for Centering Prayer or to find out more about us.

—Kissinger's Church, 715 Berkshire Blvd., Wyomissing, will hold an Hour of Prayer on Wednesday at 4 p.m. The public is invited to attend to submit prayer requests and to pray for others. Pray for our country and for each other.

—St. Paul's United Church of Christ, 5 W. Jackson St., Fleetwood will have one worship service this Sunday at 9:30 a.m. featuring the Christmas Cantata by the Chancel Choir. Narrators will be Alexis Ames and Emily Laucks. For links to the FaceBook Page and YouTube Channel, visit www.stpaulsfleetwood.org.

—Bern Reformed UCC, 3196 Bernville Road, Bern Township, offers live worship at 9:30 a.m. or participate in the parking lot from your vehicle by means of an FM 87.9 transmission, or on Facebook. They will light the "Candle of Love" on the Advent Wreath and reflect on the various definitions of love in our life and in the world. The Senior Choir will present a Cantata by Mark Hayes entitled "Nativity." The worship service includes the singing of Christmas carols.

—St. John's (Hain's) UCC, 591 N. Church Road, Wernersville, will hold a Christmas Eve Candlelight Service with Christmas music before the service beginning at 6:30 p.m., followed by the candlelight service at 7 p.m. Special music will be presented by guest musicians Cindy Miller-Aungst; her daughter, Katelynn Jackson; and son-in-law, Christopher Jackson.

—Huff's Union Church, Hereford Township, will hold Christmas Eve Services at 4 and 8 p.m. Christmas Day service and New Year's Day service will only be at 10:30 a.m. Beginning Jan. 1, the 8:30 a.m. worship service is discontinued. On Jan. 8, during the 10:30 a.m. worship service, will be the Longswamp New Year's Wishing in the dialect by Mike and Linda Hertzog.