Berks County churches schedule Christmas Eve, Christmas Day services [Religion Digest]

Dec. 24----Maidencreek Church, 261 Main St., Maidencreek Township, will have two candlelight Christmas Eve Services. The 4 p.m. service will have music by David Wentzel, bass clarinet; Jamie Ayrton, trumpet; Marissa Benedick and Kimberly Ayrton, vocal duet; Anya Flicker and Sophie Esterly, piano duet; Carter Flicker, Amelia Rarick and Connor Rarick, piano solos. At 6:40 p.m. Brass Ensemble music will feature trumpets Jamie Ayrton, Jaime Baver, Collin Border and Amy Powlus; and trombones Sophie Esterly, SaraAnn Harbonic and Julia Powlus. The 7 p.m. service will have music by Jeremy Powlus and Megan Esterly, vocal solos; Senior Choir with Bell Choir and soloist Jeremy Powlus; Kelli Rosenberger, flute solo; Sophie Esterly and SaraAnn Harbonic, piano solos; and Jamie Ayrton and Amy Powlus, trumpet duet. Christmas Day worship at 9 a.m. is a service of lessons and carols. Music includes a violin duet by Sophia Ayrton and Chris Bieber; a duet with Glenn Fisher, flute, and Maynard Koplin, clarinet (two pieces); a vocal solo by Becky Wright; a violin solo by Bieber; a trumpet solo by Kimberly Ayrton; and two piano solos by Kimberly Ayrton. In-person worship is livestreamed to Facebook and YouTube. Links can be found at www.maidencreekchurch.org.

—The United Church of Christ, 301 W. Penn Ave., Robesonia, will hold Christmas Eve services at 7 and 11 p.m. The Handbell Choir will ring, the Chancel Choir will sing, organ music will inspire, Holy Communion and individual candlelight will be offered, and one of the legends of Christmas will be presented. Christmas Day worship will be held at 9:15 a.m. with another legend of Christmas being shared. Bible studies will not be held this week. Worship is available in person, by YouTube, Facebook and telephone. Details can be found at 1zion.org or sprucc.org.

—Schwarzwald United Church of Christ, 75 Church Lane Road, Exeter Township, will be holding two in-person and Zoom Christmas Eve services. The 7 p.m. service will feature Bonnie Levan as guest pianist. The 11 p.m. candlelight service will feature special music by Jody Goodhart and Katherine Berry. Christmas Day service will be in person and on Zoom at 10:30 a.m. Feel free to come in your pajamas. All services will be available on YouTube. For more information, visit www.schwarzwalducc-pa.org.

—Reformation Lutheran Church, 3670 Perkiomen Ave., Exeter Township, will hold Christmas Eve worship at 4:30 and 8:30 p.m., with Holy Communion and candle-lighting. Special music at the 4:30 service will feature instrumentalists and vocalists. The 8:30 service will be accompanied by a brass quartet, timpani and the Reformation Choir under the direction of Dr. Heidi Rochlin. The 8:30 service will be livestreamed on Reformation's Facebook page and may be viewed live or later at www.Reformationlutheran.org under worship videos. In-person Christmas Day worship with Holy Communion and carols is at 9:30 a.m. The Rev. Paul Metzloff, pastor, will release a Christmas Day message on Reformation's Facebook page Christmas morning.

—St. John's Lutheran Church, 4125 Penn Avenue, Sinking Spring, will hold Christmas Eve candlelight services at 5 (children's worship), 7:30 and 10 p.m.

—Schwarzwald Lutheran Church, 250 Church Lane Road, Exeter Township, will hold in-person Christmas Eve Holy Communion worship services at 3 and 7 p.m. Each service will be preceded by 45 minutes of special music. On Christmas Day, there will be a short, meditative, in-person service with quiet Communion at 10:30 a.m.

—Trinity United Church of Christ, 2449 Cumberland Ave., Mount Penn, will have a candlelight Christmas Eve service at 7 p.m., with Holy Communion, beginning with Christmas music provided by the Handbell Choir and instrumental and vocal soloists. On Christmas Day, worship will be held at 9 a.m. Scott Troutman will be singing, and Derek Lehn will offer a violin solo.

—St. John's Reformed Church, 4001 Penn Ave., Sinking Spring, will hold two Christmas Eve services. 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 includes bell choir performance, Communion and candlelighting. 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).

—Calvary United Church of Christ, 640 Centre Ave., Reading, will have Christmas Eve services at 5 and 7 p.m. with special music in between. There will be a service at 10:30 a.m. on Christmas Day and New Year's Day. For more information, visit www.calvaryreformeducc.org.

—St. John's Lutheran Church, 45 N. Reading Ave., Boyertown, will worship Christmas Eve at 3 and 8 p.m. Christmas day service is at 10:30 a.m. with a free meal from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will be a Lessons and Carols service on Jan. 1 at 9:30 a.m., and a service on Jan. 6 for Ephiphany at 7 p.m. A free drive through, take-out meal is offered every Saturday (excluding today) from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. No registration necessary. For more information, see stjohnsboyertown.org.

—St John's Gernant's Church (A Federated Congregation), 13 Gernant's Church Road, Ontelaunee Township, will worship on Christmas Day at 9:30 a.m. Musician for the day will be Fern Kulp. The Rev. Fran Merkel, pastor, will play a flute solo called "Christmas Medley."

—Maranatha Baptist Church, 25 Gaul Road, Lower Heidelberg Township, will have a candlelight Christmas Eve service at 4:30 pm, a time of singing Christmas carols and a message. A special Christmas Day service will be at 10 a.m.

—Pennside Presbyterian Church, 253 N. 25th St., Mount Penn, will hold a Christmas Eve candlelight service at 7 p.m. with music by David Cullen, Scott Piergrossi, Zoe Banks, Katie McClain and Isaac Duquette.

—Bern Reformed United Church of Christ, 3196 Bernville Road, Bern Township, will offer live worship on Christmas Eve at 7 p.m., or participate in the parking lot from your vehicle by means of an FM 87.9 transmission or on Facebook. The service will include a video of the birth of the Christ child, a choir anthem, Christmas carols, a safe way to receive Communion and battery-powered take-home candles.

—St. Paul's United Church of Christ, 5 W. Jackson St., Fleetwood, will have one worship service on Christmas Day 9:30 a.m. Special music will be a traditional carol, "I Saw Three Ships." Worship leader will be Jim Goldman. Links to Facebook and YouTube are found at www.stpaulsfleetwood.org. There will also be one service on New Year's Day at 9:30 a.m.

—Friedens United Church of Christ, 337 Main St., Oley, will be celebrating Christmas Eve with a special candlelight service at 7 p.m. with Holy Communion and a children's message. Each child will get a gift, and there will be special music and a choir anthem. The Christmas Day service of lessons and carols is at 9 a.m. Services are in-person as well as via Zoom and YouTube.

—Christ Episcopal Church, 425 Court St., Reading, will hold a worship service on Christmas Eve at 10 p.m. with special music. On Christmas morning, one worship service without music will be held, including Holy Eucharist, at 10. At 9, there will be Christmas caroling around the parish hall piano led by Steve Geyer. Parking is available in the Abe Lincoln Hotel parking garage and 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. For access to the Centering Prayer Zoom link or to find out more go to rdgchristchurch.org.