Local churches present programs on healing, hope, and the Third Sunday of Advent

Cheryl M. Whitaker, Wilmington StarNews
·2 min read
St. Paul's Episcopal Church presents a service of healing, hope and light on Dec. 12 with the Wilmington Boys Choir and the choir of St. Paul's.
St. Paul's Episcopal Church presents a service of healing, hope and light on Dec. 12 with the Wilmington Boys Choir and the choir of St. Paul's.

Christmas is not a joyful time for everyone. Many face struggles that leave them feeling blue and alone during the holidays.

Join St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, the choir of St. Paul's, and the Wilmington Boys Choir present Blue Christmas – A Service of Healing, Hope, and Light. The event will begin at 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 12 at the church, located at 16 N. 16th St., Wilmington.

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The worship service, will offer a safe and sacred space to face the darkness together and wait in hope for the “light” that has come into the world on Christmas.

Also Grace United Methodist Church will hold a Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols - the third Sunday of Advent at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 12 at 401 Grace St., Wilmington. The advent will be led by the Chancel Choir and district superintendent, Tara Lain.

Visitors will hear the story of the events leading up to Christ’s birth as reflected through the spoken word of scripture and liturgy, the sung word of carols and anthems, and the expressive music of the organ.

A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, created by E. W. Benson, was introduced to King's College on Christmas Eve 1918 to offer solace to people who were distressed, exhausted, injured and, in many cases, bereaved at the end of the World War I.

There will be only one worship service with Sunday School commencing at 9:30 a.m.

Faith Lutheran Church, a member of the North American Lutheran Church, holds weekly services Sundays at 9:30 a.m., coffee and fellowship at 10:30 a.m., Christian Education class at 10:45 a.m. The church is located at 311 Judges Road, 2B, Wilmington.

There are four core values that shape the North American Lutheran Church: Christ centered, mission driven, traditionally grounded, and congregationally focused.

For more information, visit, https://www.faithlutheran-wilmington.org/ or https://thenalc.org/.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: St. Paul's Episcopal Church present a program on Blue Christmas