Advent & Christmas

This Advent and Christmas, each service is built around one beloved hymn. The series takes its name from Job 35:10, “God my maker, who giveth songs in the night,” the verse behind the old hymn “How Can I Keep from Singing?” The nights are long this time of year, and we know that darkness comes into our lives in every season. But God meets us there with songs. We’ll sing our way toward Bethlehem, through hanging the greens, candlelight, the Christmas pageant and Christmas Eve, and on to the light of Epiphany. Come for one Sunday or for all of them. All are welcome.

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Sunday, November 29

Hanging of the Greens

We begin the season by decorating the sanctuary together and lighting the first candle. Following worship we’ll also make Advent ornaments from sheet music and paper from Fanwood’s own church.

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Sunday, December 6

Peace in the Storm

Even in the storm, God speaks peace. We hear words of comfort from Isaiah 40 and keep singing through the night, and we share Communion together.

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Sunday, December 13

Celtic Christmas Music Sunday

Join us as we light the candle of joy with Celtic carols, prayers and poems, and a fiddler to lead the music. It’s a quiet Sunday of songs from Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

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Sunday, December 20

All-Church Christmas Pageant

Our children and youth lead an instant Christmas pageant, and everyone gets a part! Come ready to sing “Go Tell It on the Mountain” and hear the story like new!

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Thursday, December 24 @ 5:00 PM

Candlelight Christmas Eve

Join us at 5 PM for lessons and carols by candlelight, with voices, strings, piano and organ. We’ll end the night by passing the light of Christ hand to hand as we sing “Silent Night.”

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Sunday, December 27

The Lessons of Christmas

Christmas isn’t over! Our lay readers lead a lessons-and-carols service built on “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” hearing each of the carol’s twelve gifts as a gift of our faith.

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Sunday, January 3

Dreams and Lullabies

In Matthew’s gospel, God speaks at night. We’ll hear the dreams that comforted Joseph and the Magi, each answered with a lullaby, and gather at the Lord’s Table for Communion.

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Sunday, January 10

The Epiphany Star

We close the season by following the star with the Magi. Everyone will receive a Star Word, one word we don’t choose but are given, to carry and pray with throughout the new year.