Churches spread tidings of joy for Christmas
Churches in the U.S. 280 corridor have a multitude of events planned to celebrate the birth of Christ this year.
Some start in late November, but they’re spread all through December. As usual, there are a lot of Christmas Eve services scheduled. But with Christmas falling on a Sunday this year, many churches are holding Christmas Day services as well, though some are abbreviated or different than the usual time or format.
Here’s a sampling, but not an all-inclusive roundup:
► Asbury United Methodist, 6690 Cahaba Valley Road: Hanging of the Green Advent music service at 5 p.m. on Nov. 27; candlelight and communion services at 5, 8 and 11 p.m. on Christmas Eve; traditional service and separate contemporary service at 11 a.m. on Christmas Day
► Chelsea Creek Community, 48 Chesser Crane Road: Christmas Coffee House with singing, movie video clips, coffee and desserts on Dec. 18, 6-9 p.m.; candlelight communion service at 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve
► Christ Church United Methodist, 5091 Caldwell Mill Road: Christmas music program at 6 p.m. on Dec. 11; traditional service at 4 p.m. in the sanctuary and contemporary service at 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve; 3 p.m. service on Christmas Day
► Church of the Highlands-Grandview Campus, 3660 Grandview Parkway: A Highlands Christmas program at 7 p.m. on Dec. 22 and 23 and 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Christmas Eve (reserve free tickets for all programs online); Christmas Day service available online anytime
► Church of the Highlands-Grants Mill Campus, 4700 Highlands Way: A Highlands Christmas program at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Dec. 19, 20, 22 and 23 and 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve (reserve free tickets for all programs online); Christmas Day service available online anytime
► Church of the Highlands-Greystone Campus, 1701 Lee Branch Lane: A Highlands Christmas program at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Dec. 20, 22 and 23 and 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Christmas Eve (reserve free tickets for all programs online); Christmas Day service available online anytime
► CrossBridge Church of Christ, 3039 Brook Highland Parkway: Breakfast with Santa ($5 per adult/$7 per child) from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 10; candlelight service at 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve; communion service at 10:30 a.m. on Christmas Day
► Double Oak Community, 115 Olmstead St.: candlelight services at 1:30, 3, 4:30 and 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve; worship services at 9:30 and 11 a.m. on Christmas Day
► Faith Presbyterian, 4601 Valleydale Road: Christmas music worship service at 10:30 a.m. on Dec. 4; candlelight service at 4:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve; 10:30 a.m. service on Christmas Day
► First Christian, 4954 Valleydale Road: “The Christmas Present” children’s musical at 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 4; adult choir cantata at 10:15 a.m. on Dec. 18; family service at 5 p.m. and candlelight communion service at 11 p.m. on Christmas Eve
► Inverness Vineyard, 4733 Valleydale Road: “A Very Merry Vineyard Christmas” program at 6 p.m. on Dec. 18; 10:30 a.m. service on Christmas Day
► Liberty Baptist, 11050 Chelsea Road: communion services at 3:30 and 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve; 9:30 and 11 a.m. services on Christmas Day
► Liberty Park Baptist, 12001 Liberty Parkway: Santa in worship service at 10:30 a.m. on Dec. 4; “Christmas in the Park-Believe” choir and orchestra performances at 4 and 7 p.m. and live Nativity at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 11; kid-friendly glow stick service at 3 p.m. and traditional candlelight service at 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve; worship service at 10:30 a.m. on Christmas Day
► Meadow Brook Baptist, 4984 Meadow Brook Road: live Nativity at 5 p.m. on “The Sounds of Christmas” worship experience at 6 p.m. on Dec. 11; candlelight communion services at 4:30 and 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve; 10:45 a.m. service on Christmas Day
► Morningstar United Methodist & New Heights United Methodist, 11072 Shelby County 11 in Chelsea: Blue Christmas worship service for those struggling to find joy due to recent death, divorce, sickness, etc. at 5 p.m. on Dec. 11; contemporary candlelight service at 4 p.m. and traditional candlelight service at 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve; 10 a.m. service on Christmas Day
► North Shelby Baptist, 4100 Belcher Drive: candlelight communion service at 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve; 10:15 a.m. service on Christmas Day
► Oak Mountain Presbyterian, 5080 Cahaba Valley Trace: Christmas Spectacular music programs at 8:15 and 10:45 a.m. on Dec. 11; 5 p.m. (kid-friendly) and 6:30 p.m. services on Christmas Eve; 10:45 a.m. service on Christmas Day
► Our Lady of the Valley Catholic, 5514 Double Oak Lane: children’s mass at 4 p.m. and regular mass at 6:30 and 10 p.m. on Christmas Eve; 10 a.m. mass on Christmas Day
► Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran, 4887 Valleydale Road: Advent services at 7 p.m. on Nov. 30, Dec. 7, 14 and 21; family candlelight communion service with children’s pageant at 5 p.m. and candlelight communion service at 7:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve; service time on Christmas Day to be determined (check website)
► St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic, 7340 Cahaba Valley Road: 4 p.m. mass with the youth choir at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. mass with the adult choir on Christmas Eve; 10:30 a.m. mass on Christmas Day