Highlights (December 20, 2013)

Christmas Eve service unfolds in Union

UNION – A service of music and narrations by local talent will take place at

5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the United Methodist Church of Union.

Church celebrates birth of Jesus

ENTERPRISE andndash; The prayer Sunday begins, “Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come” at Grace Lutheran Church in Enterprise.

On this final Sunday in Advent, the church prepares to celebrate the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. Morning worship begins a 9 a.m.

The fourth Advent candle, “Love,” is lit to remind Christians that Jesus brings God’s love and shows believers how to love others. Also, the “Christ” candle will be lit, reminding believers that Jesus is the light of the world. This light fills Christians’ lives and becomes part of all that they say and do.

Presbyterians offer Christmas Eve service

The Fourth Sunday in Advent will be celebrated during the 9:30 a.m. worship service at the First Presbyterian Church. The sermon, “Papa Joseph,” will be based on Isaiah 7:10-16 and Matthew 1:18-25.

The sanctuary will ring with music from the Chancel Choir, handbells, piano/organ duet, not to mention congregational hymns of the season.

Fellowship will follow the service.

The Christmas Eve service of Lessons and Carols will begin at 7 p.m.

The message, “For Us, A Child,” will be delivered by Pastor Laura Hudson.

Music will fill the air with many carols sung, the Chancel Choir plus a special solo offering. Holy Communion will also be offered to celebrate the joyous time of Jesus’ birth.

Community invited

to vesper service

COVE – A community vesper service will begin at 4 p.m. Sunday at the Cove United Methodist Church on Highway 237. The event will include singing of traditional Christmas carols, a telling of the Christmas story, a candle-lighting service, refreshments and fellowship. For more information, call 541-805-5678.

Christmas Eve celebration unfolds

ISLAND CITY – Christmas Eve Candles and Carols will take place at 6 p.m. Christmas Eve at the Celebration Community Church, 10200 N. McAlister, Island City.

Methodists set special events

Service will be at 10 a.m. Sunday at the United Methodist Church. Pastor Steve Wolff will celebrate the fourth Sunday in Advent with the lighting of the candles and a sermon “End of an Era.” Following the service, potluck will be served in the basement.

A caroling party will take place Saturday. Meet in the church parking lot at 3 p.m. dressed in festive attire. Visits to various shut-in will be coordinated from there. Bring snacks to share at the Campbells following the event. All are invited to participate

In celebration of the Christmas season,

La Grande UMC will be offering a series of free soup lunches for all who drop by.

The meals will be available from noon to 1:30 p.m. Dec. 24, 27, 31 and Jan. 3 The goal is to celebrate with all those who would benefit from a meal shared with others.

Silent prayer, centering prayer, contemplation and meditation are all age-old practices to silence the mind so that the “still small voice” can be heard.

For that purpose, the area in the South Balcony has been set aside from 9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Sundays. People are asked to enter quietly, remove their shoes and close the door behind them. The room is also available whenever the church is open.

Christmas Eve service will be held at 5 p.m. After the service, there will be beverages and hors d’oeuvre in the Fellowship Hall.

Dec. 29 will be church out of church, where the congregation shares its time and talents with the community. People are asked to meet at the church at 9:30 a.m. for a brief service before the congregation celebrates in the community.

Grace celebrates birth of Jesus

COVE – Grace Community Lutheran Church will celebrate the birth of Jesus with the lighting of the fourth Advent candle at 10 a.m. Sunday. Pastor Carl Seelhoff’s sermon is titled Package of Mystery. Sunday school for all ages begins at 9 a.m. Men’s breakfast and Bible study meets at 7:30 a.m. Thursday. All activities are held at the Cove Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Methodists conduct Vesper service

COVE – The Cove United Methodist Church,1708 Jasper St., invites the public to its service at 9 a.m. Sunday as it celebrates the fourth Sunday of the Advent season. The main theme will be “Love.” The sermon is titled “The Love of Christ.”

The church’s Vesper service was changed from last Sunday to 4 p.m. this Sunday. The service will involve singing songs, sharing the Christmas story and having a Christmas Tea in the fellowship hall afterward.

The church’s “Free Toys for Cove Kids” event will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the church fellowship hall in the basement. Cheri’s Main Street Salon and the Cove church have joined together to help Cove families needing assistance to make sure their children have gifts for Christmas.

Gift wrapping supplies will be available for people who would like to wrap the gifts at the church before they leave.

Worship begins with Christmas pageant

ENTERPRISE – “Emmanuel” and Matthew 1:18-25 provide the focus for Bible study and worship at Enterprise Community Congregational Church Sunday.

Worship will begin with a traditional Christmas pageant at 11 a.m., following the

9:30 a.m. Bible study.

A Christmas Eve candlelight service, on the theme, “Here’s Your Sign,” based on Luke 2:1-20, begins at 9 p.m. Tuesday.

Zion offers pageant, candlelight service

Zion Lutheran Church with Pastor Colleen Nelson will celebrate the fourth Sunday of Advent with the Christmas Pageant. The

9:30 a.m. worship service includes carols and the celebration of Holy Communion. Fellowship follows at

10:30 a.m. The Christmas Eve candlelight service at

7 p.m. will include the celebration of Holy Communion and the singing of carols.

Christmas Eve services set

St. Peter’s Episcopal Church will observe the fourth Sunday of Advent with Holy Eucharist at 9 a.m. The Rev. Kathryn Macek will preside and preach. The traditional “greening of the church” will take place immediately after the service. There will be no Morning Prayer or noontime Eucharist in the coming week. The office will be open Tuesday but closed Wednesday and Thursday.

Residents and visitors are warmly invited to the church on Christmas Eve, when it will welcome the Christ Child at two services: a family service, with the building of the crandegrave;che, at 4 p.m., and a traditional service at 10:30 p.m. Both services will include familiar carols and a candle-lighting with the singing of “Silent Night.” St. Peter’s Episcopal Church is an open and inclusive parish; all are welcome.

Lutherans celebrate Christ’s birth

Sunday at Faith Lutheran Church the sermon will use Matthew Chapter 1, with the focus on Verse 20: “But after he (Joseph) had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as you wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.'” This direction guided Joseph to maintain his pledge to Mary and eventually go to Bethlehem for Christ’s birth. Sunday services are at 10 a.m. in La Grande and 2 p.m. in Enterprise.

Faith Lutheran will have a Candlelight Christmas Eve service at 7 p.m. and a Christmas Day Divine service at 10 a.m.