COVE – The Cove United Methodist Church invites the community to attend a special Christmas Vesper service at 3 p.m. Sunday. The service will include traditional Christmas carols, a telling of the Christmas story, a candle-lighting ceremony, refreshments and fellowship. The church is located at 1708 Jasper (Highway 237).

Christmas masses announced by churches

On Christmas Eve, Our Lady of the Valley inLa Grande will have a family mass at 4:30 p.m. and a midnight mass beginning at 11:30 p.m. Mass on Christmas Day is at 9 a.m.

Saint Mary’s in Elgin will hold Christmas Eve mass at 9 p.m. In Union at Sacred Heart, Christmas Eve mass begins at 7 p.m.

Christian Church pastor tells Magi’s tale

On this fourth Sunday of Advent at the La Grande First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Pastor Ray Smith will perform a monologue, telling the Christmas story from the perspective of one of the Magi. His message, “The Magi,” is drawn from Matthew 2:1-12. Worship begins at 10 a.m.

A Christmas Eve candlelight Communion service will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday. Pastor Ray will share “Christmas 1944” by Steve Burt. The evening will also include scripture, special music and carols.

Melody and friends provide special music

UNION – “Improbable Improvisation” will be the title of Pastor Sue Peeples’ message at the 11 am. service this Sunday at the Union United Methodist Church. This fourth Sunday of Advent service will include special music by Melody and friends. Fellowship and refreshments will follow the service.

Weekly programs for community participation include a senior meal served every Tuesday at noon. This week’s meal will be a ham dinner. Anyone who needs assistance in getting there may call 541-562-5848 a day in advance to arrange transportation.

The weekly Wednesday Prayer Meeting is held from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Those who are unable to attend may leave prayer requests at 541-562-5848. The congregants also pray daily at 8 a.m. for those needing God’s healing and for those who have called in prayer requests to the Grande Ronde Prayer line: 541-786-PRAY.

Children perform Christmas play

ENTERPRISE – The children in the Sunday school program at the Enterprise Community Congregational Church (aka the Big Brown Church) will perform a short play, “The Christmas Story,” during the 11 a.m. worship service. After the play, the children will sing “Away in a Manger.”

Shepherds vs. Wise Men topic of service

Saturday at the La Grande Seventh-day Adventist Church Pastor Mike will present the significant aspects surrounding the announcing of Christ’s birth to the lowly shepherds in contrast with the Wise Men. The service begins at 11 a.m.

Pastor Mike continues the “Savior of the World’ multimedia series at 9:30 a.m. These lessons explore the ministry of reconciliation between humanity and God. Each participant will receive a lesson guide for each subject.

The church invites the community to view The Living Nativity tonight, Friday, and Saturday from 5 p.m. to8 p.m. at 2702 Adams Ave., just south of Bi-Mart.

Mary accepts God’s will in Christmas story

The sermon at Faith Lutheran Church in La Grande this Sunday will expound on the first chapter of Luke, in which Mary accepts God’s will spoken through the Angel Gabriel. The service begins at 10 a.m. with the children’s Christmas presentation.

A candlelight Christmas Eve service will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday. The Divine Service on Christmas Day will be at 10 a.m.

Lessons, carols slated for Christmas Eve

The fourth Sunday of Advent will be celebrated during the 9:30 a.m. worship service at the First Presbyterian Church in La Grande. Holy Communion will also be served. The sermon, “She Who Believed in a Fulfillment,” will be based on Luke 1:39-55 and Micah 5:2-5a. As Mary’s Song says, “My God has done great things for me: yes, holy is his name. All people will declare me blessed, and blessings they shall claim.” Fellowship will follow the service.

The choir will practice Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. and also at 6 p.m. Christmas Eve before the service. The Christmas Eve service of Lessons and Carols begins at 7 p.m.

Coffee, conversation follow Sunday service

ELGIN – Lay speaker Kay Durham will give the sermon at the 11 a.m. Elgin United Methodist Church service this Sunday. The title of her sermon will be “Follow the Leader,” based on Luke 1: 47-55. Coffee and conversation will follow the service.

A special Christmas Eve morning event begins at10 a.m. at the church. The celebration will include a short service and inspirational stories and music from those attending. Hot chocolate and sweets will be served following that service on the 24th.

Christmas Eve to feature guest musician

Zion Lutheran Church in La Grande will worship this Sunday at 9:30 a.m. with Pastor Colleen Nelson. The children will perform a Christmas pageant with the music provided by the Student Worship Art Team. All children attending can participate in the pageant.

On Thursday there will be a Christmas Eve Festival Candlelight Lessons and Carols with Eucharist at 7 p.m. The music will be led by guest musician Dr. Matt Cooper, professor of piano performance at EOU. Sharon Porter will join him on dulcimer, Bruce Anderson with a vocal selection and Pastor Colleen on flute. Holy Communion will be offered and the evening will close with “Silent Night” by candlelight.

Welcome the Christ Child at St. Peter’s

St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in La Grande will observe the fourth Sunday of Advent with Holy Eucharist at 9 a.m. The Rev. Kathryn Macek will preside and preach. Following the service, all are invited to help the Altar Guild “green” the church for Christmas. The vestry will also meet after the service.

Centering prayer will be offered Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. in the chapel. The office will be closed and there will be no Wednesday Eucharist or Thursday Morning Prayer next week.

The congregation will welcome the Christ Child with a family-friendly Eucharist at 4:30 p.m. Christmas Eve. Children in attendance are invited to help build the Christmas Nativity crechandeacute;. Following communion, those attending will light candles and sing “Silent Night.” Everyone is welcome at this come-as-you-are service.

Fourth Advent candle will be lit this Sunday

COVE – Grace Community Lutheran Church will celebrate Advent with a special reading and lighting of the fourth Advent candle at 10 a.m. Sunday, Pastor Carl Seelhoff will speak on “Mary, the Lord’s Servant.” Adult Sunday school begins at 9 a.m.

A 7 p.m., the Christmas Eve service will feature the choir singing and the lighting of candles. All activities are held at the Cove Seventh-day Adventist Church. Transportation is available to all services.

Message focuses on spirit of giving

Doug Edmonds at the La Grande Church of Christ this Sunday will present the lesson “Giving in to Giving,” talking about the spirit of giving this time of year. Communion is taken every Sunday. Sunday morning classes for all ages are from 9:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m., and the worship service follows at 10:30. Kingdom Kids is offered during the sermon for children age 2 years through kindergarten.

All are welcome at the continuing 7 p.m. Wednesday night video series, “Islam, the Quran and Christianity.”

Episcopal Diocese announces bishop

PENDLETON – Fr. Patrick Bell was elected the seventh bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Eastern Oregon Dec. 12 at Church of the Redeemer, Pendleton.

Kim McClain, president of the diocese’s standing committee, said Bell was one of three finalists from a pool of 16 applicants. A search committee narrowed the field down to three candidates.

“All of the candidates had Eastern Oregon roots and experience and all were so well qualified. We would have done well with any one of the three,” McClain said.

McClain said Bell’s background lends itself to his new position – he is a seventh generation Eastern Washingtonian, hailing from a long farming tradition, and his first Episcopal parish was in Ontario.

“Fr. Bell understands rural life in the Pacific Northwest. We think he will make a really good bishop,” McClain said.

Bell did his Anglican studies work at Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, Texas and completed coursework for a doctorate of Ministry from Seabury-Western Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois.

He was ordained priest by Bishop Rustin Kimsey and installed at St. Matthew’s Ontario in 1989.

He said his experience with different spiritual paths is one of the strengths he brings to his new position.

“It broadened my spiritual understanding and my ability to work with Evangelical Christians andndash; I have a deep appreciation for what they believe,” Bell said.