Arcanum News: Christmas Eve traditions

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Every family celebrates special holidays in their own way. Christmas Eve is no exception, with families incorporating a wide variety of traditions. Our family treasures memories of attending a candlelight service on Christmas Eve. While attending church together is a family tradition, there’s something uniquely moving about the dim lighting, the glow of the candles and the words of the age-old Christmas hymns.

There’s no other evening quite as magical as Christmas Eve; in fact, my most treasured time of worship during the Christmas season. I just loved raising my candle in this collective effort to praise Him for the light he brought to our dark world. Attend a service this year with your family and even pray about inviting someone to come with you! Listed below are the times of special services being held here in our community on the 24th (these are most of our local churches in the Arcanum area; and all the information I had at my deadline.)

Calvary Bible Church, located at 9462 St. Rt. 571 on the corner of Red River West Grove Road and 571, will hold their Annual Christmas Eve Candlelight service at 9 p.m. There will be special music, warm fellowship and more. Everyone is invited. They will also have their regular Sunday Morning Service will be at 10:30 a.m.

Immanuel Baptist Church, 500 West South Street in Arcanum will hold Sunday Morning services on Christmas Eve at 10:30 a.m. featuring the adult choir singing the cantata, “The Greatest Story Ever Told” arranged by Dennis Allen. Soloists in the cantata are Kathy Kuhbander and Steve Brown, narrator will be Dave Brown, and Barbara Jackson serves as the director. Pastors Greg Greve and Dan Kuhbander welcome the community to share in the coming of the Christ Child.

Arcanum Faith United Methodist, located at 101 E. South Street invites you to come and join in a time of celebration of Jesus’ birth at 11 p.m. on December 24th. The Congregation and Pastor Tim Pieper welcome all to attend. They will have their usual Sunday morning traditional worship service at 10 a.m. and adult Sunday School at 9 a.m. All are welcome to join us to celebrate the Birth of the Christ Jesus!

Grace Church, 4805 State Route 49, invites you to join them for a Christmas Candle Lighting service at 7 p.m. on Christmas Eve.

Trinity United Methodist, 112 W. South Street, will hold their annual Christmas Eve Service at 9 p.m. Morning Worship Service on the 24th will be at 10:30 a.m. Everyone is welcome to join them prior to the morning service at 9 a.m. for a Christmas breakfast on the 24th.

Ithaca Grace United Methodist, 750 Arcanum-Ithaca Road, invites you to join them for their Christmas Eve Celebration at 9:30 a.m. for a Children’s Christmas Play “Shepherd, Sheep, and a Savior”. The congregation welcomes you to share the birth of the Holy Christ Child with them on Christmas Eve morning.

FHC Fellowship, 1 W. George Street welcomes worshipers to their Christmas Eve Morning Services at 10 a.m. with Sunday School to follow at 11:15 a.m.

Pleasant View Missionary Church, 5231 Gettysburg-Pitsburg Road will hold Candlelight Services at 11 p.m. on Christmas Eve. They will also host a Christmas Breakfast at 9:45 a.m. on Christmas Eve during the Sunday School Hour. Regular Sunday Morning Service times of 8:25 and 10:45 a.m. will also be held.

Christmas Eve Service at Castine Church of the Brethren located at 624 State Route 127 will be held in the Life Center at 8 p.m. with a Candlelight Service in the Life Center, come and “Celebrate Christmas.” You are welcome to come and bring your friends. There will be no Sunday Morning Services on Christmas Eve at Castine Church.

The members of Gordon United Methodist Church invite you to their Candlelight Christmas Eve Service at 9 p.m. at 311 East Street in Gordon.

St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in Ithaca will hold their annual Candlelight Service with Holy Communion at 7 p.m. St. Matthew’s is located on the south-east curve at the edge of Ithaca.

Pitsburg Church of the Brethren will host Christmas Eve services at 10 p.m. in the lower Fellowship Hall. In a darkened, reverent atmosphere, the Christmas story will be read from the scriptures, sing lots of Christmas hymns, share a children’s time, and hear short devotions from Pastor Ken Oren. All are welcome to join them at 8376 Pitsburg-Arcanum Road.

Can’t make it to church with small children or elderly relatives? Then bring the warmth of the experience to your living room. Just dim the lights, let members of the family read the Christmas Story from the scripture in Luke Chapter 2, and sing your favorite carols by the glow of candles.

My family and I wish you a Merry Christmas and send you the spirit of love, joy, and giving, remember to unwrap it on Christmas Eve.

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By Vickie Rhodehamel

Arcanum News

Vickie Rhodehamel is a volunteer citizen columnist, who serves The Daily Advocate readers weekly with her Arcanum community column. She can be reached by calling 937-692-6188, by e-mail at [email protected]. Viewpoints expressed in the article are the work of the author. The Daily Advocate does not endorse these viewpoints or the independent activities of the author.

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