Advent at Christ Church is a time of waiting and of watching, of listening and of breathing, and of focusing on our search for Christ’s peace in our lives as we prepare ourselves to celebrate his birth. This focus encourages us to slow down; Advent challenges the commotion that is commonly found around the holidays, and helps us stay grounded.
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The word Advent means “coming” or “arrival.” The center of this season is the celebration of the birth of Jesus the Christ in his First Advent, and the anticipation of the return of Christ the King in his Second Advent. Thus, Advent is far more than simply marking a 2,000-year-old event in history. It is celebrating a truth about God, the revelation of God in Christ whereby all of creation might be reconciled to God. Scripture readings for Advent will reflect this emphasis on the Second Advent, including themes of accountability for faithfulness at His coming, judgment on sin, and the hope of eternal life.
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In this double focus on past and future, Advent also symbolizes the spiritual journey of individuals and a congregation as they affirm that Christ has come, that He is present in the world today, and that He will come again in power.
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Advent is marked by a spirit of expectation, anticipation, preparation, and of longing.
It is the season that begins the liturgical year for most churches in the Western tradition. It begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day - this year, Advent I is on December 1st - and the season concludes on Christmas Eve, which is Tuesday, December 24th in 2024.
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The liturgical color of the season is traditionally purple but has been replaced by blue in many churches (to differentiate it from Lent), and that is the case here at Christ Episcopal Church.
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In the Book of Common Prayer, Christmas Day is one of the seven principal feasts. The Christmas season lasts twelve days, from Christmas Day until January 5th - the day before the Epiphany. Its season includes Christmas Day, the First Sunday after Christmas Day, the Holy Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and may include the Second Sunday after Christmas Day. In many parishes, the main liturgical celebrations of Christmas take place on Christmas Eve.
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Below are the Advent and Christmas season services at Christ Episcopal Church for this year. We'll add events and gatherings as the season progresses, so check back often. Also, be sure to regularly check our parish calendar for the complete schedule of parish and community events.
You are always welcome to join us - whether you join us each Sunday, visit more seasonally, or have never entered our doors - for the value of worship and fellowship never diminishes.
We wish you all a blessed and healthy season.
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This Advent Season
at Christ Church
Morning and Evening Prayer Livestreams
Monday - Friday mornings at 7:00 a.m. and Friday evenings at 7:00 p.m.
via our website and Facebook
Our virtual tradition continues as wonderfully dedicated and faithful members of the Christ Church family lead us in a brief prayer service livestream to carry us through the Advent season.
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The Jesse Tree
Daily throughout Advent
During the Advent season at Christ Church, we invite parishioners and families to observe the tradition of a Jesse Tree celebration in their homes, a tradition that honors the genealogy of Jesus Christ, tracing his Old and New Testament ancestors and telling the history of God's act of salvation.
Our own Jesse Tree, complete with beautiful hand-made ornaments by artist Jenn Lavanish, is in the Narthex, and on our website each December day leading up to Christmas, you can read and learn about a new character important to the story of the season. Materials for people who wish to read Scripture and create an ornament to display on a Jesse Tree of their own can click the below button.
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Poems for Advent
Through Christmas, on our website and Facebook
Begins Monday, December 2nd
Pamela Pruitt, a Christ Church parishioner and poet, has created a poem for the days during Advent. You can view the daily poems on our website and Facebook, and we hope you find them restorative, comforting, and inspirational. We are so grateful for Pam and appreciate her willingness to share her art.
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Advent I
Sunday, December 1 at 8:00 a.m. in Old Brick
9:00 a.m. Family Worship in New Brick
and 10:30 a.m. with music and choir in the New Brick Sanctuary
10:30 a.m. is livestreamed via the CEC website, Facebook, and YouTube
Begin the Advent season with us, either in person or online. We will have our first Eucharist in Old Brick and then two Sunday morning services in the Sanctuary of New Brick. You can also worship virtually at 10:30 a.m. by using the above links.
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Taizé : Rosemary for Remembrance
Sunday, December 1 at 6:00 p.m. in New Brick
The weeks leading up to Christmas can be a pressured time, and frazzled nerves can cause us to get beside ourselves. In addition, the impact of losing a loved one has been felt by all of us at one time or another. To comfort us all, we encourage you to gather with us for our combination Taizé / Rosemary for Remembrance service, worship that’s created to support those who have experienced loss this year, as well as those dealing with an added amount of strain or stress during the holiday season. It’s a quiet, reflective worship that helps us slow down and recover ourselves as fellow parishioners gift us with songs, reflections, and poems as we all pray together in worship and support. It’s a comforting and meditative service that inspires us to lift up all of those loved ones who have left us and help each other through the hectic season ahead. Don’t miss it.
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Centering Prayer
Monday evenings, December 2, 9, and 16 at 7:00 p.m.
in person in Old Brick, and virtually via Zoom
Join us in Old Brick at 7:00 p.m. Monday evenings for Centering Prayer, a special evening prayer gathering that helps us be present and open to God. You can also take part virtually from wherever you are, so if you'd like the Zoom details, let us know and we'll send them to you.
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Advent Compline
Presented by Mother Marcia Davenport
Each weeknight at 7:30 p.m. on YouTube and Facebook
Beginning on Monday, December 2
A new feature of Christ Church's Advent season celebration, Mother Marcia presents a unique compline livestream every weeknight leading up to Christmas. Gathering inspiration from many different Christian texts, she shares stories that are both familiar and new, personal reflections, and beautiful prayers that will assist us all in maintaining a sense of calm and peace during this busy season. You can find these on our YouTube and Facebook pages at 7:30 p.m., and we hope that you'll join us and make this a special part of your Advent journey.
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First Wednesday Fellowship:
It's "Ugly Sweater" Time!
Wednesday, December 4
at 6:00 p.m. in the Great Hall of New Brick
Don't miss December's FWF as we celebrate the holiday season with an "Ugly Christmas Sweater" contest and gift swap. Wear your favorite ugly sweater to the gathering and bring a gift valued at around ten dollars so we can put it in the grab bag and share it with others. We're still working on the meal for the event, but it's sure to be delicious. Mark the date: Wednesday, December 6 (also St. Nicholas Day!) at 6:00 p.m. in the Great Hall... be there!
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Advent Quiet Day
Presented by the Christ Church Spiritual Life Commission
Led by The Reverend Kirk Kubicek
Saturday, December 7, from 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon in Old Brick
Everyone is welcome and encouraged to join us as Advent Quiet Day gathers in Old Brick next Saturday. This important Christ Church tradition, presented by the Spiritual Life Commission, marks the start of the Advent season and helps us to focus and retain our perspective in these hectic weeks leading up to Christmas.
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We are grateful to have Rev. Kirk Kubicek, a dear Christ Church friend, leading our morning retreat this year. We'll gather in Old Brick for an informal breakfast and conversation at 8:30 a.m. and then take part in a morning of insightful readings, spirited discussions, inspiring songs, creating a warm feeling of shared community, and sharing in moments of quiet meditation. Our retreat then concludes around noon with an informal Eucharist. It's a very special gathering each year, and we hope that you'll join us as we let the Light enter our feelings and actions to help make this a remarkable and joyous Christmas season.
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Advent II and Youth Sunday
Sunday, December 8 at 8:00 a.m. in Old Brick
9:00 a.m. Family Worship in New Brick
and 10:30 a.m. with music and choir in the New Brick Sanctuary
10:30 a.m. is livestreamed via the CEC website, Facebook, and YouTube
This Sunday is exceptionally special, as our wonderfully talented Christ Church youth lead us in worship. They present the readings of the day, lead us in song, and even deliver the message of the day from the pulpit. This is a not-to-be-missed gathering in worship and youthful joy as we experience the next generation of our parish family present a beautiful service for everyone. We do have three worship services today, and the 10:30 service is also livestreamed on our website and social media channels.
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WOCC Christmas Party
Sunday, December 8, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
at The Kings Contrivance Restaurant
On Sunday, December 3rd, at 1:00 p.m., the WOCC will gather for their annual Christmas Feast at The King's Contrivance Restaurant, and we hope you'll all come! The special price for the event is $65. per person, and includes all courses with regular beverages (water, soda, tea, coffee). You can sign up using the sheet in the Narthex, but do so quickly! The deadline for signing up is December 1st.
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Center for Spiritual Nourishment
Saturday, December 14, from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon
throughout the Christ Church campus
Join fellow seekers on the 2nd Saturday of each month for the Center for Spiritual Nourishment. On December 14th, the CSN offers experiences that engage the mind, body, and spirit. The Center offers a safe space for you to explore an array of opportunities for spiritual growth and is for anyone interested in spiritual nourishment, regardless of religious affiliation or beliefs. Learn more at www.christchurchcolumbia.org/spiritual-nourishment
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MOCC Christmas Party
Saturday, December 14, from 2:30 to 6:00 p.m.
at The Kings Contrivance Restaurant
The MOCC's annual Christmas Party will be on Saturday the 14th from 2:30 - 6:00 p.m. at The Kings Contrivance Restaurant. There is a sign-up sheet in the Narthex. The all-inclusive price will be $65 per person and includes a meal with regular beverages (water, soda, tea, coffee). A cash bar will be available. Payment can be made via Realm (choose the "MOCC" fund) or by checks made payable to Christ Church ("MOCC" in the memo line). Please sign up and submit payment by Sunday, December 8th, so we know how many spaces to reserve.
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Advent III
Sunday, December 15 at 8:00 a.m. in Old Brick
9:00 a.m. Family Worship in New Brick
and 10:30 a.m. with music and choir in the New Brick Sanctuary
10:30 a.m. is livestreamed via the CEC website, Facebook, and YouTube
Join us for Holy Eucharist at 8:00 and 10:30 a.m. in New Brick, as well as youth and adult formation classes and coffee hour fellowship.
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Community Caroling and Lunch
Sunday, December 15 in the Great Hall at 12 noon
Community Caroling begins at 1:00 p.m.
A fantastic and uplifting tradition at Christ Church and one that lifts the spirits of those who cannot make it to church or need an extra pick-me-up. We gather in groups and embark throughout the community to spend a few minutes with parishioners at their homes as we sing the beloved and inspirational songs of the season. Join us!
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Christ Church Christmas Social
A CEC Youth Group Fundraiser
Friday, December 20 in the Great Hall from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Parents, Take an Evening Off! Christ Church's Youth Ministry will provide entertainment and babysitting on Friday evening, December 20th, from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. while our parents do their Christmas shopping or go on a date - or just relax! The kids can look forward to Christmas cookie decorating, card-making, and ornament crafting. There will be cookies and cider, hot chocolate, Christmas music, and Christmas movies to get us all in the Christmas spirit!
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Advent IV
Sunday, December 22 at 8:00 a.m. in Old Brick
9:00 a.m. Family Worship in New Brick
and 10:30 a.m. with music and choir in the New Brick Sanctuary
10:30 a.m. is livestreamed via the CEC website, Facebook, and YouTube
Join us for Holy Eucharist at 8:00 and 10:30 a.m. in New Brick, as well as youth and adult formation classes and coffee hour fellowship.
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The Greening of the Church
Sunday, December 22nd at 12:00 noon in the New Brick Sanctuary
A Christ Church tradition, the Greening of the Church is a time to gather and collectively decorate the campus in its holiday best. Poinsettias, wreaths, garlands, and many other beautiful holiday items will be placed around the altars and sanctuaries to help make this holiday complete. We'll start in New Brick at 11 a.m. on Saturday, so we encourage everyone to lend a hand. All ages are welcome!
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Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols
Sunday, December 22nd at 6:00 p.m. in the New Brick Sanctuary
and via the CEC website, Facebook, and YouTube
Christ Church will hold a Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols in New Brick, a truly wonderful gathering whose origins date back to late 19th century England. All are most welcome to join us in this celebration of glorious carols, anthems, and hymns led by our wonderful choir, interspersed with Bible passages. Please join us - in person or online - for an evening of joyful expression, in word and song, of the greatest story that has ever been told.
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Christ Church on Christmas Eve
Tuesday, December 24th
Christmas Pageant at 4:00 p.m. in New Brick
Holy Eucharist at 7:30 and 10:30 p.m. in the New Brick Sanctuary
and via the CEC website, Facebook, and YouTube
Our incredible youth are featured in the 4:00 Christmas Eve worship at Christ Church, a family service that includes a live Nativity. All kids from pre-school - 5th grade are invited to have a role, so email us at info@christchurchcolumbia.org or call the Church Office to participate.
That evening, our excellent choir and instrumentalists will lead the seasonal music presentation before both uplifting evening services, so arrive at 7:30 and 10:30 p.m. to grab great seats and join us as we celebrate in joyous song! Worship begins at 8:00 and 11:00 p.m.
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Celebrate Christmas Day
Wednesday, December 25th at 10:00 a.m. in the New Brick Sanctuary
and livestreamed on the CEC website, Facebook, and YouTube
Christmas Day Eucharist is a truly wonderful service, and in 2024 it takes place in the Sanctuary of New Brick. And so, as the hymnist suggested... “Come and worship… worship Christ, the new-born King!”
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New Year's Day
Wednesday, January 1st, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. in the New Brick Sanctuary
and also on our website, Facebook, and YouTube
Celebrating the first morning of the New Year is always special, so join us at 10 a.m. in New Brick for Holy Eucharist and a ringing in of the new year.
Christ Episcopal Church
Service details subject to change.
Check back often for additional information.