A number of Mid-coast congregations are planning special services and observances during December.
Elijah Kellogg Church
HARPSWELL — A 25- minute guided tour, Journey to Bethlehem — an outdoor drama of the first Christmas — will be offered repeatedly between 6 and 8 p.m. at the Elijah Kellogg Congregational Church on Saturday.
The church is located at 917 Harpswell Neck Road, Route 123. People are invited to warm up with fellowship and hot soup afterward.
St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church
LISBON — “Step out of your Christmas music box this holiday season and bring the family to hear the hauntingly beautiful sound of the Finnish Lap harp,” states a news release from St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church. The 10 member A’chording to Kantele will perform a Christmas music concert on Saturday Dec. 10 at 6 p.m. at the church on the hill off Route 196 in Lisbon.
This free concert includes complimentary coffee and desserts.
For more information, call the church at 353-8453 or visit www.StMatthewsLisbon.org.
Lessons and carols canceled
BATH — The “ Neighborhood Faith Community,” the United Church of Christ Congregational, has announced the cancellation of the planned Community Service of Lessons and Carols.
This service was scheduled to be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at the church, according to a news release. “The church wishes to thank those who have expressed an interest in this service that shares participation with other faith communities in the Bath area and apologizes for any inconvenience that may have occurred. We wish everyone a blessed and peaceful Christmas season.”
Historic East Harpswell Baptist Church
HARPSWELL — A public vesper service will be held on Sunday at 2 p.m., at the historic East Harpswell Baptist Church on Cundy’s Harbor Road on Great Island.
The familiar carols will once again ring in the Christmas season accompanied by the island choirs. The Rev. George Dole of Bath will deliver a Christmas message. For the service the church will be lighted by the original oil lamps of the 1840s structure.
The church is fully accessible, thanks to the work last year of Eagle Scouts under the guidance of James Herrick.
The historic East Harpswell Baptist Church was maintained over many years by the Sebascodegan Garden Club. Period faux grain panels and old graffiti have been preserved. In 2008 the deed for the property was transferred from the church trustees to the Harpswell Historical Society whose president, David Hackett, will be taking part in this service.
For more information, call 729-9755.
Wiscasset Church of the Nazarene
WISCASSET — Glory Bound Gospel Singers will bring Christmas music to the 11 a.m. service. Sunday.
The singers will offer several CDs of Christian music.
At 2 p. m. Sunday, the church will take applications from families in need of Christmas toys.
The Wiscasset Church of the Nazarene is located at 255 Gardiner Road. All are welcome.
Maine Street Baptist Church
BRUNSWICK — The public is invited to attend a special presentation of the Christmas story through the musical and dramatic performances of children, youth and adults of Maine Street Baptist Church at 5 p.m. Sunday.
The public is also invited to a special Christmas Eve service of music, readings, art and testimonies at 6 p.m. Dec. 24.
Maine Street Baptist is located at 323 Upper Maine Street across from Parkview Adventist Medical Center. For more information, call 725- 7303.
Mid-Coast Presbyterian Church
TOPSHAM — Mid- Coast Presbyterian Church has planned a number of special services and events throughout December in celebration of Christmas.
On Saturday at 7 p.m., the DaPonte String Quartet will play a free concert of Christmas music at the church, 84 Main St. Attendees are asked to bring a canned or dry good donation to benefit local food pantries.
On Dec. 17 at 7 p.m., Mid- Coast Presbyterian Church will host a concert of 10 Saxophones in Symphony playing Christmas favorites with a community sing at the conclusion. Offerings of canned or dry goods are requested in an effort to replenish the shelves of the Mid- Coast Hunger Prevention Program.
The church will hold a special service, “ Courage for Christmas,” on Dec. 18 at 5 p.m. The service is a different approach to the upcoming holy days, according to a news release.
“Not everyone is happy during this season. Some people face challenges from grief, depression, loss of work, ill health or dysfunctional family relationships. Others are especially hard hit by these hard economic times. And, families with special needs children face their own challenges as schedules change and stress increases,” it the release states. “Whatever is challenging one’s ability to join the festivities of the season, this service welcomes all and will be ‘come as you are,’ planned, and as participatory as desired by each individual. We offer this service to renew hope and to give people more courage to face the days before and after Christmas.”
A Candlelight Christmas Eve Service of Lessons & Carols with bells will take place on Dec. 24 at 5 p.m. There will be special music as well as choral music and plenty of singing with the congregation. A special story for children will be read by “Miss Shirley” with a coloring book at the end. All are encouraged to bring bells to ring as the congregation celebrates together.
A special Sunday service of worship is planned on Christmas Day at 11 a. m. to celebrate the birth of Jesus the Christ with a party.
Finally, there’ll be an Epiphany children’s pageant on Jan. 8, the Sunday following Epiphany. There’ll be an opportunity to meet the characters who went to the manger and hear their stories about how they got there. Worship begins at 10:10 a.m. and the pageant will be offered during that service.
The church is fully accessible. For more information, email church@mcpcmaine.net or call 729-3193.
First Parish Church, UCC
BRUNSWICK — Ray Cornils, minister of music at First Parish Church, UCC and Portland municipal organist, will perform a Christmas organ concert at 12:15 p.m. Thursday at the church, Maine Street and Bath Road.
The 40-minute program will include festive settings “Joy to the World,” “In dulci jubilo,” “Angels We Have Heard on High,” “O Holy Night,” and other holiday favorites. The program will be presented on the church’s 1883 tracker organ built by Hutchings/ Plaisted of Boston.
The concert is open to the public. Admission is by $ 5 donation at the door. For more information, call 729-7331.
Neighborhood Faith Community
BATH — The Neighborhood Café will hold its second annual Christmas party from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16 at 150 Congress Ave.
The party will include a Christmas dinner and music from the Corliss Street Baptist Church children’s choir. Admission is free and everyone is welcome to join.
For more information on the Christmas party, Neighborhood Café or for ways to get involved, email Ian Magrath at cafe. neighborhood@gmail.com, or call the Neighborhood Faith Community, Bath United Church of Christ, at 443-2187.
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
BRUNSWICK — St. Paul’s Episcopal Church will offer the public a chance to walk an Advent Spiral from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17.
Advent Spirals are an ancient tradition in Europe, where walking the spiral pathway is used as a meditative way to slow down and center oneself, as well as to remember the Light of Christ that illuminates the dark days of winter.
A candle is placed at the center of the spiral; people walking the spiral carry an unlit candle on their inward path, then light their small taper from the large Christ candle at the center before they retrace their steps out of the spiral.
The spiral will be held open-house style from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. People are welcome to come for as little or as much time as they wish. For more information about the spiral, call 725-5342.
Bath United Methodist Church
BATH — The United Methodist Church at 340 Oak Grove Ave. invites the greater Bath area community friends and neighbors to attend the Bethlehem Inn Christmas Pageant and Brunch on Dec. 18 at 10:15 a.m.
The “you are there” Christmas Pageant is set in the dining room of the Bethlehem Inn on the night of Jesus’ birth. Bethlehem Inn guests will join the innkeeper and his family for a joyous and free brunch. The inn guests, servants and the nearby stable animals will also enjoy seasonal carols and fellowship, according to the news release.
It’s an opportunity to “witness the birth of Jesus anew,” the release states.
Although reservations are not required, community members and neighbors can reserve a place in the Bethlehem Inn dining room by phoning 443-4707.
LifeChurch
BATH — The congregation will hold a Christmas Eve service at 45 Floral St.
A live Nativity will take place from 3:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. A candlelight service is scheduled to run from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
For more information, call 233-5520.
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