Advent & Christmas
The season of Advent begins on Sunday, December 1
Sunday, November 24
Gift Shop Christmas Market | 9:00 a.m. | Meade Room
The Gift Shop Christmas Market is back! On Sunday, November 24, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., you can once again revel in the Christmas shopping extravaganza at the long-cherished annual event where so many of us jumpstart our holiday shopping with our popular holiday cards, gifts, and décor.
Advent I | Sunday, December 1
Bringing Advent Home | 9:00 a.m. | Auditorium
Bring Advent Home by creating an Advent wreath at 9:00 a.m. in the Auditorium! You will leave with a wreath for your household, four candles, and materials to help you wait patiently (or impatiently) for Christ’s birth. Bring branches to share! If you would like to help with set up or clean up, please email Ariel. We will not have Sunday School.
Nativity Display | Meade Room
As part of our kickoff to Advent, we will have a display of nativities from around the world, with information about their significance. We will even have a few “safe to touch” nativities for children to interact with. Come see and learn how people in different places portray Mary and Joseph!
Advent II | Sunday, December 8
Advent Forum: Finding Joy through Service | 9:00 a.m. | Meade Room
During the formation hour, we will have an opportunity to write cards of love and support to members of our community that need encouragement. We will also be packing hot chocolate treat bags for our friends at the Food Pantry, Ladrey BINGO, and Meals on Wheels to help spread Christ’s love through joy and care for one another.
A Service of Nine Lessons & Carols | 5:00 p.m.
The Christ Church Choir will be joined by a brass quintet and guest organist, Dr. Daniel Aune. Readers representing different parts of the Alexandria community will join us as we retell the history of human salvation through Scripture and Song. A festive reception will follow in the Auditorium. Doors open at 4:30 p.m.
Advent III | Sunday, December 15
Advent Forum | 9:00 a.m. | Meade Room
Join Robbie for a conversation about Advent’s multi-layered themes and how we express them in our liturgy.
Comfort Ye: An Advent Service for a Difficult Time | 5:00 p.m.
For many, this is a season of mixed emotions, including sorrow and grief. In this service, we will acknowledge our sadness and offer prayers for loss then follow by sharing the Eucharist together as a sign of our eternal hope.
Advent IV | Sunday, December 22
Children's Christmas Pageant & Yuletide Feast | 5:00 p.m.
Please join us for the annual Christmas Pageant at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 22. We’ll hear again the story of Jesus’s birth as retold by the children of the parish. The festive Yuletide Feast will follow at 6:00 p.m. in the Auditorium. All are welcome to enjoy this beloved tradition. If you would like to help with putting together the Pageant set or preparing the Yuletide Feast with esteemed parish chefs, please
contact Ariel.
Advent Offerings
Night Prayer in Advent | December 4, 11, 18 at 7:30 p.m. | Chapel
Wednesdays in Advent
Advent can be a busy season with many demands on our time, attention, and hearts. Counteract the busy-ness with a weekly time of candlelit Night Prayer from the New Zealand Prayer Book and let God’s peace enfold you.
(Note that on December 11, this will be in the auditorium and will include music from the Taizé community.)
Dinner Church | December 4 | 5:45 p.m. | Auditorium
Dinner Church with St. Nicholas
At Dinner Church, we have a meal with old and new church friends, then we celebrate the Eucharist around our tables. At December Dinner Church, we will have a visit from a special guest who will tell us about being a bishop in the early church and about his acts of kindness that lead to his becoming a beloved saint!
Community Jazz Holiday Vespers Concert | December 6 | 7:00 p.m. | Church
St. Stephen's and St. Agnes School in partnership with Christ Church invites you to the community Jazz Holiday Vespers Concert at Christ Church.
Join as the Rev. Noelle York-Simmons and Rev. Sarah Moses share the story of Christmas, and the SSSAS Jazz Octet swings your favorite holiday songs with the
rhythms and soul of jazz and the spirit of the season. We also seek to support Child & Family Network Centers’ Holiday Gift Card Drive. If so led, we ask that you drop a Target Gift Card or a little monetary offering in our bucket to share the joy of the season with those community members in need.
For more information please contact Vaughn Ambrose.
Monday Concert Series | December 9 | 12:15 p.m. | Church
Coventry Carols for Advent featuring the DC Singer Collective
The DC Singer Collective offers space for mutually supportive connection, collaboration, and advocacy for musicians in the Washington, DC, metro area. Featuring a rotating roster of singers and collaborators, the Collective aims to promote artist-led programming and remain open to a variety of voices.
There is no admission for these concerts, though we hope audience members will support the series with a goodwill donation of any amount (suggested amount: $10). This is part of a year-long concert series. The full schedule is here..
Taize | December 11 | 7:30 p.m. | Auditorium
Taizé for Advent
The Taizé Community in France is an ecumenical monastic community that celebrates Christ together with music and prayer. Join us in the auditorium for this special service filled with the music of Taizé and prayers for the Advent season.
Advent Quiet Day | December 14 | 9:00 a.m. to noon
Christmas Worship Schedule
Christmas Eve | December 24
2:00 p.m. — A Simple Service for Christmas Eve
Holy Eucharist Rite II, with Christmas hymns and homily
We will sing selected verses of our favorite Christmas hymns and share the Bread of Life together. ,This service will begin and end in daylight for those who prefer to walk or drive in the daytime.
4:00 p.m. — Christmas Eve Eucharist for Families and Friends
Holy Eucharist Rite II, with Christmas hymns
Let’s raise our voices in song and prayer for the birth of the infant Messiah! Worship will be in the historic church. This is the perfect service for anyone who loves to be a part of worship at its most joyful!
6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. — The Feast of the Nativity | Livestream at 6:00 p.m.
Holy Eucharist Rite II, with the Christ Church Choir and sermon
Along with the Holy Eucharist, hymns, and a Christmas sermon, these two services will feature the Christ Church Choir, and Director of Music Jason Abel. Join friends and strangers alike as we welcome the infant Christ into our hearts this most holy night.
Christmas Day | December 25
10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite II
Celebrate the Nativity with us in a service of word and song on Christmas morning.
Sunday, December 29
10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite II
We will have one service this day. No Children’s Chapel.