First Parish Church of Groton
Route 40 and Route 119
December 21 Winter Solstice Celebration Wednesday at 7 p.m.
All are welcome to First Parish for the annual Winter Solstice Celebration! This celebration and ceremony for all ages will be held Wednesday night, December 21, at 7:00 . We will celebrate the return of the sun and the passing of the longest nights of the year. There will be music, noisemakers for children, stories and simple ritual to welcome back the light and rejoice in hope! Sunshine Punch, Mulled Cider, and sun-round cookies will follow.
December 24: Christmas Eve Services and Caroling at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Both Christmas Eve services will include the singing of traditional carols and the passing of candlelight. The 5:30 p.m. service features the Children’s and Youth Choirs and a story for all ages. The service is particularly appropriate for children of all ages. The 7:30 p.m. service features the Adult Choir, readings ancient and modern, and a message from the minister.
Cookies and Cider will follow both services. Plan to stay late or arrive early as there will be caroling in the Vestry from 6:45 to 7:15 p.m.. All are welcome.
As is our tradition, the offerings from the Christmas Eve Services will be for the Caring Committee, for emergency needs of members and friends of First Parish and those who come to our door asking for help.
December 25: Christmas Day Open House, First Parish Church of Groton
First Parish Church of Groton will be hosting a Christmas Day Open House from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and all are very welcome! Come enjoy a relaxing, festive time with your First Parish friends before you head off for your Christmas visits! We will begin the festivities with a chalice lighting at 10:00 a.m. . Then we’ll have caroling led by Shawn McCann from 10:30 to 11:00 a.m. . Finally, we’ll be entertained with a dramatic reading of A Christmas Carol at 11:30 a.m. . All are invited, so come whenever you can and bring snacks (even the leftover fruitcake!), games, books, your favorite present from Christmas morning — whatever you would like — to share with friends. Coffee, tea, and cocoa will be provided (as well as any leftover cider and cookies from Christmas Eve!), and the warmth of the season will abound!
Groton Jewish Community Group
The Groton Jewish Community Group is bringing meals to shut-in seniors in Groton on Christmas Day. We have been doing this for over 10 yrs. It has expanded to include some non-Jewish families that want to do something special for others on Christmas. If interested in donating food or delivering food on Christmas, contact Amy Degen at [email protected].
Our Lady of Grace Parish
St. James Church is located at 13 St. James Ave in West Groton
St. Joseph Church is located at 28 Tarbell St. in Pepperell.
Sat. Dec. 24: 4 p.m. Family Mass at St. James Church, 13 St. James Avenue, West Groton
(Children: bring bells!)
Sat. Dec. 24: 4 p.m. Family Mass at St. Joseph Church, 28 Tarbell St., Pepperell
(Children bring your bells!)
Sat. Dec. 24: 6:30 p.m. Mass at St. Joseph Church, Pepperell
Sat. Dec. 24 Midnight Mass at St. James Church, West Groton
(preceded by Carols beginning at 11:45 p.m.)
Sun. Dec. 25: 10:30 a.m. Mass at St. Joseph Church, West Groton
Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church
80 Champney Street, Groton
Christmas Eve 12/24 4:30 p.m. Carols 5:00 p.m. Worship
Christmas Day 12/25 10:15 a.m. Nativity of Our Lord Worship
Union Congregational Church
218 Main Street at Willowdale (near Filho’s Cucina)
On Christmas Eve, Dec. 24 at 5:00 p.m.
Family Worship (especially for the young) will include a reading of the Christmas Story during which children can participate as an angel or shepherd as well as music and passing of the light. Nursery care will be available at this service. At 7:00 p.m., a traditional service, geared toward adults and teens, will include Lessons and Carols, the full Christmas story, lots of music and the passing of the light.
On Christmas Day, Dec. 25, at 11:00 a.m.
The service will celebrate Jesus’ Birthday with carols, the Christmas Story and birthday cake! This shorter service is for all ages and more casual.
Congregational Church of Littleton
330 King Street, Littleton, MA
Christmas Eve
5:00 p.m. – “All Are Welcome Children’s Pageant”
9:00 p.m. – Traditional Worship with Communion
11:00 p.m. – Candlelight Service
Christmas Day
10:00 a.m. – Christmas Sunday Worship Service
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church
7 Faulkner St., Ayer
Christmas Eve
4:30 pm (Family Service with Children’s Drama)
10:00 pm (Carol Sing & Selections from Messiah)
10:30 pm (Candlelit Service with Full Choir)
Christmas Day
9 am: Holy Eucharist
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
75 Cold Spring Road, Westford
On Christmas Eve, join us at 4 p.m.
for a family service featuring a Christmas Pageant and Holy Eucharist. This is a perfect service for the young and young-at-heart, as children from our parish community perform in a nativity pageant based on the Gospels of Saint Luke and Saint Matthew. A more traditional candlelight service with Holy Eucharist will take place at 10 p.m. Both services will be filled with familiar Christmas carols reflecting the joy of the season.
Join us on New Year’s Day for Lessons & Carols at 10 a.m.
If your church is not included in this list, please send service information to [email protected].
