Holiday Events to Attend Across Downtown Boston

Old South Church

645 Boylston Street

Blue Christmas Jazz Worship

Thursday, December 15, 6:00p.m.

A tender, comforting time for those who experience Christmas as a reminder of sadness or loss

Service of Congregational Lessons and Carols

Sunday, December 18, 11:00a.m.

Join the Old South Church Chancel Choir for a service of traditional carols and music.

Christmas Potluck Lunch

Sunday, December 18, 12:30 p.m.

Eat, sing, and be merry! Come and join in the fun as we celebrate the season and sing carols together over a lunch you help to provide. An all-church, all-ages event.

Christmas Eve

5:00p.m. Family Worship

Join us as we sing carols and tell together the Christmas story. Children are invited to participate in a no-rehearsal-required pageant. Simple costumes for sheep, shepherds, and angels are provided.

8:00p.m. Candlelight Service of Lessons and Carols

Preludes begin at 7:30p.m. An elegant retelling of the Christmas story in carols and readings with music for choir, strings, and organ culminating in the singing of “Silent Night” in the candle-lit sanctuary. Childcare provided.

Christmas Day

10:00a.m. Community Worship

We will gather on Christmas morning for community worship with Senior Minister Rev. Nancy Taylor.

 

Trinity Church

206 Clarendon Street

Candlelight Carols

A beloved Boston tradition since 1909, Candlelight Carols celebrates the coming birth of Christ through carols and anthems, by candlelight, offered by The Choirs of Trinity Church.

As always, there will be two chances to experience Candlelight Carols for tree: Sat., Dec. 17, 4 & 7 p.m.  Doors open approximately 45 minutes before; lines tend to be long, so please come early to ensure a seat.

Packages for Homeless Neighbors

Trinity¹s Church¹s homeless Eucharistic Visitation Ministry, Sunday Night Living Bread, is accepting donations of items for Christmas care packages for the homeless men and women they will visit on Christmas Eve and on Sundays throughout Christmastide.

Each care package will include: 2 pairs of disposable hand warmers; 1 pair of men¹s white cotton crew socks; 1 pair of men¹s winter gloves; 1 unisex winter hat; 1 unisex winter scarf; 1 travel-sized container of baby powder; and A Christmas card with a hand-written greeting.

Donated items may be dropped off at the front desk of the Parish House at 206 Clarendon Street by Sun., Dec. 18.

For further information, contact Ginnie Walden, [email protected].

Christmas services

4:30pm: Pageant

7:30pm:  Festival Eucharist

11:00pm:  Festival Eucharist

Christmas Day

10:00am: Festival Eucharist

 

The Cathedral Church of St. Paul

138 Tremont Street

Messiah Sing-along

12:00p.m. December 14

The audience is the chorus for Part 1 of the Messiah plus the Hallelujah chorus. Solos are sung by members of the Cathedral Schola. $5 suggested donation and everyone is welcome.

Christmas Eve

7:30p.m. Service begins with a half hour of carols and hymns.

8:00p.m. Dean Jep Streit is preaching and the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, The Rt. Rev. Alan M. Gates, is presiding.

The First Church of Christ, Scientist

210 Massachusetts Avenue

Services

The Church will be holding the regular Sunday and Wednesday services that are always open to the public, including the Christmas service on Sunday, Dec. 25 this year. The organ is one of the largest in the world, so it’s worth joining even if just to hear the music and the solo.

Speaking Lecture

A free speaking lecture is open to the public on Monday, Dec. 19 at 7pm at the original Mother Church with Fujiko Signs (from Japan).

Story Time

The Mary Baker Eddy Library will be holding their Storytime at the Library Tuesday, December 20, 10:30 am to 11:15 am. “In this children’s program, young visitors will not only listen to stories but also engage in playful activities. Recommended for bookworms 5 years old and younger with adults.”

The MBE Library is also part of “First Night Boston” Saturday, December 31, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. so you can kick off New Year’s Eve day at the Library before you head to Copley Square for the evening.

 

First Church Boston:

66 Marlborough St

Winter Solstice Service

Wednesday Dec. 21st at 6:15 – 7:15pm.  A gentle and lovely service of seasonal poetry, meditation, candlelight, and beautiful Celtic music performed live by Ainé Minogue on the harp.

Christmas Eve service

Saturday Dec. 24th at 5:30 pm.  A fairly traditional lessons and carols service, featuring our amazing choir.  A good family service for those that may not have a “home church.”

Christmas morning service

Dec. 25th at 11 am in our Chapel, led by Aisha Ansano and Reverend Stephen Kendrick.

 

Central Reform Temple

15 Newbury Street

A Light Through the Ages

Sunday, December 18, at 4:00pm. The famed Zamir Chorale once again join together for the eighth annual Boston presentation of “A Light Through The Ages,” a celebration of the Chanukah in story, song and light.

This event has become a beloved holiday season tradition for hundreds of people of all faiths. All are welcome.

 

Emmanuel Church

15 Newbury Street

A Light Through The Ages

Sun, December 18, 4pm – 6pm

Central Reform Temple and the famed Zamir Chorale join together again this year in the sixth annual Boston presentation of a celebration of Chanukah in story, song and light as a gift to the Boston community. The original text of “A Light Through the Ages,” written by Rabbi Howard Berman, was first performed more than 35 years ago in New York. It chronicles the holiday through the ages – from its origins as a celebration of religious freedom more than 2000 years ago – through times of darkness and moments of light and triumph.

The voices of the world renowned Zamir Chorale, Joshua R. Jacobson, Artistic Director, will help tell these timeless stories with traditional and contemporary holiday music. All are welcome. No reservations or tickets are required. For more information visit www.alightthroughtheages.org.

Blue Christmas on the Longest Night

Wed, December 21, 7:30pm – 8:30pm

A service of lament with Holy Eucharist and healing prayer will be held in Lindsey Chapel. We will be joined by the clergy and congregation of Church of the Covenant.

Christmas Eve Service of Holy Eucharist

Sat, December 24, 7:00pm – 9:30pm

7:00 pm – Carol Sing

7:30 pm – Festival Holy Eucharist, with BWV 133 – “Ich freue mich in dir”

 

Vilna Shul

18 Phillips Street

Havurah on the Hill Monthly Young Adult Kabbalat Shabbat

Featuring Honorable Menschen

Friday, December 16, 6:30p.m.

Havurah on the Hill is the young adult initiative of the Vilna and hosts a monthly non-denominational, egalitarian minyan and special holiday celebrations for Jews in their 20s and 30s in the Boston area. This month, we welcome Honorable Menschen for a special a cappella performance.

Honorable Menschen is Boston’s premiere post-collegiate Jewish a cappella group and is widely acclaimed for its unique blend of Jewish, Israeli, and World musical repertoire.

$10 Suggested Donation.

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