Sanctuaries will be filled with the soft glow of candlelight and the music of Christmas carols as Abilenians join Christians worldwide to celebrate Christmas Eve.

Since Christmas Eve falls on Sunday this year, many churches will have their regular morning worship, followed by a special evening service. Some also will have services on Christmas morning.

Following is a list of some of the services that will be held locally. To add to the list, send information to editor@spiritofabilene.com.

ST. LUKE ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHURCH
501 Sunset Drive
Christmas Eve
9 a.m. Matins
10 a.m. Divine Liturgy
8 p.m.  Matins
9 p.m. Divine Liturgy, followed by singing of Christmas carols
Philip LeMasters, pastor

HIGHLAND CHURCH OF CHRIST
425 Highland Ave.
Christmas Eve
10 a.m., 5 p.m. candlelight
Shane Hughes, minister

SOUTHERN HILLS CHURCH OF CHRIST
3666 Buffalo Gap Road
Christmas Eve
11 a.m. candlelight
Jarrod Robinson, minister

HILLCREST CHURCH OF CHRIST
650 E. Ambler Ave.
Christmas Eve
9 a.m. worship (no classes)
Nathan Burrow, minister

FIRST CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
400 Orange St.
Christmas Eve
11 a.m. (one service only)
6 p.m. candlelight, communion, come early to hear classical guitar music by Dan Mitchell before the service begins. 

PIONEER DRIVE BAPTIST CHURCH
701 S. Pioneer Drive
Christmas Eve
10 a.m. morning worship
3 p.m. self-guided reflection and prayer
4:30 and 6:30 p.m. candlelight, communion, children’s sermon
4:30–acoustic music
6:30–Celebration Choir and Orchestra
John Whitten, pastor

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
1133 N. Third St.
Christmas Eve
11 a.m. regular morning worship
11 p.m. communion, candlelight
Brandon Hudson, pastor

WYLIE BAPTIST CHURCH
6097 Buffalo Gap Road
Christmas Eve
10:30 a.m. candlelight service
No evening service
Mike Harkrider, pastor

EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE HEAVENLY REST
602 Meander St.
Christmas Eve
10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite II (Nave)
4 p.m. – Holy Eucharist (Nave)
6 p.m. – Lessons and Carols (Nave) 
10 p.m. – Festival Holy Eucharist (Nave)
Christmas Day 
10:30 a.m. – Holy Eucharist (Nave) 
1 p.m. – Holy Eucharist in Swahili (Nave)
New Year’s Day
12 p.m. – Holy Eucharist (All Saints’ Chapel)
David Romanik, rector

ST. MARK’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
S. 14th and Willis streets, River Oaks Shopping Center, next to United Supermarket
Christmas Eve
10:30 a.m. regular Sunday worship
6:30 p.m. Holy Eucharist and candlelight
Christmas Day
10 a.m. Holy Eucharist
Mary Glover, rector

BROOK HOLLOW CHRISTIAN CHURCH
4606 S. 14th St. (Woodhaven Shopping Center)
Christmas Eve
10:30 a.m. Candlelight service
Penny Biddy and Chesna Riley, co-pastors

FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH
5125 Antilley Road
Christmas Eve
11 a.m.; no evening service
Greg Morris, pastor

ALDERSGATE METHODIST CHURCH
1741 Sayles Blvd.
Christmas Eve
5:30 p.m. candlelight
Dustin Wilhite, pastor

WYLIE METHODIST CHURCH
3430 Antilley Road
Christmas Eve
10:45 a.m. regular worship
5:30 p.m. candlelight
Jeff Hatcher, pastor

ST. PAUL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
525 Beech St.
Christmas Eve
10:30 a.m. regular worship
Benji Van Fleet, pastor

ST. JAMES UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
3100 Barrow St.
Christmas Eve
10 a.m. regular worship
6 p.m. candlelight
Stephania Gilkey, pastor

SACRED HEART CATHOLIC CHURCH
837 Jeanette St.
Christmas Eve
Children’s Eve Mass – 6:30 p.m. 
Midnight Mass 12 a.m.
Christmas Day
Christmas Mass 8 a.m.,  St. Joachim & Ann in Clyde
Christmas Mass 10 a.m. Sacred Heart
New Year’s Day
New Year’s Day Mass 10 a.m. Sacred Heart
Albert Ezeanya, pastor

ST. VINCENT PALLOTTI CATHOLIC CHURCH
2525 Westview
Christmas Eve
8:30 a.m. Regular Mass
10 a.m. Regular Mass
12 noon Merkel Mass
5:30 p.m. Christmas Vigil
8 p.m. Merkel
12 Midnight Mass
Christmas Day
Day of Obligation 12:10 p.m. Mass, St. Vincent
Emilio Sosa, pastor

HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC CHURCH
5410 Buffalo Gap Road
Christmas Eve
10:30 a.m. Mass (no classes)
5:30 p.m. Children’s Christmas Eve Mass
8 p.m. Christmas Eve Candlelight Mass
12 midnight Midnight Mass
Christmas Day
11 a.m. Christmas Mass
Nilo Nalugon, pastor

ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH
2801 Antilley Road
Christmas Eve
10 a.m. regular worship, 6:30 p.m. candlelight, communion, and youth acting out the Christmas story. A member of the cast will tell the story from her perspective. This year, the character “Aunt Elizabeth” will tell the story from her perspective. 
New Year’s Eve
10 a.m. regular worship
Clyde Kieschnick, pastor 

Loretta Fulton is creator and editor of Spirit of Abilene