Christmas Eve Worship Services

As is the Warner tradition, two services will be offered on Christmas Eve.  Our 5:00 PM service, A Service for All Ages, is just that, a service for people of all ages.  This inter-generational service features an interactive drama telling the story of the First Christmas.  Children will have the opportunity to be angels or shepherds and to imagine the wonder of the first Christmas.  Adults will be the angel choir led by acclaimed singer-songwriter, Warner's own Ted Garber.  Ted will also lead the congregation in singing Christmas Carols.  The service will conclude with the lighting of candles and singing Silent Night.

As a youngster, Ted was a member of Warner's Youth Choir and participated in church plays.  His musical debut on guitar was at the Warner candlelight Christmas service in 1988, when he played and sang "Silent Night" in front of the entire congregation.  Ted writes, "I get a genuinely wonderful and uplifting feeling from the entire Warner congregation.  Its members are sincerely interested in the lives of everyone, even one-time visitors, and their earnest commitment to community, humanity and humility is inspiring.

The Christmas Eve late service is one of soaring joy and deep significance as we celebrate the birth of our Lord.   The music preludes that begin at 10:30 PM are not to be missed, with beautiful instrumental, vocal, and bell pieces offered.  The service proper begins at 11:00 PM with opportunities for congregational singing of Christmas carols throughout the service.  There will be a Christmas meditation and the sacrament of communion.  The service concludes with the singing of "Silent Night" and "Joy to the World" by candlelight.  Our friends at Temple Emanuel just south of the church on Connecticut have graciously allowed parking in their lot for the Christmas Eve services so people will not have to cross Connecticut Avenue.  There will be no crossing guard or parking on Connecticut Avenue that evening.

Worship on Christmas Day will be held at 11:00 AM.   Bring a bell with you or one will be provided for you so that all can joyfully ring along with the Christmas carols to be sung.  There will be no Sunday school before the service or reception following the service on this Sunday.