Celebrate With Us!
On this Christmas Eve, we invite you to worship with us. As we hear the news reports and recommendations from the authorities about gathering in large groups, we want to both reassure you and caution you.
First, reassurances. We offer six in-person services from which to choose. We anticipate having plenty of space in the Sanctuary for everyone in these services. The best bet for social distancing is our 2 p.m. Blessing of the Children service at Dove Mountain because the space is huge and you can spread out easily! We don’t anticipate having a packed space for any service, though.
Our policy requires masks indoors, and the county’s new indoor mask mandate reinforces our policy. In addition, our HVAC system will be running to exchange air in the space during the services. We will open doors to cross-ventilate between services.
We believe our precautions are the best practices we have learned over the last two years. We are as safe as we can be.
Which leads to the caution. Please stay home if you are concerned for your safety. Please stay home if you have any symptoms of COVID. Please stay home if you have been exposed to someone with COVID. We don’t want to spread this kind of holiday gift.
If you stay home, we offer two online options to participate in worship. The 8 p.m. service will be livestreamed from the Sanctuary. Join the Celebration Singers, guest harpist Laura Porter, and our pastors for a service shared online as the service happens. You can also watch this service anytime after it streams live.
Our other option will premiere at 9 a.m. and will be available to watch at your convenience. This pre-recorded service will feature both of our choirs, our carillon, and our pastors in a condensed version of our service, ending with Silent Night by a choir of United Methodists from around the world.
Both services will be available on our YouTube page and here on our website.
Whether or not you come to in-person worship on Christmas Eve, we invite you to spend time reflecting on the Christ child born so long ago, born anew this season in our lives and in our world. Reflecting on this gift of wonder from God to our world can help to set the tone of love and light for the 12 days of Christmas to come.
Merry Christmas!
Pastor Lynn
CHRISTMAS EVE SCHEDULE
Please note: Masks are required during all services as well as inside all St. Mark’s buildings.
Join us for worship:
11 a.m. Lessons and Carols
A service of Scripture and song that tells the Christmas story.
Blessing of the Children
A family-oriented service with carols and a blessing of the children.
-2 p.m. Dove Mountain CSTEM School, 5650 W. Moore Rd.
-4 p.m. Main campus, 1431 W. Magee Rd.
6 p.m. A Modern Worship Service
With contemporary Praise Band
8 p.m.* A Traditional Candlelight Service
With Celebration Singers, concludes with candle lighting.
*This service will be livestreamed at umcstmarks.org/live-worship or YouTube UMC St. Mark’s Oro Valley.
10 p.m. A Traditional Candlelight Service
With Chancel Choir and communion; concludes with candle lighting.