Here’s what’s happening in worship this week. Click on “more” for details about this week’s Church School classes. As a reminder, ELPC will be closed on Wednesday and Thursday, December 25 and 26. There also will be no Taizé prayer service on Wednesday, December 25. Regular weekly events are canceled unless otherwise noted.
Worship Services
Blue Christmas Service | Saturday, 6:30 pm
To offer comfort and healing in a time of darkness, the ELPC deacons will host our third annual Blue Christmas Service in the Chapel. The service will help people hold onto the nativity message of hope. Come and be lifted up. Light refreshments will be served after.
Journey Worship | Sunday, 8:45 am
An interactive, energetic service for those seeking a fresh encounter with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our theme this month is Rejoice Again. Pastor Heather will preach.
Sanctuary Worship | Sunday, 11 am
Our largest service, with music from the Chancel Choir and an organ prelude prior to the service. Pastor Randy will preach from Matthew 1:18–25, and his sermon will be titled “Heirs Apparent.”
Christmas Eve Friends & Family Service | Tuesday, 5 pm
Pastor Heather will lead a special Christmas Eve Friends & Family worship service, featuring the celebration of the Lord’s Supper and candle lighting. Her homily will be titled, “Who’s Who?”
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service | Tuesday, 10 pm
Pastor Randy will lead a special Christmas Eve Candlelight worship service. The service will feature the celebration of the Lord’s Supper and candle lighting. Special prelude music begins at 9:30 pm. Pastor Randy will read the Gospel lesson, Luke 2:1–16, and deliver his sermon, titled “Gift Recipients.”
Christian Education Classes
We offer Christian Education classes for persons of all ages, from infancy through adulthood, on Sundays from 9:45–10:45 am. Read more about our adult class descriptions and children and youth offerings.
Children and Youth
- Infants–Age 2 | Nursery
- Pre-school/Ages 3–5 | Room 110 B
- Kindergarten–Grade 1 | Room 206
- Grades 2–3 | Room 205
- Grades 4–5 | Room 211
- Middle School (grades 6–8) | Room 207
- Senior High (grades 9–12) | Room 217
Contemporaries | McKelvy Room
Keeping Christ in Christmas
It’s a challenge, isn’t it, to create a Christmas celebration for our family and friends that leaves space for the miracle of the incarnated Christ. Diana Armstrong and Aura Sofia Jirau will lead a discussion about traditions that work, and those that don’t, what we all might do differently this year, and what we’ll change. We’ll be joined by our Young Adult Ministry.
Journey With Scripture | Highland Room
“For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.”—Romans 15:4
This Advent begins a new three-year cycle of lectionary readings that will eventually span the whole Bible (by 2022). Each week’s scriptures are selected from both Testaments: the Torah, Prophets, Writings, Gospels, Acts of the Apostles, Epistles, and Revelation. In December’s readings, the Hebrew prophet Isaiah and the Gospel of Matthew foretell the coming of one who initiates a new kind of world. The apostle Paul, in the Letter to the Romans, reflects on the coming of Christ: the deep joy, hope, peace, and grace made possible to all people. An abundant life oriented in love to neighbor and God.
Join us for this week’s readings: Isaiah 7:10–16; Psalm 80:1–7, 17–19; Romans 1:1–7; and Matthew 1:18–25.
Seekers | Garth Overlook Room
The Birth of Christ Then and Now | Part 2
We know the story of Jesus’ birth, but the incarnation is about more than just his birth. The Bible tells us that Christ was a presence even before his life on earth—and that he remains a presence now. Join us as we explore the Incarnation and what it means for the world, for us, and for daily life.
We will be led by the Rev. Dr. Graham Standish, executive director of Samaritan Counseling, Guidance, Consulting. He is the author of eight books on spirituality and congregational transformation, an adjunct professor at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, a spiritual director and clergy coach, and—for 22 years—was pastor of an congregation that pioneered a spiritual approach to church.
Soul Food | Good Samaritan Room
Gospel Stories of Jesus’ Origin
We will discuss Gospel Stories of Jesus’s Origin from Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Class will be led by the Rev. Joe Hajdu, David Carl, Tom Whalen, and Linda Lane.