December - filled with celebrations of Christ's birth.
Join us for Christmas Events Celebrating the Birth of Our Lord
Greetings! Is your heart grieving? The coronavirus pandemic has amplified and exacerbated grief, as well as pain, anxiety, depression, and more, and many are struggling like never before. Sometimes the Festivals of Carols and other celebrations of Christmas, or children’s pageants do not meet everyone’s needs. To recognize and acknowledge the darker side of our Advent preparations this year, we have planned a Blue Christmas service for Monday, December 21 at 7:00 pm. You may participate in the sanctuary in person (masked and distanced) or via our livestream onlineThis worship service will include communion, which will be individually pre-packaged. Those attending in person will pick up the communion package as well as a blue LED candle as they enter the Narthex. Those participating from home should ready their own elements for communion and a candle if possible.

Sometimes called a “Longest Night” service because it usually falls on or close to the Winter Solstice which is the longest night of the year, this contemplative service of music, candles and prayer goes back many years. All who would care to sit with the family of faith in a liturgy that reminds us of the love of God through times of grief and isolation even as we prepare for the coming of the Christ child are welcome and encouraged to attend. 
On Tuesday, December 24, please join us for joyous celebrations of Christmas Eve!  
At 5:00 p.m. This year’s pageant will be completely virtual. The pageant we are doing is “Tell Me the Story of Christmas.” Narrators will read the Christmas story with children asking them questions and acting out the parts. We will have speakers, characters (animals, shepherds, angels, etc.) and musicians. The pageant will be a combination of Zoom recordings and parents recording their children acting their parts. The pageant scenes will be recorded ahead of time and incorporated into the early Christmas Eve worship service. This service will be streamed online only at 5:00 p.m. Christmas Eve on Facebook. 

Our Christmas Eve worship service will be based on the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols. The story of the fall of humanity, the promise of the Messiah, and the birth of Jesus are told in nine short Bible readings from Genesis, the prophetic books, and the Gospels, interspersed with the singing of Christmas carols, hymns, and special music.
On December 24 we will have an extended prelude that begins at 6:30 p.m. with the service itself beginning at 7:00 p.m. on December 24. This service will be in person and livestreamed on our Facebook page. If attending in person, please pick up your white LED candle from the table in the Narthex before being seated.

You won't want to miss these very special Christmas celebrations.
Did you know that First Presbyterian Church has our own Facebook page (facebook.com/firstpresGB/) and Instagram channel (firstpresgb)? Consider liking and/or subscribing at:
First Presbyterian Church of Green Bay | (920) 437-8121 | www.firstpresgreenbay.org | communications@firstpresgreenbay.org