“Places for Grace”: Advent and Christmas Eve at First Church
A host of wonderful events celebrating a season of Grace. Join us for stories, music and mystery. Events for all ages throughout December!
This is a season where we can all use some balance for the rush and bustle of the season. First Church is a place where you can acknowledge and claim the parts of your life that are most important to you.
No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey you are welcome to join us.
We have two services each Sunday full of wonderful people, inspiring music, and powerful messages. We gather at 9 am for a casual, child-friendly service in the Large Assembly and at 11 am for our classic service in the Sanctuary.
Special music for December 11 & 18...
First Church Berkeley is part of the United Church of Christ, a denomination that traces it’s roots to the beginnings of this country but with a visionary, progressive approach to the Christianity.
Christmas Eve Services
Join us in our beautiful Sanctuary for a Family Service at 5 pm and a Candlelight Celebration at 10 pm.
Our child-friendly, all-ages Christmas Eve Family Service at 5 pm will feature stories and singing, sights and sounds, and opportunities to relive the excitement of events leading to the birth of Jesus. Who will get to play the Holy Family this year? Both children and adults can get a costume and join in the manger scene! The service will last 35-40 minutes. The Amazing Family Orchestra (a lively once-a-year “pick-up” ensemble of members and friends) will also play holiday favorites!
The Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at 10 pm in the Sanctuary is both beautiful and moving. We will continue to find “Places for Grace” in the powerful stories surrounding Jesus’ birth, through moving stories, powerful preaching, inspiring music and the mystery of candlelight. Special music for organ and brass will begin at 9:30 pm.
Opportunities to Give
Each year, the Ministry of Outreach, Mission and Service chooses organizations and agencies that will receive the benefits of the offerings taken at our two Christmas Eve services at 5 pm (Family Service) and 10 pm (Candlelight Service). This year OMS has chosen three local groups: The Berkeley Food Pantry, the Suitcase Clinic and YEAH!. We have long-standing ties with each of these three agencies.
The Farmer’s Market, supplied and staffed by FCCB members, is familiar to most of us as a fixture in the Fellowship Hour since 1977. Many of us may not know, however, that profits from the Market are turned over to the Berkeley Food Pantry, a cooperative effort with other churches and synagogues in the East Bay and with the Alameda County Community Food Bank. In turn the Pantry makes regular food distributions to local households with incomes at or below the poverty line. Some of the Mission 1 food collection went to the Pantry.
UC Berkeley Public Health students run the Suitcase Clinic, bringing pre-professional skill and efficiency to the work of furthering well-being among the underserved. They operate three weekly multi-service drop-in centers: a general clinic, a women’s clinic and a youth clinic from a site on Channing Way. A homeless man treasures his haircuts, relief from an aching tooth.
Youth Engagement, Advocacy and Housing (YEAH!) offers shelter to youth who would otherwise be on the streets, many of whom are victims of abuse or neglect. Typically they have aged-out of foster homes, have few resources, and have no place to go. Our Kitchen Community Ministry serves Thanksgiving and other meals regularly to the group.
Donate online. Write “Christmas Offering” in the “Other” box.
Check out all the Advent events in red happening during the month of December on the Events page.