This Sunday, Dec. 19 at 10 a.m., the First Presbyterian Union Church, located at the corner of North Avenue and Temple Street in Owego, is celebrating their annual Christmas Pageant with a cast of 30 children, youth, and adults. “Finding Jesus” is the newly written play by William Dove.
Dove, a Ruling Elder in the church and a High School English teacher in the Spencer-Van Etten Central School District, writes a creative Christmas play every year for the church that recognizes the unique personalities of individual church members and includes traditional Christmas carols for this special worship service. The service will be presented in the sanctuary and streamed online at www.owegofpuc.org.
Blue Christmas
On Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. (note new starting time) the church will offer a comforting “Blue Christmas” Worship Service of Remembrance and Hope. This service during the Christmas season is for those who are remembering the lives of loved ones who have died, or who are struggling with pain, loneliness or despair. The simple service, about 30 minutes in length, will be mainly scripture readings, prayers, lighting candles, and a brief homily by Pastor Bruce Gillette. They will sing two traditional Christmas carols and a special hymn by Pastor Carolyn Gillette that was written for this service, and is posted on the national United Methodist Worship Office website. Given the nature of this worship service, it will be in the sanctuary and not online. The public is invited to attend this informal service in the sanctuary.
The church is offering the final of its weekly Advent Taize Prayer Services online on Sunday, at 7 p.m. These weekly contemplative services include Taizé music, scripture readings, prayers, and times for quiet meditation.
Christmas Eve at the Presbyterian Church Sanctuary and Homes
The public is invited on Christmas Eve, at 7:30 p.m. (note earlier starting time this year), when the congregation will gather in the sanctuary and on Zoom for a traditional-yet-new celebration of Christ’s birth. Come early at 7:20 p.m. to enjoy Christmas carols as the prelude (one verse each).
Pastor Carolyn Gillette’s sermon will be “O Holy Night,” the choir will provide special Christmas music, and the service will end with the singing of Silent Night by candlelight. After the service the Presbyterian Women will have a special Christmas treat to take home and enjoy!
On Sunday, Dec. 26 at 10 a.m., the worship service will include special Christmas music presented by the Dove family musicians (William, Jennifer, Jordan, Abigail, and Jacob). Jordan Dove will be the guest organist for the morning. Pastor Bruce Gillette’s mediation will be based on Refugee, the acclaimed children’s book by British writer Anne Booth.
Booth gave permission for her book’s use in this worship service when she heard the church in Owego is hosting a family from Afghanistan. The book’s illustrations by Sam Usher will be shared on the sanctuary screens. This worship will be in the sanctuary and also live streamed.
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