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Religion Calendar

By MICHELLE JONES
Published December 23, 2006

ADVERTISEMENT [Times photo] Rabbi Shalom Adler, spiritual leader of Young Isreal-Chabad of Pinellas County, and some 400 people attend Sunday's event.

Hudson

Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church, 12321 Canton Ave., offers a contemporary music and majesty service at 6 tonight . On Sunday at 11 a.m. the church choir will present a Christmas cantata, and a Christmas Eve candlelight service is planned for 7 p.m. At 10 a.m. Monday there will be a Christmas worship service with Communion served. Call 727 863-6446.

First United Methodist Church, 13123 U.S. 19, will hold traditional Christmas Eve Services at 4, 7 and 9 p.m. Sunday. There will be carols, special music by the choir and a monologue by the Rev. Richard Schmidt. A contemporary Christmas Eve service is offered at 5:30 p.m. in the fellowship center. Child care is provided for infants and toddlers at the 5:30 and 7 p.m. services. Call (727) 868-6178.

St. Mark's Presbyterian Church, 7922 State Road 52, offers a service at 10:30 a.m. Sunday with children's church during the service and fellowship afterward. On Christmas Eve there will be candlelight services of lessons, carols and Communion at 4 and 7 p.m. On Dec. 31 regular services resume at 8:15 and 10:30 a.m. with fellowship after both services. Nursery attendants are available. Call (727) 863-5646.

Grace Bible Church, 9403 Scot St., will celebrate the birth of Christ at 6 p.m. Sunday with a short drama by youth, special music and a candlelight service. Call (727) 863-2747.

St. Martin's Episcopal Church, 15801 U.S. 19, will have special Christmas music and a multimedia presentation at 8 and 10 a.m. Sunday. A youth program and music is scheduled for 7 p.m., and a traditional Christmas Eve midnight Mass, with music, will begin at 10 p.m. On Christmas, at 10 a.m., there will be a special Mass. Call (727) 863-8560.

Holiday

Holiday United Church of Christ, 4826 Bartelt Road, invites the public to a special Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at 7 p.m. Sunday. An Advent Bible study is also offered at 9 a.m., and at 10 a.m. there is coffee fellowship. At 10:30 a.m. a children's pageant based on the book The Stars Came Out on Christmas will be presented, and the Rev. Drew Willard will recite selected Christmas narratives. Call (727) 937-1520.

Community United Methodist Church, 3214 U.S. 19, offers a candlelight service at 6 p.m. Sunday with a musical drama and storytelling for the children. The service will conclude with carols. Call (727) 937-3268.

Lutz

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 20735 Leonard Road, offers one morning service at 9 a.m. Sunday with Vicar Ross Engel and Pastor Gilbert Kuehn presenting the program "The Perfect Tree." Matt Ellrod will provide the music. On Christmas Eve there will be four services. At 5 p.m. a family service for children will include all the children in a variety of activities, and at 7 and 9 p.m. the choir will present a cantata We Have Seen the Light. At 11 p.m. there will be a candlelight worship service with Kuehn speaking on the theme "Mary, Did You Know?" On Christmas Day at 10 a.m. a festival Christmas worship will feature a medley of Christmas songs, and Vicar Engel will speak on the theme: "Christmas Is All in the Heart." Call (813) 949-7173.

New Port Richey

Living Word Church, 5151 Rowan Road, will have a combined service at 10 a.m. Sunday with Pastor Tim Santinga speaking on the ministry of angels. The choir will present a Christmas medley. At 6 p.m. the church will have its annual Christmas Eve candlelight service with participation by the children's and sanctuary choirs. Call (727) 845-8877.

Community Congregational Church, 6533 Circle Blvd., offers an Advent worship service at 10 a.m. Sunday with the Rev. James Wood leading the service. There will also be a Christmas Eve candlelight service at 4 p.m. Call (727) 849-1943.

Hope United Methodist Church, 2200 Little Road, offers A Christmas Tale at 9 and 11 a.m. and at 3 and 5 p.m. Sunday. Child care for infants through pre-K is available. A candlelight service is also scheduled for 11 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Call (727) 372-4689.

First Christian Church of New Port Richey, 6219 River Road, is planning a New Year's Eve celebration with catered dinner, dance and entertainment with midnight Communion. This semiformal event begins at 6 p.m., and the cost is $12.50 per person. Call (727) 849-1251 by today for reservations.

King of Glory Lutheran Church, 4820 Floramare Ter., in the Gulf Harbors area, offers a praise service at 8:30 a.m. and a traditional service at 10:30 a.m. Sunday. A candlelight Christmas Eve service is scheduled for 7 p.m. Communion will be served at all services. Call (727) 849-1513.

Port Richey

First Presbyterian Church, 7540 Ridge Road, offers a Christmas Eve worship service at 7 p.m. There will be carols, candles and Holy Communion. Call (727) 849-1898.

King of Kings Lutheran Church, 10337 U.S. 19, announces a change in services for the holidays. On Sunday, Sunday school is at 9 a.m., worship service at 10 a.m. and Christmas Eve candlelight service is at 7 p.m. No services on Christmas Day. On Dec. 31, regular services will resume at 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. Call (727) 868-5744.

Congregation Beth Tefillah, which meets at the Jewish Community Center of West Pasco, 9841 Scenic Drive, offers Shabbat services at 8 p.m. each Friday in the Rose Siegal Berkowitz Sanctuary at the center. Services are also at 9:30 a.m. Saturdays. Call (727) 347-3814.

St. Leo

Holy Name Monastery, 33201 State Road 52, announces its Christmas season schedule. At 10:30 a.m. Sunday there will be morning praise and Eucharist and no midnight Mass. On Christmas Day there will be Christmas carols in the chapel at 10 a.m. and morning praise and Eucharist at 10:30 a.m. On Dec. 31 there will be Eucharist and morning praise at 10:30 a.m. and a New Year's Eve prayer service at 7:30 p.m. On New Year's Day, Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God Eucharist and morning praise are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Call (352) 588-8320.

Tarpon Springs

Congregation B'nai Emmunah, a Reform Jewish Synagogue, 3374 Keystone Road, offers Shabbat evening services at 8 p.m. each Friday. A member-hosted Oneg is after each service. Call (727) 938-9000.

Please send religion story ideas and religion notes to Michelle Jones at mjones721@tampabay.rr.com or fax to (813) 684-2457 or call (813) 685-2200. Correspondence can also be mailed to Michelle Jones at P.O. Box 558, Valrico FL 33595.

[Last modified December 22, 2006, 22:18:59]